Olympics commentator speaks out after being fired for ‘outrageous’ sexist comment
Jess Hardiman
Featured Image Credit: x/bobballardsport/Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Olympic Games commentator Bob Ballard has spoken out after being fired for making an 'outrageous’ sexist comment.
On Saturday evening (27 July), the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team - comprised of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris - won gold.
In a clip that has since gone viral on social media, the former BBC commentator could be heard saying: "Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like … hanging around, doing their makeup."
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Ballard’s co-commentator, Lizzie Simmonds, called the remark 'outrageous' before adding: "Some of the men are doing that as well!"
Olympic broadcaster Eurosport later confirmed it had removed Ballard from its commentary team over the remark, saying: "During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment.
"To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect."
Ballard has now apologised for his comments, saying he never intended to upset anyone.
He said in a statement: "The comments I made during the Australian freestyle relay victory ceremony on Saturday have caused some offence.
"It was never my intention to upset or belittle anyone and if I did, I apologies. 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."
Australia won a fourth consecutive gold in the event with a time of 3:28.92, with McKeon winning a sixth gold medal to become the country’s most decorated Olympian.
Speaking to Nine, McKeon, who now plans to retire from the Olympics, said: "I tried not to think about it too much before... Just emotional.
She added: "I definitely hoped that that would've been better, but I know I've got a lot to be proud of and I think it's always going to be emotional finishing something that has brought me so much joy and so many great relationships and so many life lessons.
"I've got so many fond memories of swimming ... I just feel privileged to be here ... this is my fifth time out here already and it's only day two. I feel so lucky.
"So I am looking forward to the time when I can really look back on it all. I've already got so many great people around me that have already been through similar things, like my brother, who finished up swimming about three or four years ago.
"I've got a lot of people to support me."