European broadcaster Eurosport removed commentator Bob Ballard from its Olympics coverage Sunday following an "inappropriate comment" he made about members of Australia's women's swimming team.
Ballard made the comment after Australia's 4x100 relay team of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris won the gold medal Saturday, setting a new Olympic record in the process. They finished ahead of the silver-medal winning U.S. team and China, which won bronze. The Olympic gold medal is the fourth straight for Australia in the event.
Ballard made the comment in question as Australia's swimmers celebrated with each other with their medals draped around their necks.
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"Well, the women just finishing off," Ballard said. "You know what women are like, hanging around, doing their makeup.”
"Outrageous, Bob," his broadcast partner Lizzie Simmonds responded. "Some of the men are doing that as well."
Simmonds is a former European champion swimmer who represented Great Britain in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
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