Another cluster of medals on Tuesday confirmed that Rio 2016 was Team GB’s most successful overseas Olympic Games ever, eclipsing the medal tally from Beijing in 2008.
Two of them came courtesy of cyclists Jason Kenny and Laura Trott, who both secured gold medals in the velodrome.
Kenny’s victory in the keirin was his sixth Olympic gold, equalling Chris Hoy’s haul. As for Trott, who is Kenny’s fiancee, her victory in the omnium saw her become Britain’s most successful female Olympian with her fourth gold.
With many watching coverage of the pair’s embrace moments after Kenny’s victory, viewers were surprised by the comments made by the BBC’s Chris Boardman – a gold medal-winning cyclist at the Barcelona Games in 1992.
“She’s doing all the emotion for him – he’s looking at her wondering ‘what’s for tea,’” Boardman remarked.
Instantly, viewers were quick to criticise his remark on twitter.
Commentary on Jason Kenny's win ruined by casual sexism: "She's doing the emotion for both of them while he wonders what's for tea." #BBC
— Bridget Aherne (@BridgetAherne) August 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/honestoblog/status/765672463745290240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/SiobhanHill1/status/765824040036630528
https://twitter.com/StephieGThorpe/status/765674375609720832
https://twitter.com/shazia_dar/status/765671567237971968
Boardman later responded, explaining that his comment had nothing to do with gender.
Just to clarify, "what's for tea?" is often I question asks me! It's nothing to do with gender!!
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) August 16, 2016
Clare Balding, who has presented most of the BBC’s coverage from the velodrome, also appeared to play down claims that his comment was ‘sexist’.
#whatsfortea @Chris_Boardman it's your turn 😉 pic.twitter.com/AOa1Q7YEig
— Clare Balding 💙 (@clarebalding) August 17, 2016
Many others also felt that Boardman’s comment had been taken completely out of context, explaining that Boardman had simply been trying to suggest that Kenny had looked relaxed about his historic victory.
No way @Chris_Boardman was being sexist with "what's for tea" comment. He was just trying to convey laid back attitude of @JasonKenny107
— Matthew Syed (@matthewsyed) August 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/McTweenigal/status/765792695088447488
Imagine thinking for even a second that Chris Boardman was being sexist with his "what's for tea?" comment. Some people are stupid.
— Daniel Fawcett (@DanTheManF1) August 17, 2016
