While Rothfield maintains the column is a "light hearted" review of the year in sport, the decision to snub a human being for the award has been mocked on social media as sexist and an insult to many female athletes, especially Pearson, whose win in London was roundly considered a highlight of the games.
Channel Seven AFL commentator Tom Harley tweeted it was "plain offensive to all the inspirational sportswomen of Australia".
Comedian Wil Anderson was one of hundreds of people to tweet their disgust, saying: "If a horse can win Sportswoman Of The Year then surely a man can now marry a horse? Oh no, Cory Bernardi was right..."
Rothfield defended the award and responded to the online backlash by telling critics to "pull your head in".
"Caviar is a girl and new Phar Lap. She stopped a nation."
It wasn't enough to stop the criticism, with "tele", "Black Caviar" and "sportswoman" trending on Twitter.
Fellow News Limited sports journalist Mark Robinson condemned the so-called award, calling it "utterly embarrassing".
