21 January 2014updated 28 Jun 2021 4:46am

Beth Tweddle tries to do a Twitter Q&A; outrageous sexism ensues

Only five per cent of sports media coverage features women. Wonder why?

Gymnast and Olympic medallist Beth Tweddle took part in a Twitter Q&A for Sky Sports News today.

All set for #sportswomen on @SkySportsNews pic.twitter.com/BIgMSxrNPy

— Beth Tweddle (@bethtweddlenews) January 21, 2014

What happened next was nothing short of horrific. Responses included things like this:

@SkySportsNews #Sportswomen On a scale of 1/10 how pig ugly would you class yourself?

— coco bald (@colmc71) January 21, 2014

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THANK YOU

This:

@SkySportsNews ask her if her fucking teeth can get ne bigger or if she can get any uglier

— stephen (@chronicblower) January 21, 2014

And this:

@SkySportsNews I just pushed my foreskin into my bum hole and now my finger smells like B.O. Are you well jel? #Sportswomen #askbethtweddle

— Anthony Bryant (@antbryant) January 21, 2014

The excellent Everyday Sexism project has documented more examples – it continued for quite a while. Tweddle is one of the few sportswomen who has maintained a relatively high profile after London 2012. It’s a shame she has to wade through this kind of rubbish in order to do her job.