Making waves: CBC Olympics commentator finally apologises for saying Chinese swimmer ‘died like a pig’

Canadian swimming commentator Byron MacDonald has personally apologised over his on-air remarks that a Chinese swimmer “died like a pig” after China lost to Canada in the 4x200m freestyle relay on the fifth day of the Rio Games.

The commentator from Canada’s national broadcaster CBC sparked outrage among Chinese fans, who accused him of being a “pig” while questioning whether he had achieved as much as the Chinese swimmers when he was young.

“The little 14-year-old from China dropped the ball, baby. Too excited, went out like stink, died like a pig. Thanks for that,” MacDonald said in comments picked up by a studio “hot mic”.

Chinese Ai Yanhan was the only 14-year-old swimmer on the team, which clocked 7 minutes 47.96 seconds and finished in fourth place. Canada took bronze with a time of 7:45.39.

CBC apologised on Twitter first.