Annette Sharp: Abbey Gelmi winning over Olympic gig critics at Seven

Abbey Gelmi, who is hosting Seven’s Tokyo Olympics coverage, is said to be fast winning over critics — although her co-host is not necessarily one of them, Annette Sharp writes.

Abbey Gelmi’s appointment to the plum prime time hosting role on Seven’s Tokyo Olympics coverage has ruffled some feathers at broadcaster Seven.

Battling the perception held by some at the network that she didn’t have the experience or national profile for the job, Perth-born Gelmi, the granddaughter of Olympic runner Herb Elliott, has so far proved herself a capable and warm host.

Gifted with an outstanding voice, the hardworking Gelmi is said to be fast winning over critics within Seven — although her co-host Hamish McLachlan is not necessarily one of them.

Abbey Gelmi is hosting the Olympics coverage for Seven.

This column noted the chemistry between the pair looked frosty on air during the first week of coverage from Tokyo and while McLachlan has looked happy to stand shoulder-to-shoulder from swimming commentator Ian Thorpe when he’s on the Seven set, he always maintains a rigid distance from Gelmi.

Some suggest McLachlan, Seven’s Mr AFL (though not the AFL’s Mr AFL — that would be his brother Gill McLachlan), may disapprove of Gelmi’s new relationship with Richmond premiership star Kane Lambert.

Gelmi confirmed the new relationship last month.

Another whose nose is said to be out of joint by Gelmi’s meteoric rise is Seven Sydney’s sports news reader Mel McLaughlin.

As this column has reported previously, McLaughlin, who is now on the ground in Tokyo, has had a battle winning over bosses within Seven’s sports department.