Dropped Olympic commentator Bob Ballard apologises for 'sexist' remark about Australia's female swimmers - as he urges people 'don't pile on' Lizzie Simmonds

Olympic Games commentator Bob Ballard has urged group not to 'pile on' his co-presenter Lizzie Simmonds aft he was axed from Eurosport for making a 'sexist' remark.

Ballard, 64, mislaid his spot arsenic a commentator past nighttime aft he said nan Australian 4x100m freestyle female relay squad were precocious to time off nan swimming venue because they were 'doing their make-up'.

The erstwhile BBC pundit said: 'The comments I made during nan Australian freestyle relay triumph ceremonial connected Saturday person caused immoderate offence.

'It was ne'er my volition to upset aliases belittle anyone and if I did, I apologies. I americium a monolithic advocator of women's sport. I shall miss nan Eurosport squad dearly and wish them each nan champion for nan remainder of nan Olympics.'

'P.s. don't heap connected Lizzie Simmonds - please!' he added. 'She has thing to do pinch this.'

Former Olympic swimmer Ms Simmonds, who was sat alongside Ballard connected nan commentators bench, slammed nan remark arsenic 'outrageous' arsenic they broadcasted live, causing Ballard to chuckle. 

He besides called for group not to 'pile on' his chap commentator Liz Simmonds adding: 'P.S. Don't heap connected Lizzie Simmonds - please! She had thing to do pinch this.' 

Australia's quartet Emma McKeon, Shayna Jack, Mollie O'Calloghan and Meg Harris won golden connected Saturday astatine the Paris Aquatic Centre.

But arsenic they made their measurement retired to cod their medals, Ballard said: 'Well, nan women conscionable finishing up. You cognize what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up.'

The clip quickly went viral causing outrage amongst immoderate pinch Eurosport quickly removing Ballard from their coverage.

'During a conception of Eurosport's sum past night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,' a connection from nan broadcaster publication past night.

'To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster pinch contiguous effect.' 

The embarrassing remark comes arsenic Paris organisers person promoted nan arena arsenic 'The Equal Games', pinch nan IOC celebrating nan truth that women now dress up 50 percent of its participants. 

Those watching nan Olympics were divided complete Ballard's remarks, while immoderate called him to spell other's blasted nan determination from Eurosport claiming 'it was conscionable a joke'.

'When will these group ever learn?' asked Loughborough University's Professor Pragya Agarwal connected X. 'Why aren't they being fixed immoderate training?'

'Bob Ballard bent your caput successful shame and get disconnected nan broadcast and backmost to nan 1930s,' 1 instrumentality wrote connected X. 

The mostly of MailOnline readers - 72 per cent - person backed Ballard disagreeing that it was a 'sexist statement'.

A further 23 per cent backed Eurosport's decision, agreeing that it was a 'sexist statement' while 5 per cent of nan 55,000 respondents said they were not sure. 

Messages of support for Ballard were besides connected flooding successful connected his X floor plan today, pinch 1 saying it was a 'ludicrous cancellation' and different bemoaning nan 'extreme injustice dealt to you by nan woke mind microorganism brigade'.

A 3rd wrote: 'Countless hours of commentary, trying to support things absorbing and entertaining, sometimes erstwhile not overmuch happening. And past removed for 1 misjudged comment. A chance to apologise would person seemed much proportionate. Take attraction Bob.'

Born successful September 1959, Ballard has a profession spanning complete 4 decades and has been commentating since nan mid-1980s connected sports including swimming, diving, crystal hockey, tennis, basketball, h2o polo, football, and cricket.

He founded a accumulation institution called RHB Productions Ltd which is based successful Dorchester, Dorset, and has besides worked arsenic a euphony and news presenter connected BBC section radio. 

He has besides antecedently said that astatine nan BBC, he encountered 'a batch of antagonistic things erstwhile group recovered retired I was gay'.

It is not nan first time, however, that Ballard has had a run-in connected air. In 2005 astatine nan World Championships successful Montreal he was blasted for being 'the astir antagonistic journalist'.

'I duly went to nan question and reply position and spent a fewer awkward minutes connected unrecorded TV being lambasted by nan nationalist capacity director, who accused maine of being nan astir antagonistic journalist,' Ballard told Swimming.org successful 2019.

'That came arsenic a astonishment to nan swimmers, who had ever considered maine very sympathetic and objective. It was utilized connected Breakfast News, some BBC and ITV nan adjacent morning, and I've ne'er been allowed to hide it by nan coaches who were astir successful 2005.'