Reporter's X-rated gaffe leaves Olympic swimmers blushing

The Great Britain team won gold in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay. Pic: Getty
The Great Britain team won gold in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay. Pic: Getty

A pair of British swimmers have found themselves at the centre of a hilarious interview gaffe at the Olympics that has become the talk of the internet.

Tom Dean and Matthew Richards - fresh from their gold medal-winning swim alongside Duncan Scott and James Guy in the men's 4 x 200m freestyle relay - were being interviewed by the BBC about the incredible race afterwards.

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The Great Britain team held off Russia and Australia to claim gold in a thrilling relay in Tokyo, setting a new European record in the process.

Dean and Richards sat down with BBC reporter Clare Balding after the win, when things took a slightly awkward turn.

The swimmers did well to compose themselves during the awkward moment in the BBC interview. Pic: BBC
The swimmers did well to compose themselves during the awkward moment in the BBC interview. Pic: BBC

Balding was beaming with enthusiasm when she spoke about how amazing the swim was when she turned her attention in particular to Richards, who swum the third leg of the relay for his team.

“You’re 18 years old, it’s your first Olympics," Balding started off saying, before the interview took a funny turn.

"And your third leg was just phenomenal,” Balding exclaimed before pausing to hear the swimmer's thoughts.

Dean - who was sitting next to his teammate - could be seen holding back a wry smile at the mention of Richards' third leg, before the swimmer responded.

Viewers poke fun as interview goes viral

Balding was of course asking about his third leg in the race, but it was an unfortunately phrased remark that brought a chuckle to both swimmers and became the talk of the internet.

One user shared the clip to TikTok, captioning the clip by remarking: "Did she really just say that?”

The funny incident has been viewed thousands of times and spawned countless responses.

Some viewers even suggested the swimmers deserved another gold for holding their composure throughout the interview.

“The self-control of them not to burst out laughing,” one TikTok user wrote.

Another added: “They deserve another Gold for holding it in.

“Typical young British lads,” another exclaimed.

“I’m HOWLING.”

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