BBC BMX Commentary

[iamruth]

AIBU to be annoyed that the woman commentating on the highlights coverage on now on the BBC of Beth Schrieber keeps making comments like “she’s doing really well, rising that bike like a boy”, “taking that jump just like one of the boys” she’s just won GOLD and you’re saying she’s doing well because she’s doing it like a boy? I despair! She’s doing it like a skilled rider and athlete, and exactly like a girl.

And I noticed this morning that on the tv the male silver medal winner was always mentioned before the gold medal winner 🙄

@ThorIsAGod

And I noticed this morning that on the tv the male silver medal winner was always mentioned before the gold medal winner 🙄

On the coverage i saw that was because he won his medal first chronologically and they tend to talk through medals in the order they are won.

But, yeah, the "like a boy" stuff is annoying in a minor but constantly there eveyday sexism way.

Oh ok I'll give them that then, I hadn't realised

Hmmm I agree. It's annoying...

Also, Beth had to crowd fund, because no-one would support her. (Including the Olympic committee who have given £24 MILLION to 'rowing...')

Oddly, rowing have not done so well this time!

I can't help feeling Beth wasn't supported, because she is a 'girl' in a MAN's sport.

Good for her for getting the GOLD! You go lass!

I didn’t watch it but was the commentator Rochelle Gilmour by any chance? Monotone Aussie woman?

Shanaze Read who rode BMX in the Olympics before, not sure who else was with her though.

@SweatyBetty20 it’s Shanaze Reade google tells me..

@murasaki beat me to it. It was even more irritating that it was her and not Jason Mohammad who was hosting the show that was saying it.

I was watching the interview with the Slalom silver medalist last night (think her name was Mallory?) and the male interviewer asked her if she was going to wear her medal down the aisle on her wedding day can't completely put my finger on why it annoyed me but I don't think they would be asking that question to a man who had just won an Olympic medal.

No!!! milennial really? Also, if you google ‘bmx women’s crash’ all that comes up is Connor Fields. I wanted to check that him and the woman who crashed were ok, but had to dig down into google to actually find out if the woman was ok. Hope Connor is ok too.

@iamruth - I agree re it being even more annoying that she said it. Grr.

I saw that too @millenialblush - and I agree, they wouldn’t have asked a man that in my opinion...

I was irritated that she was saying ‘like’ before everything! It gives me the rage😡

@millenialblush

I was watching the interview with the Slalom silver medalist last night (think her name was Mallory?) and the male interviewer asked her if she was going to wear her medal down the aisle on her wedding day can't completely put my finger on why it annoyed me but I don't think they would be asking that question to a man who had just won an Olympic medal.

There are two sailors who are engaged to each other (competing in different categories). If they both get medal, we can see if either/both of them get asked the same question!

@millenialblush

I was watching the interview with the Slalom silver medalist last night (think her name was Mallory?) and the male interviewer asked her if she was going to wear her medal down the aisle on her wedding day can't completely put my finger on why it annoyed me but I don't think they would be asking that question to a man who had just won an Olympic medal.

That stood out to me too when I watched the interview yesterday. What a ridiculous question to ask anyone who has won an Olympic medal, let alone a woman.

Oh that’s disappointing. Shanaze should know better.

My knowledge of BMX comprises of the 10 minutes I watched last night of the quarter/semi-finals (which was exhilarating - I highly recommend watching!).

But I did notice that the male riders went over the jumps higher/longer than the female riders, presumably because they are physically stronger. So it may be that the commentator was making a justified comment that Beth was achieving jump heights/lengths closer to what a man would achieve.

A lot of the BBC commentary has been below average. Lots of weird jokes during the swimming that annoyed me.

@Plexie I can absolutely accept and acknowledge that she definitely most likely to be referring to that aspect and meant it as a compliment but my issues is the phrasing really, is just difficult for young girls who may be aspiring to different sports including BMX (or any aspect of life!) to be explicitly told to be good you should be like a boy, not “she really jumped high and is so strong etc”. I know many people will think this is petty but it’s just so normalised and really contributes to the whole feeling that girls are often seen as inferior, particularly in sport.

I read this article recently that had similar thoughts and found the way of thinking a bit annoying (about a girl's way of skating)

www.espn.com/espnw/athletes-life/story/_/id/9528118/espnw-alana-smith-blurs-lines-genders-skateboarding

@terrywynne yea I kind of gathered her fiance was also competing, will have to look out for his interview questions

Oh ignore me I realised you are referring to different competitors!

She was a terrible commentator. Just repeated what the other said, interspersed with how she rode like a boy, and loud noises. She obviously knew the sport but was no good at talking about it

I'm more pissed off by people who can't be bothered to spell 'Shriever' correctly. Shanaze Reade is a BMX legend. It is a fact that male and female BMXers tend to ride very differently.

The thing that is really enraging is that the reason she had to crowdfund is that U.K. sport decided after Rio that they were only going to fund male BMX riders😡😡😡😡