Robert Ballard (athlete)

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Robert Ballard
Personal information
Full nameRobert John Ballard
Nationality Australian
Born (1964-09-25) 25 September 1964 (age 59)
Height187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight77 kg (170 lb)
Sport
Country Australia
Sport track and field
Event(s) 400 metres, 4 × 400 metres relay

Robert John Ballard (born 25 September 1964) [1] is a former Australian track and field athlete. He represented Australia at both the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games.

At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, he teamed up with Mark Garner, Miles Murphy and Darren Clark to make the final of the 4 × 400 metres relay where they finished sixth. [1]

At the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, he teamed up with Leigh Miller, Mark Garner and Robert Stone where they were disqualified in the second heat in the 4 × 400 metres relay. [2]

On 23 August 2000, Ballard was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his athletic achievements. [3]

During the 2024 Olympics event, Ballard was a commentator for broadcaster Eurosport. During a swimming event he made what the broadcaster called "an inappropriate comment" and was subsequently removed from their coverage. [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Robert Ballard". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  2. "Results for Athletics – 4 x 400m Relay – Men". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 25 July 2002. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  3. "Robert Ballard". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  4. "Eurosport drop Olympics commentator Bob Ballard for sexist remark about swimmers". The Guardian . 28 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.