A CANADIAN TV station made a grovelling on air apology last night after one of its commentators said a 14-year-old Chinese swimmer “died like a pig” when she lost a race.
Byron MacDonald, a broadcaster for the country’s national station CBC, landed himself in hot water following the women’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay final yesterday.
Thinking his microphone was off, he slammed 14-year-old Ai Yanhan for China’s failure to edge out Canada for the bronze medal, after USA and Australia finished first and second.
Yanhan swam the second leg of the relay 1.61 seconds slower than Canada’s Taylor Ruck, which allowed the Canadians to close the gap, prompting MacDonald's wrath as China finished fourth.
MacDonald, a 1972 Olympian and swimming coach at the University of Toronto, said: "The little 14-year-old from China dropped the ball, baby. Too excited, went out like stink, died like a pig. Thanks for that.”
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The announcer later apologised for his comments, claiming he meant “no disrespect”, while the station made an on-air apology - but not before outrage was caused online where shocked viewers called for him to lose his job.
Chuck Thompson, a CBC spokesman said in a statement: "We sincerely regret that these statements were made, and that they were allowed to go to air.
"To be clear, Byron’s comments were related to the swimmer’s performance, not to her as an individual.
"That said, they were inappropriate and an unfortunate choice of words and Byron is very sorry for what he said.”
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