Swimming champion Maddie Groves has withdrawn from this month’s Olympic trials, citing “misogynistic perverts in sport” for her boycott.
The two-time Olympic silver medallist took to social media to announce her decision on Wednesday evening.
“I’m so grateful to feel so supported in this decision,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I genuinely think this will be one of the fastest Australian Swim Teams ever and I encourage everyone to get on the bandwagon early.
“Best of luck to everyone competing at Olympic Trials”.
On Thursday morning, Groves followed her Instagram post with a tweet that took aim at those responsible for her boycott.
“Let this be a lesson to all misogynistic perverts in sport and their boot lickers,” the 26-year-old wrote on Twitter.
“You can no longer exploit young women and girls, body shame or medically gaslight them and then expect them to represent you so you can earn your annual bonus. Time’s UP.
“Make them pervs quake in fear from the number of people supporting a statement that threatens their existence,” she added in a subsequent Instagram post.
It is not immediately clear who Groves was addressing with her post, or whether she was referencing a specific incident.
Groves received support from multiple Australian athletes on social media, including Paralympian Monique Murphy, Olympic diver Brittany O’Brien and Olympic silver medallist Taylor McKeown.
Groves had been due to compete at the Australian Olympic trials in Adelaide from this Saturday in a bid to earn a place at her second Olympic Games.
She had been entered in the 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle events.
The Brisbane-born swimmer made her Olympic debut at 2016’s Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she won silver in both the 200m butterfly and 4x100m medley.
She also competed at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where she won two gold medals.
In her first Instagram post, Groves said she would continue to race at other competitions “later in the year”.
Swimming Australia did not immediately return NCA NewsWire’s request for comment.