Dawn Fraser Says Sorry For Nick Kyrgios Attack

Australian Olympic great Dawn Fraser has apologised after she was accused of making racist comments about tennis star Nick Kyrgios.

The swimming legend was speaking after the 20-year-old's controversial Wimbledon defeat by Richard Gasquet, during which he appeared to stop trying and clashed with British umpire James Keothavong.

In an interview on Australian TV, Fraser said she found Kyrgios' on-court behaviour "disgusting" before adding that he and Bernard Tomic - both the children of immigrants - should "go back to where their parents came from" if they were not prepared to change.

She told Nine News: "We don't need them here in this country to act like that.

"They should be setting a better example for the younger generation of this country, a great country of ours."

The comments attracted widespread criticism in Australia, not least from Kyrgios himself, who fired back on his Facebook page.

Posting a link to Fraser's comments, he wrote: "Throwing a racket, brat. Debating the rules, disrespectful. Frustrated when competing, spoilt. Showing emotion, arrogant. Blatant racist, Australian legend."

Fraser - one of only three people to win the same Olympic event three times - later apologised.

The 77-year-old said: "I want to unreservedly apologise for any comments that I made this morning which may have caused offence to my fellow Australians including Nick and his family.

"The live to air clip was part of a larger unbroadcasted interview however this does not condone what was said.

"Australians have a rich sporting heritage made up of individuals from a variety of different countries of origin.

"My intended message, which was not delivered as articulately as it could have been, was on a purely sporting level rather than meant as an attack on Nick’s ethnicity.

"Nick’s representing Australia and I want to see him representing Australian tennis in the best possible light. "

Kyrgios was born in Canberra and is the son of a Greek-born father and Malaysian-born mother.

Fraser is revered in her home country as winner of eight Olympic medals, including four golds, and six Commonwealth golds.

She was named the "World's Greatest Living Female Water Sports Champion" by the International Olympic Committee in 1999 and has an award named in her honour at the Australian Sports Awards.

She had her own run-ins with sporting authority during her career, including accusations that she stole an Olympic flag from outside Emperor Hirohito's palace in Japan during the 1964 Olympics.

She was arrested over the incident but later released without charge.