Olympic medallist James Magnussen says the tension between Kyle Chalmers and his ex-girlfriend Emma McKeon at the Commonwealth Games is nothing compared to other feuds he saw inside the Australian swim team during his career.
The awkward encounter between the former lovers in Birmingham this week was ‘barely a drop in the ocean’, the freestyle champion said.
McKeon is now dating singer turned swimmer Cody Simpson, who are both racing at the Games.
But Magnussen said the situation isn’t as dramatic as the relationships between other swimming stars.
‘The most intense feud I’ve ever seen involved two of the biggest star athletes in the team at the time who actually trained together under Michael Bohl,’ he wrote in a piece for News Corp.
‘It was a feud which pretty much split the swim team straight down the middle. One side didn’t talk to the other. And for some of us younger swimmers, we looked on with bated breath.’
The Olympic medallist said a book could have been written about all the troubled relationships inside the Aussie swimming team, adding there were ‘plenty who didn’t get along’.
Former Olympian James Magnussen (pictured) said the frosty interaction between Aussie swim stars Kyle Chalmers and his ex-girlfriend Emma McKeon was nothing compared to some of the feuds inside the Australian swim team over the years
Emma McKeon (left) and Kyle Chalmers (second from right) generated a frosty atmosphere when they won gold in the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay at the Commonwealth Games
McKeon is now dating singer turned swimmer Cody Simpson who is also competing at the competition in Birmingham – making for an awkward love triangle
He said the two swimmers in question ‘could not stand being in the same room as each other’, but were professional when it came to the pool.
In Chalmers’ case, Magnussen said he’d likely be using the media attention on his behaviour around his ex as ‘fuel’ for the competition.
‘Everyone has their own methods of getting fired up for competition while maintaining their focus,’ he said.
Chalmers and McKeon were two members of the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay who won gold, but the tension between the former couple was obvious in Birmingham.
Australia were the only nation not to hold hands and raise them in unison pre-race, and the body language between Chalmers and McKeon – who won four gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics – was forced.
Kyle Chalmers still harbours a degree of resentment towards his ex-girlfriend Emma McKeon if his frosty conduct on the first night of competition at the Commonwealth Games is any guide
After snaring gold, Aussie sprinter William Yang was quick to shake McKeon’s hand, as did another fellow team member, young gun Mollie O’Callaghan.
But Chalmers wasn’t interested, instead chatting to the Canadian team.
At a subsequent TV interview, Chalmers made sure Yang and O’Callaghan were between him and one time flame McKeon.
Chalmers also made no reference to McKeon and O’Callaghan when reflecting on the team swim.
‘It is (a bit different swimming in the middle) but it’s still against the boys, right?’ he said.
‘You are still racing against those fastest boys, anyway, so it doesn’t feel that much different.’
When it came to the medal presentation, teenage star O’Callaghan stood between the former couple.
In Chalmers’ case, Magnussen said he’d likely be using the media attention on his behaviour around his ex as ‘fuel’ for the competition
Simpson has since weighed in on the apparent awkwardness between his teammate and girlfriend.
‘I don’t know, I mean we are all teammates and I am not sure how he or she is kind of dealing with that, but backstage, warmup and out on deck we have been teammates and supporting each other regardless of whatever may have been,’ he said.
He added he’d spoken to Chalmers about ‘usual teammates stuff’
‘(We are) supporting each other, we want to make a really good environment, we are here for one purpose,’ he added.
Simpson will be relying on Chalmers to earn him his first senior swimming championship medal.
The former pop star had helped the Aussies swim through to the finals of the men’s 4x100m relay which will be held on Sunday morning AEST.
He isn’t expected to swim in the final but will be cheering the team on from the sidelines and will still pick up a medal if they place.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
