Olympics: Aussies frontrunners for sledging gold

If sledging was an Olympic sport, the Aussies would have won two golds already.

Some Australians have started abusing the opposition before they get to the startline - even when they are in the same team.

Former Olympic cycling star Martin Vinnicombe was so acerbic in his criticism of Australia's triathletes - calling them fat, unfit and mad - he could be barred from the Games.

And long-jumper Jai Taurima has landed in hot water for claiming that black men cannot jump in Sydney.

Vinnicombe, a 1988 Olympic silver medallist later banned for a positive test for steroids, is coaching Australian triathlete Peter Robertson. But he has made it clear he does not think much of Robertson's Olympic team-mates.

He described top triathlete Miles Stewart as being fat with "hog's jowls," and said most triathletes were mad.

"They do too much training and that's why they're all damaged," he said.

Vinnicombe's comments in the Sydney Morning Herald so angered the Australian Olympic Committee that he has been called to account. If he does not give a satisfactory answer, he will not be given accreditation for the Games.

In the meantime, Taurima might have to apologise to his offended rivals for what they say was a racial slur.

Ranked fourth in the field, Taurima said "you can pretty much knock out all the dark athletes" in Sydney because they could not cope with the cold weather.

American black athletes Melvin Lister and Savante Stringfellow were appalled by Taurima's remarks - which did not end there.

He said the Americans were "a bunch of dribblers" who could not jump far when they were outside their own country.

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