Australian sporting icon Dawn Fraser insists she’s not racist and has defended her controversial comments about Nick Kyrgios.
Fraser faced a storm of criticism on Tuesday after suggesting Kyrgios and fellow tennis star Bernard Tomic should set a better example or go back to where their parents came from.
The Olympic swimming great told a breakfast television show she was disgusted by Kyrgios’ behaviour at Wimbledon, including accusing him of “tanking” in his fourth-round loss to Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Kyrgios was booed on court after he appeared to deliberately fail to return serves during the third game of the second set.
When asked on breakfast television if it was a case of having too much money and fame at such an early age and lacking humilty, the 77-year-old agreed and lumped suspended Davis Cup star Tomic in with Kyrgios.
“They should be setting a better example for the younger generation of this great country of ours,” Fraser told the Nine Network.
“If they don’t like it, go back to where their fathers or their parents came from.
“We don’t need them here in this country if they act like that.”
Kyrgios is the son of a Greek-born father and Malaysian-born mother but was born in Canberra.
Tomic is German-born with a Croatian father and Bosnian mother and their family migrated to the Gold Coast when Tomic was three.
The 20-year-old Kyrgios, who denied he tanked, responded via social media with a post linking to Fraser’s tirade on Facebook.
“Throwing a racket, brat. Debating the rules, disrespectful. Frustrated when competing, spoilt. Showing emotion, arrogant,” he wrote.
“Blatant racist, Australian legend.”
His mother Nill added her thoughts on Twitter.
“I have no comments on Dawn Frasers nasty racist attack…but she is out of line. #unaustralianbehaviour,” she posted.
Fraser later defended herself, saying she was not a racist person.
“If you take (my comments) that way then I’m sorry that you take it that way, but I’m not racist at all,” she said, according to Fairfax Media.
“I said, ‘If they don’t want to be Australians then maybe they should go back to the country where their parents come from’. That’s not being racist,” she said.
“I can see it being interpreted that way … but it wasn’t intended that way.”
Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane joined the wave of criticism against Fraser, telling the National Press Club on Tuesday: “Contrary to what the likes of Dawn Fraser might say, most Australians do not tell migrants and their children to go back to where they came from.”
Vic
Guest
She doesn't. Why do you and Gary generalise about older people? That's no better than racism.
Kev
Guest
When was she last relevant?
Kev
Guest
Why does she get a free pass because she's old?
Kev
Guest
Racist and an irrelevant dinosaur from yesteryear.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
What strikes me as odd about this is that Dawn Fraser (or Golden Dawn as some wags have been calling her) had a reputation for bad behaviour that was just as bad, if not worse than Nick Krygios, and is also the offspring of a migrant father. Should she have been volunteering to go to Scotland when busted for nicking a flag from the Emperor's palace in Tokyo?
pete bloor
Guest
Should have started with Dawn
pete bloor
Guest
I found that funny too. She can be gay and racist
Alex L
Roar Rookie
What we should do is ship out *anyone* who acts like Tomic and Kyrgios in exchange for a refugee.
Vic
Guest
Are people of Greek origin a different race than Australians? Surely the word would be bigoted, or just intolerant, rather than racist? Did she comment negatively on his race? Or his behaviour? How is that racist? And how about the intolerance towards older people shown by the comments of Gary here on this thread - is that as bad as racism? Or it it ok to discriminate against older people?
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Most racists use that phrase to cover up that they are racist. Quite stupid really.
Glen
Guest
Racist comment, followed by "I'm no racist". Sure Dawn, whatever you say...
duecer
Guest
Gary - allude to people in inluence not being in touch with the times and then shoot yourself in to foot by saying a gay women should know better - why should she know better just because she's gay - she shouldn't have to be more aware because of this. Instead of phrasing her comments the way she did, which was quite silly, perhaps it would've been more pertinent to shine a light on how easy supported stars have it in wealthy countries like Australia, which gives them an exaggerated view of their self importance and then compare it to the lives their parents and grand parents had and whether they could've gained the same opportunities had they been in their shoes.
sheek
Roar Guru
So who's exaggerating now in order to grind their own axe?
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Where are we possibly going to ship Lleyton Hewitt off to. For goodness sake his boorish behaviour when he was in his early 20's was way worse than anything Kyrgios is dishing up. Its because Kyrgios is a "wog" and not seen as an Australian that is riling everyone up. Saying it like it is, we are after all a racist country.
slane
Guest
Disgraceful. Let's just ship all the brown people out of the country if they can't act like proper Aussies, hey?
Ra
Guest
So Gary can you tell the older Gay and wider Aussie communities what is standard disciplinary procedure from a young straight person's viewpoint. Remember also, its not the young straight generation who pay the wages, its the older generation who hold those purse strings. Those same older people sponsor the likes of Tennis Australia's tournaments. And those people are probably best friends of the great Dawn Fraser also !!!
Ra
Guest
yes Dawn, good stuff, I agree, they need to pull their childish heads in. Whether they like it or not they do represent not only their own ethnic cultures, but the whole of Australia and its multiple cultures. Being the selfish pair they are, they don't show outward care about that. However, I also think its up to their industry to discipline them for bringing their game into disrepute in front of its world-wide audience. Hopefully, they are disciplined to the max by their peers and industry management so they can see for themselves, that they are not bigger than the game.
Gary McDonald
Guest
cracking up been saying for weeks people influencing Australian sport are too old and not in touch with the times. This is what Tomic was referring too and I wonder how Tennis Australia will respond. Her comments are standard from her generation to this day and have no place in sport or Australian life and this from a Gay women who should know better.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Dawn Fraser is becoming less and less relevant....