Cambage, who helped Australia win bronze on the 2012 Olympics and likewise competed on the 2016 Games, criticized the pictures in a sequence of posts on Instagram utilizing the hashtag #whitewashedaustralia.
“I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times,” Cambage wrote below a promotional shot of athletes first posted by clothes model Jockey, which is sponsoring the Australian Olympic workforce. “HOW AM I MEANT TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOESNT EVEN REPRESENT ME.”
In a separate publish, Cambage wrote: “y’all really do anything to remove POCs [people of color] from the forefront when it’s black athletes leading the pack.
Cambage, who’s getting ready for the beginning of the WNBA season with the Las Vegas Aces, commented on one other promotional picture, writing: “Also pretend tan would not equal diversity.”
That photo includes Indigenous rugby player Maurice Longbottom, who was wearing a jersey highlighting Australia’s Indigenous heritage. Cambage later clarified that she “wasn’t saying he had pretend tan on.”
“I do know who Maurice Longbottom is,” she said in a video. “He was the one carrying the Indigenous uniform, clearly … I’m speaking about the remaining of the picture. One token POC [person of color] in a photograph is just not ok.” Longbottom has not acknowledged the comments on his Instagram page.
Cambage also posted footage of Cathy Freeman winning gold in the 400 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, alongside the caption: “Also simply to remind you Australia’s GREATEST sporting second was thanks too BLACK INDIGENOUS WOMAN.”
“The athletes made available to Jockey could and should have better reflected the rich diversity of athletes who represent Australia at the Olympic Games.
“The AOC does nevertheless have a really proud historical past of celebrating and selling diversity in all its varieties. From Indigenous reconciliation, individuals of color, gender equality and all varieties of diversity, the AOC is rightly proud of its document … We proudly defend our monitor document on diversity and there will likely be additional photoshoots that replicate our broad diversity of athletes.”
Jockey didn’t instantly reply to CNN’s request for remark.
The Olympics are scheduled to get underway on July 23 and run till August 8.
