- Tim Bailey criticised the decision to have commentator Mark Taylor dive into the water
- The former captain of the event recounted the action of the synchronized trampoline final
- TV star Bailey called the shock move disrespectful to athletes.
Australian television star Tim Bailey has slammed the unusual decision to have cricket great Mark Taylor commentate on diving at the Paris Olympics, insisting it is disrespectful to athletes.
The former Test captain surprised some Channel 9 viewers on Saturday night when he called the action during the women’s 3m synchronised springboard final, Bailey most notably.
“Mark Taylor calling the jumps. He’s a wonderful cricketer, but a bit disrespectful to athletes,” Bailey posted on X.
“Tubby probably doesn’t know anything about the sport. He’s admitted it himself. Who (the executive producer) made this decision? The last one.”
Many sports fans agreed with Bailey and posted their thoughts.
“Mark Taylor’s comments on the jump sound like a scene from The 12th Man,” wrote AAP sportswriter Oliver Caffrey.
“This year it wasn’t on my bingo card to have Tubby Taylor narrate the jumps at the Olympics,” another posted.
“How can the election of Tubby Taylor to comment on synchronized diving happen at a board meeting?” another responded.
Australian TV star Tim Bailey (pictured) has criticised the decision to have Mark Taylor commentate on diving at the Paris Games
The former Test captain gave an account of the action in the women’s synchronised trampoline final on Saturday night.
Other fans were happy to hear from the cricket legend.
“I love Tubby Taylor’s ideas on synchronized jumping,” wrote one fan.
“Mark Taylor narrates the jump at Nine. What a time to be alive! The art of the perfect tackle narrates the art of a perfect tackle,” another joked.
Meanwhile, a disastrous final dive by Australia’s Annabelle Smith cost her and her diving partner Maddison Keeney Australia’s first medal of the Paris Olympics.
It dropped them from third to fifth place, just when they looked set to claim even silver on the opening afternoon of the Games at the Paris Aquatics Centre.
The normally reliable duo, who often claim podium places at major championships, made a mess of their final difficult jump: two and a half somersaults with a pike twist.
A mistake on the final jump cost Australians Maddison Keeney and Anabel Smith their first Australian medal
That left Smith, 31, in her fourth Games, blaming herself for a slip on the right edge of the backboard.
“Yeah, it was pretty brutal. I can’t change it now so there’s no point in thinking about it anymore,” the Melbourne man said after the tears dried up.
“Really, these things happen. They happen to the best and unfortunately today was my day. However, I must not let it define me. We have done incredible things over these 10 years.”