Eurosport Commentator Axed From Olympics Coverage For Sexist Remark About Women Swimmers

Eurosport commentator Bob Ballard got sacked from the broadcasters coverage of the Olympic Games after making a sexist remark about women swimmers.

After Australias team won the gold at the 4100-meter freestyle swim relay on Saturday, Ballard was caught making a comment about the athletes during his commentary alongside Lizzie Simmonds, according to The Independent .

The team was headed to the Paris Aquatic Centre when a microphone picked up Ballards comment.

In a clip, Ballard can be heard saying, Well, the women are just finishing up. You know what women are like hanging around, doing their makeup.

Simmonds called out the comment as outrageous but has not publicly addressed it, Deadline reported .

Social media users on X, formerly called Twitter, reacted to Ballards inappropriate words.

Bob Ballard hang your head in shame and get off the broadcast and back to the 1930s
Commentating for EuroSport hes used a sexist slur as the Aussie women RIGHTLY celebrated together
The women just finishing up. You know what women are like, hanging around, doing their make-up pic.twitter.com/JRpsLUc15m

Emily Benammar (@EmilyBenammar) July 28, 2024","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Emily Benammar","author_url":"https://twitter.com/EmilyBenammar","cache_age":86400,"description":"Bob Ballard hang your head in shame and get off the broadcast and back to the 1930sCommentating for EuroSport hes used a sexist slur as the Aussie women RIGHTLY celebrated togetherThe women just finishing up. You know what women are like, hanging around, doing their make-up pic.twitter.com/JRpsLUc15m Emily Benammar (@EmilyBenammar) July 28, 2024\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Emily Benammar on Twitter / 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Bob Ballard hang your head in shame and get off the broadcast and back to the 1930s
Commentating for EuroSport hes used a sexist slur as the Aussie women RIGHTLY celebrated together
The women just finishing up. You know what women are like, hanging around, doing their make-up pic.twitter.com/JRpsLUc15m
Emily Benammar (@EmilyBenammar) July 28, 2024

When will these people ever learn? Why arent they being given some training? @eurosport commentator Bob Ballard thought this was the best time to be sexist: You know what women are like hanging around, doing their make-up, he said. Shameful. pic.twitter.com/6PQOZHQJvD

Prof. Pragya Agarwal (@DrPragyaAgarwal) July 28, 2024","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Prof. Pragya Agarwal","author_url":"https://twitter.com/DrPragyaAgarwal","cache_age":86400,"description":"When will these people ever learn? Why arent they being given some training? @eurosport commentator Bob Ballard thought this was the best time to be sexist: You know what women are like hanging around, doing their make-up, he said. Shameful. pic.twitter.com/6PQOZHQJvD Prof. Pragya Agarwal (@DrPragyaAgarwal) July 28, 2024\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Prof. Pragya Agarwal on Twitter / 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When will these people ever learn? Why arent they being given some training? @eurosport commentator Bob Ballard thought this was the best time to be sexist: You know what women are like hanging around, doing their make-up, he said. Shameful. pic.twitter.com/6PQOZHQJvD
Prof. Pragya Agarwal (@DrPragyaAgarwal) July 28, 2024

Eurosport said Ballard has been removed from his duties.

During a segment of Eurosports coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment, the television network said in a statement to The Independent. To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.

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HuffPost has reached out to Eurosport and Ballard for further comment.

As Deadline noted, Ballard has been a broadcaster for over four decades, covering swimming, diving and water polo throughout his career.