Bob Ballard was referencing the Australian women's swimming team who had won gold in a freestyle relay.

A veteran sports commentator has been sacked from his Olympics role after making a sexist remark about Australian female swimmers following their gold medal win.

As the 4x100m freestyle relay team were making their way off the pool deck in Paris, Bob Ballard said they were “finishing up”, adding “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make up”.

The clip quickly went viral and broadcaster Eurosport later said he had been removed from the commentary line-up.

Ballard has yet to comment publicly on his remarks.

  • @DicskaEnglish
    1•1 month ago

    I can’t speak for them (too well), but imagine that up until 30 years ago the US was one country with Canada under the name of… I don’t know, the United Canastates, and as you’re watching your favourite olympic sport rooting for your favourite player, someone introduces them as someone from the United Cana… Can… United States.

    To be fair, even after typing this out I wouldn’t be outraged, just slightly irked, but we’re all different.

    • Eggyhead
      1•1 month ago

      I would honestly laugh if someone slipped up and called the states Canada. If they called it something like “Trump land”, I might actually get properly annoyed. But there’s no way that would have been a slip up, so I think my reaction would be justified.