FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 8th, 2016

2016 RIO OLYMPICS – AUG. 8 DAYTIME HIGHLIGHTS ON THE NETWORKS OF NBCUNIVERSAL

Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, and Missy Franklin Headline U.S. Athletes in Primetime Tonight on NBC

 

Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross Return To The Sand Tonight in Hopes of Continuing Their Dominant Streak

 

Sam Mikulak Heats up Gymnastic Coverage as U.S. Men Continue their Quest for Gold Tonight


STAMFORD, Conn. – August 8, 2016 – Coming up tonight on NBC Olympics’ coverage of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

 

  • Beginning tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, live (ET/CT) swimming coverage includes Michael Phelps as he looks to avenge his 2012 second-place finish in the men’s 200m butterfly. Katie Ledecky and Missy Franklin also square off in the women’s 200m freestyle. Last night, Phelps brought home his 19th gold medal in the 4×100 freestyle relay and Ledecky also won gold, breaking her own world record in the 400m freestyle.

 

  • In addition, gymnastics coverage heats up as four-time U.S. all-around champion Sam Mikulak leads the U.S. men in their quest for redemption in Rio after finishing fifth in London.

 

  • After winning their opening match in straight sets, Kerri Walsh Jennings and new partner April Ross return to the sand in pool play of the women’s beach volleyball tournament against Isabelle Forrer and Anouk Vergé-Dépré of Switzerland.

 

  • American diver David Boudia seeks to improve upon his London bronze in the men’s synchronized platform final with new partner Steele Johnson.

 

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:

 

SWIMMING – NBC

 

Analyst Rowdy Gaines on Katie Ledecky’s competition in the 200m free: “I think Sarah Sjöström is going to be Ledecky’s main competitor, more than Federica Pellegrini, more than Brittany MacLean, even more than Missy Franklin. I think this is the woman to beat when we get to the finals… Sjöström has more speed than Ledecky, believe it or not.”

 

Gaines on Phelps’ strategy in the prelims: “Nobody is better in the history of swimming than Michael Phelps with time management. He knows exactly what he needs to do to get a lane.”

 

Click here to see Katie Ledecky win the 200m freestyle preliminary heat.

 

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VOLLEYBALL – NBC

 

Analyst Kevin Barnett as the U.S. women’s volleyball team is tied with the Netherlands 2 sets to 2: “The level that these women are playing at is nothing short of spectacular. The defense from both sides continues to impress me. Everyone from the United States side is just charging on those tips…You have to be at your best when your best is required, and that’s happening for both sides.”

 

Barnett on the team’s determination during the 5th set: “It is not about being dominant every time you walk out (on the court). It is about when your opponent comes to play as the Dutch did in this match, how do you respond? How do you match that inside of one game opportunity? And the United States have done it here.”

 

Note: the U.S. defeated the Netherlands 3 sets to 2.

 

Click here to see a recap of the U.S.’s late surge win over the Netherlands.

 

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BEACH VOLLEYBALL – NBCSN

 

Analyst Dain Blanton as Austria defeats top-seeded Brazil in the third set: “It was Austria who played more intelligently in the end and came up with the big play.”

 

Click here to see a recap of the match.

 

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FIELD HOCKEY – NBCSN

 

Analyst AJ Mleczko on the U.S. team: “This is a totally different team (than in 2012), and when the captain and three-time Olympian Lauren Crandall is asked, she says it’s a totally different squad and different culture. They’ve revamped the coaching staff. They aren’t even thinking about what happened back in London.”

 

Click here to see a recap of how Team USA upset No. 3 world-ranked Australia in pool play.

 

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FENCING – NBCSN/USA Network

 

Analyst Jeff Bukantz after Ibtihaj Muhammad’s comeback effort fell short in the women’s individual sabre: “That ends her Olympic dream, but she fenced very well considering all the pressure she has been under in her first Olympics and with all the press – very commendable. She did great.”

 

Click here to see Muhammad’s final bout.

 

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BASKETBALL – NBCSN
Play-by-play announcer Marc Zumoff on the U.S. women’s basketball team: “Listen, there’s no end to the superlatives. This is the greatest women’s basketball team on the planet right now, by far.”

 

Analyst Ann Meyers Drysdale: “The chemistry is unreal. These players really respect each other. They all know what they’re capable of doing, and the fact that they’ve played in world championships and other USA events together, they care about each other.”

 

Click here to see highlights from this afternoon’s game.

 

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TENNIS – BRAVO

 

Analyst Paul Annacone on U.S. tennis player Madison Keys finding her groove at the Olympics: “She is getting more comfortable in that elite level. We’ve seen so much promise and the physical talent is so apparent. Now, it’s about managing the emotional side, that mid-level game.”

 

Catch highlights from the match here.

 

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-