Paris Olympics 2024: Commentator Bob Ballard removed for objectionable remark during swimming event

Paris Olympics 2024: Veteran commentator Bob Ballard has been removed from Eurosport’s commentary team after making a sexist remark during a swimming event. The incident occurred as the Australian women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team was leaving the pool deck following their gold medal win. While commentating, Ballard remarked, “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make up.”

Bob Ballard, who has been a sports commentator for nearly 40 years, has provided commentary for various Olympic sports, including water polo, ice hockey, diving, and swimming.

Most of our Olympic posts will be positive, as they should be. But we must call out the bad, too. Things like this remark about Australia’s relay team who had JUST WON GOLD. It rightfully led to this commentator, Bob Ballard, being sacked.

Credit @thelifeoflyds pic.twitter.com/gmC8UJp9tt

— FW (Future Women) (@FutureWomen) July 29, 2024

British swimming champion and co-commentator Lizzie Simmonds termed Ballard’s comment as “outrageous,” a remark which Ballard dismissed with laughter. In response to the incident, Eurosport released a statement confirming Ballard’s removal from the commentary panel.

“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,” the statement read.

The Australian women’s relay team, consisting of Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, and Shayna Jack, secured their fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event.