Piers Morgan has told Olympians that "only gold medals matter" and now athletes are firing back at his comments.

The journalist, 56, sparked the fury of athletes when he declared that third place medals are not worth celebrating after team GB won an impressive number of medals on day three of Tokyo 2020, per Olympics.com.

Taking to Twitter, the outspoken host wrote: "It's great to see @TeamGB athletes win Gold medals, not least so we can stop pretending Bronze is an achievement worthy of national celebration."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1419579430071119877]]

"I don't think Silver and Bronze medals are shameful, but no real champion would ever feel comfortable having one in their trophy cabinet," he added.

He concluded: "Real sporting champions don't celebrate coming 3rd."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1419581787366428675]]

Unsurprisingly, Morgan's point of view did not go down well on social media, with many athletes subsequently taking to the platform to slam his views.

Canadian figure skater Meagan Duhamel wrote: "I actually have an Olympic gold in my trophy case. But I'm prouder of my bronze. So to each his own!"

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/mhjd_85/status/1419911700183240729]]

Olympic boxer Paddy Barnes, meanwhile, took a different approach and offered to fight Morgan in exchange for his bronze medals.

He wrote: "Piers, [I'll] fight you for my Bronze medals."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/paddyb_ireland/status/1419648775333859328]]

Former professional soccer star and BBC Sport presenter Gary Lineker also slammed Morgan, writing: "You're wrong" after he added that "nobody cares" about the Olympics.

"I feel incredibly sorry for all the athletes still trying to live their Olympic dream, but that is the harsh reality," Morgan said.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1419289327432093700]]

"You’re wrong on this one," Lineker replied on Twitter. "It's exhilarating, uplifting and inspiring. Exactly what's needed in these most depressing of times."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1419576251430457348]]

Other Twitter users said that Morgan had no write to criticize people for not winning after he quit Good Morning Britain when he famously lost a debate to weatherman Alex Beresford over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's accusations of racism within the Royal Family.

"Came second in a 2 man debate with the weatherman, then stormed off in a huff," wrote one Twitter user.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Colliniho/status/1419694727012786176]]

What do you think of Morgan's controversial opinion? Let us know in the comments.

Featured image credit: Alamy / Blitz Pictures

Piers Morgan tells Olympians 'only gold medals matter' as athletes fire back at comment