FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 21st, 2017

2014 OLYMPIC SLALOM GOLD MEDALIST MIKAELA SHIFFRIN & 2017 U.S. CHAMPION NATHAN CHEN HIGHLIGHT COVERAGE THIS WEEK ON OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA

U.S. Champions Nathan Chen, Maia and Alex Shibutani Highlight Seven Hours of Live 2017 Bridgestone Skate America Coverage

2014 Olympic Slalom Gold Medalist and Reigning Overall World Cup Champion Mikaela Shiffrin Highlights Saturday’s Live Alpine Skiing World Cup Coverage at 12:30 p.m. ET

IBSF Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup Season Continues Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET, Live from Whistler, Canada, Headlined by Two-Time Olympic Bobsled Medalist Elana Meyers Taylor

2014 Olympic Bronze Medalist Erin Hamlin Highlights FIL Luge World Cup Season Coverage from Winterberg, Germany on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET

Coverage Streamed on OlympicChannel.com, the Olympic Channel app, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app

STAMFORD, Conn. – November 21, 2017 – Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is a partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and NBCUniversal. Click here for a channel finder.

Content airing on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is live streamed on OlympicChannel.com, the Olympic Channel app, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. Select replays and highlights will be available on these digital platforms as well as TeamUSA.org.

Following are programming highlights from this week on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA:

ISU GRAND PRIX FIGURE SKATING
LIVE COVERAGE BEGINS FRIDAY AT 6:30 P.M. ET

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating makes its sixth stop this weekend in Lake Placid, N.Y., for Bridgestone Skate America, the final event before the Grand Prix Final. 2017 U.S. champion and Grand Prix Russia winner Nathan Chen, the first skater to land five quadruple jumps in a single program, can clinch a spot at the Grand Prix Final with a top-four finish. He faces fellow American and 2016 U.S. champion Adam Rippon, who has a chance to make his second straight Grand Prix Final after finishing second at Grand Prix Japan earlier this month, in the men’s field.

The ladies’ competition will feature 2016 world silver medalist and three-time U.S. champion Ashley Wagner and 18-year-old Karen Chen, who won her first U.S. title and finished fourth at the World Championships last season. Wagner, who won Skate America last season, can guarantee herself a spot in the Grand Prix Final with a win in Lake Placid.

American siblings and three-time world medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani, who won Grand Prix Russia earlier this season, will compete in ice dance, while in the pairs’ competition, two-time world champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada face off against Germany’s two-time world medalists Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot. The pairs’ field also includes Americans Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim, the 2015 U.S. champions.

Terry Gannon calls the men’s and ladies’ action across NBC, NBCSN, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, joined by 1998 Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski and three-time U.S. champion Johnny Weir. Andrea Joyce will report rink-side.

Bill Doleman calls the pairs’ free skate on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, alongside 2011 U.S. champion Ryan Bradley. Doleman will be joined by 2006 Olympic silver medalist Ben Agosto for the ice dance competitions.


FIS ALPINE SKIING WORLD CUP
LIVE COVERAGE BEGINS SATURDAY AT 12:30 P.M. ET

Olympic slalom gold medalist and reigning overall World Cup champion Mikaela Shiffrin looks for her first win of the season after finishing fifth in giant slalom in the World Cup opener, and second in the first slalom race of the season. The women’s giant slalom field is deep this season, with Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg, France’s Tessa Worley, Italy’s Sofia Goggia and Switzerland’s Lara Gut (who is in the process of returning from an ACL injury) all top contenders, while Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova has beaten Shiffrin in each of her last two slalom starts.

The men’s speed season begins in Lake Louise, Alberta. 2013 super-G world champion Ted Ligety is expected to compete in Sunday’s super-G, while 2015 downhill world silver medalist Travis Ganong is likely to headline the American men’s downhill field.

Dan Hicks will call the XFINITY Killington Cup from Killington, Vt., joined by analysts Bode Miller, the most decorated skier in U.S. Olympic history, former World Cup skier Steve Porino, and reporter Carolyn Manno.

Steve Schlanger calls the action from Lake Louise, Alberta, alongside 2010 Olympian and analyst Will Brandenburg.


IBSF BOBSLED AND SKELETON WORLD CUP
LIVE COVERAGE BEGINS FRIDAY AT 2:30 P.M. ET

Two-time Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor – who has two podium finishes through two World Cup events this season – and 2014 Olympic bronze medalist Jamie Greubel Poser – who won the World Cup event in Park City this weekend – lead the American women in bobsled. The U.S. men’s bobsled team is led by two-time Olympian Nick Cunningham, 2010 Olympic gold medalist Justin Olsen and Codie Bascue, who has finished on the podium in three of four World Cup races this season. This season’s U.S. skeleton field features 2014 Olympic bronze medalist Matt Antoine and three-time Olympian Katie Uhlaender.

Country quota places for the PyeongChang Games will be determined by this season’s World Cup results, and selection to the U.S. Olympic team will be heavily influenced by the results on this circuit.

Martin Haven calls the action from Whistler, Canada, joined by analyst John Morgan.


CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING WORLD CUP
LIVE COVERAGE BEGINS FRIDAY AT 6:30 A.M. ET

The cross-country skiing World Cup season kicks off this weekend with live coverage from Ruka, Finland, as athletes begin their journey to the Olympics, where the U.S. is aiming to win its first ever Olympic medal in women’s cross-country skiing. 2014 Olympian Jessie Diggins, who won two medals at the 2017 World Championships, four-time Olympian Kikkan Randall and 2017 world bronze medalist Sadie Bjornsen are expected to lead the American women.

Bill Seward calls the event alongside former U.S. Biathlon team member and cross-country analyst Chad Salmela.


FIL LUGE WORLD CUP
COVERAGE BEGINS SATURDAY AT 11:30 A.M. ET

Coverage of the FIL Luge World Cup season continues this weekend from Winterberg, Germany, as 2014 Olympic bronze medalist Erin Hamlin leads the American women, while 2014 Olympian Tucker West and two-time Olympian Chris Mazdzer are expected to lead the U.S. men’s team in singles. Sochi Olympians Matt Mortensen and Jayson Terdiman headline the U.S. doubles team.

Country quota places for the PyeongChang Games will be determined by this season’s World Cup results, and selection of the U.S. Olympic team will be based on this season’s World Cup results.


SNOWBOARDING WORLD CUP
COVERAGE BEGINS SATURDAY AT 10:30 A.M. ET

Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA continues its presentation of the FIS Snowboarding World Cup this Saturday with coverage of the men’s and women’s big air competitions from Beijing, China. 2014 Olympian and 2015 slopestyle world champion Ryan Stassel is expected to lead the U.S. effort.

Trace Worthington will provide commentary alongside analyst Tina Dixon.


FIS FREESTYLE SKIING WORLD CUP
COVERAGE BEGINS SUNDAY AT 3:30 P.M. ET

Coverage of the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup season continues this Sunday in Stubai, Austria, with the second slopestyle competition of the year. 2014 Olympian Julia Krass, who finished fifth at the 2015 X Games, is expected to be the only American in the field with Olympic experience.

Trace Worthington will provide commentary alongside analyst Luke Van Valin.


FIS SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP
COVERAGE BEGINS SATURDAY AT 3:30 P.M. ET

World Cup ski jumping action continues from Ruka, Finalnd, with the second men’s individual and team competitions of the season. The individual competition is likely to feature a showdown between reigning world champion Stefan Kraft of Austria and reigning Olympic champion Kamil Stoch of Poland. Rising prospect Kevin Bickner is expected to headline the U.S. men’s field.

Bill Spaulding calls the event joined by three-time Olympic medalist and analyst Johnny Spillane.


IBU BIATHLON WORLD CUP
STREAMING COVERAGE BEGINS SUNDAY AT 8:15 A.M. ET

The IBU biathlon World Cup season kicks off this weekend from Ostersund, Sweden, and will feature the first two athletes to earn spots on the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team, Lowell Bailey and Susan Dunklee. Bailey, a two-time Olympian, is coming off an historic championship season in which he became the first American biathlete to win a world title when he won the men’s 20km individual, while Dunklee took silver in the women’s mass start at the world championships, becoming the first American woman to win an individual biathlon world medal.


OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS – NOVEMBER 21 – 26

Date Time (ET) Event
Wed., Nov. 22 8 a.m. European Curling Championships: Norway vs. Sweden (Men)**
1 p.m. European Curling Championships: Scotland vs. Switzerland (Women)**
Thurs., Nov. 23 3 a.m. European Curling Championships: Sweden vs. Switzerland (Men)**
8 a.m. European Curling Championships: TBD vs. TBD (Women)**
1 p.m. European Curling Championships: Men’s Semifinals**
Fri., Nov. 24 6:30 a.m. FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup – Men’s & Women’s Sprint (LIVE)
8:30 a.m. FIS Nordic Combined World Cup – Ski Jumping**
11:15 a.m. FIS Nordic Combined World Cup – Cross-Country Skiing**
11:55 p.m. FIS Ski Jumping World Cup – Men’s HS142 Qualifications**
1 p.m. European Curling Championships: Men’s Bronze Medal Game**
2:30 p.m. IBSF Skeleton World Cup – Women’s Skeleton (LIVE)
6:30 p.m. ISU Bridgestone Skate America – Pairs’ Short (LIVE)
8 p.m. ISU Bridgestone Skate America – Men’s Short (LIVE)
10:30 p.m. IBSF Bobsled World Cup – Women’s Bobsled (LIVE)
Sat., Nov. 25 1 a.m. IBSF Bobsled World Cup – Two-Man Bobsled*
3:45 a.m. FIS Nordic Combined World Cup – HS142**
4 a.m. European Curling Championships: Women’s Gold Medal Game**
5 a.m. FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup – Women’s 10km (LIVE)
6:30 a.m. FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup – Men’s 15km**
7:30 a.m. UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup – Women’s Elite (LIVE)
8 a.m. FIG Gymnastics World Cup – Individual Apparatus Day 1**
8:30 a.m. FIS Nordic Combined World Cup – HS142**
9 a.m. UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup – Men’s Elite (LIVE)
9 a.m. European Curling Championships: Men’s Gold Medal Game**
10:30 a.m. FIS Snowboarding World Cup – Big Air*
11:30 a.m. FIL Luge World Cup – Men’s Singles*
12:30 p.m. FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup – Women’s Giant Slalom (LIVE)
2 p.m. ISU Bridgestone Skate America – Pairs’ Free (LIVE)
3:30 p.m. FIS Ski Jumping World Cup – Men’s Team*
5 p.m. FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup – Men’s Downhill*
6:30 p.m. IBSF Bobsled World Cup – Four-Man Bobsled (LIVE)
7:30 p.m. ISU Bridgestone Skate America – Short Dance (LIVE)
9 p.m. IBSF Skeleton World Cup – Men’s Skeleton*
10 p.m. FIL Luge World Cup – Doubles*
Sun., Nov. 26 4 a.m. FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup – Women’s 10km Pursuit (LIVE)
4:45 a.m. FIS Nordic Combined World Cup**
6 a.m. FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup – Men’s 15km Pursuit**
7:30 a.m. FIS Nordic Combined World Cup**
8 a.m. FIG Gymnastics World Cup – Individual Apparatus Day 2**
8:15 a.m. IBU Biathlon World Cup – Single Mixed Relay**
11:10 a.m. IBU Biathlon World Cup – Mixed Relay**
11:30 a.m. FIL Luge World Cup – Women’s Singles*
2 p.m. ISU Bridgestone Skate America – Free Dance (LIVE)
3:30 p.m. FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup – Slopestyle*
4:30 p.m. FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup – Men’s Super G*
6 p.m. FIS Ski Jumping World Cup – Men’s Individual*

*denotes same day delay/encore presentation
**Streaming on OlympicChannel.com and the Olympic Channel app  

ABOUT OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA

Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is a partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and NBCUniversal. The TV network offers fans year-round programming of Olympic Sports from around the world, highlighting their favorite American athletes and teams. Programming emphasizes live events from a broad portfolio of summer and winter Olympic Sports. It also includes Olympic-themed original content produced by all three parties, such as original programs produced by filmmakers from around the world commissioned by the global Olympic Channel; rich archival footage from the IOC and NBCU’s libraries of Olympic features and documentaries; and original Team USA programming produced by the USOC that provides authentic, wide-ranging and athlete-focused coverage of the Olympic Movement in the United States. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is live streamed on OlympicChannel.com, the Olympic Channel app, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. Select replays and highlights are available on these digital platforms as well as TeamUSA.org.

–OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA–