your third leg was just phenomenal

Two young Olympic Games swimmers from the UK have barely managed to hold it together while being interviewed live for British TV.

BBC Sport reporter Clare Balding was speaking with Tom Dean and Matthew Richards, two members of the gold medal-winning 4x200m men’s freestyle relay team in Tokyo when she made a comment that was meant to be entirely innocent.

Watch the hilariously awkward moment in the video above


Except, in the minds of two 18-year-olds, it wasn’t.

“You’re 18 years old, it’s your first Olympics, and you swam - honestly, your third leg was just phenomenal,” the TV host enthused.

There follows an agonisingly long silence as the two young swimmers struggle to maintain their composure.

Olympics on 7plus
Olympics on 7plus
First, a slow smirk spreads across both their faces.

You can see both fighting to keep straight faces as the interviewer waits for an answer.

Olympics on 7plus
Olympics on 7plus
Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Matthew Richards gathers enough composure to begin an answer.

Team Great Britain swimmers Tom Dean and Matthew Richards struggle to hold it together.
Team Great Britain swimmers Tom Dean and Matthew Richards struggle to hold it together. Credit: TikTok/Tbonestayk
When the footage was posted to TikTok, viewers went wild.


“The self-control of them not to burst out laughing,” one TikTok user wrote.

“They deserve another Gold for holding it in,” another said.

“Dude was gone the minute she said it,” another said.

Some people didn’t understand what was so funny - and had to have explained to them that “third leg” is a euphemism for a male body part.

“Coming on a bit strong there, nan,” one TikTok user joked.

“Typical young British lads,” another mused.

“I’m HOWLING.”

The interviewer was complimenting the swimmers on their performance.
The interviewer was complimenting the swimmers on their performance. Credit: TikTok/Tbonestayk

But one person wasn’t too impressed.

“And at 18, they should be more mature about things,” the critic wrote.

Tom Dean, James Guy, Matthew Richards and Duncan Scott took out the Olympic gold for the 4x200m freestyle relay on Wednesday afternoon, beating out Russia for silver and Australia for bronze.

Your third leg was phenomenal3rd legolympics 2021