Olympic swimming queen Ariarne Titmus cops backlash from an Animal Welfare group ahead of the Melbourne Cup

Ariarne Titmus has been criticized by the organization urging Australians not to attend the Melbourne Cup after the Olympic swimming queen expressed her excitement about the racing carnival.

Fresh off her performance in Paris, the four-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder was appointed as ambassador for the Melbourne Cup in September.

The 24-year-old grew up riding horses on her family’s estate in Tasmania and would compete in dressage and show jumping competitions before pursuing a career in swimming.

‘Horse riding was my first love. “I grew up with horses and competed in dressage and jumping competitions from the age of seven before swimming became the focus,” she told the Victorian Racing Club following the announcement.

Titmus, who became the first Olympian to win consecutive gold medals in the same event – the 400m freestyle – in Paris, added that she was excited to return to Flemington for this week’s races.

“There’s no place like Flemington on the first Tuesday in November and I can’t wait to return to Melbourne for Cup Week,” she said

“There is no event like this that brings together exceptional sport, fashion and entertainment and I am looking forward to swapping my swimmers for racing gear and enjoying the week with friends.”

Her comments were not well received by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR), an organization dedicated to campaigning against the racing industry.

This year’s races mark the 15th year that the animal welfare group will host their Nup to the Cup campaign – a movement urging Australians to forego the annual festival and instead attend events that raise money for animal welfare organizations .

Animal welfare activists Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses called on the Olympic swimmer to ‘reconsider her role as an ambassador’

In response to the news that Titmus would be attending the event as an ambassador, CPR responded on its Facebook page, writing: ‘If you really love horses, we ask that you please reconsider your role as ambassador for the Cup.

‘Please open your eyes to what is really happening behind the scenes of the racing industry – we assure you that the suffering and exploitation of racehorses is nothing you want associated with #NuptotheCup #horseracingkills.’

It comes as Nup to the Cup campaign director Elio Celotto has also spoken of his disappointment at Titmus’ appointment.

“We are very disappointed that Ariarne Titmus is their ambassador, but I think they had to find someone. We are almost at the point where there is no excuse for not knowing (about the Cup campaign),” Celotto said Yahoo Sports.

“I am absolutely 100 percent sure that when Ariarne Titmus and others have signed their contracts, they are fully aware of the possible reactions. The only thing you can hope is that she will gain insight into what is happening in horse racing, but that she will not support it in the future.’

Nup to the Cup is asking people not to attend the Melbourne Cup festival and instead to ‘commemorate and respect the important role animals play in our world’.

They are urging the public to either organize their own Nup to the Cup event or attend another event and raise money for organizations committed to protecting animal welfare.

Celotto also spoke to Channel 9’s David Campbell and appeared to show some sympathy for the broadcaster who favors Nup to the Cup but is likely to work the event.

Titmus grew up riding horses on her family’s estate in Tasmania and was photographed in Flemington earlier this week

She won her third and fourth gold medals at the Olympic Games in Paris earlier this summer

“I doubt he would ever support racing and promote it of his own accord,” he added.

‘But it is clear that he has a contract and he must adhere to the terms of the contract. We’ve spoken to a number of celebrities over the years who have quietly told us they support us, but can’t say or do anything. We bear no grudge against those people.’