Olympic commentator fired from position over sexist remarks towards female swimmers
Eurosport has released a statement following commentator Bob Ballard making a sexist remark about women on the Australian swimming team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
On Saturday (July 27), Australia's women's 4x100 meters freestyle relay team Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris and Shayna Jack beat the US and China resulting in them taking home gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The team secured an Olympic record-breaking swim time of 3:28.92 and it was the fourth Olympics in a row where Australia has taken the top spot in the event. However, rather than simply celebrating their win, Eurosport commentator Bob Ballard made a sexist joke at the team's expense.
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In a clip of the moment which has been widely circulated on social media, Bollard can be heard saying: "Well, the woman just finishing off. You know what women are like, hanging around, you know, doing their makeup."
Ballard's co-commentator Lizzie Simmonds quickly responds: "Outrageous Bob." However, he simply lets out a laugh.
She continues: "Some of the men are doing that as well, you know?"
And it's not taken long for people to flood to social media in outrage.
One Twitter user said: "Bob Ballard hang your head in shame and get off the broadcast and back to the 1930s. Commentating for EuroSport he’s used a sexist slur as the Aussie women RIGHTLY celebrated together."
Another added: "Setting women's sports back. Bob Ballard."
A third commented: "It’s a harmful stereotype and doesn’t have a place on international television coverage."
Responding to those who've defended Ballard and branded the backlash as 'woke cancel culture,' a fourth wrote: "If you can’t see the issue with his comment, you are part of the problem."
And a fifth resolved: "He should be sacked. The women just achieved a Gold medal for Australia and deserved respect not cheap jokes at their expense!"
Eurosport later released a statement revealing Ballard had indeed been let go from his position covering the Paris Olympics.
The statement read: "During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment.
"To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect."
Ballard has been regularly posting on his Twitter about the Olympics and sharing snippets of himself commentating, however, he is yet to publicly address his sexist remark or being 'removed' from the roster.
UNILAD has contacted Ballard's representatives and Swimming Australia for comment.
Poppy Bilderbeck