– It’s a slightly distasteful comment that doesn’t belong. This is what the Norwegian swimming profile Henrik Christiansen says to news after being in action in the Olympic water in Paris on Monday. SWIMMING PROFILE: Henrik Christiansen. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB The comment he is referring to came from an international Eurosport commentator after the 4 x 100 meter freestyle at the Olympics on Saturday, where Australian Shayna Jack, Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris had won gold. “The ladies are getting ready. They know what it’s like … they hang around and put on make-up,” said the commentator. Even the expert commentator at his side reacted immediately and called it “outrageous”. Eurosport itself did not take long to take the commentator off the screen and throw him out of the Olympics. – During one of our broadcasts on Saturday evening, the commentator made an inappropriate comment. Therefore, he is now removed from our group of commentators with direct effect, Eurosport wrote in a statement. OLYMPIC GOLD: Australian Mollie O’Callaghan (from left), Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris with the gold medal. Photo: Ueslei Marcelino / Reuters – He had to go news has spoken to several swimmers who have been in action in the French Olympic pool, and many of them have nothing left for the make-up comment. – Hopefully that’s not what he meant. I hope it was a mistake or misunderstanding, says French Béryl Gastaldello. – He was later kicked out of Eurosport. Do you think it was the right decision by Eurosport? – If that is what happened and they believe that he meant what he said, then it is definitely deserved. Yes, he had to go, says Gastaldello. REACTS: French Béryl Gastaldello. Photo: Andreea Alexandru / AP Canadian Kylie Masse, who won Olympic silver in the 200-meter backstroke in Tokyo and bronze in the 100-meter backstroke in Rio, believes commentators should not say anything about what happens outside the sports arena. – They should comment on what we do in the water and how we carry out the competition, says Masse. – It is not okay to make such comments when you are a sports commentator. Then you must remain professional. Everyone is here to do their best. That’s what it’s all about, says Norwegian Olympic swimmer Jon Jøntvedt. – When you’re in that job, you shouldn’t be too controversial. Everyone has their opinions in a way, but in such a setting it doesn’t belong here, says Christiansen. NORWEGIAN OLYMPIC DUO: Jon Jøntvedt (left) and Henrik Christiansen were number 24 and 25 in the qualification for 800 meters Monday free and did not progress to the Olympic final. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB – He is a stupid person Gastaldello is also aware that commentators should focus on their sporting achievements, and not how they look physically, what language they speak or how many kilos they weigh. – People must understand that we are all the same race. We are all human. Whether you are a woman or a man or something in between, who cares? It is important that people understand that we are in the 21st century. We have to grow up, says Gastaldello. – Do you think it is childish to make such a comment? – It’s just stupid. I think he is a stupid person. The Australian Olympic champions have not yet commented on the appointment of the Eurosport commentator himself. – I expect the swimmers to stay professional and just drop it, so they’ll have to think about it after the Olympics, says Jøntvedt. – They set an Olympic record and were one second behind the world record. It goes without saying how good they are, says Christiansen – who has not experienced any similar comments himself. – I think it is a much bigger problem for women than for men. Published 29/07/2024, at 14.36 Updated 29/07/2024, at 14.40
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Eurosport commentator thrown out of the Olympics after inappropriate comment – Olympics Paris 2024
