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.

  • eatthecake@lemmy.worldEnglish
    323·
    3 months ago

    This guy is out for being a dick but it’s fine to have an olympic rapist. I don’t get it.

    • HollandJim@lemmy.worldEnglish
      16·
      3 months ago

      Speaking of behalf of many of us in the Netherlands, yeah – we don’t get it either.

      IMHO, should never have been allowed on the team.

      • eatthecake@lemmy.worldEnglish
        52·
        3 months ago

        I don’t get society. It seems to me that if respecting women and girls was actually something people cared about then the rapist would be gone. Instead we get this virtue signalling. They’ll put a rapist on the stage and cheer for him but one sexist remark and you’re off. It’s just lies.

        • The Octonaut@mander.xyzEnglish
          41·
          3 months ago

          I don’t know if you get this, but the Netherlands and Australia Britain are different societies. Who do you think is lying?

          • eatthecake@lemmy.worldEnglish
            52·
            3 months ago

            Both, probably. The Netherlands clearly doesn’t care about rape victims and the media are just virtue signalling. The United States elected a misogynist. It’s a problem all over the world and I think a lot of people who claim to care (society in general) are lying.