... to call for more sensitive interviewing of young athletes?

[hepsitemiz]

I mean, is it too much to ask?

Today the BBC intercepted a GB olympic diver who had just performed disappointingly. I'm afraid I didn't retain her name, but she was being touted as a medal hope.

To paraphrase the interviewer quite liberally, he said something along the lines of "you were hoping for a medal and you only came 6th. How does that make you feel?"

How could he not have died of shame when her face crumpled and she said that basically not so long ago she was suicidal, so was just happy to be here and supported by her family. With all the signs being that she could barely hold it together, and after she pointedly repeated that she just wanted to to see her family poolside, he said something like "not so fast, let's delve a little more into why, despite your obvious talent, you missed out on a medal this time".

I mean, do they get extra points when they make someone cry?

IITMTA for more sensitive post-performance interviews?

YABU - yes, it is too much to ask
YANBU - no, it is not too much to ask

Yanbu I really don't like the press

@hepsitemiz

ive seen a lot of that kind of thing. I have been proud of the athletes doing their best to reply and not telling them to fuck off frankly (I guess they need to keep any sponsorship. Poor things).

some of the 'reporters, journalists, commentators, need a good telling off!!

yanbu,
she came across absolutely lovely . I hope she is ok.

I do not like interviewers thrust a microphone under the sportspeople's face seconds after doing their race etc and they are out of breath. For goodness sake let them catch their breath etc then interview them

I am finding a lot of press stomach churning at the Olympics. He could have deployed some empathy for sure!

Many of them particularly unprofessional at the IBA press conference yesterday which was definitely weird and chaotic, but missed an opportunity to ask proper questions for clarification.

And not asking the right questions at the daily press briefing with the IOC either.

I watched it too - it was Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix.

The poor girl was obviously very distressed and the interview should have been wrapped up long before it was.

I was just about to start a thread saying much the same. It was clear that Andrea had been crying, and was struggling to compose herself, before he even started. I was so angry on her behalf when he continued to push!

They did much the same to Dina Asher-Smith after she was knocked out of the 100m in the semi's, but she had the age and experience to just shake her head and walk away when it got too much.

I really thought they'd learned their lesson after all the flack they got for reducing Rebecca Addington to tears in 2012 because she 'only' got the silver. Apparently, old habits die hard...

I found it horrible to watch.

I agree, I watched it and thought it was exploitative and disgraceful.

At one point Andrea said she just wanted to speak to her family and he continued to ask questions.

The BBC should rethink this, I think it is awful. Was cross when Irvine called it a great interview.

At Wimbledon the losers leave the court without media intrusion. Interviewing winners is one thing, losers need space to compose themselves.

I thought it was harsh when they brought up that diving coach who died as well, after the pairs won silver, the diver literally said he couldn't talk about it and STILL they pushed. Just horrible.

And you look at Simone Biles who's won countless medals and been abused and showed the world how important it is for women to put their mental health first and she still gets criticism.

Honestly disgusting.

I saw that and thought the same.
She was obviously so emotional and struggling to speak, it just felt so wrong to shove a camera in her face.

I couldn't believe it when she talked about feeling suicidal recently and just wanted to go be with her family and he was like yeah of course, just a minute and then kept talking to her.

I see Simone Biles has asked interviewers to stop asking athletes "What's next?" straight after their event, and to let them just enjoy their moment.

Yes that interview was also disgraceful.

I thought it was dreadful, but the BBC are into this type of interviewing. Sport or current affairs, it doesn't matter, apparently it seems we should all want to know how they feel, good or bad. I would much prefer if it was a "well done" or "commiserations" type of interview. It's the worst type of lazy reporting.

Indeed many of you making valid points, bringing up the deceased coach was an absolutely terrible decision too.

The IBA press conference was a badly managed shambles from the start. "How much do Gazprom pay you?" "not saying, read our financial report" (which will have buried it somewhere no doubt)

BBC have completely lost their way IMO. I watched it - it was a very painful watch. Andrea clearly was very upset and firmly said she wanted to go and see her family and the interviewer made her stay.

It was appalling. In fact I think I’ll be complaining. www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints/make-a-complaint/#/Complaint

Thank you Strath, that's something I can do. Useful link and good idea

I’ve complained on X (Twitter). She said that she now wanted to go to her mum. The interviewer continued for several more minutes. The person in the studio then commented on what a great interview it was.

No, it really wasn’t. She wanted to go and hug her Mum! Maybe it’s because my teen is the same age but I felt horribly emotional for her.

Maybe no interviews until after medals have been presented, would allow a period of time and probably ensure less intrusion.

I'm glad it wasn't just me. I was horrified and was practically shouting at the TV for them to leave the poor girl alone and let her go to her Mum. She had just missed out on a medal FFS and was clearly and visibly really upset. She had been crying and was desperately trying to compose herself. The way he continued to push and press when she even told him she just wanted to go and be with her family was hideous and so unprofessional. The poor girl. Probably doesn't help that I have a daughter of a similar age.

Do they? I’m sure I remember poor Andy Murray being interviewed in front of the whole stadium struggling not to cry when he lost the final about 12 years ago. I thought that was mean too.

Sorry, in the final yes, but not in the earlier rounds I think?

I’ve complained. It beggars belief that she talked about suicidal thoughts 3 years ago but they kept going - seeing her distress and her very clearly articulating that she wanted to go and be with her family and making her stay.

Absolutely shameful and lacking any humanity.

If I was Fred I’d be telling the BBC to stick it where the sun don’t shine.

Absolutely disgusting. There should be a strict code of conduct about this, and any reporters who break it should be ejected from the Games.
Until the reporters can be forced to behave like decent people, athletes should be trained to say "I'm feeling tired, I'm going to have a rest and be with my team mates/ family, thank you" and walk away, if they've just lost or are in distress.

I've complained to the BBC. Absolutely disgusted by their track/poolside interviewing this Olympics.

YANBU - I've seen some very unsupportive interviewing of athletes who have worked their asses off for years and taken a defeat with considerable good grace. It is as if the interviewers want to see actual tears.