It was always going to get people riled up. A sporting icon with a penchant for controversy having a racially charged go at two similarly headline-worthy, somewhat younger athletes.
And it didn't take long. Soon enough, Dawn Fraser was trending on Twitter and Nick Kyrgios was doing the same on Facebook.
Fraser's incendiary comments - for which she has now "unreservedly" apologised - were made on the very traditional platform for embarrassment known as television. But Kyrgios fired back on Facebook.
Throwing a racket, brat. Debating the rules, disrespectful. Frustrated when competing, spoilt. Showing emotion,...Posted by Nick Kyrgios on Monday, July 6, 2015
And soon enough his mum got involved.
I have no comments on Dawn Frasers nasty racist attack...but she is out of line. #unaustralianbehaviour— nill kyrgios (@nillkyrgios)
July 7, 2015
Then some backup from Australian basketball juggernaut Andrew Bogut.
Wow Dawn Fraser, wow. Something I have not heard since primary/high school (almost daily) #unacceptable— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut)
July 7, 2015
And then the Australian people really let loose.
Dawn Fraser should go back to the dark ages where her opinions belong— Matt Testro (@MattTestro)
July 7, 2015
(To be fair, that's precisely when Fraser was destroying her international rivals in the swimming pool so she could be partial to that.)
Sadly, Dawn Fraser added her name today to the Margaret Court files of bigoted, septuagenarians who happen to be Aussie sporting legends.— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny)
July 7, 2015
How must more misguided and misinformed can Dawn Fraser be with regards to comments on Nick Kyrgios? Stick to swimming.— Craig Gabriel (@crosscourt1)
July 7, 2015
What Dawn Fraser said to Kyrgios and Tomic is racist. There's no questioning that. What a shame.— Sell (@Sell95)
July 7, 2015
Some did appear to sympathise with Fraser's view or, at the very least, just dislike Kyrgios more.
You might be a little good at playing tennis, but you need to learn to be a better sportsman. And slinging off at others doesn't do you any good either. Just grow up.Posted by Sheryl Minns on Monday, July 6, 2015
I am not a racists but I agree with Dawn Fraser we have two very good tennis players acting like a couple of jerksPosted by Kerry Firkin on Monday, July 6, 2015
Anne Weekley was really quite lovely and restrained.
Good effort Nick, I always enjoy watching you play. You win some you lose some and hopefully you learn some. Keep moving...Posted by Anne Weekley on Monday, July 6, 2015
Others travelled down the time tunnel to relive some of Fraser's previous gaffes.
Dawn Fraser telling kyrgios to behave? The same Dawn Fraser who was suspended for 10 years for stealing the Olympic flag?— Jivnaz (@Jivnaz)
July 7, 2015
so i am guessing that this has been pointed to already but this is Dawn Fraser in 1997. pic.twitter.com/kaQZ3MExTA— Jason Wilson (@jason_a_w)
July 7, 2015
Dawn Fraser on wanting to be more like Pauline Hanson from 2007 http://t.co/nc6jnu4Z0t via @ErikOJensen pic.twitter.com/9eze3agW0w— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef)
July 7, 2015
And the coincidence of Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane speaking at the Press Club only hours later? Well, that's just bad luck.
Looking forward to speaking at @PressClubAust this lunchtime— Tim Soutphommasane (@timsout)
July 7, 2015
.@timsout giving the National Press Club address about race relations in Australia. #DawnFraser pic.twitter.com/H0GiSVE1TV— Alex Lee (@alex_c_lee)
July 7, 2015
