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Matthew Mitcham makes bombshell revelation amid Mark Taylor commentary furore at Olympics

The Aussie diving champion has had his say amid the controversy in Paris.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·3-min read

Matthew Mitcham has revealed he was approached by Channel 9 to do the commentary for the diving at the Paris Olympics, but declined because the network wanted him to fly home and do it remotely from Australia. The diving commentary has been a huge point of contention this week because Australian cricket legend Mark Taylor has been in the booth.

Taylor has been doing a reasonable job and holding his own, but clearly doesn't have the expertise to provide viewers with much insight. As the anchor, Taylor has been describing the action for viewers and reading out the scores, while former pro diver Sam Fricker provides the expert analysis.

Some have labelled it 'disrespectful' that Taylor is commentating the diving and not an actual expert, claims the former Test cricket captain described as "absolute rubbish". But Mitcham revealed new details about the situation on Wednesday - and wasn't particularly happy with the decision to put Taylor in the booth.

Matthew Mitcham and Mark Taylor.
Matthew Mitcham has criticised the decision to have Mark Taylor commentate the diving at the Olympics. Image: Getty

Speaking on 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin, the Olympic gold medallist revealed he was approached by Nine to do the commentary for the Paris diving, but declined. Australia's greatest male diver is based in London and has been in Paris watching the Games, and wasn't keen when Nine asked him to fly back to Australia to do the commentary.

To cut costs, the majority of the Nine commentators have been calling the action remotely - including Taylor and Fricker. When asked what he thought of Taylor's efforts in the booth, Mitcham simply replied: "He's doing a job."

In comments dripping with sarcasm, Mitcham said: "The first time you do something its always going to be terrible. So it's good that he's cutting his teeth at the Olympics - the most important competition in the whole world."

When asked if he was happy about the situation he said: "No. You've got your expert next to him. The anchor is there to do the technical stuff and pretend they know what they're doing. And that's why they have the expert next to him." He also joked he'd be "highly offended" if Nine didn't ask him to commentate on the cricket in the future.

Matthew Mitcham and Tom Daley.
Matthew Mitcham (L) is Australia's greatest male diver. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Mark Taylor commentating the cricket for Channel 9.
Mark Taylor is traditionally a cricket commentator for Channel 9. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

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Iconic TV weatherman Tim Bailey was among the many to call out the decision from Channel 9 to have Taylor call the diving, labelling it 'disrespectful' towards the athletes competing. “Mark Taylor calling the diving. A wonderful cricketer. But a little disrespectful to the athletes,” Bailey wrote on social media. “Tubby probably knows nothing about this sport. He’s admitted as much. The (executive producer) who made this decision? Your last.”

But Taylor said 2DAY FM’s 'Hughesy, Ed & Erin' on Tuesday morning: “I went out to meet the divers, and they were all delighted that I put my hand up to do it. And Sam Flicker is the expert, I’m not a diver. I’m there to do a job, and I’m doing the scores. It’s not disrespectful. That’s absolute rubbish.”

Former Hockeyroos player Georgie Parker defended the move, saying: "A commentator is very different to being a special comments/expert. Sam Fricker is the expert. No different to a main caller in a footy match with the expert adding the insight."