Fans have rushed to defend Matt Baker, after critics questioned how he is 'qualified' to commentate on the gymnastics at the Paris Olympics.
Gymnastics is one of the sports that many viewers most look forward to every Olympic year and, as he's done countless times in the past, Matt is on the BBC team to cover it over in France, with the action taking place at the Bercy Arena and Matt joined behind the mic by former Olympian Craig Heap and coach Christine Still.
Highlights of the Olympic gymnastics so far have included a stellar comeback from USA's Simone Biles in the qualification rounds for the women's team final and the men's team final on Monday, which was won right at the death in dramatic fashion by Japan, with Team GB just missing out on a medal in fourth.
READ MORE: Gabby Logan wades in on BBC Olympics row as Clare Balding under fire
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Many people watching the final at home loved Matt's enthusiasm, particularly when it looked at one point that the British athletes might end up on podium. However, others hit out at BBC bosses for giving the County Durham born star such a high profile role, seemingly unaware of the fact that Matt did used to be a competitive gymnast before forging a career in TV.
One critic took to X to blast: "Is Matt Baker commentating on the gymnastics? Why the f**k age the BBC using a TV farmer?" as another complained: "Why does matt Baker do gymnastics? What's the connection with him and that sport? I only see him on farming programmes such as #countryfile"
Amongst the criticism levelled at the ex Blue Peter and One Show presenter, there was also plenty of support for Matt, with one viewer responding: "to be fair Matt was a gymnast" as another, making the same point, commented: "He used to be a gymnast!"
Three years ago, when he was commentating on the gymnastics at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Matt actually took to Instagram to defend himself against claims he wasn't qualified for the role. Sharing newspaper cuttings reporting on his achievements as a young gymnast, Matt wrote: "For all those asking... here’s some clippings from my Old scrap book! As a lad gymnastics was my life...it taught me the simple recipe if you work hard you get a result. Without my sport I would never be where I am today."
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