Olympics Commentator’s Dismissed Over Sexist Remark
A veteran sports commentator has been dismissed from his Olympics role following a sexist remark he made about Australian female swimmers following their gold medal win. The comments were made while the Australian team was celebrating.
As the 4x100m freestyle relay team were making their way off the pool deck in Paris, Bob Ballard said they were “finishing up”, adding “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make up”.
The clip quickly went viral and broadcaster Eurosport later said he had been removed from the commentary line-up.
Ballard has yet to comment publicly on his remarks.
Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris and Shayna Jack had just beaten the US and China, to make it the fourth Olympics in a row where the Australia has claimed the gold medal in the event.
They were waving to crowds and celebrating the achievement when Mr Ballard made his comments.
His co-commentator and British swimming champion Lizzie Simmonds had immediately branded his remark “outrageous”, prompting laughter from Ballard.
On Sunday, Eurosport said Ballard – previously a long-time BBC reporter and presenter – would not return to their air waves.
“During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” the broadcaster said in a statement.
“To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”
Mr Ballard has been a stalwart of global sports coverage since the 1980s, reporting on multiple Olympic games and World Championships.
He has commentated an array of sports including water polo, ice hockey and wheelchair tennis, but is best known for his coverage of swimming and diving.
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