NBC has issued an apology after its broadcast team repeatedly misgendered transgender Olympic skier Elis Lundholm during coverage of women’s moguls competition, prompting criticism from viewers and renewed discussion about gender identity in sports coverage.
The network acknowledged the error following the broadcast, saying its announcers incorrectly referred to Lundholm using female pronouns despite the athlete identifying as male. Lundholm, who was assigned female at birth, competes in the women’s moguls event under current international competition rules.
The incident occurred during live Olympic coverage, when commentators referred to Lundholm as “she” multiple times while describing the skier’s performance. NBC later said the mistake did not reflect the network’s standards and apologized for the error, stating it strives for accuracy and respect in its reporting.
Lundholm is among a growing number of transgender athletes competing at elite levels, an issue that has drawn international attention and debate. Sports governing bodies, including the International Olympic Committee, allow individual federations to establish eligibility guidelines for transgender competitors. Those policies typically address factors such as hormone levels and competitive classification.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges for broadcasters covering evolving policies surrounding gender identity in sports. Media organizations increasingly provide guidance to on-air talent on proper terminology and respectful reporting when discussing transgender athletes and participation rules.
Advocacy groups say accurate identification helps ensure respectful treatment of athletes, while critics of current competition policies continue to raise questions about fairness and eligibility standards. Olympic organizers and sports federations have maintained that participation rules are designed to balance inclusion and competitive integrity.
NBC has not indicated whether additional internal training or policy changes will follow the incident but said it remains committed to accurate and respectful coverage of all athletes.
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