Lamington jibe takes cake in gaffe stakes

Olympic champion turned commentator Kerri Pottharst has been slammed for calling Caribbean beach volleyball players “human lamingtons” when covered in sand.

The racial clanger occurred as Pottharst, an Order of Australia recipient and gold medallist at the Sydney Olympics, was commentating on the match between Australians Damien Schumann and Chris McHugh and their opponents from St Kitts and Nevis, St Clair Hodge and Shawn Seabrookes, yesterday afternoon.

She said the islanders resembled a human lamington as they glistened with sweat and sand.

Viewers were quick to condemn her on social media.

“The commentator just said the dark skin from the player mixed with sand made him look like a human lamington get that woman off the air,” one viewer posted on Twitter.

“Your commentator called a volleyball player a human lamington. Seriously?!?!” wrote another. A third said: “Appalling commentary: Human lamington used by Channel 7 commentator for a St Kitts and Nevis beach volleyball player.”

A mortified Pottharst later issued an apology.

“Today at the beach volleyball, I made a comment I unreservedly apologise for and sincerely regret,” she said. “It was 100 per cent not meant to offend.”

Australia won the match in straight sets, 21-3, 21-10.

During February’s Winter Olympics, former aerial skiing champion Jacqui Cooper came under fire for saying Chinese competitors “looked the same’’.

She said later she was referring to their similar style.