Olympic great Ariarne Titmus has revealed she was subjected to thousands of hateful messages after criticising a provocative Sydney Sweeney advertisement, saying she was personally attacked over her appearance for standing up for women’s sport.
asserted
she → reveal → sport
Last month, Titmus joined a chorus of prominent female athletes condemning an advertisement featuring American actress Sydney Sweeney, who appeared scantily clad alongside various pieces of sporting equipment.
asserted
who → join → equipment
The advertisement, filmed for US sports prediction platform Novig, played on the company’s “just sports” slogan.
asserted
advertisement → film → slogan
The former Australian swimmer described it as “an absolute joke” and “the furthest thing from sport”.
asserted
swimmer → describe → sport
“I can’t describe how infuriated I feel when I watch this,” Titmus wrote on social media.
asserted
Titmus → describe → media
“Not only is it a kick in the face to every woman who has dedicated her life to perfecting her craft, but every woman who enjoys sports for what it really is.”
asserted
it → dedicate → sports
Titmus received support from fellow Olympians and other prominent female athletes, many of whom shared their own criticism of the advertisement.
asserted
many → receive → advertisement
Speaking at a Racing NSW media event ahead of Golden Eagle Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday, Titmus said she had no idea her comments, posted while holidaying in Europe, would generate such a fierce reaction.
asserted
comments → speak → reaction
“I got a lot of messages of support but at the same time, I got thousands of comments and messages of hate.
asserted
I → get → hate
It’s unfortunate,” Titmus told this masthead on Wednesday.
asserted
Titmus → ’ → Wednesday
“I was just trying to do the right thing and use my platform.
asserted
I → try → platform
Being removed from the swimming team now, I feel I can be a bit more vocal … but I was quite surprised by the reception.
asserted
I → remove → reception
“But you know what?
asserted
you → know → ?
I’d do it again.
asserted
I → do → it
I just think how far we come and how incredible our female athletes are around the world.
asserted
athletes → think → world
It didn’t sit very nicely with me.
asserted
It → sit → me
I never really got much trolling or hate, and I always felt immense support.
asserted
I → get → support
It was the first time I felt people were attacking me personally and physically [about] how I looked.”
asserted
I → feel → me
Did it affect her?
asserted
it → affect → her
“It kind of just goes over my head,” she said.
asserted
she → go → head
“I know who I am.
asserted
I → know → ?
That’s their problem.
asserted
That → ’ → ?
Other women who spoke out about it probably got the same [treatment].”
asserted
who → speak → treatment
It has been just over a year since Titmus, an eight-time Olympic medallist, world record holder and world champion, announced her retirement from swimming.
asserted
Titmus → announce → swimming
Training to become the best swimmer in the world was taxing, but retirement has hardly meant putting her feet up.
asserted
retirement → train → feet
The past 12 months have been a whirlwind of flights, sponsor appearances and broadcast commitments as Titmus establishes herself beyond the pool.
asserted
Titmus → establish → pool
Titmus, who is launching her book Relentless next week, has also partnered with Youngcare to raise awareness of the charity’s work helping young Australians with complex and permanent physical disabilities live independently.
asserted
Australians → launch → disabilities
Golden Eagle Day has become one of Australia’s biggest race days, with about $1 million donated to charities each year.
asserted
million → become → charities
Long before she became a swimming superstar, horses were her first love.
asserted
horses → become → ?
She grew up riding them on her family’s property in Tasmania before committing to the pool.
asserted
She → grow → pool
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics less than two years away, Titmus insists there is no temptation to make a comeback.
asserted
Titmus → insist → comeback
“The chapter is well and truly closed,” Titmus said.
asserted
Titmus → close → ?
“Zero part of me wanted to be in the water [at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow].
asserted
part → want → Glasgow
I felt so removed from that team.
asserted
I → feel → team
Every day that’s passed since I’ve retired, I know that it’s the right one.
asserted
it → pass → ?
“I haven’t slowed down.
asserted
I → slow → ?
I really thought that it might have a bit of a lull, but I’ve just thrown myself into as much as I possibly can, and the work’s been coming.”
uncertain
work → think → much
Titmus is also preparing for the release of her autobiography on Tuesday, which promises a warts-and-all account of her extraordinary career and the demanding methods of longtime coach Dean Boxall.
asserted
which → prepare → Boxall
Their partnership delivered Olympic gold medals and world records, but although it was not always smooth sailing, there was always mutual respect.
asserted
it → deliver → medals
“I don’t regret one second of it or how hard I pushed myself.
asserted
I → regret → myself
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
