Mark Taylor hits back at 'absolute rubbish' criticism of Olympic diving commentary

Former Australian Test skipper Mark Taylor has hit back at critics of his commentary of the diving events at Paris Olympics 2024. Some fans were left bemused when Taylor was introduced as Nine's commentator poolside for the Olympic diving.

However, the experienced cricket commentator and expert wasn't willing to pay heed to the naysayers. Taylor said he isn't someone who follows social media too much. He also mentioned that he had an idea that he would receive flak from a section of the viewers for taking up the role.

"I don't tend to follow the media and social media all that closely. I knew when I said I'd do this that there would be people, what do they call them, the naysayers, who would say I shouldn't be doing it. You know you're going to get that," Taylor told 2DAY FM's Hughesy, Ed & Erin.

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I'm there to give audience scores which is a bit like cricket: Taylor

While the 59-year-old was not perturbed by the online criticism dished out to him, he admitted that the impact on his family was inappropriate. The right-handed batter revealed that students in his adult daughter's classroom had labelled his actions impolite to the divers. Furthermore, Mark Taylor clarified that he isn't the expert on the commentary panel and said it is the job of Australian diver and the Tokyo 2020 Olympian, Sam Flicker.

"The thing I don't accept, I had my daughter come home from teaching her class and someone had said [to her], 'It's disrespectful to the athletes'. I don't accept that because I've been out and met all the athletes about a month ago. I went out to the pool and watched them dive and they were all delighted that I put my hand up to do it," he continued.

"Sam Flicker, he's the expert, not me. I'm not a diver. I'm there to do my job which is to give the audience the scores which is a bit like cricket," Taylor stated.

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Besides, the fans have questioned Taylor's knowledge of the sport. However, he revealed that he calculates the scores, statistics and information about the divers shared during the broadcast. Hence, there was no disrespect or malicious intention towards the athletes.

"I'm doing my own scores, we do have a table, obviously, but I'm doing my own scores and I'm doing my best. So, it's not disrespectful. That's absolute rubbish," the Leeton-born concluded.