NBC has removed footage from its Winter Olympics coverage and issued an apology after commentators repeatedly referred to Swedish transgender skier Elis Lundholm using incorrect pronouns during the women’s moguls event at Milano Cortina, reports BritPanorama.
The American broadcaster took action following the incident, wherein Lundholm was referred to as “she” multiple times throughout the freestyle moguls competition. The network stated: “NBC Sports takes this matter seriously. Today we streamed an international feed with non-NBCUniversal commentators who misgendered Olympian Elis Lundholm. We apologise to Elis and our viewers, and we have removed the replay of that feed.”
The footage has been wiped from NBC’s platforms and social media accounts. Lundholm, 23, assigned female at birth but identifies as male, is the sole transgender competitor at the 2026 Winter Games and the second openly trans male Olympian ever to compete. Under International Ski Federation regulations, Lundholm is permitted to participate in women’s events because the process of masculinising hormone replacement therapy has not yet begun.
Lundholm finished 25th overall in the competition, having scored 12.05 points on Tuesday, which left the skier in 29th position at that stage. The controversy occurred during Lundholm’s opening run, with errors broadcast on NBC’s international feed via the Peacock streaming platform. A commentator was heard saying: “Getting off course here though … oh she just skids out of that gate.” Another added, “She’s going to hop up and go around to make sure she does not DNF as she continues down the line here.”
The broadcast originated with non-NBCUniversal commentators covering the international feed, which NBC subsequently streamed to its American audience. Speaking to Swedish media ahead of the Games, Lundholm addressed the decision to compete in women’s categories, stating, “I came out and identified as a man. But I compete against women because they have the same qualifications as me. And that’s okay with everyone.”
Regarding the criticism faced, Lundholm remarked: “Of course it’s something I thought about. You can hear the voices out there. But then I do my thing, and I don’t give a damn.” He added that he has “always been treated well.” This incident marks the second time NBC has faced criticism for misgendering an athlete, having previously encountered backlash during the Tokyo 2021 Summer Olympics involving non-binary skateboarder Alana Smith.
In an era where inclusivity should prevail, this latest controversy serves as a reminder of the challenges still faced by transgender athletes. As Lundholm navigates the complexities of competition and identity, his presence in the Olympic arena signifies both a milestone and a stark reflection of the ongoing societal conversations around gender and sport.
