- Ariarne Titmus calls the conditions of the athletes ‘ridiculous’
- Paris’s “green” Olympic Village has been a topic of debate
- Titmus drew criticism online following his comments.
Sports fans have turned on Australian snooker queen Ariarne Titmus and her teammates after they complained about life in the Olympic village.
Titmus, 23, who won the 400m freestyle final in convincing fashion, called the conditions for athletes in Paris “ridiculous.”
“Living in the Olympic Village makes it difficult to compete,” she said in an interview Sunday.
“It’s definitely not built for high performance, so it’s about who can really hold it together in the mind.”
But some fans on social media accused her of complaining and said her comments were uncharacteristic of Australia.
“Give me a break, why is it always the Aussies making excuses?” one person fumed.
Another posted: ‘Get over it, remember how privileged you are to be there… complaining is really petty.’
Others argued that all athletes in Paris are “in the same boat” so there is no point in complaining.
Sports fans have turned on Australian snooker queen Ariarne Titmus after she complained about life in the Olympic Village in Paris.
Titmus, 23, who won the 400m freestyle final in convincing fashion, called the conditions for the athletes “ridiculous”.
Sports fans were quick to criticise Titmus, suggesting he should focus on his swimming.
“Our athletes are turning into a bunch of whiny, spoiled Australian representatives. If you don’t like your situation, go home and get a job!” one person said.
Another wrote: ‘I’m not impressed if competitors think their performance is to be blamed on their accommodation… get over it and remember how privileged you are to have the opportunity to be there.’
Australian swimming head coach Rohan Taylor also spoke about the conditions and said being adaptable is crucial for competitors in France to be successful.
“The Olympic Games have always been a challenge,” he said.
‘Every Olympics I’ve been in, every Olympic Games you watch, is a test of the athletes’ ability to come here, compete and perform when it matters.
‘It’s about how you handle yourself and whatever environment you’re in, whatever the beds, whatever the food, everyone deals with it.
“The Olympic Games have always been like this and this is how they are. And that is their beauty.”
Fortunately for Titmus, the conditions have not prevented him from having success in the pool.
Australian head swimming coach Rohan Taylor (pictured) reminded swimmers not to let anything distract them from their performance, including the conditions in the village.
After her heroics in the 400m freestyle, she took silver in the 200m freestyle final behind teammate Mollie O’Callaghan.
Titmus was gracious in defeat, admitting her tears were “of happiness,” before adding she was elated for her fellow Australian.
In an emotional moment as the couple received their gold and silver medals, O’Callaghan invited Titmus to join her on the podium.
The couple embraced as they shared the spotlight while the Australian national anthem played.