OLYMPICS IN HIGH HEELS: 8/16/16 HIGHLIGHTS
STAMFORD, Conn. – August 16, 2016 – Coming up tonight on NBC Olympics’ coverage of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:
- Primetime coverage, which begins at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), includes gymnastics finals in women’s floor exercise and men’s parallel bars and high bar. On the women’s side, Simone Biles, the individual all-around gold medalist, and Aly Raisman, the individual all-around silver medalist and reigning Olympic champion in floor exercise, lead the way for the U.S. For the men, 2012 individual all-around bronze medalist Danell Leyvacompetes in both the parallel bars and high bar, and Sam Mikulak competes in the high bar.
- Track and field action includes the highly competitive men’s high jump, where winning gold might require breaking a world record that’s stood for more than two decades; a trio of American challengers to Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba in the women’s 1500m; and Oregon Ducks wide receiver Devon Allen among U.S. threats to Jamaican Omar McLeod in the men’s 110m hurdles.
- Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross take on Brazil’s Agatha and Barbara tonight at 11 p.m. ET/PT in women’s beach volleyball.
Click here for a preview of tonight’s primetime action.
Following are highlights from today’s coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games on NBC and the networks of NBCUniversal:
NBC daytime host Al Michaels interviewed Emma Coburn, who won a bronze medal in the women’s 3000m steeplechase on Monday to become the first American woman to medal in the event.
Michaels to Coburn on how she chose to run the steeplechase: “How do you evolve into wanting to jump over 28 obstacles and into water over seven-and-a-half laps?”
Coburn: “Well, a sidebar to that…I grew up playing hockey, and you are a god to me…you’re a hero to me. I’m so star-struck right now…hearing your comment, ‘Do you believe in miracles?’ That was my first Olympic moment, my first memory of watching something about the Olympics and being inspired. So thank you for being a big reason of why I am here.”
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TRACK AND FIELD – NBC AND NBCSN
Analyst Ato Boldon on Usain Bolt winning his 200m heat: “You saw what he always does in 200m races. He does not look around on that turn. He makes sure that he comes off with a lead so that he can control the race from way in front.”
Analyst Sanya Richards-Ross on Bolt’s strategic performance: “That’s the way you want to run the 200m in the preliminary rounds. You want to put the work in early to be able to relax coming home…if you have to pick up speed in the last 50 meters, you pay for it in the semifinals. Usain Bolt is a veteran. He knows how to run through rounds, get it done early, and relax as much as you can down the final straightaway.”
Analyst Tim Hutchings on American Christian Taylor winning his second gold medal in the long jump: “It just shows what a slap in the face it can be for your opponents if you can hit a big mark in the first round in a field event. They’ve got that in the back of their mind all the time. It upsets their rhythm and composure.”
Hutchings on the cause of the collision between American Abbey D’Agostino and New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin in the women’s 5000m heat: “It’s because of the slow pace and the tight packing in that chasing group that the accident happened. It did look like Abbey D’Agostino went into the back of Nikki Hamblin.”
Hutchings on D’Agostino running in pain down the straightaway, approaching her final lap: “That is a heartbreaking sight. There’s no other way of expressing it. Abbey D’Agostino has been such a talent and we know she’s got enormous potential.”
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SOCCER – NBCSN
Play-by-play announcer Arlo White following Brazil’s loss to Sweden in the women’s semifinals: “A full house here at the Maracanã is applauding the Swedes and the effort put in by Marta’s Brazil – and the wait for a world title will go on.”
Analyst Kate Markgraf on what led to Sweden’s upset victory over Brazil: “As we’ve seen in the trend of global football, sitting back, absorbing pressure, and letting the team attack…if you stay organized and resolute in that system, you give yourself the opportunity to beat teams that normally have the upper hand. Sweden did that to perfection against the United States, and demonstrated it against Brazil.”
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BEACH VOLLEYBALL – NBC
Play-by-play announcer Kevin Marlowe during Germany’s upset of Brazil in the semifinal of women’s beach volleyball: “I do not understand the Brazilians’ strategy serving Ludwig…don’t think that it’s a surprise that Germany is winning this set, but the way they are winning…”
Wong: “It’s dominating. It starts with this aggressive serve that has really put Brazil on their heels.”
Marlowe following the loss by the Brazilian top-seeded team of Larissa and Talita: “A heartbreaker for friends, family, fans, coaches – for the country of Brazil.”
Wong on the resilience of Brazil’s duo of Alison and Bruno, defeating the Netherlands in three sets to advance to the men’s final: “I thought when they lost that second set, it was all over. They had all the momentum in the world. They made some questionable decisions, but their ability or fight back – wow.”
Marlowe on the atmosphere after Brazil’s semifinal victory: “An incredible finish…it’s jubilation for Alison and Bruno. It is party time now at the Copa.”
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INDOOR VOLLEYBALL – NBC
Analyst Kevin Barnett on the U.S. women’s team, defeating Japan in straight sets to advance to the semifinal: “A little uneven at times, but definitely played to their ability at other times. They worked on some important stuff, like going to the middle. Karch Kiraly and his staff continue to show that they have a full roster of capable players.”
ABOUT NBC OLYMPICS
A division of NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s Olympic 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 2012 London Olympics were watched by 217 million Americans across the networks of NBCUniversal, making it the most-watched event in U.S. television history.
