to think that some male presenters patronise female athletes

[MarathonMama]

... Stand up Chris Evans - he called Laura Trott "cute and sweet" and Dame Mary Peters "gorgeous". Gary Linekar said the boxing gold medallist, whose name escapes me, had a beautiful smile.

You wouldn't get Clare Balding saying Michel Phelps had rippling muscles, and not just because she wouldn't be interested anyway (iykwim)

Sue Barker still makes me mad after the Andy Murray Wimbledon interview when he could barely hold himself together and she just stood, microphone in hand, watching his anguish until he cried. Cow, she should have cut it short, poor lad.

At least they are not pushing the phrase "girlies games" like some female journalists.

sugarice Sue Barker will have been under instruction from the director re the timing and length of the interview.

I've had trouble posting here with the girl/ladies/woman question

Some sentences just sound really weird and contrived and ultra PC if you say women.

I hate boxing, but my first thought was what a lovely smile.

Tom D is 18 so not a child. I suspect even the 15-16 y gymnasts would dispute they are children. Would probably snarl at girls given the hours of work they do.

I think that's subjective, though, star? You might as well say some sentences just sound really weird and contrived and ultra patronizing/sexist if you say 'ladies'.

Given there's likely to be views on both sides, better be perceived as PC than sexist/patronizing, IMO.

That said, I don't have an issue with a 15-year-old being called a girl, she is 15, and it doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't work hard, just she's not an adult yet.

during the hockey final last night the presenter commented on how one side had "lost" their first string goal keeper as she was pregnant.

He stumbled over it several times to find the "correct" way of saying it.

Fireandashes She could have gone to Roger Federer and spoken at length with him rather than watch Andy cry, only my opinion of course.

I object to any adult female being called a girl.

The piece Clare Balding did on the history of women in the Olympics was very good.

I think Evans called Shanaze Reade "babe" and "baby" in his interview with her on radio 2 this morning.

I am not a huge fan of his anyway, but even DD commented on what he had said.

Oh, and Tom Daley is cute and sweet

And my personal bugbear is all the "smile " shite - lots of hard and focussed professional athletes have other things on their minds.

Re Andy Murray...hope those who criticise his demeanour noticed the bit at the end of his match when he went up to his box: I'm referring to the little lad who ran into Roger Federer's players' box nearby and held out his arms and ask for a hug from Andy - and got it.

The female boxer whose name escapes me, was it Nicola, does have a beautiful smile. I remarked on it to my husband. But I do see your point OP.

The commentary on Radio 5 women's triathlon was a bit dodgy. When the women came into the transition the male commentator said words to the effect of 'Ooo it's like Top Shop on a Saturday afternoon!' Would they have said the same about men's?

Gary Linekar just asked Jade Jones what's in the sausage they've named after her. Her face was a picture - hilarious (in an embarrassing, cringeworthy way)!

Yes Jade Jones gave him the look only a young woman can give to a prat like Lineker! Arsehole.

God yes- that man from BBC breakfast news is so patronising. He talked of an athlete's beauty in comparison to the weather presenter- Carol!

JumpingThroughHoops

Could not disagree more about Clare Balding. Her coverage of the swimming, amongst other things, was great.