Olympic gold medalist turned NBC sports analyst Bode Miller apologized after blaming an Austrian Olympic Skier’s poor performance in PyeongChang, South Korea,
Olympic gold medalist turned NBC sports analyst Bode Miller apologized after blaming an Austrian Olympic Skier’s poor performance on getting married, The Daily Beast reported Thursday.
Miller’s comments were made Wednesday night as the world watched Olympian Anna Veith struggle on the women’s giant slalom course to win the gold. She has been battling a knee injury since bringing home both a gold and silver medal at the winter games in 2014.
“The knee is certainly an issue,” Miller explained on-air. “I want to point out she also got married and it’s historically very challenging to race on World Cup with a family or after being married. Not to blame the spouses, but I just want to toss that out there, that it could be her husband’s fault.”
Please tell me someone else caught Bode Miller with the greatest color commentary of any Olympiad ever: pic.twitter.com/l3MtYxUilV
— Mike Honcho (@doubleshift8) February 15,2018
A short time later, Miller made it clear he was attempting to make a joke and failed miserably.
“That was an ill-advised attempt at a joke,” the announcer said. “I was an athlete that competed after marriage and I know how beneficial it is. I know the support team you need. I relied on my friends and family.”
“If you have the luxury of relying on a spouse, I know they are inevitably your biggest supporter,” he added. “And on Valentine’s Day, I didn’t mean to throw spouses under the bus. Certainly, I’m going to be hearing it from my wife, I know.”
“To be clear I was not seriously blaming Anna Veith’s lack of results on her husband. It’s a changing of priorities that is historically hard, male or female,” Miller later tweeted, backtracking on the comments even further.
To be clear I was not seriously blaming Anna Veith’s lack of results on her husband. It’s a changing of priorities that is historically hard, male or female.
— Bode Miller (@MillerBode) February 15,2018
“I had the love and support of my wife while I was racing and I know it can be a huge asset. #happyvalentinesday,” he added.
I had the love and support of my wife while I was racing and I know it can be a huge asset. #happyvalentinesday
— Bode Miller (@MillerBode) February 15,2018
