Reporter with no arms responds to trolls who mocked him during his Olympic boxing commentary

A disabled sports reporter has hit back at people's cruel comments online.

Andy Stevenson is a journalist with nearly 20 years experience working in radio and television.

Andy, who was born with no arms, specializes in sport reporting and is currently working for the BBC in Paris, France, covering the Olympic Games.

One event Andy has been seen covering is the boxing - but some people have had unkind things to stay and labelled it 'ironic' that he was covering the sport due to his disability.

One person tweeted: "One of the BBC's boxing analysts literally has no arms. I'm not even joking."

Another wrote: "Anyone watch the boxing on BBC? The interviewer has no arms... talking about boxing. You can’t make this sh*t up."

Andy has since addressed remarks like these with what could only be described as the perfect response.

Sharing a snap of him seen covering the boxing alongside retired British boxer Nicola Adams, Andy wrote: "The people amused/shocked/appalled that the BBC would hire a boxing reporter with no arms are going to fall off their sofas when they hear I also do golf, tennis, snooker etc."

He added: "PS I also have a prosthetic leg and report on football."

The people amused/shocked/appalled that the BBC would hire a boxing reporter with no arms are going to fall off their sofas when they hear I also do golf, tennis, snooker etc.

PS I also have a prosthetic leg and report on football 😱

(Thanks @tphollingsworth for the pic) pic.twitter.com/sT7SJw8cHO

— Andy Stevenson (@AndyStevenson81) August 9, 2024

People have been quick to applaud Andy for his witty response. One said: "Well done Andy! Keep doing what you’re doing!"

A different person also wrote: "Legend, that's all that is needed here."

Pointing out that it's about what Andy knows about the sport and not if it does it himself, another said: "Mate you know your onions. That’s all that matters. Good on you."

"Well said Andy. I was only interested in the quality of your reporting, the questions you asked & the excitement you brought to the live performances," praised another social media user. "You have been fantastic and look forward to seeing and hearing from you more on our screens & radio."

Between 2020 and 2022, Andy hosted a podcast called A Winning Mindset: Lessons from the Paralympics where he interviewed Paralympians.

Speaking about what it's like interviewing others with disabilities like his own, the journalist admitted that it can work in his favor as he's able to empthaize with those he's speaking to.

In an article penned by the Sports Journalist Association, Andy explained: "When I tell the athletes I have a disability, particularly the athletes who haven’t met me, I do think it changes the dynamic a bit. Or if I want to ask an awkward or personal question, I can pre-empt it by saying I know how you might feel on this subject because it affects me as well."

Keep doing what you're doing, Andy!