A Channel Seven sports reporter has been forced to apologise to an Australian Olympian after he accused her of not playing ‘elite sport’.
Nathan Templeton was tweeting with Commonwealth gold medallist hockey player and AFLW recruit Georgie Parker about the Richmond Tigers versus Geelong Cats match on Friday night.
Templeton, an Olympic Games reporter for the Seven Network, disagreed with Parker’s comments on home ground advantages and asked her to ‘let me know when you play “elite sport”‘.
He apologised through his Twitter account after his comment was heavily criticised.
A Channel Seven sports reporter has accused Hockeyroos star Georgie Parker (pictured) of not playing ‘elite sport’
Nathan Templeton was tweeting with Commonwealth gold medallist hockey player Georgie Parker (left) about the Richmond Tigers versus Geelong Cats match on Friday night
Templeton (pictured with Olympic silver medallist swimmer Maddie Groves) is an Olympic Games reporter for Seven
Parker, 28, has over 100 caps for the Hockeyroos, helping the team to the gold medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth games in 2014.
She played in the Australian team that was knocked out in the quarter finals at the Rio Olympics in 2016, an event covered by Channel Seven and Nathan Templeton.
‘THIS is the advantage the home team should get. The crowd behind you which makes you lift. Something the Cats didn’t get last night,’ Parker initially tweeted.
Parker diagreed saying the home-ground advantage was not driven by ‘trying hard’
Templeton then replied, saying: ‘Everyone understands crowd support feels nice and gives a lift. But shouldn’t highly-paid, full-time professionals just try hard anyway??’
Parker disagreed saying the home-ground advantage was not driven by ‘trying hard’.
‘Cute. I like ya nathan, but you’ve clearly never played elite sport if you think ‘trying hard’ is the reason a home crowd is important.’
Parker, 28, has over 100 caps for the Hockeyroos, helping the team to the gold medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth games in 2014
Templeton apologised through his Twitter account after his comment was heavily criticised
Templeton then snapped back, suggesting Parker also had not played high-level competition
Templeton then snapped back, suggesting Parker also had not played high-level competition.
‘Thanks for the feedback Georgie. Let me know when you play “elite sport”.’
The backlash quickly mounted for the sports reporter, calling for him to apologise.
‘So Nathan, you are a sports reporter and you don’t know who Georgie is?’ one person said.
Others accused Templeton of confusing the Olympian with her namesake and former Home and Away star Georgie Parker.
‘Nathan going off before he knew who Georgie Parker was….hhmm…not from Home and Away,’ another tweeted.
The Hockeyroo (right) responded to comments, saying she was particularly upset because he had interviewed her before. ‘He knows exactly who I am and that I play elite level sport, just doesn’t respect it’
The Hockeyroo responded to comments, saying she was particularly upset because he had interviewed her before
The Hockeyroo responded to comments, saying she was particularly upset because he had interviewed her before.
‘He knows exactly who I am and that I play elite level sport, just doesn’t respect it.’
A short time later Templeton apologised through his Twitter account, labelling his comments ‘silly’.
‘Sorry @GeorgieParker for my silly comments. Since being in touch a couple of years ago I’ve followed you closely and respect your career.
Congrats on a brilliant career in hockey and good luck in the AFLW. Hope to chat with you when you play your first game.’
Parker accepted his apology.