FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 18th, 2016

USAIN BOLT’S QUEST FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE 200-METER OLYMPIC TITLE & EIGHTH OVERALL GOLD MEDAL HIGHLIGHTS THURSDAY’S PRIMETIME COVERAGE AT 8 P.M. ET/PT

Bolt to Run in What is Expected to Be His Final Individual Olympic Race in Primetime Thursday on NBC

American Ashton Eaton Seeks Second Gold in Decathlon during Thursday’s Primetime Coverage

Team USA Women’s Basketball Continues Quest for Sixth Consecutive Gold Medal in Semifinal Game vs. France at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN

U.S. Women’s Volleyball Team Faces Serbia in Semifinals Thursday at Noon ET/PT on NBC

All Events Live Streamed on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app

Most Up-To-Date Olympic TV Listings on NBCOlympics.com

 

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 18, 2016 – NBC’s primetime coverage of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad continues tomorrow, Thursday, August 18, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and features defending two-time champion Usain Bolt and American LaShawn Merritt, who won a bronze medal last Sunday in the 400m, in the men’s 200m gold medal final. Coverage includes the conclusion of the decathlon as American Ashton Eaton seeks to become only the third man ever to win consecutive gold medals in the decathlon.

Primetime coverage on NBC also features platform diving finals, as Jessica Parratto and Katrina Young compete to win the first American medal in women’s individual platform since current NBC Olympics diving analyst Laura Wilkinson in 2000. In addition, NBC presents the men’s beach volleyball final, as Italy’s Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo battle Brazil’s Alison and Bruno for the gold in late night coverage.

Canoe/kayak sprint gold medal finals highlights NBC’s daytime coverage at 11:15 a.m. ET/PT, followed by a women’s volleyball semifinal as the U.S. takes on Serbia at Noon ET/PT, and women’s platform diving at 2 p.m. ET/PT. NBC presents KAROLYI, a special about Bela and Martha Karolyi that culminates with a conversation with Bob Costas at 3:30 p.m. ET/PT.

NBCSN’s coverage on Thursday begins at 8 a.m. ET with canoe/kayak sprint gold medal finals, followed by the gold medal final in the men’s 400m hurdles as 2008 silver medalist Kerron Clement contends for a spot on the podium after posting the fastest time in Tuesday’s semifinals.

Coverage on NBCSN continues with the men’s field hockey as the Netherlands takes on Germany for the bronze medal at 1:15 p.m. ET, immediately followed by a women’s basketball semifinal matchup between Spain and Serbia at 2 p.m. ET. Defending two-time world champion Adeline Gray seeks to give the U.S. its first gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Thursday’s coverage on NBCSN continues as the U.S. women’s basketball team faces France at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the men’s light heavyweight boxing gold medal finals and the men’s beach volleyball bronze medal match between Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen of the Netherlands and Konstantin Semenov and Vyacheslav Krasilnikov of Russia at 8 p.m. ET.

MSNBC hosts women’s badminton doubles gold medal final at 2 p.m. ET, while USA Network presents coverage of the men’s triathlon and women’s badminton singles semifinals at 10 a.m. ET. The men’s field hockey gold medal final between Belgium and Argentina highlights coverage on CNBC at 6 p.m. ET.

Thursday’s Telemundo coverage begins at 10:30 a.m. ET with synchronized swimming and track and field. NBC UNIVERSO presents coverage of the second women’s volleyball semifinal match at 4 p.m. ET, followed by boxing.

 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19

 

NBC’s primetime coverage on Friday, August 19, begins at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and features what could be seven-time gold medalist Usain Bolt’s last career Olympic race, as he anchors Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team against Justin Gatlin and the U.S. The women’s 4x100m relay will feature two-time Rio medalist Tori Bowie — and likely Allyson Felix — as the Americans look for their second consecutive Olympic title in an event that figures to be another U.S.-Jamaica showdown. Track and Field coverage also includes the women’s pole vault, the men’s hammer throw and the Women’s 5000m.

American David Boudia highlights primetime coverage of qualifying in men’s platform diving on Friday. Boudia aims to become the first back-to-back men’s platform diving gold medalist since American Greg Louganis repeated in 1988.

Daytime coverage on NBC begins at 10 a.m. ET/PT with equestrian individual jumping gold medal final rounds, followed by team synchronized swimming gold medal finals. Coverage continues with a men’s volleyball semifinal matchup at 12:10 p.m.ET/PT, followed by gold medal finals in BMX cycling and women’s water polo at 2 p.m. ET/PT.

The women’s soccer gold medal match highlights Friday’s NBCSN coverage at 4:30 p.m. ET. NBCSN’s coverage begins at 7 a.m. ET with the men’s 50k walk, and continues with semifinal matchups in men’s basketball at 2:15 p.m. ET and men’s handball at 7:30 p.m. ET. Friday’s coverage concludes with gold medal finals in women’s boxing and taekwondo at 11:15 p.m. ET.

MSNBC kicks off coverage with the women’s badminton singles gold medal match at 11 a.m. ET, followed by the women’s soccer bronze medal match at Noon ET. Coverage wraps with women’s field hockey as Netherlands takes on Great Britain for the gold at 4 p.m. ET.

USA Network presents bronze medal matches in women’s water polo at 10:20 a.m. ET, followed by women’s field hockey at 11:30 a.m. ET. CNBC hosts coverage of men’s freestyle wrestling gold medal finals at 5 p.m. ET, immediately followed by a men’s basketball semifinal matchup at 6 p.m. ET.

Friday, Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO simulcast live coverage of the women’s soccer gold medal match as Sweden faces Germany at 4 p.m. ET.

Powered by Playmaker Media, NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app will live stream 4,500 total hours of coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games – including all Olympic competition for the third consecutive Olympics – for authenticated pay TV subscribers via TV Everywhere to desktops, mobile devices, and tablets, plus connected TVs for the first biggest time.

 

For more information on live streaming, please go to: NBCOlympics.com/Live-Stream-Schedule

 

For the full schedule of NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage, please go to: NBCOlympics.com

 

For press information, bios, photos and releases, please go to: NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

 

Listings subject to change, any changes are italicized below.

 

For NBC daytime, primetime and late night during the 2016 Rio Games, all times listed are ET/PT unless otherwise noted. For NBCSN, Golf Channel, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, USA, Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO all times listed are ET.

 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18 (DAY 13)

 

NBC

10 a.m. – Noon

Track & Field – Qualifying Rounds (LIVE)
Men’s 400m Hurdles – Gold Medal Final
Canoe/Kayak – Sprint Gold Medal Finals

 

Noon – 2 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball –U.S. vs. Serbia (LIVE)

 

2 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Women’s Diving – Platform Semifinal

Men’s Cycling – BMX Quarterfinals

 

3:15 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Men’s Water Polo – Semifinal (LIVE)

Synchronized Swimming – Team Qualifying

Karolyi

 

8 p.m. – Midnight

Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)
Men’s Shot Put
Women’s Javelin
Men’s 1500m Decathlon
Women’s 400m Hurdles
Men’s 200m
Women’s Diving – Platform Gold Medal Final

Women’s Volleyball –U.S. vs. Serbia Encore

 

12:35 a.m. – 1:35 a.m.

Men’s Beach Volleyball Gold Medal Final – Nicolai/Lupo (Italy) vs. Alison/Bruno (Brazil)

 

1:35 a.m. – 4:30 a.m.

Primetime Encore

 

NBCSN

2 a.m. – 6 a.m.

NBCSN Primetime Encore

 

6 a.m. – 7 a.m.

NBC Late Night Encore

 

8 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.

Canoe/Kayak – Sprint Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)

Track & Field – Qualifying Rounds (LIVE)
Men’s 400m Hurdles – Gold Medal Final

 

11:20 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Men’s Water Polo – Montenegro vs. Croatia (LIVE)

Women’s Wrestling – Freestyle Qualifying

Men’s Field Hockey Bronze Medal – Netherlands vs. Germany

 

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Women’s Basketball – Spain vs. Serbia (LIVE)

 

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Women’s Wrestling – Freestyle Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)

 

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Women’s Basketball – U.S. vs. France (LIVE)

 

8 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Men’s Boxing – Light Heavy Gold Medal Final

Men’s Beach Volleyball Bronze Medal – Brouwer/Meeuwsen (Netherlands) vs. Krasilnikov/Semenov (Russia) (LIVE)

 

10 p.m. – Midnight

Women’s Volleyball – China vs. Netherlands (LIVE)

Taekwondo – Gold Medal Finals

 

MSNBC

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Sailing – Gold Medal Finals

Women’s Badminton – Doubles Gold Medal Final

Women’s Handball – Netherlands vs. France (LIVE)

 

USA

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Men’s Triathlon (LIVE)

Women’s Badminton – Singles Semifinals

Women’s Badminton – Doubles Gold Medal Final

 

CNBC

5 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

Men’s Water Polo – Italy vs. Serbia

Taekwondo – Quarterfinals and Semifinals

Modern Pentathlon – Fencing

 

6:15 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Men’s Field Hockey Gold Medal Final – Belgium vs. Argentina

Sailing – Gold Medal Finals

 

GOLF CHANNEL

5 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.

Golf Central Live From the Olympics

 

6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.

Women’s Golf – 2nd Round (LIVE)

 

9 a.m. – Noon

Women’s Golf – 2nd Round (LIVE)

 

Noon – 3 p.m.

Women’s Golf – 2nd Round (LIVE)

 

3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Golf Central Live From the Olympics

 

11 p.m. – 4 a.m.

Women’s Golf – 2nd Round Encore

 

BASKETBALL SPECIALTY CHANNEL

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Women’s Basketball – Spain vs. Serbia (LIVE)

 

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Women’s Basketball – Spain vs. Serbia Encore

 

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Women’s Basketball – U.S. vs. France (LIVE)

 

8 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Women’s Basketball – U.S. vs. France Encore

 

10 p.m. – Midnight

Women’s Basketball – Spain vs. Serbia Encore

 

Midnight – 2 a.m.

Women’s Basketball – U.S. vs. France Encore

 

TELEMUNDO

3 a.m. – 5 a.m.

Late Night Encore

 

10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

News Recap

Synchronized Swimming

Athletics

 

1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Women’s Beach Volleyball – Gold Medal Final Encore

Athletics

 

Midnight – 2 a.m.

Late Night Recap Show

 

NBC UNIVERSO

6 a.m. – 8 a.m.

Late Night Encore

 

4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball – Semifinal

Boxing

 

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Primetime):

  • Track & Field – Finals coverage is highlighted by the men’s 200m, featuring defending two-time champion Usain Bolt and American LaShawn Merritt, who won a bronze medal last Sunday in the 400m. Oregon native and Rio favorite Ashton Eaton attempts to become only the third man to win two gold medals in the decathlon, and reigning world champion Joe Kovacs of the U.S. headlines the field in the men’s shot put final.
  • Diving – Jessica Parratto and Katrina Young compete to win the first American medal in women’s individual platform since current NBC Olympics diving analyst Laura Wilkinson in 2000.

 

 

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Daytime):

  • Track & Field – Live coverage of track and field spotlights the men’s 400m hurdles final, with 2008 Olympic silver medalist Kerron Clement looking to continue Team USA’s winning tradition in the event.
  • Women’s Volleyball – The United States, silver medalists at the past two Olympics, faces Serbia in a semifinal matchup. The U.S. defeated Serbia three sets to one in pool play.
  • Diving – Americans Jessica Parratto and Katrina Young, each a first-time Olympian, compete in the semifinal round of women’s platform diving.
  • Cycling – Quarterfinal-round racing in men’s BMX, where Connor Fields of the U.S. continues his push to the podium after a seventh-place finish in London.

 

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Late Night):

  • Beach Volleyball – Italy’s Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo battle Brazil’s Alison and Bruno in the gold medal match.

NBCSN HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Track & Field – Live coverage of track and field includes continuation of the decathlon, where Team USA’s Ashton Eaton seeks to defend his title as “world’s greatest athlete,” plus Olympic silver medalist Kerron Clement (2008) in the 400m hurdles.
  • Women’s Basketball – The United States continues its quest for a sixth-consecutive gold medal in a semifinal matchup against France.
  • Wrestling – The United States has yet to win an Olympic gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling, which debuted at the 2004 Athens Games. Two-time reigning world champion Adeline Gray (75kg), along with Helen Maroulis (53kg) and Elena Pirozhkova (63kg), could end the drought in Rio.

 

USA HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Triathlon – British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, who took gold and bronze in London, respectively, are again among the contenders in the men’s triathlon, set among some of Rio’s most scenic locations (live).

 

GOLF CHANNEL HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Golf – Live 2nd-round coverage of the women’s Olympic golf competition.

 

TELEMUNDO HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Synchronized Swimming – Coverage includes the technical routine phase of the women’s team event, in which Russia looks for its fifth consecutive gold medal, and Spain has hopes to medal for the third straight Games.

 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19 (DAY 14)

 

NBC

10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Equestrian – Individual Jumping Gold Medal Final, Round 1 (LIVE)

Canoe/Kayak – Sprint Semifinals

Synchronized Swimming – Team Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

 

12:10 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball – Semifinal (LIVE)

 

2 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Cycling – BMX Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)

Women’s Water Polo Gold Medal Final – U.S. vs. Italy (LIVE)

 

3:45 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Equestrian – Individual Jumping Gold Medal Final, Round 2

Rhythmic Gymnastics – Individual Qualifying (LIVE)

 

8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)
Women’s Pole Vault
Men’s Hammer
Women’s 5000m
Women’s 4x100m Relay
Men’s 4x100m Relay
Men’s Diving – Platform Qualifying

 

11:35 p.m. – 12:35 a.m.

Canoe/Kayak – Sprint Semifinals

 

12:35 a.m. – 3 a.m.

Primetime Encore

 

NBCSN

2 a.m. – 6 a.m.

Primetime Encore

 

6 a.m. – 7 a.m.

NBC Late Night Encore

 

7 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Men’s Track & Field – 50k Walk Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

 

11 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Men’s Wrestling – Freestyle Qualifying (LIVE)

Taekwondo – Qualifying

Rhythmic Gymnastics – Individual Qualifying

 

2:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball – Semifinal (LIVE)

 

4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Gold Medal Final – Sweden vs. Germany (LIVE)

 

7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Men’s Handball – Semifinal (LIVE)

 

9 p.m. – Midnight

Men’s Volleyball – Semifinal (LIVE)

Women’s Modern Pentathlon

Women’s Boxing – Semifinal and Gold Medal Final

Taekwondo – Gold Medal Finals

 

MSNBC

11 a.m. – Noon

Women’s Badminton – Singles Gold Medal Final

 

Noon – 2 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Bronze Medal – Brazil vs. Canada (LIVE)

 

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Women’s Track & Field – 20K Walk Gold Medal Final

Women’s Modern Pentathlon

Men’s Handball – Semifinal (LIVE)

 

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Women’s Field Hockey Gold Medal Final – Netherlands vs. Great Britain (LIVE)

 

USA

9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Men’s Badminton – Singles Semifinal

Women’s Water Polo Bronze Medal – Russia vs. Hungary (LIVE)

 

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Women’s Field Hockey Bronze Medal – Germany vs. New Zealand (LIVE)

Men’s Badminton – Singles Semifinal

 

CNBC

5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Men’s Wrestling – Freestyle Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)

 

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Men’s Basketball – Semifinal (LIVE)

 

GOLF CHANNEL

5 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.

Golf Central Live From the Olympics

 

6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.

Women’s Golf – 3rd Round (LIVE)

 

9 a.m. – Noon

Women’s Golf – 3rd Round (LIVE)

 

Noon – 3 p.m.

Women’s Golf – 3rd Round (LIVE)

 

3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Golf Central Live From the Olympics

 

11 p.m. – 4 a.m.

Women’s Golf – 3rd Round Encore

 

BASKETBALL SPECIALTY CHANNEL

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball – Semifinal #1 (LIVE)

 

4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Men’s Basketball – Semifinal #1 Encore

 

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Men’s Basketball – Semifinal #2 (LIVE)

 

8 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Men’s Basketball – Semifinal #2 Encore

 

10 p.m. – Midnight

Men’s Basketball – Semifinal #1 Encore

 

Midnight – 2 a.m.

Men’s Basketball – Semifinal #2 Encore

 

SOCCER SPECIALTY CHANNEL

Noon – 2 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Bronze Medal – Brazil vs. Canada (LIVE)

 

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Bronze Medal – Brazil vs. Canada Encore

 

4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Gold Medal Final –Sweden vs. Germany (LIVE)

Women’s Soccer Medal Ceremony (LIVE)

 

7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Gold Medal Final –Sweden vs. Germany Encore

Women’s Soccer Medal Ceremony Encore

 

9:30 p.m. – Midnight

Women’s Soccer Gold Medal Final –Sweden vs. Germany Encore

Women’s Soccer Medal Ceremony Encore

 

TELEMUNDO

3 a.m. – 5 a.m.

Late Night Encore

 

10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

News Recap

Synchronized Swimming

Athletics

Men’s Beach Volleyball – Gold Medal Final Encore

 

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Men’s Beach Volleyball – Gold Medal Final Encore

Boxing

Rhythmic Gymnastics

 

4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Women’ Soccer Gold Medal Final – Sweden vs. Germany (LIVE)

Women’s Soccer Medal Ceremony

 

Midnight – 2 a.m.

Late Night Recap Show

 

NBC UNIVERSO

6 a.m. – 8 a.m.

Late Night Encore

 

4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Gold Medal Final – Sweden vs. Germany (LIVE)

Women’s Soccer Medal Ceremony

 

7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Men’s Basketball – Semifinal (LIVE)

 

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Primetime):

  • Track & Field – In what is expected to be the last race of Usain Bolt‘s legendary Olympic career, the world’s fastest man anchors Jamaica against Justin Gatlin and Team USA in the men’s 4x100m relay final. The women’s 4x100m relay will feature two-time Rio medalist Tori Bowie. — and likely Allyson Felix — as the Americans look for their second consecutive Olympic title in an event that figures to be another U.S.-Jamaica showdown. Other live track and field finals include reigning Olympic champ Jenn Suhr of the U.S. headlining a deep field in the women’s pole vault.
  • Diving – Qualifying-round dives in the men’s 10m platform event, with American David Boudia seeking to become the first repeat winner of the event since compatriot Greg Louganis (1984, 1988).

 

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Daytime):

  • Equestrian – Competitors compete in the final rounds in equestrian’s individual show jumping event.
  • Cycling – Contenders in men’s BMX include American Connor Fields, who pedals for the Olympic medal he expected to earn four years ago in London before crashing in the final and placing 7th.
  • Rhythmic Gymnastics – The all-around competition in rhythmic gymnastics begins, with 16-year-old Laura Zeng representing the U.S. in a field headlined by fellow Muscovites and good friends Yana Kudryavtseva and Margarita Mamun, one of whom should give Russia a fifth consecutive Olympic gold in the event.

 

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Late Night):

  • Canoe/Kayak – Coverage includes semifinal races in flatwater canoe/kayak.

 

NBCSN HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Track & Field – Live coverage of the men’s 50km race walk; John Nunn, 12 years after contesting the 20km race walk at the Athens Games, represents Team USA in Rio.
  • Wrestling – Live wrestling coverage includes Team USA’s Jordan Burroughs beginning defense of his men’s 74kg gold medal.
  • Taekwondo – The U.S. could have presence in taekwondo finals in the women’s 67kg (Jackie Galloway, who won bronze at the 2015 World Championships in a different weight class) and men’s 80kg (two-time Olympic champion Steven Lopez) weight classes.

 

MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Badminton – Coverage includes the women’s singles final, where Spain’s Carolina Marin, who once aspired to be a flamenco dancer, could snap China’s run of four consecutive gold medals.
  • Modern Pentathlon – Early-phase coverage of the women’s modern pentathlon features Arkansas sisters Margaux and Isabella Isaksen. Margaux looks to improve on her fourth-place finish in London.

 

USA HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Field Hockey – Live coverage of the women’s field hockey bronze medal match.

 

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Wrestling – With only two losses in his international career, Jordan Burroughs is Team USA’s top medal contender in wrestling and seeks a second Olympic gold in the men’s freestyle 74kg weight class.

 

GOLF CHANNEL HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Golf – The women’s Olympic golf competition continues with third-round action. The Olympic format – 72-hole stroke play – does not include a cutline after the second round.

 

TELEMUNDO HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Soccer – Live coverage (including pre-game) of the women’s soccer gold medal final from Maracana Stadium.

 

NBC UNIVERSO HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Soccer – Live coverage (including pre-game) of the women’s soccer gold medal final from Maracana Stadium.

 

-RIO 2016-