The captain's pick to run for Labor in the federal seat of Hunter, Daniel Repacholi, has pleaded with branch members for a chance to run for Federal Parliament, saying he is not the "misogynistic prick" he believes he has been portrayed as.
The five-time Olympian's preselection is set to be confirmed by the ALP national executive on Friday without a rank-and-file vote.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese and Mr Fitzgibbon have backed him to become the candidate. Mr Fitzgibbon has described Mr Repacholi as a "normal larrikin Australian".
But the nominee appears to be in trouble with branch members.
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In series of exchanges seen by The Canberra Times, an introductory email to branch members on Thursday night was immediately rebuffed.
Members described his candidacy as unearned and unacceptable while urging him to withdraw for the sake of the party.
The branch members are outraged by now-deleted sexually provocative and racially charged social media posts by Mr Repacholi, including a description of India as a "shit hole" and a listing of his "favourite quote" as: "Size dosent [sic] matter when you have 130 kg pushing it."
Acknowledging people were "unhappy", he wrote that he regretted his past actions and wanted to make amends.
"There are things that I have posted on my socials in the past that I am not proud of at all and wish that I had never posted unfortunately I can not change that, but what I can do is show you and all the members is that I am not a misogynistic prick like the media has portrayed me as," Mr Repacholi wrote.
"I treat everyone with respect and as equals no matter who they are or what background they come from."
The Canberra Times has spoken to Mr Repacholi and branch members and verified the emails.
The members in Hunter want a rank-and-file vote and are questioning Mr Repacholi's suitability as a Labor candidate.
Mr Repacholi said he had expected a rank-and-file vote.
"I never expected it to go to a national executive vote at all," he said.
"I thought it would be a rank-and-file vote like what most of the members would have thought as well. I never expected to just be able to walk into the top job. I can assure you of that.
"But in saying that, I do believe that I have a lot to offer Labor as I set out in my introduction to you."
The Olympic shooter also explained why he missed a Zoom meeting of candidates this week, an action which enraged branch members.
"I was aware that the meeting was taking place on Tuesday evening however I have looked through all of my emails, messages and phone calls and can't find an invitation to this meeting," Mr Repacholi wrote.
"What platform was the invitation sent on?"
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