An Olympic swimmer had called out the "inappropriate and sexist comments" she received after sharing a photo of her proudly displaying her medals.

Linda Cerruti is a 28-year-old Italian synchronized swimmer who has not only competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, but also amassed 27 medals competing at the European and World championships since 2016.

In fact, earlier this month, the talented athlete won six silver and two bronze medals at the European Aquatics Championships in Rome across solo, duet, and team events.

And as a way of celebrating her achievements, Cerruti took to Instagram to proudly display her new medals in an impressive sea-side snap.

In the original post, which has amassed more than 90,000 likes on the platform, Cerruti can be seen posing in a headstand position, with her eight medals hanging from her split legs.

In the post's caption, she explained that she learned to study at night so that she could train during the day.

"A lot of you ask me if it's hard to train like this," she wrote (translated), "Well it’s definitely a conflicted life, but that holds many joys and beautiful experiences!"

However, despite the post's inspirational message, Cerruti says she soon found herself the subject of sexist comments.

After the photo was shared by various news outlets, the swimmer says she was sent a link by a friend, only to find "hundreds, probably thousands, of inappropriate, sexist comments" made by "vulgar people".

Sharing a screenshot of some of the comments in question, Cerruti explained that her original photo showed her in a pose that is "typical of [her] sport" - and yet, some people still felt the need to make degrading comments.

"After more than 20 years of training and sacrifices, I find it SHAMEFUL to say the least and it really hurts my heart to read this horde of people making jokes that sexualize my body," she writes, adding that she is not complaining, but simply highlighting a "daily reality".

She also offered an apology to any young athletes who follow her on the social media platform who will have to read the comments, but she says that "the alternative is silence, which is one of the reasons why we still read these things today".

The swimmer says that the "minimum" of what she could do in response was to report the comment, before explaining that she believes today's society is "too masculine and very different" from the one she would like to raise children in one day.

Concluding her caption, Cerruti writes: "I would like, at the same time, to thank all the people who have distanced themselves from these comments, have 'defended' me and appreciated the photo for what it is: the image of an artistic swimmer proud of her achievements.

"This is the Italy I proudly represent carrying the tricolor flag around the world."

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We're just a few days into the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and we've already seen more controversy to last us four years until the next games.

From the controversial player choice for the Dutch volleyball team to the widely criticized Opening Ceremony, the Paris games have been making headlines for the wrong reasons thus far.

And, sadly, the controversy has continued thank to sports commentator Bob Ballard - who had been providing commentary for EuroSport during the women's 4x100m freestyle race on Saturday (July 27).

During the race, Australia's team of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon, and Meg Harris successfully won the gold medal in the event. However, rather than commenting on the win, former BBC commentator Ballard offered a sexist remark to his co-host, Lizzie Simmonds.

"Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like... hanging around, doing their make-up," he said.

Although Simmonds briefly laughed at the remark, she was quick to label Ballard's comments as "outrageous". And it appears that viewers agreed with her.

"Casual sexism being thrown around on the swimming coverage," wrote TikTok user @thelifeoflyds, sharing a clip of the moment.

Reposting the video, X user @AGoonersThought added: "Setting women's sports back. Bob Ballard."

Another X user tweeted: "Bob Ballard hang your head in shame and get off the broadcast and back to the 1930s. Commentating for EuroSport he’s used a sexist slur as the Aussie women RIGHTLY celebrated together."

Following the backlash, EuroSport issued a statement, confirming that Ballard had been removed from its commentary team.

"During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment," the statement read. "To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect."

On X, Ballard has received an outpouring of support from some viewers, with many believing that he shouldn't have been removed over "a joke" and "banter". Others described his removal as a backlash of "woke culture".

Ballard has been a regular voice in the sporting world since the 1980s - providing commentary for a number of World Championships and Olympic events. According to his X profile, he provides commentary on a number of events, including swimming, diving, water polo, ice hockey, and wheelchair tennis.

Despite being active on X during this year's games, he is yet to speak out publically about his release from EuroSport.

Featured image credit: Maddie Meyer / Getty

An Olympics commentator has broken his silence after he was axed from Eurosport for making a sexist remark.

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics have been marred by controversy even before the Games were fully underway.

From contentious player selections to a criticized Opening Ceremony, the event has faced its share of challenges. The latest issue involves sports commentator Bob Ballard, who sparked outrage with a sexist remark during EuroSport’s coverage of the women’s 4x100m freestyle race on July 27.

As Australia’s team—comprising Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon, and Meg Harris—celebrated their gold medal victory, Ballard made an inappropriate comment.

Addressing his co-host, Lizzie Simmonds, Ballard remarked: “Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up.”

Although Simmonds briefly laughed, she promptly labeled the comment as “outrageous,” and viewers quickly echoed her sentiment.

Ballard has now taken to X to comment on the controversy, writing: "To all my new followers, I am quite boring really, I am not normally the subject of a news story that’s gone worldwide. Thanks for adding me."

He previously thanked those who had supported him amid the backlash, stating: "Things are tough right now but with your messages / it’s made life bearable."

In any case, the backlash on social media was swift. TikTok user @thelifeoflyds shared a clip of the comment, noting: “Casual sexism being thrown around on the swimming coverage.”

Reposting the video, X user @AGoonersThought criticized Ballard’s remark, stating: “Setting women's sports back. Bob Ballard.”

Another user tweeted: “Bob Ballard hang your head in shame and get off the broadcast and back to the 1930s. Commentating for EuroSport he’s used a sexist slur as the Aussie women RIGHTLY celebrated together.”

In response to the uproar, EuroSport issued a statement confirming that Ballard had been removed from its commentary team.

“During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment. To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect,” the statement read.

The decision to remove Ballard has sparked a mixed reaction. Some viewers on X have expressed support for him, suggesting that his comment was a “joke” or “banter” and criticizing the response as an overreach of "woke culture."

Ballard, a fixture in sports commentary since the 1980s, has covered numerous World Championships and Olympic events across various sports including swimming, diving, water polo, ice hockey, and wheelchair tennis.

Featured image credit: Maddie Meyer / Getty

Caitlyn Jenner has responded to the new policy that bans transgender women from competing in female swimming events if they have gone through male puberty.

The 72-year-old Olympic gold medalist's reaction comes after FINA - swimming's world governing body - voted over the weekend to restrict transgender athletes from competing in women's elite races.

The organization made its decision during an extraordinary general congress at the ongoing World Championships in Budapest, where 152 members submitted their votes on the matter.

A total of 71 percent of voters chose to prevent trans athletes from competing in women's elite races if they have gone through any part of the process of male puberty - meaning competitors will have now had to have completed their transition by the age of 12.

The decision has sparked a wave of responses from people, especially men's decathlon winner Jenner who shared her opinion on the matter through her social media account.

The former Olympian wrote to her 3.4 million followers on Twitter: "It worked! I took a lot of heat - but what’s fair is fair! If you go through male puberty you should not be able to take medals away from females. Period."

The former Keeping Up With The Kardashians star comments come after the multiple times she spoke out against trans athletes.

She has previously called on the organization to decide on the topic, claiming it's unfair for cis-gendered females to contest against trans swimmers.

In an interview with Fox News at the beginning of the year, Jenner responded to transgender swimmer Lia Thomas' record-breaking victories last year, saying: "All of this woke world that we are living in right now is not working."

"I feel sorry for the other athletes that are out there, especially at Penn or anybody she's competing against, because in the woke world, you've got to say, 'Oh, my gosh, this is great,' No, it's not," she added.

Jenner also outrightly said that "biological boys should not compete against biological girls," which is now basically what the swimming organizations are seeking to modify after many deliberations.

As reported by BBC News, following the decision, FINA will now aim to establish an "open category" at competitions for swimmers whose gender identity is different than their assigned-at-birth sex.

FINA president Husain Al-Musallam explained that the swimming body's new "open category" will allow everybody to contest at the top level: "FINA will always welcome every athlete. The creation of an open category will mean that everybody has the opportunity to compete at an elite level."

"This has not been done before, so FINA will need to lead the way. I want all athletes to feel included in being able to develop ideas during this process," Al-Musallam added.

Featured image credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy.

An American Olympian who lost to swimmer Lia Thomas at Thursday's 2022 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships has spoken out in support of transgender athletes.

Erica Sullivan - a 21-year-old swimmer who won the silver medal in the 1500-meter freestyle event at the 2020 Summer Olympics - is speaking up for 22-year-old Lia Thomas.

Earlier this week, Thomas made headlines when she became the first transgender woman to win NCAA swimming title. However, Thomas' victory was met with a mixed response, as naysayers continued to question her place in the championships.

Now, Sullivan has penned an op-ed for Newsweek detailing why - despite falling short to Thomas in the 500-yard freestyle - she is defending her place in sports, along with other trans athletes.

Just one day after claiming third place in the event, Sullivan wrote: "I have been given a platform to advocate for my community, and I can't sit silently by as I see a fellow swimmer's fundamental rights be put up for debate."

The former Olympian went on to explain how all swimmers "embody a diverse set of identities and characteristics", but nobody ever questions the "validity of how cisgender athletes' unique traits and skills, or who they are, contribute to their success".

Sullivan then writes how University of Pennsylvania swimmer Thomas "has been unfairly targeted for just that - for being who she is, a transgender woman."

The Texas Longhorns freshman went on to explain that Lia does not "win every time", but that any victory she earns is deserved. Sullivan also pointed out that Thomas "trained diligently to get to where she is and has followed all of the rules and guidelines put before her".

She added:

"Forcing an athlete to hide an essential part of herself in order to participate isn't a solution. If I were to remain closeted, my mental health would deteriorate, and I wouldn't be able to perform at my best in any part of my life. I wouldn't want that for myself, or for any of my teammates."

Sullivan added that she is proud to be one of the 300+ NCAA, Team USA, and Olympic swimmers who signed an open letter from Schuyler Bailar and Athlete Ally "in support of Lia and all transgender and nonbinary swimmers".

She ended the piece by saying that she'll continue to cheer on Thomas and all over swimmers continuing to proudly be themselves.

Earlier this month, Thomas commented on the antagonism she has faced as a trans athlete. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, the young swimmer said: "I'm not a man. I'm a woman, so I belong on the women's team. Trans people deserve that same respect every other athlete gets."

After coming out to her friends and family, Thomas began hormone replacement therapy in 2019, despite concerns about the impact it would have on her body and her ability to compete in the beloved sport.

In accordance with NCAA policies, Thomas was permitted to join the women's swim team following a year of hormone replacement therapy.

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