Sports star Beth Tweddle's live question and answer session turns into Sexist Twitter backlash

EVER wondered what to ask a female sports star? Probably not the kind of questions that Olympic champion Beth Tweddle was subjected to in this eye-opening exchange.

A SPORTS star was subjected to an avalanche of abuse after a harmless question and answer session descended into a sexist Twitter brawl.

Britain's Sky Sports News held a live Q&A with World Champion gymnast and Olympic medallist Beth Tweddle.

Using the hashtag #Sportswomen, Sky sent out a tweet asking followers to send in their questions for the Q&A with the former gymnast.

But what began as a harmless conversation quickly descended into a shocking display of sexist and offensive comments directed at the 28-year-old triple Olympian.

One user called her ugly, another asked if all female athletes were lesbians, while one even went as far as to ask if pregnancy was a poor injury excuse that women should be able to run off.

Beth Tweddle, why did you turn down the role of Lord Voldermort? #sportswomen

Wow RT: @jimmydoris1986: @SkySportsNews Do you think pregnancy is a poor injury excuse and women should be able to run it off? #sportswomen

The conversation continued in this manner until one user asked when Tweddle knew gymnastics would become a major part of her life.

She gave what looked to be a fairly innocent response.

Beth: I loved it from the age of 7 but it took over from the age of 12 #sportswomen

But things got out of hand even further when users began asking questions of a sexual nature and asked if she liked sex from that age as well.

Some users later apologised for their offensive tweets, some of which have since been deleted, but not before they sparked an outrageous response from other offended Twitter users and before being published on storify.

One of the many responses to the exchange. Picture: Screengrab

Other users quickly came out in support of Tweddle, condemning the trolls who hounded her.

I'm a Dad of 2 Daughter's and I'm sorry that Beth Tweddle faced appalling behaviour today in a live Q&A #sportswomen http://t.co/xxwYPpsio8

This is disgusting. Congratulations to everyone who contributed #cretins http://t.co/zLPXQNaBB3 #sportswomen

This makes me furious. Beth Tweddle's Sky Sports Q&A attracts torrent of vile misogyny- http://t.co/sm8uYMLv6M #sportswomen #everydaysexism

In a statement to The Guardian, Sky said it was extremely disappointed that "an attempt to host a constructive Q&A was used by some to air sexist views" and they were appalled she was abused.

Tweddle, who competed at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics and has won three World Championship gold medals, has not yet responded to the furore.

Would a male athlete in that position have been subjected to the same treatment? Have your say in the comments below.