Paris Olympics 2024: Commentator sacked over sexist remarks on Aussie female swimmers

Bob Ballard, a veteran sports commentator, made a live remark, while the swimmers managed to clinch Gold.

New Delhi | Updated: July 29, 2024 03:21 PM IST

Australian 4x100m freestyle relay swimming team poses after securing Gold in Paris Olympics. (AP)

Olympic broadcaster Eurosport has removed veteran sports commentator Bob Ballard for his sexist remark about a team of Australian female swimmers on Monday, reported the BBC.

As per Sky News Australia, Aussie swimmers Emma McKeon, Shayna Jack, Mollie O’Calloghan and Meg Harris had just clinched gold in 4x100m freestyle relay swimming by beating the USA and China. They were making their way out of the Paris Aquatic Centre when Ballard commented on the team “finishing up”. “You know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up,” he said on Sunday.

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His statement was immediately called “outrageous” by his co-commentator and English swimmer Lizzie Simmonds. Alongside huge criticism on social media for his remark, sports journalist Emily Benammar asked Ballard to ‘hang his head in shame’ on X.

Bob Ballard, alongside Lizzie Simmonds at the Paris Olympics. (Photo from X)

The BBC reports that Eurosport immediately sacked Ballard from its Olympic commentary team for his controversial comment. “During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” the broadcaster said in a statement. He has not yet made any public remark about his comment.

Two of Australia’s four Olympic gold medals in Paris, have been secured by their women’s swimming team.

A former BBC reporter, Ballard has done commentary for various sporting events including several Olympic games.

Ballard’s live remarks are concurrent to the 2024 Paris Olympics which are being celebrated as the ‘first Gender Equal Olympics’, with equal male and female athletes on field.

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