Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

5 minutes read. Updated 1:17PM GMT Mon, 29July, 2024

Veteran sports commentator Bob Ballard has been dismissed from his role after making a sexist remark about Australian female swimmers. The incident occurred during the 4x100m freestyle relay event at the Paris Olympics, where the Australian team celebrated their gold medal win.

Ballard, known for his extensive career in sports journalism, reportedly made a comment as the victorious Australian swimmers—Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, and Shayna Jack—exited the pool. As they were celebrating their triumph over competitors from the United States and China, Ballard remarked, “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up,” which was deemed inappropriate by many. The comment was captured on live television and quickly went viral on social media.

Eurosport, the broadcaster for the event, responded swiftly to the backlash. In a statement issued on Sunday, the network announced that Ballard had been removed from their commentary roster. “During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” the statement read. “To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”

The remark drew immediate criticism from Ballard’s co-commentator, British swimming champion Lizzie Simmonds, who labeled the comment “outrageous.” The incident prompted laughter from Ballard, further intensifying the controversy.

Ballard, a prominent figure in global sports coverage since the 1980s, has been a fixture at numerous Olympic Games and World Championships. His career spans various sports, including water polo, ice hockey, and wheelchair tennis, though he is most recognized for his coverage of swimming and diving.

Swimming Australia has been approached for a statement regarding the incident, but there has been no response yet.

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