Olympic broadcaster Eurosport swiftly removed a commentator from its coverage of the Paris Games after a microphone picked up a sexist remark at Saturday’s swim relay.
After Australia’s team won gold at the 4×100-meter freestyle relay, broadcaster Bob Ballard could be heard saying, “Well the women are just finishing up. You know what women are like … hanging around, doing their makeup.”
The clip quickly went viral and Ballard was not back in the booth when the swimming resumed on Sunday.
“During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” Eurosport said in a statement, per The Independent. “To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”According to the Daily Mail, Ballard’s commentary partner, Lizzie Simmonds, called the comment “outrageous.”
Ballard himself has yet to comment on the affair, though he took to X to wish Eurosport’s Laura Winter luck ahead of Sunday night’s session in the pool.
“Have a great one,” Ballard wrote.
Ballard is a longtime commentator at the Olympics, particularly in swimming and diving.
He has also called basketball, hockey and cricket, among other sports, with a long career at BBC Radio 5 Live.
Behind the team of Emma McKeon, Shayna Jack, Mollie O’Callaghan and Meg Harris, Australia notched its fourth consecutive gold in the 4×100, easily beating the American team, which won silver.
China finished third to win bronze.
