A veteran sports commentator has been dismissed from his Olympic commentary role following a sexist remark directed at Australian female swimmers after their gold medal victory.
As the Australian 4x100m freestyle relay team—comprising Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, and Shayna Jack—celebrated their win over the US and China, Bob Ballard commented on air that they were “finishing up,” adding, “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up.” His comments quickly garnered widespread attention.
The network announced Ballard’s immediate removal from the commentary lineup in response to the backlash. In a statement, he expressed regret for any offense caused, insisting it was not his intention to upset or belittle anyone.
Ballard’s co-commentator, British swimming champion Lizzie Simmonds, immediately condemned his statement as “outrageous,” which led to laughter from Ballard and further criticism online, prompting him to urge viewers not to attack Simmonds.
Eurosport confirmed that Ballard, who has been a prominent figure in sports broadcasting since the 1980s, would not return to their broadcasts. The network addressed the incident stating, “During a segment of our coverage, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment. To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”
Ballard, known for his extensive coverage of swimming and diving, has reported on various sports throughout his career, including water polo, ice hockey, and wheelchair tennis. Swimming Australia has been contacted for further comments regarding the incident.
