Ariarne Titmus has been criticised by the organisation urging Australians not to attend the Melbourne Cup after the Olympic swimming queen spoke out about her enthusiasm for the racing carnival.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist and world record holder, who had just emerged in Paris, was named an ambassador for the Melbourne Cup in September.
The 24-year-old grew up riding horses on her family estate in Tasmania and would compete in dressage and show jumping before pursuing a career in swimming.
‘Horse riding was my first love. “I grew up with horses and competed in dressage and show jumping from the age of seven before swimming became my focus,’ she told the Victorian Racing Club after the announcement.
Titmus, who became the first Olympian to win back-to-back gold medals in the same event – the 400m freestyle – in Paris, added that she was excited to return to Flemington for this week’s races.
“There’s no place like Flemington on the first Tuesday in November and I can’t wait to get back to Melbourne for Cup Week,” she said
“There’s no other event like this that brings together exceptional sport, fashion and entertainment and I’m looking forward to swapping my swimwear for racing gear and enjoying the week with friends.”
Her comments were not well received by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR), an organisation that campaigns against the racing industry.
This year’s races mark the 15th year that the animal welfare group has run its Nup to the Cup campaign – a movement that encourages Australians to skip the annual festival and instead attend events that raise money for animal welfare organisations.
Ariarne Titmus (left) has faced criticism for her role as ambassador for the Melbourne Cup
Animal welfare activists Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses called on Olympic swimmer to ‘reconsider her role as ambassador’
Reacting to the news that Titmus would be attending the event as an ambassador, CPR responded on its Facebook page with the following: ‘If you truly love horses, we ask you to reconsider your role as an ambassador for the Cup.
‘Please open your eyes to what really goes on behind the scenes in the racing industry – we assure you that the suffering and exploitation of racehorses does not want to be associated with #NuptotheCup #horseracingkills.’
It comes as Nup to the Cup campaign director Elio Celotto has also expressed his disappointment at Titmus’ appointment.
“We are very disappointed that Ariarne Titmus is their ambassador, but I think they had to find someone. We are almost at the point where there is no excuse for not knowing (about the Cup campaign),” Celotto told Yahoo Sports.
“I am absolutely 100 percent certain that when Ariarne Titmus and others signed their contracts they were fully aware of the possible backlash. The only hope is that she will gain some insight into what is happening in horse racing but that she will not support it in the future.”
Nup to the Cup is asking people not to attend the Melbourne Cup festival and instead to “commemorate and respect the important role that animals play in our world”.
They are urging the public to organise their own Nup to the Cup event or attend another event and raise money for organisations that work to protect animal welfare.
Celotto also spoke to Channel 9’s David Campbell and seemed to show some sympathy for the broadcaster who supports Nup to the Cup but is likely to work the event.
Titmus grew up riding horses on her family’s estate in Tasmania and was photographed earlier this week at Flemington
She won her third and fourth gold medals at the Paris Olympics earlier this summer
“I doubt he would ever support and promote racing himself,” he added.
“But he clearly has a contract and he has to abide by the terms of the contract. We’ve spoken to a number of celebrities over the years who have told us privately that they support us but can’t say or do anything. We don’t hold any grudges against those people.”