Commentator axed from Olympics coverage over 'inappropriate' remark after Aussie relay triumph

Eurosport commentator Bob Ballard has been sensationally dumped from the network's coverage of the Paris Olympics over a remark he made following the Australian women's 4x100m relay triumph. The quartet of Emma McKeon, Mollie O'Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Meg Harris stormed to gold on Saturday night in the Paris pool, winning Australia's fourth-straight title in the event at the Olympics.

But the moment was overshadowed for some viewers when Ballard made an extraordinary comment labelled 'outrageous' and 'sexist'. After the Aussies were presented with their gold medals and were posing for photos on the pool deck, Ballard appeared to grow frustrated at the time it was taking.

With the men's 4x100m relay to come next, Ballard seemingly felt the women were taking up too much time. “Well the women just finishing up,” Ballard said on Eurosport's coverage. “You know what women are like … hanging around, doing their make-up.”

Ballard immediately tried to laugh off the remark, but co-commentator Lizzie Simmonds described it as an “outrageous” thing to say. The veteran commentator copped widespread backlash on social media, and Eurosport have since made the decision to remove him from their coverage.

“During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” a statement from the network said. “To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”

Ballard hasn't addressed the decision publicly, but took to social media to wish Simmonds well ahead of Sunday night's swimming events. His remark has been labelled 'disgusting' and 'sexist' online, with Aussie journalist Emily Benammar writing: "Bob Ballard hang your head in shame and get off the broadcast and back to the 1930s. Commentating for Eurosport he’s used a sexist slur as the Aussie women RIGHTLY celebrated together."

Aussies win fourth-straight Olympic gold in 4x100m relay

The triumph for Australia's golden girls gave McKeon a sixth gold medal at the Olympics - breaking Ian Thorpe's Aussie record. McKeon already had the most overall medals by an Australian athlete, but now has the most golds as well.

And it also marked a brilliant moment of redemption for Shayna Jack, who claimed her first gold at the Olympics following the doping saga that almost saw her quit the sport. Jack was banned for four years in 2019 after testing positive to a banned substance, but got the ban cut in half when it was found she ingested it unknowingly. Despite the reduction, she still missed the chance to swim at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.

"Making the Olympic team was my first step and that was one of the most exciting moments," Jack said. "I didn't know where that was going to take me. This is definitely a great start."

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But the triumph came as a painful reminder for Cate Campbell, who was watching on from the crowd after she failed to qualify for the Aussie Olympic team. Campbell was part of the 4x100m relay teams that won gold in 2012, 2016 and 2021, but was relegated to a spectator on Saturday night.

“I got emotional, not after the race, but watching the flag go up and the national anthem,” she later told Channel 9. “I’m not resentful to any of them. I love them, I know every single one of them because I’ve grown up with them.

“But just six weeks ago, I hoped that would be me standing on that (podium). But I’m so, so proud of the legacy that I am able to leave and the fact that these girls have now done something that no Australian relay has done before. We’ve got four in a row. That is phenomenal."