Olympics commentator removed after sexist remark about Australian swim team
By Tom Morgan
Eurosport commentator Bob Ballard has been removed from Olympic Games coverage over a sexist remark about Australia’s women swimmers.
Viewers immediately turned on Ballard, who came under attack on social media after he suggested females like “hanging around doing their make-up”.
Commentator Bob Ballard has been removed from Eurosport’s Olympic coverage following his remarks. Credit: Twitter
He had been commentating on Australia’s quartet of Emma McKeon, Shayna Jack, Mollie O’Callaghan and Meg Harris, who secured freestyle relay gold.
“Well, the women just finishing up,” he said about the team. “You know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up.”
Former English Olympic swimmer Lizzie Simmonds, who was alongside Ballard on commentary duty, had described the comment as “outrageous”. Ballard has been contacted for comment.
Professor Pragya Agarwal, a behavioural and data scientist, was among those to express immediate dismay, posting: “When will these people ever learn? Why aren’t they being given some training?”
Australia’s Shayna Jack, Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma Mckeon and Meg Harris, from left, celebrate after winning the women’s 4x100-metre freestyle relay final.Credit: AP
Removed with immediate effect
After the clip was shared widely, Eurosport moved quickly to remove Ballard from all remaining events at the Olympics. “During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” a statement from the broadcaster said. “To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”
Ballard will be a familiar name to BBC 5Live and TalkSPORT listeners, having previously reported for both radio channels. He covered swimming events across the opening day in Paris for Discovery+ and announced on social media that he would be poolside once again on Sunday, before being stood down.
O’Callaghan, Jack, McKeon and Harris set an Olympic record of 3:28.92 in the 4x100m relay. The American team of Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske and Simone Manuel rallied to finish second in 3:30.20.
Paris organisers had promoted the event as “The Equal Games”, and are said to have urged the broadcasters to avoid footage that might be perceived as objectifying women athletes. The IOC had celebrated the fact that women now make up 50 per cent of its participants.
The Telegraph, London
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