Golf Channel Notable Quotes
Women’s Olympic Golf Competition – Round 2
Thursday, August 18 (6:30 am – 3:15 pm ET)
Olympic Golf Course, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

**Live Round 3 coverage of the Women’s Olympic Golf competition gets underway at 6:30 a.m. ET on Friday morning immediately following Golf Central Live From the Olympics, airing from 5-6:30 a.m. ET.

** NBC Olympics’ 34.5 hours of live coverage of the Women’s Golf competition marks the most-ever live hours of coverage dedicated to a single women’s golf event for Golf Channel. Play will culminate with Saturday’s final round, followed by the medal ceremony.**

VIDEO FEATURE: India’s Aditi Ashok’s boundless love for golf has her representing India at 18

For more Olympic Golf coverage on NBCOlympics.com, visit HERE.

On Thursday’s round two of the women’s golf competition at the Olympics
Jerry Foltz – “When you look at the scores, this is really shaping up to be a very special day in our medal round on Saturday. Some big names playing some great golf, all playing for three places.”
Kay Cockerill – “The best women players in the world are rising to the occasion. You put quality players on a course with minimal wind and these types of greens, and you are going to see a lot of low scoring.”

On South Korea’s Inbee Park, leader at 10-under par (5-under par 66 on Thursday)
Curt Byrum – “She looks like she is in top form despite the fact that that she has hardly played at all in two months.”
Byrum – “She is playing to her strengths.”
Terry Gannon – “66-66, when there was so much doubt due to the injury and the time spent away from the competition. And guess what the lead was midway through the men’s event. 10-under par.”

Inbee Park talking with Golf Channel’s Steve Sands following her round
Inbee Park – “Yesterday my ball-striking was very solid. Today I made a couple of mistakes on tee shots, but I was able to convert them into birdies which was really good. The ball striking was a little different but my putter felt better today and I felt like I holed more putts today.”
Park – “I wouldn’t say it is easy, having a lot of pressure is really hard, especially when you are playing bad or having a tough time. But at the same time, I try to think very positive. I have a lot of people on my side and people watching me and cheering me on, taking the positives out of it.”

On U.S.A’s Stacy Lewis, in second place at 9-under par (8-under 63 on Thursday)
Sorenstam – “She is one of the players who has talked about how important golf in the Olympics is. Now, she is stepping up and showing them the importance of golf here.”
Tom Abbott – “It is a game changing day for Stacy Lewis.”
Cockerill – “In general, she was really on target today.”
Annika Sorenstam – “When you know it is your day, it is your day.”
Gannon – “Magical round on day 2 for Stacy Lewis.”
Byrum – “That is finishing it off in style, birdied the last four holes coming in.”

Stacy Lewis talking to Golf Channel’s Steve Sands following her round
Stacy Lewis – “I hit some shots closer than I did yesterday, but I felt so good over the putter in making everything.”
Lewis – “I love those last four holes. It is a place you can make some birdies. I was mad and started to be a little more aggressive and got some in there close. The one on the last was pretty special.”
Lewis – “I felt much more comfortable on the tees. Tee shots especially. There are so many blind shots out here. Knowing where to hit it is the hardest part. I felt way more comfortable today knowing how the shots were going to react on the green. It helps getting a competitive round under your belt.”

On Canada’s Brooke Henderson, T3 at 8-under par (7-under par 64 on Thursday)
Sorenstam – “She is an impressive young lady at 19-years old. She knows her game so well. That’s what takes time is getting to know your strengths and she is playing to her strengths, plugging along and being patient.”
Abbott – “She will no doubt mount a challenge over the next two days. I fully expect her to contend for a medal.”

Brooke Henderson speaking with Golf Channel’s Steve Sands following her round
Brooke Henderson – “The last couple of holes in my round yesterday gave me good momentum going into today. Coming into today I felt way better than I felt yesterday, more like my old self. On my lasts six holes here I really turned it on. I made five birdies and really get things going back in my direction.”

On Great Britain’s Charley Hull, T3 at 8-under par
Sorenstam – “She is one of the fastest players on tour. There is no holding back for Charlie.”

On U.S.A’s Gerina Piller, T8 at 6-under par
Sorenstam – “I’m sure she is excited to see Stacy playing so well. It is give her a little extra fire.”
Foltz – “If she is on that medal stand on Saturday, her par on 17 will be a big part of it.”
Foltz – “Gerina’s two recovery shots on her final two holes, she couldn’t have done any better and wouldn’t want to play those again.”

Gerina Piller speaking with Golf Channel’s Steve Sands following her round
Gerina Piller – “I played well all day today…to get up and down the last two holes just saved my day.”

On India’s Aditi Ashok, T8 at 6-under par
Karen Stupples – “What I find truly amazing is that she did this all on her own at five-years old. She went and putted all on her own. It wasn’t her mom and dad that said, ‘here is a putter you go putt.’ She went and did that on her own. She made those dreams on her own and put that on her poster. As a seven- year-old. She is now living her dream. That is a very special gift to have.”
Sorenstam – “This is what the Olympics are all about, where dreams can come true. It is a great story considering that golf is not that big in her country.”
Sorenstam– “If you go to the streets of India and ask them if they know what a major is, they would shake their heads and say no. But if you asked them what an Olympic medal is, they will cheer. For her to be a part of this and to do what she has done so far is incredible.”

Aditi Ashok speaking with Golf Channel’s Steve Sands following her round
Aditi Ashok – “Today I didn’t hit my tee shots really well. I was out of position on four or five holes but I putted really well over both of the days.”

On New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, T22 at 3-under par
Sorenstam – “I think we expected her to do a little bit more, she doesn’t seem to have her top game right now.”

On U.S.A’s Lexi Thompson, T22 at 3-under par
Byrum – “Lexi Thompson is the equivalent of Dustin Johnson in women’s professional golf as far as she hits it. If her wedge game improves, she will win five times a year, easy.”

GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE OLYMPICS

On South Korea’s Inbee Park
Paige Mackenzie – “I think that her sanctuary is inside the ropes… If you’ve ever listened to her, she doesn’t give up much. She doesn’t tell you what’s going on in her personal life or outside of what happens from tee-to-green… That probably to her was stating the obvious, ‘Don’t you know what’s going on in Korea? They’re asking me or wondering if I’m going to play in the event or give up my spot to one of my other Korean teammates.’ To me it was incredibly revealing that she was sharing that.”
Brandel Chamblee – “We look at athletes and we judge them on how many times they win and how they change their sport. But it’s not always the case when athletes look back on their career that they judge themselves in the same manner. Yes, she’s in position to win the gold. But the fact that she’s doing so well in the face of all this pressure is a gold medal effort. What you overcome says as much about who you are as wins do. The fact that she’s playing so well this week with all the pressure that’s been put on her… She’s not only overcome the injury to her thumb, she’s overcome in my opinion the injury to her soul. The pressure that has been put on her has lit a fire under her. She’s come in here and put on a show that leaves everyone agape.”
Chamblee – “Similar in so many aspects to Lydia Ko in that she’s not the longest driver on the LPGA Tour, she’s not the straightest driver, but she is very tough to beat with a wedge in her hand or a putter in her hand.”

On U.S.A’s Stacy Lewis
Chamblee – “It is hard to say that something is missing from her game, but there is just a small difference between the greatness she was achieving and where she stalled out. But I look at her and think, Beth Daniel won 18 times after she turned 30 years of age, and I can’t help but think that’s where Stacy Lewis is going.”
Mackenzie – “If you look at some of the close finishes she’s had, it’s because she hasn’t putted well down the stretch [that she hasn’t won]. It’s been a source of frustration from Stacy, because so many times coming down the stretch in the last few times she’s been in contention, that’s the club that’s let her down.”

On Great Britain’s Charley Hull
Mackenzie – “She’s one of the players that given the chance to compete for a gold medal, I don’t think the moment will be bigger than her. I think she can handle it.”

On Canada’s Brooke Henderson
Stupples – “Outwardly she’s wonderful, but inwardly she has that fire that’s burning so deep in her that she just wants to win.”

On India’s Aditi Ashok
Chamblee –“She has a chance to literally be a part of, and affect one of the greatest moments in the history of the game over the next couple of rounds.”

-Rio 2016-

NBC Olympics Hits 2.25 Billion Live Streaming Minutes for Rio 2016 – More Than 750 Million Minutes Ahead of All Prior Games Combined

Golf’s Return to the Olympics Ties as Highest-Rated Opening Round of Women’s Golf in 2016

Wednesday’s Total Audience Delivery Registers 22.1 Million Primetime Viewers

RIO DE JANEIRO – August 18, 2016 – NBC Olympics’ exclusive and unprecedented multi-platform coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics continues to dominate the competition.

DEMOGRAPHICS

NBC’s primetime Rio Olympic ratings are the most dominant in Olympic television history in the Adult 18-49 demographic, according to national data provided by The Nielsen Company.

NBC’s 13-night 7.7 primetime rating in the demographic more than quadruples (353% above) the other broadcast networks combined (1.7 on ABC, CBS and FOX) – the largest advantage in the first 13 days of any Olympics (on record).

DIGITAL

NBC Olympics’ digital presentation of Rio 2016 continues to set consumption milestones. Through Wednesday night, viewers streamed 2.25 BILLION live minutes – more than 750 million minutes ahead of the combined total of ALL prior Olympics.

WOMEN’S GOLF

Wednesday marked the first women’s golf competition in the Olympics since 1900 and by Saturday’s final round, Golf Channel’s presentation will account for more live hours of coverage than any other women’s golf event in history.

Golf Channel’s Wednesday afternoon coverage of the opening round was up 578% among average viewers and up 467% for U.S. household rating vs. the same Wednesday in 2012 opposite the London Games.

Additionally, Golf Channel’s coverage tied as the highest-rated round one of any women’s golf event in 2016 (Noon-3:54 pm ET; 0.17 US HH rating, 217,000 average viewers), matching the rating for coverage of the ANA Inspiration Major Championship, which aired in primetime (3/31/16, 7:12-9:12 pm ET). South Korean Inbee Park is leading the competition at -10, followed by USA’s Stacy Lewis at -9 after today’s second round.

TOTAL AUDIENCE DELIVERY

Wednesday’s primetime Rio Olympics coverage posted a Total Audience Delivery average of 22.1 million viewers with a 13.3 household rating.

Last night’s NBC-only Rio Olympics coverage (8-11:03 p.m. ET/PT) averaged 20.7 million viewers and posted a 12.3/22 household rating. Also in primetime on Wednesday, NBCSN’s live Olympics competition coverage averaged 1.17 million viewers.

Additional NBC Olympics metrics:

• After 13 days, the NBC-only average primetime viewership (26.7 million viewers) and household rating (15.0) have respective 256% and 194% advantages over ABC, CBS and FOX combined – the second-largest Games advantage on record (behind only the London Olympics).

• Telemundo’s live coverage from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., featuring the Brazil-Honduras men’s soccer semifinal, averaged 382,000 viewers and 191,000 viewers in the Adult 18-49 demographic – up 16% and 14% respectively from the comparable day in London.

• NBC UNIVERSO’s live Rio 2016 coverage from 3-8 p.m. ET averaged 106,000 viewers and 60,000 viewers in the Adult 18-49 demographic – up 715% and 650% respectively vs. the comparable day last August.

NBC Olympics coverage on other channels and digital streaming has lifted primetime viewership each night (chart below).

Date	Total Audience Delivery	NBC-only viewership	TAD Lift
Sat. 8/6	23.5 million	20.6 million	14%
Sun. 8/7	31.8 million	29.8 million	7%
Mon. 8/8	31.5 million	28.9 million	9%
Tues. 8/9	36.1 million	33.4 million	8%
Wed. 8/10	28.6 million	26.4 million	8%
Thur. 8/11	33.0 million	31.2 million	6%
Fri. 8/12	26.0 million	24.0 million	8%
Sat. 8/13	26.8 million	25.5 million	5%
Sun. 8/14	28.1 million	26.7 million	5%
Mon. 8/15	25.5 million	24.2 million	5%
Tues. 8/16	25.6 million	24.1 million	6%
Wed. 8/17	22.1 million	20.7 million	7%
Average	28.6 million	26.8 million	7%

NBC Olympics’ Total Audience Delivery measures broader Rio Olympics consumption by calculating average minute viewing across broadcast, cable, and digital. The 2016 Rio Olympics is the first in U.S. media history with live primetime Olympic coverage on channels other than the primary broadcast network. It is also the first time that the broadcast network coverage, including primetime, has been streamed simultaneously on digital platforms.

Through the 12 nights of competition, Total Audience Delivery for Rio 2016 and the 2012 London Olympics:

OLYMPICS TOTAL AUDIENCE DELIVERY

Day	Rio 2016	London 2012*	Rio 2016	London 2012*
1st Sat.	23.5 million	28.7 million	13.0 rating	15.8 rating
1st Sun.	31.8 million	36.0 million	17.3 rating	19.8 rating
1st Mon.	31.5 million	31.6 million	18.1 rating	18.0 rating
1st Tues	36.1 million	38.7 million	20.5 rating	21.8 rating
1st Wed	28.6 million	30.8 million	16.5 rating	17.9 rating
1st Thurs	33.0 million	36.8 million	18.9 rating	21.1 rating
1st Friday	26.0 million	28.5 million	15.0 rating	16.2 rating
Mid. Sat.	26.8 million	28.0 million	15.0 rating	15.9 rating
Mid. Sun.	28.1 million	31.3 million	15.8 rating	17.5 rating
2nd Mon.	25.5 million	26.6 million	14.9 rating	15.8 rating
2nd Tues.	25.6 million	30.1 million	14.3 rating	17.6 rating
2nd Wed.	22.1 million	29.1 million	13.3 rating	16.8 rating

*NOTE: The 2012 London Olympics had no simultaneous live streaming and no competing primetime Olympic cable coverage.

TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR NBC WEDNESDAY PRIMETIME:

1. Salt Lake City	18.4/36
2. Denver	17.8/35
3. West Palm Beach	16.7/27
4. Columbus	16.1/28
5. Austin	15.9/29
6. Indianapolis	15.6/27
7. Norfolk	15.4/24
8. San Diego	15.3/30
T9. Minneapolis	15.2/29
T9. St. Louis	15.2/26

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.

–Rio 2016–

Carolyn Manno to Host More Than 70 Hours of Rio Paralympic Games Coverage

Paralympian Amy Purdy Joins Heather Cox and Lewis Johnson as Reporters

Todd Harris, Steve Schlanger, Jason Knapp and Ed Cohen to Serve as Play-by-Play Announcers

Paralympians Justin Zook, Katy Sullivan and Paul Schulte Make NBC Olympics Debuts as Analysts

Stamford, Conn. – August 18, 2016 – Carolyn Manno leads an experienced roster of commentators as NBC Olympics presents more than 70 hours of coverage of the 2016 Paralympic Games from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, across NBC, NBCSN, and the NBC Sports app.

NBC Olympics’ coverage of the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games begins Wednesday, September 7, at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with the Opening Ceremony.

Manno, who returns for her second consecutive assignment as host of NBC Olympics’ coverage of the Paralympic Games, will be joined by 13 play-by-play commentators, analysts and reporters.

Play-by-play commentators Todd Harris, Jason Knapp and Steve Schlanger will also return for their second Paralympic Games and will call Track & Field, Swimming and Wheelchair Basketball, respectively. Ed Cohen makes his NBC Olympics debut and will serve as play-by-play announcer for coverage of Wheelchair Rugby.

In addition, three Paralympians will make their debut as NBC Olympics analysts. Three-time paralympic gold medalist Justin Zook will join Knapp for coverage of Swimming, 2012 Paralympian Katy Sullivan will join Harris for Track & Field, and two-time paralympic medalist Paul Schulte will join Schlanger for Wheelchair Basketball.

13-time paralympic medalist and Paralympic Hall of Fame member Chris Waddell (Track & Field), as well as former U.S. Quad Rugby Association President Gary Pate (Wheelchair Rugby), and two-time Olympian Kevin Barnett (Sitting Volleyball), will also serve as analysts.

Paralympic medalist Amy Purdy, Heather Cox and Lewis Johnson will serve as reporters for individual sports as well as the overall event. The 2016 Rio Paralympic Games will be Johnson’s second Paralympic Games for NBC Olympics, and first for Purdy and Cox.

SPORT-BY-SPORT RUNDOWN:

TRACK & FIELD:
Todd Harris, Play-by-Play
Katy Sullivan, Analyst
Chris Waddell, Analyst
Lewis Johnson, Reporter

SWIMMING:
Jason Knapp, Play-by-Play
Justin Zook, Analyst
Heather Cox, Reporter

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL:
Steve Schlanger, Play-by-Play
Paul Schulte, Analyst
Amy Purdy, Reporter

SITTING VOLLEYBALL:
Todd Harris, Play-by-Play
Kevin Barnett, Analyst

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY:
Ed Cohen, Play-by-Play
Gary Pate, Analyst

In addition to Track & Field, Swimming, Wheelchair Basketball, Sitting Volleyball and Wheelchair Rugby, NBC Olympics will also present world feed coverage of many other Rio 2016 Paralympic Games events. Coverage will be produced by OBS and will include the sports of Cycling, Judo, Football, Powerlifting, Wheelchair Tennis, and more. World feed coverage of select events will feature OBS commentators.

NBC Olympics will combine to present more than 70 hours of coverage of the Rio Paralympic Games across NBC, NBCSN, and the NBC Sports app. Coverage of the 2016 Games will feature an increase of 20 hours from NBC Olympics’ presentation of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games (50), and an increase of 64 hours from the London 2012 Paralympic Games (6).

Coverage begins on Wednesday, September 7, and concludes on Sunday, September 18, with the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, respectively. On most days, NBCSN primetime programming will air from 7 – 9 p.m. ET; daytime from 2 – 5 p.m. ET; and late night from 1 – 5 a.m. ET.

In addition to NBC Sports Group’s unprecedented coverage, the USOC will provide live online coverage at TeamUSA.org.

ABOUT THE RIO PARALYMPIC GAMES

The Rio Paralympic Games will take place September 7 – 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 2016 Games will be the biggest Paralympics ever, featuring more than 4,000 athletes competing in 22 sports.

—RIO 2016—

Tonight in Primetime: Usain Bolt – the World’s Fastest Man – Seeks to Advance to the Men’s 200m Final

Track and Field Coverage Also Includes Team USA’s Tori Bowie in the Women’s 200m Final; Gold Medal Finals in Long Jump & Women’s 100m Hurdles

Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross Face Brazil’s Larissa and Talita in Women’s Beach Volleyball Bronze Medal Match

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 17, 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) on NBC, is highlighted by track and field, as defending two-time gold medalist Usain Bolt seeks to advance in the men’s 200m semifinals. Bolt won a third consecutive gold in the men’s 100m earlier this week, maintaining his position as the fastest man in the world.

• Tonight’s track and field coverage also includes American Tori Bowie racing in the women’s 200m final for her second medal in Rio; 2015 world champion Tianna Bartoletta and defending Olympic gold medalist Brittney Reese as U.S. contenders in the women’s long jump final; and a strong trio looking to put Team USA on the women’s 100m hurdles podium for a fifth consecutive Games. Elsewhere on the Rio track, American Ashton Eaton concludes day one of the decathlon with one of his best events – the 400m.

• NBC’s primetime coverage also includes the bronze medal match in women’s beach volleyball, as Team USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross face off against Brazil’s Larissa and Talita.

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:

***
TRACK AND FIELD – NBC AND NBCSN

Analyst Trey Hardee on reigning gold medalist Ashton Eaton coming second in the 100m portion of the decathlon: “He’s preparing for the things he can’t control. I think he knew he was going to lose this race. He was in pretty unfamiliar territory halfway through the race, you see him strain a little bit…that is an Ashton Eaton we have not seen in five years.”

Hardee on Eaton’s early performance in the long jump portion of the decathlon: “Ashton gets the white flag. He is the consummate professional…It’s a big, big opener for the defending champion.”

Analyst Craig Masback on Team USA’s Evan Jaeger who won silver in the men’s steeplechase, the first American medal in the event since 1984: “He earned that silver medal by taking the lead and pushing the pace…he beat (Ezekiel) Kemboi the greatest steeplechaser ever.”

Masback on Jager: “Evan Jager is not only in this race – he’s controlling it. He’s putting a hurt on these guys.”

Team USA’s Bernard Lagat, who qualified for the 5000m, to Lewis Johnson on teammate Hassan Mead, who went down during the qualifying heat: “I’m going to help him in the final, big time. As teammates, whatever happens, this is USA, and we’re going to make it happen.”

Masback on Ajee Wilson in the women’s 800m qualifying: “She’s been successful at every level of track and field – World Youth, World Juniors, Indoor Championships, she was a silver medalist at this year’s World Championships…a seasonal best for her and she did it looking pretty easy.”

Tom Hammond on South Africa’s Caster Semenya, who won her heat in the women’s 800m qualifying round: “There are more than 190 countries competing at the Games, and naturally that presents a microcosm of all sorts of social issues, including shifting societal views of gender and how to treat inter-sex athletes. South Africa’s Caster Semenya, the 2009 world champion, has been at the center of a gender controversy, due to her performances and some of her physical characteristics. Back in 2011, when the IAAF eliminated gender verification testing, replacing it with a test for higher than typical testosterone levels for a female athlete which would lead to present a significant competitive advantage. But, in 2015, the court of arbitration for sport suspended that policy, ruling that it lacked sufficient scientific backing and was therefore unjustifiably discriminatory. So, here we are in Rio with Semenya eligible to compete, and about to take the track for her opening round in the 800m.”

Masback on Semenya: “It’s a story that’s been playing out over the last seven years, I think everybody can agree with one thing – it’s been unfair to Caster Semenya. It’s been public when it should have been private, it’s been bungled by all of the relevant organizations. Scientists haven’t yet come to a consensus about what’s fair and what’s not fair. There’s total confusion about what the rules are, or should be. I think, a lot of her competitors feel it’s unfair to them, they don’t know where things stand. In the midst of this, we’ll have an Olympic 800m, and we’ll hope for more clarity by the next Olympics. Let’s appreciate Caster Semenya for the athlete that she is, and let’s go from there.”

Hammond: “She was so young when the controversy began. You have to feel sympathy for her, because she’s done nothing wrong.”

Analyst Tim Hutchings (NBCSN) on Semenya: “Remember, too, is that Semenya is absolutely blameless.  She has the backing of just about every athlete in the track and field program, who have followed her story these last few years. She is in fabulous form through this year. She is the world number one. Many feel she comes here as an outstandingly strong favorite.”

***

INDOOR VOLLEYBALL – NBC

Analyst Kevin Barnett on Team USA’s Taylor Sander, as the U.S. defeated Poland 3 sets to 0 to advance to the semifinals: “He’s had his ups and downs, but one thing throughout that we’ve seen is that when the U.S. needs a kill, when they need him, he is there and (Micah) Christenson trusts him.”

Barnett on how the U.S. men’s volleyball team overcame a tough start in Rio: “They’ve done it with tough serving and just pure grit and determination. (Coach) John Speraw gets big credit for what the U.S. has done here… Micah Christenson’s leadership and playmaking ability have been key.”

***

SOCCER – NBCSN

Play-by-play commentator Steve Cangialosi at the conclusion of Brazil’s 6-0 victory over Honduras, as Neymar makes a penalty shot: “The captain steps up and scores! And with a six-pack of strikes in the semi-final, Brazil is 90 minutes away from Olympic gold.”

Analyst Kyle Martino on the potential for Brazil to play Germany in the gold medal final at Maracanã: “There are many amazing stadiums in the world, but this is one of the greats. This is a cathedral, a holy ground, and if it’s a great ballroom, then that field is its dance floor, and boy, has this team been enjoying it. We’ve seen samba, we’ve seen beauty, we’ve seen a lot of joy. I think the opportunity, on the very field they suffered their most embarrassing loss ever, to redo things against Germany… you have to think everyone’s rooting for that in this community.”

Steve Cangialosi following Gabriel Jesus’ goal, Brazil’s third in the first half: “And the samba party is on at Rio de Janeiro! They’ve got one foot in the door, it seems, to the gold medal game.”

Steve Cangialosi on what’s at stake for Brazil: “The one team in this tournament that any result other than Olympic gold would be defined as failure. It’s a pressure that only a special group can embrace. This Brazil team feels it is special.”

***

WATER POLO – NBC

Analyst Julie Swail on the U.S. women’s water polo team as they defeated Hungary in the semifinal match 14-10: “The U.S. women’s team is so deep, that’s really what sets them apart. They can score from so many different players and that’s what makes it difficult to defend a team, if you can’t tell who is going to shoot.”

Reporter Pierre McGuire on Team USA’s Courtney Mathewson: “Courtney Mathewson is just a winner. Four national championships at UCLA, a gold medal in London: she knows how to elevate at key times. When the American women were down, the veteran players had to step up and they have.”

***

GOLF – GOLF CHANNEL

Analyst Annika Sorenstam on Ariya Jutanugarn (6-under, Leader – Thailand): “She’d been knocking on the door a few times and it’s amazing what that one win will do to give you the confidence to go on and be in contention in a lot of [tournaments].

Analyst Curt Byrum on Jutanugarn: “Nobody has had a better breakout year than her… It’s amazing how she’s done all that winning in the last few months and how that confidence continues to snowball. You can just feel the confidence that she has out there.”

On-Course Reporter Kay Cockerill on Jutanugarn: “What a difference a year makes. In the middle of the summer last year she was in the middle of missing 10 cuts in a row and her confidence was at rock bottom. She couldn’t keep a driver on the planet. And with the change of coaches to Gary Gilchrist and working with Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott, she has become the great golfer that [she is]. So much talent.”

Analyst Karen Stupples on Inbee Park (5-under, T-2nd – Korea) competing in the field this week despite being sidelined for much of 2016 due to a thumb injury: “She received a lot of flak from the press in Korea questioning her playing this week. They were almost suggesting that somebody else should be playing in her place to give Korea a better chance of a medal because they don’t believe that she’s in form and they don’t believe that her thumb is healthy.”

Stupples on women’s Golf returning as an Olympic sport for the first time in 116 years: “Golf being in the Olympics is recognition for these athletes that what they’re doing matters within the sporting world in their country. There are many countries and places where [golf] is just simply overlooked. And when you’re playing golf in that country it’s very easy to think you’ve just been forgotten about.”

Analyst Annika Sorenstam: “I think the benefit that the women have is they’ve been watching the men and they really saw the importance of finishing first, second or third. I don’t think anybody has ever been as happy as Matt Kuchar to finish third, for a medal compared to finishing third in a normal golf tournament. And again, the pressure of standing on the first tee hearing your name and representing your country. There are so many elements we haven’t experienced before that you’re realizing when you show up here.”

Stupples: “Those dreams that young girls have about competing in the Olympics, gymnastics and other events is because they’ve seen it on TV. You’re going to have girls watching Olympic golf now being able to dream that dream.”

***

MEN’S BASKETBALL – USA NETWORK

Analyst Fran Fraschilla on the rivalry between France and Spain: “Incredible familiarity…There’s certainly not hatred involved, but this has become a very bitter rivalry in Europe. For many years, the French felt that the Spanish basketball program looked down on them.” Note: Spain defeated France 92-67 in the Men’s Basketball quarterfinals

***

FIELD HOCKEY – MSNBC

Analyst AJ Mleczko on the winning goal from Holland’s Ellen Hoog over Germany: “She gets it done! Didn’t get it done in the first round and now made no mistake of it… You can see the relief on their faces, there was so much stress early on and now just thrill.”

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.

-RIO 2016-

Tuesday’s Total Audience Delivery Registers 25.6 Million Primetime Viewers

NBCSN Ranks #1 among Sports Cable Networks for its 11 Nights of Extended Primetime Rio Olympics Coverage

NBC’s 388% Primetime Adult 18-49 Rating Advantage over Other Networks Combined is Best in Olympic TV History

RIO DE JANEIRO – August 17, 2016 – NBC Olympics’ exclusive and unprecedented multi-platform coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics continues to dominate the competition.

NBCSN, the home of Team USA, has averaged 1.41 million viewers for its extended primetime coverage (7 p.m.-midnight ET) for the 11 days of Rio Olympic competition Saturday, Aug. 6 – Tuesday, Aug. 16 – accounting for the best 11-day primetime stretch in the network’s history, according to national data provided by The Nielsen Company.

In addition, NBCSN’s average viewership for its extended primetime coverage is No. 1 among all sports cable networks over that 11-day span.

Tuesday’s primetime Rio Olympics coverage posted a Total Audience Delivery average of 25.6 million viewers with a 15.2 household rating.

Last night’s NBC-only Rio Olympics coverage (8-11:04 p.m. ET/PT), featuring Simone Biles and Aly Raisman winning gold and silver, respectively, in the floor exercise on the final day of gymnastics competition, averaged 24.1 million viewers and posted a 14.3/25 household rating. Also in primetime on Monday, NBCSN’s live Olympics competition coverage averaged 1.21 million viewers.

Additional NBC Olympics metrics:

• Among Adults 18-49, NBC’s 12-night 7.8 primetime rating in the demographic is nearly five times greater (388% above) than the other broadcast networks combined (1.6 on ABC, CBS and FOX) – the largest advantage in the first 12 days of any Olympics (on record).

• After 12 days, the NBC-only average primetime viewership (27.2 million viewers) and household rating (15.2) have respective 198% and 263% advantages over ABC, CBS and FOX combined – the second-largest Games advantage on record (behind only the London Olympics).

• Telemundo’s Olympics coverage, highlighted by the Women’s Soccer Semifinal match between Brazil and Sweden from 11:53am-2:49pm, averaged 394,000

NBC Olympics coverage on other channels and digital streaming has lifted primetime viewership each night (chart below).

Date	Total Audience Delivery	NBC-only viewership	TAD Lift
Sat. 8/6	23.5 million	20.6 million	14%
Sun. 8/7	31.8 million	29.8 million	7%
Mon. 8/8	31.5 million	28.9 million	9%
Tues. 8/9	36.1 million	33.4 million	8%
Wed. 8/10	28.6 million	26.4 million	8%
Thur. 8/11	33.0 million	31.2 million	6%
Fri. 8/12	26.0 million	24.0 million	8%
Sat. 8/13	26.8 million	25.5 million	5%
Sun. 8/14	28.1 million	26.7 million	5%
Mon. 8/15	25.5 million	24.2 million	5%
Tues. 8/16	25.6 million	24.1 million	6%
Average	29.2 million	27.3 million	7%

NBC Olympics’ Total Audience Delivery measures broader Rio Olympics consumption by calculating average minute viewing across broadcast, cable, and digital. The 2016 Rio Olympics is the first in U.S. media history with live primetime Olympic coverage on channels other than the primary broadcast network. It is also the first time that the broadcast network coverage, including primetime, has been streamed simultaneously on digital platforms.

Through the 11 nights of competition, Total Audience Delivery for Rio 2016 and the 2012 London Olympics:

OLYMPICS TOTAL AUDIENCE DELIVERY

Day	Rio 2016	London 2012*	Rio 2016	London 2012*
1st Sat.	23.5 million	28.7 million	13.0 rating	15.8 rating
1st Sun.	31.8 million	36.0 million	17.3 rating	19.8 rating
1st Mon.	31.5 million	31.6 million	18.1 rating	18.0 rating
1st Tues	36.1 million	38.7 million	20.5 rating	21.8 rating
1st Wed	28.6 million	30.8 million	16.5 rating	17.9 rating
1st Thurs	33.0 million	36.8 million	18.9 rating	21.1 rating
1st Friday	26.0 million	28.5 million	15.0 rating	16.2 rating
Mid. Sat.	26.8 million	28.0 million	15.0 rating	15.9 rating
Mid. Sun.	28.1 million	31.3 million	15.8 rating	17.5 rating
2nd Mon.	25.5 million	26.6 million	14.9 rating	15.8 rating
2nd Tues.	25.6 million	30.1 million	14.3 rating	17.6 rating

*NOTE: The 2012 London Olympics had no simultaneous live streaming and no competing primetime Olympic cable coverage.

TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR NBC TUESDAY PRIMETIME:

1. Salt Lake City	20.5/39
2. Denver	19.8/38
3. Austin	19.5/35
4. Columbus	18.7/31
5. Richmond	18.2/30
6. Minneapolis	18.1/33
7. Ft. Myers	17.8/29
8. Washington DC	17.7/34
9. San Diego	17.3/34
10. Indianapolis	17.1/30

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.

–Rio 2016–

Golf Channel Notable Quotes
Women’s Olympic Golf Competition – Round 1
Wednesday, August 17
Olympic Golf Course, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

**Live Round 2 coverage of the Women’s Olympic Golf competition gets underway at 6:30 a.m. ET on Thursday morning, immediately following Golf Central Live From the Olympics, airing from 5-6:30 a.m. ET.**

For more Olympic Golf coverage on NBCOlympics.com, visit HERE.

On Ariya Jutanugarn (6-under, Leader – Thailand)
Annika Sorenstam – “She’d been knocking on the door a few times and it’s amazing what that one win will do to give you the confidence to go on and be in contention in a lot of [tournaments].
Curt Byrum – “Nobody has had a better breakout year than her… It’s amazing how she’s done all that winning in the last few months and how that confidence continues to snowball. You can just feel the confidence that she has out there.”
Kay Cockerill – “What a difference a year makes. In the middle of the summer last year she was in the middle of missing 10 cuts in a row and her confidence was at rock-bottom. She couldn’t keep a driver on the planet. And with the change of coaches to Gary Gilchrist and working with Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott, she has become the great golfer that [she is]. So much talent.”

Inbee Park (5-under, T-2nd – Korea) speaking with NBC Olympics’ Steve Sands following her round
Inbee Park – “Because of my injury earlier this year, obviously the Korean team was very competitive to make. I think some people thought that maybe I should give my chance to another player who doesn’t have an injury… I knew I could compete out here but a lot of people were doubting [it]… My confidence level is much better after today’s round than yesterday… I was quite nervous going out this morning and obviously that was expected because I haven’t played for a while and I haven’t played well for a while.”

On Park competing in the field this week despite being sidelined for much of 2016 due to a thumb injury
Karen Stupples – “She received a lot of flak from the press in Korea questioning her playing this week. They were almost suggesting that somebody else should be playing in her place to give Korea a better chance of a medal because they don’t believe that she’s in form and they don’t believe that her thumb is healthy.”
Cockerill – “It’s pretty amazing what she’s done today considering the amount of off-time she’d had.”
Tom Abbott – “A lot of people thought it’s not going to be her week considering she hasn’t played a lot, but that’s not the case right now.”
Byrum – “Incredible round considering the time off. That is some great playing.”

Lexi Thompson (3-under, T-7th – United States) speaking with Sands following her round
Lexi Thompson – “Words can’t really even describe it. It’s always been a dream of mine to be an Olympian but growing up I couldn’t say that I wanted to be one because golf wasn’t in the Olympics. So now that it is, it’s been an honor to be here and be around the best athletes in the world. It’s a huge honor to once again represent my country.”

On Thompson
Byrum – “She’s had a good day with the putter. That makes all the difference when you hit it where she does off the tee.”
Jerry Foltz – “She made an adjustment this week adding 1 degree of loft to the putter and it seems to have made a difference. The stroke is looking like a few more telling signs of confidence than I have seen out of her in ages.”

Lydia Ko (2-under, T-11th – New Zealand) speaking with Sands following her round
Lydia Ko – “Considering the start I had, to finish under par – I’m pretty pleased with that. I was pretty nervous on the 1st tee being announced and officially becoming an Olympian, but it was a great day overall. Even before walking up to the tee I thought I was fine… But it got my heart going, a little bit of butterflies. You’re always an Olympian… It’s a feeling that I’ve never felt before and I’m going to treasure that moment.”

On Ko
Foltz – “Most players get done with a round of golf and don’t think about the great things they did, they think about the shots they left out there. Lydia Ko rarely leaves many shots on the golf course and she just gets about the best out of every single day.”
Byrum – “At her age it’s amazing the patience she has on the golf course. It’s just a stroll in the park.”

On Carlotta Ciganda (4-under, T-4th – Spain)
Sorenstam – “I’m not surprised to see her play so well. I’ve never seen her smile so much just being around these other Olympians. It’s giving her the inspiration she needs. She’s been so close to winning on the LPGA and maybe this is what she needs, just a little bigger stage.”
Byrum – “I think she’ll be happy with her score today, even though she made double [bogey] at 15. I think overall she has to be thrilled to get off to a good start.”

Nicole Broch Larsen (4-under, T-4th – Denmark) speaking with Sands following her round
Nicole Broch Larsen – “I was nervous [on the 1st tee], but it’s a cool feeling calling myself an Olympian now. I was actually quite calm and I rolled in some good putts in the beginning [of the round]. So I got off to a good start and kept calm talking to my caddie and I really enjoyed it out there.”

Aditi Ashok (3-under, T-7th – India) speaking with Sands following her round
Aditi Ashok – “Hitting the 1st tee shot was a bit nerve wracking for me, but after that I kind of fell into a good rhythm so it was fine. At the end of the day you just fall back on your routine and just go out there and play golf, so that’s what I did… To play for my country especially at a young age means a lot to me.”

On Women’s Golf returning as an Olympic sport for the first time in 116 years
Stupples – “Golf being in the Olympics is recognition for these athletes that what they’re doing matters within the sporting world in their country. There are many countries and places where [golf] is just simply been overlooked. And when you’re playing golf in that country it’s very easy to think you’ve just been forgotten about.”
Sorenstam – “I think the benefit that the women have is they’ve been watching the men and they really saw the importance of finishing first, second or third. I don’t think anybody has ever been as happy as Matt Kuchar to finish third, for a medal compared to finishing third in a normal golf tournament. And again the pressure of standing on the first tee hearing your name and representing your country. There are so many elements we haven’t experienced before that you’re realizing when you show up here.”
Stupples – “Those dreams that young girls have about competing in the Olympics, gymnastics and other events is because they’ve seen it on TV. You’re going to have girls watching Olympic Golf now being able to dream that dream. There’s something really special about representing your country. Even though you’re representing a team, it still is just you, it’s still an individual [event]. It’s all on your shoulders.”
Sorenstam – “Golf is part of something so big, and to come here and see it come alive and to see these Olympians embracing the game of golf is so fantastic. Watching the excitement last week, we didn’t really know what to expect but it was embraced really well.”

On the Rio Olympic Golf Course
Stupples – “The genius of this golf course is that it really is about strategy. The longer players will have to be mentally very tough and dial down a little bit off the tees because they won’t be able to hit driver everywhere. But that require some discipline.”
Byrum – “It’s hard to judge this zoysia grass. It’s unlike anything they typically see on the LPGA Tour or in Europe. So there’s an adjustment to be made.”
Terry Gannon – “[The Olympic] sailing was canceled today for lack of wind. So that tells you all you need to know about conditions out here today. It was the most benign of days.”

–Rio 2016–

“It’s Simone’s party and everyone else is just a guest.” – Tim Daggett on floor gold medalist Simone Biles

 “If she was going to compete with Simone, she absolutely needed the best routine of her life, and I think that was it.” – Daggett on floor silver medalist Aly Raisman

RIO DE JANEIRO – August 17, 2016 – NBC Olympics’ primetime coverage of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, continued Tuesday night on the networks of NBCUniversal.

Primetime host Bob Costas opened up Tuesday night’s coverage on NBC from NBC Olympics’ studio located inside the International Broadcast Center in Rio. Day 11 was highlighted by women’s gymnastics, with “Final Five” teammates Simone Biles and Aly Raisman capturing gold and silver, respectively, in the floor exercise. Biles has collected five medals in Rio, four gold, including in the all-around competition, while Raisman has three. In addition, Danell Leyva won silver in men’s gymnastics for parallel bars.

Coverage on NBC also featured the women’s 1500m final, where Team USA’s Jenny Simpson took bronze, the first ever medal for the U.S. in the event, Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon of Kenya won gold, and Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia earned silver. Track and field coverage also included the men’s 110m hurdles, where Omar McLeod won Jamaica its first gold medal in the event; the gold medal final in men’s high jump; and the semifinals in women’s 200m, women’s 400m hurdles, men’s 400m hurdles, and men’s 200m, which took place earlier that afternoon.

During the broadcast, Costas spoke about the issue of doping in track and field. A link to Costas’ interview with IOC President Thomas Bach, during which they discussed this issue at length, can be found here.

Coverage on NBC concluded with the women’s beach volleyball semifinals, where Brazil’s Agatha and Barbara captured a victory against Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross. Agatha and Barbara will play Germany in the gold medal final, while Walsh Jennings and Ross will compete against Brazil’s Larissa and Talita in the bronze medal match, today, Wednesday, August 17.

This evening’s Olympic action also featured the U.S. women’s basketball team’s victory over Japan to advance to the semifinals, and men’s boxing on NBCSN; women’s track cycling finals, and Serbia’s victory over Russia in women’s indoor volleyball, both on CNBC.

Following are highlights from tonight’s evening and primetime coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games on the networks of NBCUniversal:

GYMNASTICS – NBC

Analyst Tim Daggett on gold medalist Simone Biles’ floor routine: “Power and dynamics that take your breath away. You’ll see other people that do similar elements. Nobody does it with as much difficulty packed in, but more than that nobody does them anywhere near like this.”

Daggett on Biles: “It’s Simone’s party and everyone else is just a guest.”

Play-by-play commentator Al Trautwig on Biles’ floor routine: “Obliterate seems like the right word.”

Daggett on Biles: “She sets herself apart because she makes everything look so easy.”

Trautwig on Biles’ floor routine: “When she nails it, which she normally does, it’s just fun in every way; from a gymnastics stance, from a dance stance, from a choreographic stance, from a music stance.”

Daggett on silver medalist Aly Raisman’s floor routine: “You dream of going to the Olympics, you dream of winning a gold medal, she’s already gotten three, and you dream of doing a routine of a lifetime. If she was going to compete with Simone, she absolutely needed the best routine of her life, and I think that was it.”

Daggett on Raisman: “Jam-packed with difficulty, such a powerful opening run, and that she can fit it on a 40×40 floor…tremendous.”

Daggett on Danell Leyva’s silver medal winning routine in parallel bars: “He sent out a shot around the world right here that this is a contending routine because there are so few errors in it…that was really a tremendous set, I don’t know if I’ve seen him do quite that good ever!”

Analyst Nastia Liukin on Leyva’s parallel bars routine: “Danell won a bronze medal four years ago in London but he said, “Yes, it was great I won an Olympic medal, but it wasn’t the color I wanted.”

Daggett on the U.S. men’s gymnastics team’s struggles in Rio: “I don’t think anyone on this team would say that it’s been all rosy and exactly the way they planned.”

Biles to Costas on competing in Tokyo 2020: “I’m going to take a really long break, I just want to go on vacation and kind of have fun. I think we all deserve it, we’ll see what happens.”

Raisman to Costas on whether she’ll return to competition: “If you had asked me a few months ago if I was done, I would have said yes, and I think (my coach) Mihai (Brestyan) would have said the same thing. Yesterday we were talking, and I’m going to take a break, and never say never. I thought I was in the best shape of my life in 2012, and it’s even better here, so maybe I just get better with age.”

***

TRACK & FIELD – NBC

Analyst Craig Masback as Team USA’s Jenny Simpson crossed the line to win bronze in the 1500m: “That’s the first medal ever for the United States in women’s 1500m running. She’s always been a great finisher. This is how she won her 2011 world championship.”

Masback on 1500m gold medal winner Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon of Kenya: “Kipyegon authored a wonderful last lap. She let Dibaba do all the work until the next-to-last lap – stayed on her tail, and then ran by her.”

Costas on the issue of doping in track and field prior to the women’s 1500m final: “The favorite in (the 1500m) is world record holder Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia. Two months ago her coach, Jama Aden, was suspended, or arrested I should say, in Spain on doping charges as part of an investigation to his training group. Aden has yet to be convicted of any crime, and he has denied any wrongdoing. Dibaba, who is a member of an accomplished distance running family, has never tested positive in her career. Still, given Aden’s arrest and the current environment in track and field, Dibaba’s presence in tonight’s race has rankled some people. This is yet another reminder of the ever-present specter of performance enhancing drugs in track and field, and in sports in general.”

Click here for Costas’ interview with IOC President Thomas Bach, where he discusses doping in Olympic sports.

Analyst Ato Boldon on men’s 110m gold medalist Omar Mcleod of Jamaica: “That’s some history for Jamaica! They’re very first Olympic gold medal in the 110m hurdles. Omar Mcleod, who started this year on an absolutely amazing pace, ends the year as an Olympic champion…that’s as easy as you will win an Olympic final in Rio.”

Hammond on the men’s 110m hurdles: “The U.S. shut out for the first time in Olympic history.”

Boldon on the men’s 110m hurdles: “When you make the U.S. team in the 110m hurdles, you are expected to come to the Olympics and not just make the finals – but get a medal.”

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.” *Note: This event took place in the afternoon

Boldon on Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands who easily won her heat in the women’s 200m semifinals: “The world champion reminding everyone that she is the third-fastest woman to have ever run this event.”

Boldon on Team USA’s Kerron Clement in the men’s 400m hurdles semifinal: “Not a great start in terms of the first four or five hurdles, but I tell you what, the way he looked over the hurdles nine and 10, people are not going to beat him in these finals.”

Boldon on Sydney McLaughlin in the 400m hurdles semifinals: “She’ll have lots of experience for the next time that she comes back to the Olympic Games. We’ll expect that she’ll come back. She’s just simply too good at this age to not be in the Olympic Games sometime in the future.”

Analyst Trey Hardee on high jump gold medalist Derek Druin of Canada: “The crowd loves this man. He’s the Olympic gold medalist, the best in the world. Now it’s just a matter of, how high is he going to jump tonight? This track, I’m telling you, there’s something on the surface, because guys are jumping out of the stadium.”

Hardee on Mutaz Barshim of Qatar in the high jump: “I think his favorite quote is ‘What gravity?’ I don’t think gravity really applies to these guys, especially that man.”

Play-by-play commentator Todd Harris on the height of the bar in the fourth attempt of the high jump: “7’ 7” and ¾” – to put that in perspective, they are basically jumping over Shaquille O’Neil with another few inches to spare.”

***

BEACH VOLLEYBALL – NBC

Analyst Kevin Wong on the Brazilian team: “The way that Brazil is covering the court right now, it seems like there are four players out there instead of two. The U.S. giving them everything they got. They bring the heat, it’s controlled.”

Wong: “This is a matchup between the two best offenses in the draw. Both teams doing a really good job of passing, setting, and hitting. The Brazilians, surprisingly, how they score points is from the service line. They are by far the best serving team of the Olympic Games.”

***

BASKETBALL – NBCSN

Analyst Ann Meyers Drysdale on what the Olympics mean to the U.S. women’s team, which defeated Japan: “This team really knows what it means to win the gold medal. They are so focused. They’ve had a couple of days off but they’ve also been practicing and it’s been very efficient.”

***

BOXING – NBCSN

Analyst B.J. Flores on what makes 19 year old U.S. Boxer Shakur Stevenson so dominate: “He can beat you a lot of different ways. He can beat you on the outside with his boxing ability, he likes to get inside. He knows how to work those angles. He can work the body, come up the middle with those upper cuts. He has a very high ring IQ.”

Play-by-play commentator Kenny Rice on Stevenson winning by unanimous decision: “The most heralded on the men’s team for the U.S. coming into these games continues to live up to the billing. Shakur Stevenson has secured himself a medal in these Olympic games, the first for a U.S. boxer in this division since 2000.”

Rice on Fazliddin Gaibnazarov of Uzbekistan’s decision victory over Gary Russell of the U.S.: “Gaibnazarov will advance to the medal round. This is one that really hurts for the U.S., a strong performance by Gary Russell, but the judges didn’t see it that way.”

***

TRACK CYCLING – CNBC

Play-by-play announcer Paul Sherwen on the omnium: “It’s an event that looks for all of the different assets of what makes an overall good bike rider, speed, strength, endurance. And in this race, really the knowledge of knowing how to make a move.”

Analyst Christian Vande Velde on the emotions of the cyclists and bronze medalist Jolien D’Hoore of Belgium: “Nothing compares to the emotion of an Olympic Games. These sort of things do not happen at the world championships. You see the emotion right there in that woman making history for Belgium.”

***

INDOOR VOLLEYBALL – CNBC

Analyst Kevin Barnett on Serbia: “This is what makes Serbia so much fun to watch and dangerous. They just rip balls all night.”

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.

-RIO 2016-

Tonight in Primetime – All-Around Gold Medalist Simone Biles and All-Around Silver Medalist Aly Raisman Face Off in Women’s Floor Final

Track and Field Coverage Includes Men’s 110m Hurdles Final, Men’s High Jump Final, and Women’s 200m Semifinals

Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross Face Brazil’s Agatha and Barbara in Women’s Beach Volleyball Semifinals

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 Leyva competes 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.”

***
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.”

***

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.”

***

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.”

***

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.

 

-RIO 2016-

 

“At this point in the race you will do whatever it takes to win.” – Sanya Richards-Ross on Shaunae Miller’s dive through the finish line in the 400m

“This was a tremendous routine.” – Tim Daggett on Laurie Hernandez’ silver medal win on beam

RIO DE JANEIRO – August 16, 2016 – NBC Olympics’ primetime coverage of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, continued Monday night on the networks of NBCUniversal.

Primetime host Bob Costas opened up Monday night’s coverage on NBC from NBC Olympics’ studio located inside the International Broadcast Center in Rio. Day 10 on NBC was highlighted by Team USA’s Allyson Felix winning silver in the women’s 400m, and becoming the most decorated woman in U.S. track and field history with seven career medals. Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas narrowly bested Felix, diving through the finish line to earn gold in the event.  Track and field coverage also included David Rudisha of Kenya defending his gold medal in the men’s 800m while Team USA’s Clayton Murphy captured bronze; the gold medal final in men’s pole vault, with Team USA’s Sam Kendricks taking bronze; qualifying in the men’s 110m hurdles; and qualifying in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Coverage on NBC also featured women’s gymnastics with “Final Five” teammates Laurie Hernandez and all-around champion Simone Biles capturing silver and bronze, respectively, in vault; men’s gymnastics rings and vault final; and  men’s springboard diving qualifying as 2016 World Cup bronze medalist Kristian Ipsen, and Michael Hixon of the U.S. move on to the semifinal round. Coverage concluded with the Brazilian duo of Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt defeating Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena of the U.S. in the men’s beach volleyball quarterfinals.

This evening’s Olympic action also featured Brazil’s win over France in the preliminary rounds of men’s volleyball on NBCSN; Hungary’s win over Australia in the women’s water polo quarterfinals, and France’s win over Denmark in men’s handball, both on MSNBC.

Following are highlights from tonight’s evening and primetime coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games on the networks of NBCUniversal:

***

TRACK & FIELD – NBC

Analyst Sanya Richards-Ross on Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas diving at the finish line to win gold over Team USA’s Allyson Felix: “Shaunae Miller went for it and she did exactly what we saw Wayde van Niekerk do (in the men’s 400m)…Allyson loses by a lean. A really tough loss for Allyson Felix who ran a really great race tonight.”

Richards-Ross on Felix: “This is still a courageous run for Allyson Felix. She had an abbreviated season, only ran one or two 400m this year. To see her come out here and get a silver medal, she deserves so much applause for what she’s done. A courageous champion.”

Felix to reporter Lewis Johnson: “I don’t know, it just wasn’t there tonight. God has been so good to get me this far in my final season, and I just gave it all I had tonight.”

Richards-Ross on Miller: “At this point in the race you will do whatever it takes to win. Training for the 400m is so hard and you just dream about this moment every single night, and she saw it almost slipping away. I actually saw her peek and look for Allyson Felix. She did whatever it took, and she dove for the line.”

Analyst Craig Masback on David Rudisha of Kenya defending his 800m gold medal: “Amazing, majestic win by David Rudisha. It just shows the quality of this guy. It doesn’t matter what anybody threw at him…he took control of this race in the third 200m, and didn’t give anybody a chance to get back in this race.”

Masback on Team USA’s Clayton Murphy with a bronze in the 800m: “Murphy didn’t even want to run this event at the Olympic Trials! His aim was the 1,500m, he missed the qualifying by three hundredths…amazingly he comes to the biggest stage and comes up with a bronze medal.”

Analyst Ato Boldon as Dalilah Muhammad easily wins her heat in the 400m hurdles qualifier: “When you come in with almost a second’s lead in the world standings, that’s the way it’s supposed to look.”

Richards-Ross on Muhammed: “She started running when she was seven and she was never the best. Every year she just kept trying to get better and better. I think a lot of times you see Olympians and just think that they’ve always been the best. This is a girl that has fought her way to the top and now she’s the fastest 400m hurdler in the world.”

Richards-Ross on 17-year-old Sydney McLaughlin, who came in fifth in the women’s 400m hurdles, qualifying for the semifinals on time: “She will be a huge star. What we can’t forget is she’s had a long season. She started indoors in high school, ran really well in the 400 m indoors, came outdoors and just ran great. It’s really hard to maintain that level of performance for that long. Then you come to the Olympics. You have the best athletes in the world…it’s really hard when it’s your first time.”

Boldon on Team USA’s Devon Allen in the men’s 110m hurdles qualifying round: “When I was asked who is flying under the radar on this team that could leave with a gold medal, my answer was this – Devon Allen. That’s because he is a big performer…this is a young man that does not shy away from big races.”

Boldon on Omar Mcleod of Jamaica in the 110m hurdles qualifying rounds: “That looked like the Omar McCloud that we saw in the beginning of 2016…13.27 for the world leader – this was just about flawless.”

Analyst Trey Hardee on Team USA’s Sam Kendricks, who won bronze in pole vault: “He’s been consistent all year, this is exactly what we expected of him. Garnering the first medal for an American in pole vault since 2004…it’s a special breed and a special group of fearless men that do this event.”

Hardee on pole vault gold medalist Thiago Braz da Silva of Brazil: “I don’t believe what I just saw. Thiago is on another planet – he is not thinking about anything. His countrymen have just willed him to an Olympic record jump. It wasn’t even close – he was at the back of the runway on the biggest pole he’s ever been on in his life with zero fear and zero doubt.”

***

GYMNASTICS – NBC

Play-by-play commentator Al Trautwig on the beam final: “We talked yesterday how strange things happen in the event final. Sometimes, those strange things become memorable things. This is memorable for a lot of reasons. Simone Biles’ mistake, and first individual medal for the Netherlands ever.”

Analyst Tim Daggett on the end of Laurie Hernandez’s routine: “A beautiful double pike and just the smallest little adjustment. This was a tremendous routine.”

Daggett on beam gold medalist Sana Weavers of the Netherlands: “Crazy good, just gorgeous. Shades of Betty Okino. It was gorgeous, it was artistic, beautiful presence on the beam.”

Nastia Liukin on Biles’ near-fall on the beam: “She under-rotated…but that was an incredible save.”

Liukin on Weavers’ routine: “A triple turn on the balance beam, that is incredibly difficult to do. It’s only four inches wide!”

***

DIVING – NBC

Analyst Cynthia Potter on Ipsen choosing a dive of lower difficulty for this third dive due to wind conditions: “I think he’s going to look like a genius. Not taking any risk on a day like today is really fortuitous. He can do this dive any time of day, any time of night, in any conditions, and he proves it…fabulous.”

Potter on how the wind effects the competition: “It has been unbelievable. You see the Olympic champion hitting the board, you see divers stopping because of the wind, you see divers falling off of the board and not being able to complete their dives, divers asking for a re-dive and not being allowed once they have made the decision to go.”

***

BEACH VOLLEYBALL – NBC

Analyst Kevin Wong on the high winds for the men’s quarterfinal between the U.S. and Brazil, won by Brazil in three sets: “It’s chaos out here. It’s going to come down to the team that embraces that chaos more.”

Wong on the top-seeded Brazilian duo of Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt: “Had a rocky road through pool play, caused a rumble in Rio with a confrontation (against the U.S.) a couple rounds earlier than we expected. But with all of the pressure and all of the excitement, they really brought their ‘A’ game today.”

***

INDOOR VOLLEYBALL – NBCSN

Analyst Kevin Barnett on the atmosphere for Brazil vs. France: “I’m looking around this arena, it has been crowded throughout the Games, but there is not a single seat available. Unless you have a media credential, there’s no getting in.”

Play-by-play commentator Paul Sunderland on Brazil’s Wallace de Souza: “Wallace has been virtually unstoppable in this match.  Brazil had been waiting for him to play like they’re used to seeing…Wallace has rescued Brazil.”

Barnett on why France: “If France loses this match and goes home, the story will be the lack of ability to generate service pressure.”

Barnett on Brazil advancing to the quarterfinals: “Brazil was nearly dead, they’re back, and they live to play another day!”

***

WATER POLO – MSNBC

Analyst Julie Swail on the Hungarian women’s team’s win over Australia in a shoot-out: “And oh are they excited… I didn’t think a lot of people expected that Hungary would be in this position, able to compete for a medal. They definitely earned it, although they are a little bit surprised that they are in this situation.”

***

HANDBALL – MSNBC

Analyst Dawn Lewis on the perfect performance by Daniel Narcisse, former IHF player of the year, and a dominant French win over Denmark: “Daniel Narcisse, he has been the player of the game for France. Eighth goal and he is perfect, 8 out of 8. Every shot he has attempted has gone in. He has been ‘the man’ of the French team in the past and he continues to be a force to be reckoned with.”

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.

-RIO 2016-

“It doesn’t matter who is in the lead, they are going to get caught!” – Ato Boldon on Usain Bolt’s 100m gold medal victory

“She just flies higher – that’s all there is to it.” – Tim Daggett on Simone Biles’ gold medal vault

“I apologize for not making the right decisions and not having the right people around me.” – Justin Gatlin to Cris Collinsworth on his suspensions

RIO DE JANEIRO – August 15, 2016 – NBC Olympics’ primetime coverage of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, continued Sunday night on the networks of NBCUniversal.

Primetime host Bob Costas opened up Sunday night’s coverage on NBC from NBC Olympics’ studio located inside the International Broadcast Center in Rio. Day 9 on NBC was highlighted by Usain Bolt of Jamaica winning gold in the men’s 100m final. He becomes the first ever to win three consecutive gold medals in the event, while rival Justin Gatlin of Team USA won silver, and joins Bolt as the only men to ever win three consecutive 100m medals.

Both Bolt and Gatlin were profiled in feature pieces prior to the 100m final. Costas traveled to Jamaica earlier this year to interview Bolt and spent time with him in his home country, while NBC’s Cris Collinsworth had a candid discussion with Gatlin about his career, including his previous track and field suspensions.

Track and field coverage also included South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk’s gold medal win in the 400m, with Team USA’s LaShawn Merritt taking bronze in the event; Team USA’s Allyson Felix, Phyllis Francis, and Natasha Hastings qualifying for the women’s 400m final; and the semifinal rounds of the women’s 1,500m. If Felix wins gold in the 400m tomorrow, she will become the first woman in track and field history to win five gold medals. In addition, Tom Hammond narrated a feature on van Niekerk and the unique relationship he has with his 74-year-old coach Ans Botha.

Coverage on NBC also featured women’s gymnastics all-around gold medalist Simone Biles adding to the two gold medals she has already won in Rio with a gold in vault; “Final Five” U.S. teammate Madison Kocian capturing silver in the uneven bars; the men’s gymnastics floor exercise final; and Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross with a victory against the Australian team of Taliqua Clancy and Louise Bawden in the women’s beach volleyball quarterfinals. Coverage began with women’s Olympic diving, where Shi Tingmao earned China’s eighth consecutive gold in the event.

This evening’s Olympic action also featured Andy Murray of Great Britain’s gold medal win in men’s tennis singles over Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro on Bravo.

Costas closed the program by interviewing Michael Phelps in the NBC studio.

Following are highlights from tonight’s evening and primetime coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games on the networks of NBCUniversal:

***

TRACK & FIELD – NBC

Analyst Ato Boldon on Usain Bolt’s gold medal in the 100m: “It’s not supposed to be that easy! But, when you can finish the way this man has consistently finished over the last year, it doesn’t matter who is in the lead, they are going to get caught!”

Boldon on Bolt’s gold medal win: “With these three Olympic golds in a row, Bolt has now put an enormous gap between him and everybody else in this sport. For your consideration, ladies and gentlemen, Usain Bolt, the best of all time, for a place on your list of the best athletes ever – (Mohammad) Ali, (Michael) Jordan, maybe (Michael) Phelps after this week. Whoever you have on your personal list, what Bolt has done at 100m for nine straight seasons and the dominance he’s shown over now three Olympic Games in a row, I think warrants you making some room on your best of all time athlete list.”

Boldon on Gatlin’s silver medal win in the 100m: “Gatlin ran as well as he could be expected to run tonight. But, there is nothing that anybody can do about the final 50m of Usain Bolt.”

Hammond on Usain Bolt’s attitude: “Some people think he’s arrogant and a show off, but he has respect for the sport and respect for the other competitors. Yes, he does like to be playful, but in my experience he’s shown a lot of respect.”

Boldon on Bolt’s height: “He has 41 steps to take to finish this 100m, everyone else has 44. His height is not just his gift, the real gift is that at 6’5” he can turn that big wheel of his around as fast as guys that are much shorter.”

Bolt to reporter Lewis Johnson: “I knew from the semifinals that I would win. I could tell that I felt good, I felt smooth. I knew Justin Gatlin was going to get his start as always; he always has a signature start. All I have to do is stay cool and get back into the race at 60m.”

Bolt to Johnson on how he is able to balance having fun and focusing on the race: “For me, it goes together. Being with the fans, dancing, joking around and having fun – it all goes together – the competition, everything.”

Boldon on Bolt in the 100m semifinal: “I’ve seen all I need to see. I don’t know what they’re going to do against that in the final. He is looking that good and that easy to run 9.86? You better hope he loses a shoe or something in the final.”

Boldon on Gatlin winning his 100m semifinal heat: “That’s just about a perfect semifinal run for Justin Gatlin. Forget the time, run to the front, once you have the lead and win assured, shut it down, and get ready for the final. Do not show your cards in this round.”

Boldon on the crowd for the men’s 100m: “This is like the Oscars and the Super Bowl rolled into one, the amount of celebrities we’ve seen in the building to watch these semifinals and to watch the crowning of the world’s fastest man.”

Boldon on Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa’s gold medal win in the 400m: “We told you this was going to be a fantastic race. Michael Johnson came here tonight to visit our booth and he told us he thought that his world record was safe. Guess what Michael Johnson? The world record has been destroyed!”

Boldon on van Niekerk: “Wayde van Niekerk puts together the performance of his life, in lane eight, a lane that no one has ever run and won the Olympic final on in any other major race. He found a way to not only win, but to put away the last two Olympic champions.”

Analyst Sanya Richards-Ross on Team USA’s Allyson Felix winning her heat in the women’s 400m: “This was a very impressive run for Allyson Felix, who has only run maybe two or three 400m this year. She looked to control the whole race. A lot of times when you face the best competition in the semifinal round, you want to get in their head. You want it to feel like, ‘Hey, I’m here, I’m present, and I’m going to beat you in every single race.’ I think Allyson wanted to do that tonight.”

Boldon on Team USA’s Phyllis Francis winning her heat in the 400m: “I thought this was as good as I’ve seen her in the first half of a 200m this year. But she still had enough left to summon the strength that we know her for. She made up a lot of ground toward the home stretch.”

***

Cris Collinsworth’s Interview with Justin Gatlin – NBC

Cris Collinsworth in an interview with Gatlin: “Did you ever knowingly put anything in your body, rub anything, inject anything in your body to enhance your performance?”

Gatlin: “No I didn’t. And, at that point in time I had no reason to. I was Olympic gold medalist. I was double gold world champion in 2005. It was nothing that I needed to gain an edge in a relay meet in Kansas. There was nothing I needed to do to try to boost up my performance. I was the man already.”

Collinsworth: “Do you understand the skepticism, or the belief outside that many times it’s the person with the best pharmacist that’s winning these events, and why now with a second positive test people are going to question everything you do?”

Gatlin: “Of course, I can totally understand that. I apologize for not making the right decisions and not having the right people around me. I take full credit for the person that back then was more naïve, and I should have listened to me.”

Collinsworth: “What was the low point in that whole thing?”

Gatlin: “When people acted like I didn’t exist. That was the low point. When my name was never spoken anymore. That was probably the lowest point because I work hard. I work hard for who I am. I work hard for the accolades that I do have.”

Collinsworth: “What would a win in this Olympic Games mean to you?”

Gatlin: “I can’t even fathom it. I think sometimes, I cross the finish line, a win, how would I react? I think that I would just lay on the track and cry. As much happiness as I’ve had in my life I’ve had equal as much pain. When I cross that line the only thing I’ll think about is tears.”

Click here for the full piece with Collinsworth and Gatlin.

Bob Costas’ Interview with Usain Bolt – NBC

Bob Costas to Bolt on his personality: “To me, there’s a difference between showing off and having charisma. I don’t mean to embarrass you, but you have showmanship – which is different than showing off – and charisma. People who don’t know anything about track and field will stop and watch you.”

Bolt: “I always explain to people who ask ‘Why are you doing that?’ It’s a performance. I like it, people love it, and I like doing it. You’re not only just always going to run and that’s it. ‘What’s Usain going to do today?’ It excites them, and it excites me to go in there and give them a performance.”

Click here for the full piece with Costas and Bolt.

***

GYMNASTICS – NBC

Play-by-play announcer Al Trautwig on Simone Biles’ gold medal in the vault: “Think of all the great ones – Nastia (Liukin), Carly (Patterson), Shawn (Johnson), the ‘Magnificent Seven,’ Mary Lou Retton, this is the first time an American woman wins a gold medal in vault and that deserves a standing ovation.”

Analyst Tim Daggett on Biles’ vault: “She just flies higher – that’s all there is to it. All of the components you need to soar, she has them. Super-fast run, great technique.”

Daggett on Madison Kocian’s silver medal win in the uneven bars: “She is phenomenal. I love watching her do bars it’s one of my favorite things in gymnastics. She’s so light and airy. It looks like such fun unfortunately there were a couple of handstand positions that were a little bit short.”

Trautwig on the results in the men’s floor exercise: “This is absolutely pure joy unfolding here in the Olympic arena. No, words, there are no words. No British gymnast has ever celebrated a gold like that, and Brazil has never come close to this. For the first time ever fielding a full team!” *Max Whitlock of Great Britain won gold, followed by Brazil’s Diego Hypólito with silver and Arthur Mariano with bronze
***

BEACH VOLLEYBALL – NBC

Analyst Kevin Wong on Walsh-Jennings and Ross: “It’s such a different team, a different chemistry. There was a little more poetry when Misty May-Treanor was out there, but it’s been nothing but in-your-face relentlessness from this new version.”

Wong on the Australian team: “Definition of insanity – you keep on serving April Ross, she’ll keep shutting you down.”

***

Bob Costas’ Interview with Michael Phelps – NBC

Phelps to Costas on ending his career in Rio: “Where I am now is exactly how I wanted to finish my career. I was able to come back, and able to do things that I wanted to accomplish. Looking back at this week, it’s been nothing but a fun, exciting week. This is the cherry on top of the cake I wanted. I’m looking forward to moving forward.”

Click here for the full piece with Costas and Phelps.

***

DIVING – NBC

Potter on gold medal winner Shi Tingmao of China: “She’s is diving so beautifully…the poise of an Olympic champion.”

Analyst Laura Wilkinson on silver medal winner He Zi of China in the fourth round: “She has phenomenal takeoffs. That is what she’s known for, these massive starts.”

***

TENNIS – BRAVO

Play-by-play commentator Andrew Catalon as Great Britain’s Andy Murray defeated Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro in the gold medal match:  “Murray strikes gold again! Andy Murray is the first player to win two gold medals in singles, the first player to repeat as an Olympic Champion. He has now won 18 consecutive matches.”

Analyst Paul Annacone on the match that lasted over four hours: “We saw the absolute best of Olympic tennis right there. The emotion and heart that it took for Juan Martin Del Potro to fight that hard in this match…just the best.”

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.

-RIO 2016-