Radio host Marty Sheargold compared the Matildas to a Year 10 girls team during a rant on his program, which has now been shuttered. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images) (Getty Images: Morgan Hancock)
In short:
Former Hockeyroo Rosie Malone and Australian Olympic medallist Libby Trickett say they hope calling out the sexist comments made by Marty Sheargold will be a catalyst for change.
Olympian Rosie Malone, who first shared Sheargold's comments on social media, said the host "clearly didn't understand the impact of his words".
What's next:
Malone and Trickett both believe this conversation highlights the challenges still facing women who want to play sport, and called for more male athletes standing up for women's sport.Â
Former Hockeyroo Rosie Malone and seven-time Australian Olympic medallist Libby Trickett have both called for change following sexist comments towards the Matildas made by former Triple M host Marty Sheargold.Â
During a sports report on his Monday afternoon show, Sheargold compared the Matildas to a Year 10 team, and said he would "rather hammer a nail through the head of [his] penis" than watch them play.
The comments went viral on social media after being shared by Malone.
Former hockeyroo Rosie Malone wants people to learn from the discussion around Sheargold's comments about the Matildas (AAP: John Cowpland)
The former Hockeyroo, who has represented Australia at two Olympics, told triple j hack she had decided to post the comments after hearing them in the car on the way to football training.
"I was excited, thinking, OK, cool, here's a story about women's sport and the Matildas — I love the Matildas," Malone told hack.
"I was sitting there thinking, 'Am I going crazy? Like, is this acceptable in this day and age?'"
Marty Sheargold, Triple M part ways following Matildas furore
Photo shows Marty Sheargold wearing headphones and speaking on air for Triple M.
Malone's Instagram post has now been viewed more than a million times.
Fellow Olympian Libby Trickett, who also worked for Triple M in her post swimming career, told triple j hack that Sheargold's comments were "tired and boring".
"We need to do better, and we need to … model this for our kids, not just for our girls … but also for our young men, to recognise that these kinds of thought patterns and opinions just aren't flying anymore," Trickett said.
Both Olympians said they hoped calling out comments like this will help change things for the better.
Malone said she wants to see more male athletes standing up for women's sport.
"This isn't just a girl's or women problem … I think it's a whole societal issue,"
Malone said.
"It's something so important … for men and women … to speak up and set a standard."
Trickett said incidents like this forced her to confront her own experiences in sport.
"When you're told for a long time that everyone's there to watch the men and not the women, which is what I was told for many years in my swimming career, you internalise that,"
she said.
Swimming legend Libby Trickett told hack comments, like those made by Marty Sheargold, could create barriers for women wanting to participate in sport (ABC News: Mel Vujkovic)
"The reality is, women's sport across the board is exceptional.
"It's fun to watch, it's dynamic, it's interesting."
Matildas 'shocked' and 'hurt'
Malone told hack some of the Matildas had reached out after seeing the comments.
"They're shocked, they're hurt, they're upset," Malone said.
"A lot of them were just saying, 'thank you for saying this, and thank you for sharing it'."
Matildas captain Steph Catley has told Channel 10 the comments are completely unacceptable.
"I know there has been apologies but it is just completely unacceptable. I won't be commenting anymore on it," she said.
'Disbelief' at apology
On Wednesday, Sheargold and Triple M said they have mutually agreed to part ways after the show did not go to air.Â
Triple M has since released a statement saying its programming should align with the standards and expectations of its audience, and it was a moment for reflection and review.
The station had earlier posted a statement on Tuesday, apologising "for any offence caused" by the remarks.
"Sheargold's comments regarding the Matildas … do not align with Triple M's views and values, and Triple M remains steadfast in its strong support of all women's and men's sports," Triple M said.
Sheargold also apologised.
"Any comedy, including mine, can miss the mark sometimes, and I can see why people may have taken offence at my comments," he said in a statement.
But that apology has rung hollow for Malone.
She told hack that Sheargold "clearly doesn't understand the impact of his words".
"[He] essentially just said it was something that was meant to be funny, and he just missed the mark," Malone said.
"I don't know how that could be considered an apology."