Australian Olympic swimmer Leisel Jones is too fat to compete: Report

She has been called everything from FAT to piggish, but Australian Olympian swimmer Leisel Jones is not allowing people’s opinion of her to interfere with her goal of winning gold medals in the 2012 Olympics.

Two days before the start of the London Olympics, Jones’ physique is being scrutinized by many in her native homeland.

The Australian Olympic team chief Nick Green slammed the Melbourne Herald Sun for questioning whether the 26-year-old three time medal winner is prepared for her fourth Olympics.

The newspaper posted two pictures of Jones, one taken recently and the other from 2008, along with a poll asking readers to vote on whether they think the Olympian is fit enough to compete.

Green called the newspaper article “disgraceful” saying he was “disappointed with the article and it’s extremely unfair on Leisel Jones.”

“She is a triple Olympic gold medalist for this country, I think she deserves a lot more respect than she has been given,” Green said.

Jones’ coach Michael Bohl said she is in good shape “doing nine sessions a week and two gym sessions a week.”  He said he is “really happy with her form.”

Jones’ teammate Melanie Schlanger tweeted her disgust with her countrymen on Wednesday saying: “I’m embarrassed by the Aussie media having a go at Leisel, one of Australia’s greatest Olympians.  Support athletes don’t drag them down.  U can’t judge fitness from looks anyway and how about we don’t criticize at all.”

Jones is the FIRST Australian woman ever to compete in four Games.