Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte roast USA Swimming’s performance at World Championships

At the ongoing World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Team USA’s underwhelming performance has drawn sharp criticism from two of the sport’s biggest legends—Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. The duo, who dominated world swimming for over a decade, took to social media to express their disappointment in a way that quickly went viral—a meme depicting a funeral for USA Swimming.

Currently, the United States sits third in the medals table with just six gold medals out of 23 total medals. China leads the standings with 14 golds and 31 total medals, while Australia occupies second place with nine golds and 20 overall medals. For a country long considered the powerhouse of competitive swimming, this decline is raising alarms—especially with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon.

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From dominance to decline

For decades, Team USA was virtually untouchable in the pool. With superstars like Phelps, Lochte, and Katie Ledecky leading the charge, the Americans consistently topped medal tables at World Championships and Olympics alike. However, cracks have started to appear.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, the U.S. swimming team led the medals table but won just eight gold medals—their lowest total at a Summer Games since Seoul 1988. Analysts viewed this as a warning sign that American swimming might be losing its grip on global dominance.

That warning has now become a reality. Despite sending a strong contingent to Singapore, the team’s results have fallen far short of expectations.

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Issues inside and outside the pool

The disappointing performances have been compounded by off-the-field turmoil within USA Swimming. The federation has been without a permanent CEO for over a year, following the resignation of Tim Hinchey. His replacement, Chrissi Rawak, stepped down just days after being appointed, leaving the organization in limbo.

This leadership vacuum has been sharply criticized by three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, who told the Associated Press, “Can you imagine any corporation going for a year without a CEO? We’re far from killing it. It’s a major struggle and we can’t hide our heads in the sand and say this is just a blip.”

Adding to the chaos, the team has been battling a bout of acute gastroenteritis, contracted during a training camp in Thailand. While the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has not disclosed how many athletes were affected, the illness appears to have hampered performances in Singapore.

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The meme that sparked debate

The criticism from Phelps and Lochte arrived in the form of a viral Instagram meme. Ryan Lochte, a six-time Olympic gold medalist, first posted an image of a funeral where the tombstone read: “In loving memory of United States Swimming. They set the bar high—until they stopped reaching for it.”

Lochte captioned the post, “Call it a funeral or call it a fresh start. We’ve got three years.”

Shortly after, Michael Phelps—the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 Olympic medals (23 gold)—shared the same meme, adding his own caption: “Is this the wake-up call USA Swimming needed?”

The meme quickly gained traction online, sparking a debate among fans and experts about what has gone wrong with the U.S. swimming program.

A wake-up call before Los Angeles 2028

The United States will host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, making the poor performance in Singapore particularly concerning. Expectations are always high for a home Games, but Team USA’s recent results have cast doubt on whether they can reclaim their former dominance in time.

Lochte’s remark, “We’ve got three years,” highlights the urgency to rebuild and regroup before the LA Games.

Experts have pointed out several factors contributing to the decline:

• Lack of stable leadership: With no CEO for over a year, USA Swimming has been without a long-term strategy.

• Reduced depth of talent: While the U.S. still produces top swimmers, the depth that once allowed the team to dominate multiple events is diminishing.

• International rise of China and Australia: Both nations have significantly improved their training systems and talent pipelines.

• Disruption due to illness and inconsistent preparation: The gastroenteritis outbreak at training camp only worsened an already challenging situation.

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Legends demand accountability

Rowdy Gaines minced no words in his criticism. “We’re rudderless,” he said. “This is not a time for excuses. We need a plan, leadership, and action before we lose even more ground.”

Phelps and Lochte’s public posts reflect growing frustration among former athletes who feel that the current administration has failed to uphold USA Swimming’s legacy. Both legends have previously emphasized the importance of strong leadership and structured development programs to maintain global dominance.

What comes next for USA Swimming?

The immediate challenge is to finish the World Championships on as high a note as possible. However, the bigger task lies ahead—rebuilding the program before the Los Angeles Olympics.

Potential steps include:

1. Hiring a permanent CEO: Leadership stability is critical for long-term success.

2. Revamping training programs: More investment is needed to identify and nurture young talent.

3. Better international preparation: Competing nations have closed the gap with improved sports science and athlete development.

4. Stronger collaboration between athletes and administration: Listening to legends like Phelps, Lochte, and Gaines could provide valuable insights for the next generation.

Is this the turning point?

While Phelps and Lochte’s meme might appear lighthearted, it underlines a serious issue. The U.S. swimming team, once feared worldwide, is now struggling to keep pace.

Whether this World Championships failure becomes the wake-up call the organization needs—or just another low point in a worrying trend—depends on how quickly USA Swimming can address its leadership void and structural weaknesses.

For now, the viral “funeral meme” stands as both a critique and a challenge: three years remain until Los Angeles 2028, and the world is watching to see if Team USA can rise again.

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