5 biggest Olympic moments: sexism edition

    By
    Miranda Wadham
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    1. Everything to do with Helen Skelton

    If you google the BBC’s Olympic presenter Helen Skelton, do not expect to find a list of her achievements; since the start of the Olympics, the main focus of the British press has been her clothing.

    The Telegraph comments on Skelton’s “revealing skirt” in a top headline, alongside a fascinating Daily Mail article on “Helen Skelton’s £2000 Olympic wardrobe”. Of course, The Mirror is not exempt with an article on her “stunning cut out dress”, and the Sun is determined not to mention the Olympics at all by publishing a topless video of the presenter on holiday aged just 17.

    BBC presenter Helen Skelton wears 'revealing' dress
    BBC presenter Helen Skelton wears ‘revealing’ dress

    Complaints came in thick and fast after Skelton wore a short dress presenting the Olympic swimming, with some Twitter users accusing the presenter of being inconsiderate of “children watching the show”- despite temperatures in the Brazilian capital reaching 30 degrees.

    Thankfully, most of Twitter jumped to her defence:

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    2) The mistaken belief that women are defined by their husbands

    On Saturday Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu broke the world record for the 400-meter individual medley, winning a Gold medal in the process. Naturally though, NBC commentator Dan Hicks attributed her success to her husband – as the cameras panned over we heard, “… and there’s the man responsible”.

    Similarly, after American trapshooter Corey Cogdell-Unrein achieved a bronze medal last Sunday, the Chicago Tribune ran a headline swapping her name for the charming title “wife of a Bears’ linesman”.

     

    3) The mistaken belief that female Olympic athletes would rather be shopping 

    Another gem from NBC – who are really pulling it out of the bag this year on the sexism front – whose unidentified presenter likened Olympic-standard female gymnasts to a bunch of girls at the local mall. 

    After the Team USA members took five minutes to congratulate themselves for knocking out the competition in the qualifying round, they looked a little too relaxed to the male presenter – who said that they “might as well be standing in the middle of a mall”. 

    Cue Twitter fury.

     

    4) When Fox News gave its opinion on make-up 

    Fox News, already famous for its shaky approach to sexism, outdid itself last week with a six minute debate on Sports Court regarding whether or not female Olympians should wear make-up. According to the two men they consulted – a radio host and a former NYPD detective – they should. 

    They encouraged the female athletes to “blush their cheeks”, before continuing “when you see an athlete, why should I have to look at some chick’s zits?”. 

    Yes girls, apparently Bo Dietl – that really famous detective you’ve never heard of – likes to “see a person who wins that gold medal go up there and look beautiful.”

    It’s a shame winning the gold medal isn’t enough on its own, isn’t it?

    5) That time Andy Murray showed what a stand-up guy he was – again

    Andy Murray hit the headlines again this week after winning two Gold medals for tennis. BBC reporter John Inverdale was quick to attribute this ‘world record’ to Murray, saying “You’re the first person ever to win two Olympic tennis gold medals,” and congratulating him on his “extraordinary feat”. 

    Murray was quick to correct him however, replying, “I think Venus and Serena have won about four each.” 

    This isn’t the first time that self-confessed feminist Andy Murray has called out sexism in tennis, backing his female coach Amelie Mauresmo after she received criticism for being a woman.