Olympic commentator fired after sexist remark about female swimmers

We’re only a few days into the 2024 Summer Olympics and we’ve already seen so much controversy that it will be four years before the next Games take place.

From the controversial selection of players for the Dutch volleyball team to the much-criticized opening ceremony, the Paris Games have been in the news for all the wrong reasons so far.

Unfortunately, the controversy has continued thanks to sports commentator Bob Ballard, who was commentating for EuroSport during the women’s 4x100m freestyle on Saturday (July 27).

Bob Ballard’s recent comment got him in trouble. Credit: X/@bobballardsport

During the race, the Australian team of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris successfully won the gold medal in the event. However, instead of commenting on the victory, former BBC commentator Ballard made a sexist remark to his co-host, Lizzie Simmonds.

“Well, the women just finished. You know how women are… hanging out, doing their makeup,” he said.

Although Simmonds briefly laughed at the comment, she was quick to label Ballard’s remarks as “outrageous.” And it seems viewers agreed with her.

“There is a lot of sexism in swimming reporting,” wrote TikTok user @thelifeoflyds, who shared a clip of the moment.

X user @AGoonersThought reposted the video, adding: “Putting women’s sports down. Bob Ballard.”

Another X user tweeted: “Bob Ballard, hang your head in shame and leave the broadcast and go back to the 30s. As a commentator for EuroSport he used a sexist insult when the Australian women were RIGHTLY partying together.”

Following the negative reactions, EuroSport released a statement confirming that Ballard had been removed from the commentary team.

“During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” the statement said. “As a result, he has been removed from our commentary list with immediate effect.”

Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris of Team Australia. Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty

At X, Ballard has received an outpouring of support from some viewers, with many arguing that he should not have been removed for “a joke” and “banter”. Others described his removal as a backlash from “woke culture”.

Ballard has been a regular voice in the sporting world since the 1980s, commentating on a number of world championship and Olympic events. According to his X-profile, he commentates on a number of events, including swimming, diving, water polo, ice hockey and wheelchair tennis.

Despite being active on X this year, he has not yet spoken publicly about his dismissal from EuroSport.

Main image: Maddie Meyer/Getty