- James Magnussen says Karl Stefanovic’s comments were disrespectful
- Stefanovic has called the legendary Michael Phelps “a complete moron”
- Magnussen says the Australian swimming team is also angry about this
Retired Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has launched a surprising criticism of Today Show host Karl Stefanovic for trying to create a feud between the Australian and US swimming teams.
Stefanovic recently criticised swimming legend Michael Phelps during a televised showdown with Australian swimmer Cate Campbell, calling Phelps “a complete idiot”.
Magnussen believes the inflammatory comments went too far and have upset the Australian swimming team.
“I can tell from inside the sanctuary that they are furious about this,” Magnusson told co-host Matty Johns on the Matty and the Missile in Paris podcast.
“The United States doesn’t need any more motivation heading into the Olympics. But beyond that, Matty, it’s disrespectful.”
Campbell had also irritated the US swim team by calling them “sore losers”, but Magnussen believes Stefanovic had escalated the war.
“Can you imagine if we were sitting here in Australia and an American talk show commentator attacked Ian Thorpe, called him an idiot, said he needs to give up bongs, he won’t watch swimming, he’ll watch Spongebob, he presents terribly, he’s got a bad haircut, he looks like a dead piece of shit basically,” Magnussen said.
“Americans don’t know who Karl Stefanovic is. They don’t know what tone he’s saying it in. They don’t understand the Today Show. They’ve never heard of Karl Stefanovic in their lives.
Olympian James Magnussen (pictured) believes Karl Stefanovic went too far with his comments about swimming legend Michael Phelps
Karl Stefanovic called Phelps a “complete moron” in a June segment on the Today Show.
‘All they know is that this guy on Australian television has taken a swipe at a sporting icon and a guy who, in my opinion, is the greatest athlete of all time.
“I’m a little biased because I come from swimming, but you can argue that he’s the greatest athlete of all time. He’s the greatest Olympian of all time.”
Stefanovic referenced a controversial photo of Phelps holding a marijuana pipe from 2009 in her Today show segment.
“Well, he’s angry because he doesn’t have a proper haircut,” the TV presenter said.
“Plus, I feel like it’s lost its personality. And they say that too much bucket bombing does that.”
Stefanovic continued to target the great swimmer.
Magnussen believes the inflammatory comments about Phelps (pictured) were disrespectful
“Phelpsy just lost his personality, right? He went soft or something,” he said.
‘He’s boring and he’s retired. I want to tell you this: you have our full support. The country is with you so that you don’t give up. We want you to keep going.’
“I mean, Phelps probably isn’t going to watch the swim. He’ll probably be watching SpongeBob at three in the morning. You know what I mean, instead of participating in all this.”
Magnussen said he does not mind the rivalry, but believes Stefanovic’s comments toward the swimming legend were disrespectful.
“I’m all for creating a stir and joking between athletes, when it’s the athlete who has to back it up,” Magnussen said.
‘For example, in 2012 I said the famous phrase: “Get ready,” but guess who has to back it up? Me. I’m the one who backs those words up.
‘Come out of the barrier, come out of the rafters and knock down an icon of the country. An icon of sport, an icon of the Olympic Games.
‘I just found it disrespectful the way they called him an idiot.
“That’s literal. He called him an idiot. That’s not how you treat great athletes.”
“That’s not how you treat people in general, but it’s certainly not how you treat an Olympic legend.”