For Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice, wearing a swimsuit is not just work but also a hobby, as the Australian who will compete in the 2012 Olympics tweeted a photo of herself wearing a swimsuit many have criticized as too sexy.

The photo posted on Twitter has gotten flak by fellow Australians who believe the photo was too sexy for 24-year-old Rice, who will defend her Olympic titles this year in London. Rice tweeted the photo on Saturday after receiving the bikini as a birthday gift from designer Ellie Gonsalves.

Thank you to the Gorgeous @elliegonsalves for my birthday @veveswimwear bikini, Rice wrote.

Her manager confirmed that the photo was not an official endorsement but rather just a personal photo.

No, Stephanie isn't an ambassador for Ellie Gonsalves, she just loves their stuff, her manager told the Herald Sun. She doesn't have any relationship with Speedo anymore so there are no restrictions there.''

Rice, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, will compete to defend her Olympics titles in the 200m and the 400m individual medleys in London.

This isn't the first photo controversy for Rice. According to Yahoo Sports, Rice tweeted a photo of herself in 2008 wearing a sexy police woman costume; in 2010, she posted a homophobic rant on Twitter, according to NineMSN.

Rice also isn't the only Aussie swimmer in a bit of trouble heading to the London Games. Earlier this month, Australian swimmers Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk were forced to make a public apology for posting photos of themselves on Facebook with high-powered guns on the Internet. The issue was investigated by Swimming Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee.

View the slideshow to see photos of Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice.

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