A veteran Eurosport announcer was fired for making a joke about women taking too long to get ready after the Australian Olympic swim team took the gold medal in Paris, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) reported Monday.
Bob Ballard said that the 4x100m freestyle relay team were “finishing up” and “you know what women are like … hanging around, doing their make-up” as the team exited the pool deck, according to the BBC.
Ballard, who has covered global sports since the 1980s, including numerous Olympic games and World Championships, apparently laughed when his broadcasting partner and former British swimming champion, Lizzie Simmonds, said his remark was “outrageous,” the BBC reported. (RELATED: REPORT: Pope Francis Repeats ‘F*ggotry’ Remark After Initially Apologizing For It)
Eurosport have now dropped Bob Ballard as swimming commentator following this sexist remark yesterday.
“Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like … hanging around, doing their makeup.”
pic.twitter.com/UWYMiiVNpd— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) July 29, 2024
Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris and Shayna Jack, who had just beaten the U.S. and China for the team’s fourth straight Olympic gold, were celebrating their victory by waving to the crowd, according to the outlet.
NANTERRE, FRANCE – JULY 28: Mollie O’Callaghan of Team Australia prepares to compete in the Women’s 200m Freestyle Heats on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 28, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
“During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” Eurosport said in a statement Sunday, adding that the long-time BBC reporter and presenter would be barred from future broadcasts, the BBC reported.
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Thought ‘young women in swimsuits, bet he said something gross’ Then I saw the remark and it’s so innocent #BobBallard #Olympicshttps://t.co/IkFNYnuImT
— Anne Oatley (@AnneOatley) July 28, 2024
The 64-year-old commentator has since apologized for his remarks, the Daily Mail reported.
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“It was never my intention to upset or belittle anyone and if I did, I apologize,” Ballard said. “I am a massive advocate of women’s sport. I shall miss the Eurosport team dearly and wish them all the best for the rest of the Olympics.”
Ballard also urged people not to “pile” on his partner Lizzie Simmonds because she had “nothing to do with this,” according to the Daily Mail.
