- Global sports fans frustrated by American news coverage
- Different approach to medal counts in US reporting
American news organizations are facing criticism worldwide for their inaccurate reporting of the medal counts at the Paris Olympics.
In a bid to maintain their position above nations like China, outlets such as the New York Times and NBC have chosen to display tables that inaccurately show the US leading the medal tally on day three of the events in France.
Traditionally, the country with the most gold medals leads the medal rankings, but this is not the case from an American perspective.
As of Tuesday morning, Australian time, Japan led with six gold medals, ahead of France, China, Australia, and South Korea, each with five.
The US team currently sits in a disappointing sixth position, with three gold medals, along with eight silver and nine bronze, totaling 20 medals.
This pattern harkens back to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where American media focused on total medals won when China began to threaten the US gold medal supremacy.
The US remains unique among major sports nations in ranking medal counts by total medals, which often draws criticism during key sporting events for diverging from global standards.
Such a strategy creates frustration among many athletes and has heightened the competitive tension between Australia and the US in the pool leading up to the Paris Games.
American news outlets have run a medal tally showing the USA leading the field, despite the fact other nations have won more golds in Paris (pictured, Aussie Ariarne Titmus after beating US swimmer Katie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle final)
Australia have currently won more gold medals than the US – but you wouldn’t know if it you looked at the tallies being run by the American media (pictured, Aussie swim star Molly O’Callaghan after winning the 200m freestyle final)
Based on the amount of gold medals won after day three of competition, the US aren’t in the top five (pictured)
Tensions escalated after US outlets again cited total medal counts following the 2023 World Aquatics Championships.
After six days of competition, Australia had secured 10 golds compared to just three from the US team.
This situation led to recently retired Australian swimming star Cate Campbell expressing her frustration over the US team’s use of a cowbell to celebrate their swimmers before races.
She also stirred the ire of American swimming legend Michael Phelps, who remarked that he would use Campbell’s fiery remarks as a source of daily motivation if he were still competing.
‘For Australia to come out on top is one thing, but it’s especially gratifying to beat America,’ said Campbell, a four-time Olympian.
‘The first night of competition was particularly sweet, as we didn’t have to hear the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ echoing throughout the venue. I can’t express how happy that made me.’
‘If I hear that song again, it’ll be too soon. Bring on Paris. That’s all I have to say to the US. Stop being sore losers.’
After failing to qualify for the Paris Games, Campbell predictably faced backlash on social media.
