The Australian Olympic Committee have backed gold medallist Mack Horton after his controversial post-race comments caused a stir in China.

Before toppling swimmer Sun Yang in the men’s 400m freestyle event on Sunday, Horton dubbed the Chinese swimmer a “drug cheat”.

Sun served a doping ban in 2014 and Horton ramped up the rivalry after his thrilling victory when he said his success was a “win for the good guys”.

“I don’t know if it’s a rivalry between me and him, just a rivalry between me and athletes who have tested positive,” Horton told the Seven Network.

He quickly became an enemy of those in China, who flooded his Instagram page with hundreds of thousands of nasty social media comments.

But the AOC backed their man in a statement released on Monday morning (AEST) as the countdown to a 1500m freestyle final between the rivals on Sunday builds.

Horton celebrates his victory. Photo: Getty

“Mack is entitled to express a point of view,” an AOC spokesman said.

“Under the Team Values ASPIRE, the E stands for express yourself, that is his right.

“He has spoken out in support of clean athletes.

“This is something he feels strongly about and good luck to him.”

Sun told the Seven Network on Sunday that “I am no friend of Mack Horton”. He added: “I am the 1500m king!”

Australia top the Games medal tally after gold medals won by Horton and the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team on Sunday were added to by shooter Catherine Skinner on Monday (AEST).