A veteran sports commentator has been dismissed from his role at the Olympics after making a sexist remark about Australian female swimmers following their gold medal win.
As the 4x100m freestyle relay team made their way off the pool deck in Paris, Bob Ballard commented that they were “finishing up,” adding, “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their makeup.” The clip quickly went viral, and broadcaster Eurosport subsequently announced his removal from the commentary lineup.
Bob Ballard has not yet commented publicly on his remarks.
Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, and Shayna Jack had just beaten the United States and China, marking the fourth consecutive Olympics where Australia has claimed the gold medal in the event. They were waving to the crowds and celebrating their achievement when Bob Ballard made his comments. His co-commentator, British swimming champion Elizabeth Simmonds, immediately branded his remark as “outrageous,” prompting laughter from Bob Ballard.
On Sunday, Eurosport stated that Bob Ballard, a former long-time BBC reporter and presenter, would not return to their broadcasts. “During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” the broadcaster said in a statement. “To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”
Bob Ballard has been a stalwart of global sports coverage since the 1980s, reporting on multiple Olympic Games and World Championships. He has commentated on an array of sports, including water polo, ice hockey, and wheelchair tennis, but is best known for his coverage of swimming and diving. Swimming Australia has been approached for comment.
