FANS have been left convinced that BBC presenter Clare Balding made an X-rated slip up live on air.
Balding, 53, has been hosting the swimming action from La Defense Arena so far during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
While presenting action from the pool, Balding has also made sure to keep viewers up to date with goings on elsewhere in the French capital.
Earlier today, she linked to a feature on Team GB star Tom Pidcock.
The cyclist, 24, produced an astonishing recovery from a puncture to retain his men’s cross-country mountain biking gold medal.
When Balding referenced the Leeds-born star live on air, fans were left convinced that she said “Big” rather than “Pid” when saying his surname.
After watching the supposed slip up, one fan wrote on social media: “Has someone been messing with the autocue?”
While a second excitedly posted: “She really said it didn’t she?! Clare Balding – you minx!!
Another added: “DID CLARE BALDING JUST SAY…?”
Despite fans’ excitement, it is unclear whether she did make the slip up or not.
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Pidcock cut an emotional figure after claiming his gold medal.
He has faced adversity leading up to the Games, having had to pull out of the Tour de France earlier this month after testing positive for Covid.
The inspirational star then recovered from an incredible 40 second deficit at the halfway stage of today’s race to triumph.
Pidcock was booed by the French crowd following his triumph, having executed a daring move to overtake home favourite Victor Koretzky.
Speaking to the BBC‘s Hazel Irvine after his triumph, Pidcock broke down in tears while referencing the boo boys.
The emotional star choked up as he said: “It wasn’t easy. I’m keeping my glasses on for a reason!
“The Olympics is so special. You never give up, in everything, and that’s what I had to do.
“I knew that Victor was going to be super fast in the last lap, even if I couldn’t get rid of him. So I knew it was going to be a big, big fight.”
On his daring overtake, Pidcock added: “He left a gap, so I had to go for it. That’s racing, some people might view it differently.
“I wanted to show what sport is, not giving up. It’s a shame the French were booing me, but you know…”
By Rob Maul
IT WAS a bland course but not a bland race
That was one of the greatest, most exciting race wins for a British star in Olympic history.
In boiling heat, Pidcock edged out Victor Koretzky on the final metres.
The way he went for the race line as they went opposite sides of a tree was something F1 rider Max Verstappen would have been proud of.
They collided and he was booed by the French fans as their man settled for silver.
If we are making comparisons to F1 then the pitstop midway through was not very good.
The mechanics were a bit slow to deal with Pidcock’s front-wheel puncture but the Leeds cyclist showed his true Yorkshire grit on the gravel.
