Leisel Jones Breaks Down on Air Over Marty Sheargold's Matildas Comments

Aussie Olympic swimming champion Leisel Jones broke down in tears during a live radio broadcast on Triple M while addressing controversial comments made by her co-host Marty Sheargold about the Australian women's football team, the Matildas. Sheargold faced backlash after making disparaging remarks, including a false claim that the Matildas did not reach the quarter-finals in the 2023 Women's World Cup. Jones expressed her distress over the hurtfulness of Sheargold's comments, stating that they undermine women's sport and emphasizing the importance of encouraging all children to participate in sports regardless of their abilities. She mentioned feeling pressure to respond amid a flood of criticism on social media for not initially addressing the remarks. Jones articulated her deep support for women's sports and the challenges of being seen as a spokesperson for women athletes. The incident has sparked widespread discussion on the treatment of women in sports and media representations.