Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser has lashed out at golfer Adam Scott over his decision to skip the Rio Olympics.
Fraser, Australia’s second most successful Olympian of all-time, has taken to Facebook to accuse Scott of putting money ahead of national pride in his decision not to include the Games in his schedule.
“Well done Adam great to put your country on hold so that you can fulfil your own schedule,” she wrote.
“How much money do you want in life?
“Not showing much for your country.”
Fraser also referenced the fact she worked three jobs in the lead up to the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics, where she still remains one of just a trio of swimmers to have won the same event at three separate Games.
“Well done Adam may you enjoy your sport and the money you earn gives you great pleasure,” she said.
“I am still trying to survive at 78 years of age but a very proud Australian.”
Scott confirmed he would not compete in Rio on Wednesday, citing a heavy schedule.
“My decision has been taken as a result of an extremely busy playing schedule around the time of the Olympics and other commitments, both personal and professional,” the world No.7 said.
“I have informed the Australian team captain and relevant authorities, who are understanding of my position and I wish the Australian Olympic team the very best of luck in Rio.”
NaBUru38
Guest
I dare you tell that to Manu Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker. Or Nadal, Federer and Djokovic.
Poppi
Roar Rookie
Adam Scott represents himself every time he plays. He doesn't represent Australia.
timbo
Guest
Neither do I. At 78 it's time to slip quietly into oblivion.
wombat
Guest
Amateurism has been essentially "dead" when it comes to elite sports since the end of the 50s at the latest and the writing was on the wall after WW2. Essentially the only amateurs who could compete post university years (and the US NCAA system is shamateurism at its worst) have been the state supported (the Cold War Eastern bloc) or the wealthy ...... or be a sponsored athlete once the Olympics dropped the pretenses post Munich. The only strictly amateur sport left in the Olympics is boxing.
Johnno
Guest
The Olympics is just like any other sport tournament now, only there to make money $. The more the Olympic ideals have been thrown around to make money FIFA soccer world cup style with shady IOC bids etc, it's losing it's meaning. A gold medal doesn't feel as special these days. It's heading the commonwealth games way, meaningless. It should stick to it's amatuer ideals more and not have some of the sports like golf. There's talk the IOC are looking at allowing pro boxers to compete at the Olympics which I think is a mistake.
Bruce Dribs
Roar Rookie
Good on you Adam Scott for calling a spade a spade. It's what we expect from great Australians. The great irony of it all is that trying to make the Olympics meaningful by including popular sports unnecessarily is making them "meaningless". Sports like golf and tennis being in the Olympics is not "for the sports' sake", it is "for the Olympics' sake" ..... and that is the wrong reason for any sport to be there. For Dawn, the Olympics were a pinnacle. For golf, it is not and never will be. Adam Scott represents Australia at every tournament he plays. Nationality is a fundamental part of the branding for golf, just look at the score board at any golf tournament and you will see a national flag beside the name of every player. Does naming one the Visa or Coca Cola Olympic tournament make that any different? Let some other sport that needs a platform to grow use that opportunty. A sport that can be relevant to more countries, a sport where the Olympic medal can provide ambition for millions not be an after
Johnno
Guest
Brendon Athletics(track events)/Swimming/Boxing/Basketball/Tennis/Golf/7's rugby/SOCCER/ICE HOCKEY/Field Hockey/Figure Skating/Down Hill Sking, could all survive without the Olympics and do survive very well. none of these sports need the olympics. Oh and chuck in past Olympic sports like Baseball too.
Brendon
Guest
Basketball? Err, thats why the USA sends second string teams to the basketball World Cup. Mills and Bogut werent even at the last world cup for Australia. You're forgetting that the Olympics are huge worldwide not just a few Eurotrash countries who can only play 1 sport and third world countries like the football world cup. Canada, USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand the Olympics are bigger than the football world cup. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka the Olympics are also bigger. The Olympics are huge in China.
wombat
Guest
She was a very great swimmer and is justifiably regarded as a great of that sport but where does that give her authority to judge any others; particularly when her career ended over 50 years ago. What she has become; as is the case with many former prominent sportspeople long retired, is a media "renta-quote"; in essence a "go to" for the tabloid media when looking for an inflammatory quote. She really isn't in a particularly great position to judge anyone else as she has traded off her "notoriety" for decades and lives quite well on the "gravy train" of sponsors invites to events that have little relevance to her sport.
Swampy
Guest
I'd be happy if it was pruned back to just athletics.
Swampy
Guest
The gold medal would have to be over a 1000 ounces to compete lol
MJB
Guest
Come now Adam, why won't you get yourself arrested for stealing a flag from a government building like Dawn.
Johnno
Guest
Modern day professional sports and money in many Olympic sports have devalued the Olympics in many ways.
Mark
Guest
At a time when the IOC is having to beg cities to bid to host Olympic Games, both summer and winter, they insist on including more sports whose athletes really couldn't care less about the Olympics. The modern Olympics is a bloated behemoth ripe for significant pruning.
Mark
Guest
Agree 100%. Basketball the same. Rugby 7's the same.
Lancey5times
Guest
The Olympics.... No wonder Dawn cares, she won gold the last time it was relevant. Golf shouldn't be there and at the very least the best in the world shouldn't be. As for the rest of the sports, how many would exist without the Olympics? If you need a once every four years event to keep your sport afloat than you have massive problems. No surprises that the low profile sports at the games are the biggest sports globally (football/tennis as examples). Waste of money
Ben
Guest
If athletics is irrelevant for 3.5/4 years, why does Bolt make $20m a year? And Farah $6m a year? Answer: Because they are paid to help sell running shoes and sportswear (which is a $b industry). Success at the Olympics is the pinnacle of athletics and sufficient for at least a 4 year cycle of endorsements for an athlete. Olympic gold medal runners are the best shoe salespeople money can buy.
Lancey5times
Guest
+1
Jameswm
Guest
If athletics is irrelevant for 3.5/4 years, why does Bolt make $20m a year? And Farah $6m a year? It's irrelevant to YOU for 3.5/4 years. Not the Europeans packing Diamond League stadiums, for example. Don't be so presumptuous as to speak for everyone.
Onside
Guest
Dawn who came from the amateur era, is tut tutting about millionaires who play in the professional era.