BBC commentator Chris Boardman has found himself at the centre of a storm over alleged sexist comments he made over Laura Trott and her fiancée Jason Kenny.
Trott became Britain’s most successful female Olympian of all-time on Tuesday night when she won her fourth gold medal in the omnium before Kenny equalled Sir Chris Hoy’s record tally of six golds with triumph in the keirin.
As the pair embraced following Kenny’s victory Boardman, the 1992 gold medallist in the individual pursuit, said: “She’s doing all the emotion for him – he’s looking at her wondering ‘what’s for tea!’”
Boardman’s remarks immediately sparked condemnation on social media, with Twitter users labelling the comment “casual sexism”.
The 47-year-old posted his own defence at 11pm UK time, saying his comment was “nothing to do with gender”, whilst his wife Sally Boardman said the remark was “like saying what’s on TV?”
Trott and Kenny’s double triumph was among the highlights of Britain’s most successful day of the Olympics. Team GB won nine medals on day 11 of the Games, including a further gold for sailor Giles Scott.
Britain remains second in the medal table with 19 gold and 50 medals in total, two golds clear of China and having already achieved their best performance ever at an overseas Olympics.
