Whiff of Success Upsets Aussies

The sporting spat between Britain and Australia plunged to new and increasingly comic depths yesterday as the most senior Australian Olympic official accused British athletes of bad personal hygiene.

After Rebecca Adlington won a gold medal in the 400m freestyle swimming event, John Coates, president of the Australian Olympic Committee and an International Olympic Committee member since 2001, was asked for his thoughts. "It's not bad for a country that has no swimming pools and very little soap," he said.

The chief executive of British swimming, David Sparkes, avoided getting involved in the controversy. "I don't know anything about the average Australian's use of soap," he said. "I have no idea about their personal hygiene." The jibe follows a war of words sparked by Andy Burnham, the British secretary of state for culture, media and sport, before the games when he said that "old rivals like Australia are saying they are in danger of falling behind Team GB in the medal table".

Kate Ellis, Australia's minister for sport, replied that the British would falter against Australians in head-to-head contests. "British sportsmen and women in the past have been known to choke under the pressure when up against the Aussies," she said.

Of course, for that to happen in the pool, Australia would have to qualify for Olympic swimming finals. Despite dominating the sport at the Sydney Olympics eight years ago, Australian swimming is experiencing a relative decline, while Britain's team has improved.