OLYMPICS IN HIGH HEELS: MORE CHAMPIONS BECOME CORRESPODENTS
STAMFORD, Conn. – July 26, 2016 – Four-time Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross and 2012 Olympic decathlon silver medalist Trey Hardee will join NBC Olympics’ coverage of track and field at the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro. The Opening Ceremony is next Friday, August 5 on NBC.
Richards-Ross, who retired from track on July 1, and Hardee head to Rio for their first Olympic assignment after contributing to NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials as guest analysts.
“We’re thrilled to bring the expertise of Sanya and Trey to our Track and Field coverage, where they will take viewers inside the sport and provide specific details and insights about the athletes,” said Jim Bell, Executive Producer, NBC Olympics.
Long-ranked the world’s best 400m runner, Richards-Ross brought home her first 400m Olympic gold in 2012. In addition, she is a member of the four-time World Championship and three-time Olympic gold medal 4x400m team. Considered one of the world’s fastest women, she has the most sub-50 second 400m races in history. Named Visa Humanitarian of the Year in 2005, her namesake charity, the “Sanya Richards Fast Track Program” benefits children in need in her native Jamaica. Created in 2007, the program combines literacy, numeracy and promotes an active and healthy lifestyle through sports.
Hardee won the Olympic decathlon silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Combined with the gold medal from world record holder Ashton Eaton, it was the first time Americans had finished first and second in the event at the Olympics since 1956. A two-time World Outdoor gold medalist, Hardee’s personal best of 8,790, which he set in Berlin in 2009, currently ranks behind just Ashton Eaton, Dan O’ Brien and Bryan Clay in the event in American history. It was also the highest decathlon score at a World Championships since 2001. Hardee joined O’Brien (1991, 1993, 1995), Tom Pappas (2003) and Clay (2005) as the only Americans ever to win the world decathlon title.
Tom Hammond, who has won acclaim for his memorable calls at the last six Summer Olympics, will once again call NBC Olympics track & field coverage. Kenny Albert will handle play-by-play duties for track events on NBCSN, making his Summer Olympics debut for NBC after calling Olympic hockey since 2002, and Todd Harris handles play-by-play for field events – his fifth Olympic assignment. Ato Boldon returns as an analyst in his fourth Olympic assignment. Lewis Johnson will serve as a track and field reporter in his ninth assignment with NBC Olympics. Craig Masback, who worked as a track & field commentator for NBC in Barcelona, Atlanta, Beijing, and London, returns to provide analysis on the men’s marathon and distance races. Tim Hutchings, a former middle-distance runner who represented Great Britain at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, will provide analysis on the marathons.
THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE RIO OLYMPICS IS FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016 ON NBC
About NBC Olympics
A division of NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s Olympic Games coverage. It is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history. The London 2012 Olympic Games were watched by 217 million Americans across the networks of NBCUniversal, making it the most-watched event in U.S. television history.
