BBC Olympics in 'condescending' misogyny row as fans issue complaints over 'outdated' rower remarks

In what was a nail-biting finish, the Team GB rowers were pipped to the post by the Netherlands team but the four were all smiles as they celebrated their silver medal win.

The four athletes added to Team GB's medal haul just hours after fellow rowers Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne and Rebecca Wilde secured bronze in the Women's Double Sculls.

However, what should've been a joyous occasion for BBC viewers and Team GB athletes was soured somewhat by the likes of pundit Matthew Pinsent and the race's commentators' "continuous focus" on the fact Glover was a mum-of-three.

Pinsent was the first to raise the fact ahead of the race when he said: "So Helen Glover, Esme Booth, Sam Redgrave and Rebecca Shorten about to go in the women's coxless four.

"And Glover, of course, a mother as well, it seems to be a morning of parental athletes, they've all been through the mill to get here."

He and his co-star then reflected on Glover's Olympic record before the race began.

But as the rowers entered the final 250 metres of the race, the female commentator referred to Glover's parenting again: "Helen Glover's a mum, she'll be thinking of her three children screaming from the bank."

Several fans were left furious with the attention given to the fact Glover had children, including one angered viewer who penned on X: "Can the BBC rowing commentator just shut the f*** up about the rowers being mums thanks."

A second suggested the remarks were outdated as they fumed: "It's 2024 and, once again, the BBC commentators are focusing on the fact that the women are 'mums'.

"They haven't mentioned with the male rowers how many kids they have. Why is this a thing? They are incredible athletes. That should be the focus, not their ability to reproduce."

Elsewhere, a third raged: "Why are the BBC commentators going ON ON about the rowers being 'mums'? It is so condescending! That's it, ladies, your life doesn't have to end when you have a kid... #BBCOlympics #Paris2024 "

And a fourth echoed: "I feel like the BBC’s continuous focus on how helen glover being a mum affects her as an athlete is a bit ridiculous when you consider her husband is steve backshall who’s always off in some jungle fighting venomous snakes.

"BBC commentator mentioning several times that one of the GB rowers this morning is a 'mum'. What’s that to do with anything? No mention of male rowers being 'dads'," a fifth questioned.

Before a sixth hit out: "Really p***ed me off that earlier in the games the BBC referred to Helen Glover as 'mum of three' and not 'double Olympic Champion'." (sic)

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🗣 "There can't be regret looking back and knowing you'd done all you can."

Despite missing out on a gold medal, Helen Glover was delighted her team "raced with so much heart." ❤️#Olympics #Paris2024 #BBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/uEDHfaxa7g

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 1, 2024

Glover, however, didn't seem to mind that the focus had been shone on her life as a mum, referring to it in her post-race chat with BBC Sport.

She said of the race: "We put it all out there. We raced the plan we wanted to race; we raced together with so much heart. There can’t be regret looking back and knowing you did all you can.

"To have their three little faces beaming big smiles after seeing their mummy compete on the world stage, I'm really proud of that.

"I hope for mums this sends the message that you can go back to whatever you want to do and be exceptional, not despite of having children but because you have children."