FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, August 8th, 2021

TOKYO OLYMPICS – AUGUST 7 PRIMETIME HIGHLIGHTS ON NBC

 “Take a good look at your screen, because you are unlikely to see somebody like this again in your lifetime.” – Ato Boldon on Allyson Felix, who won her U.S. Olympic record 11th track & field medal

“The word ‘legend’ is used pretty loosely – it is so appropriate with Allyson Felix.” – Leigh Diffey on Allyson Felix

“From Atlanta to Sydney to Athens to Beijing to London and Rio, and now Tokyo – the gold standard in women’s basketball belongs to the United States of America.” – Bob Fitzgerald on Team USA women’s basketball team winning gold for the seventh consecutive Olympics

 “I think it’s one of the greatest sports dynasties in world history.” – Kara Lawson on Team USA women’s basketball

Upcoming Highlights: Live NOW on USA Network, the U.S. Women’s Volleyball Team Faces Brazil in Gold Medal Match; NBC Olympics’ Primetime Presentation of the Closing Ceremony for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad  Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 8, 2021 – NBC Olympics continued its primetime coverage of the Tokyo Olympics tonight on NBC. Mike Tirico serves as NBC Olympics primetime host and opened tonight’s coverage on NBC.

Highlights of upcoming coverage include:

    • Live NOW on USA Network, the U.S. women’s volleyball team seeks its first gold medal as they face Brazil in the final (NBC will also present live coverage beginning at 1:30 a.m. ET/10:30 p.m. PT);
    • NBC Olympics’ commentators Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski, and Johnny Weir will host primetime coverage of the Closing Ceremony for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad from Tokyo Olympic Stadium Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC. Lewis Johnson will serve as a reporter for the Closing Ceremony; Live coverage of the Closing Ceremony will be available Sunday at 7 a.m. ET/4 a.m. PT on the NBC Sports app and NBCOlympics.com.

 

Following are highlights from tonight’s primetime coverage of the Tokyo Olympics on the networks of NBCUniversal:

WOMMEN’S BASKETBALL – NBC

Bob Fitzgerald on Team USA winning gold for the seventh consecutive Olympics: “From Atlanta to Sydney to Athens to Beijing to London and Rio, and now Tokyo – the gold standard in women’s basketball belongs to the United States of America.”

Kara Lawson on Team USA’s win over Japan: “The pressure to win on this team is as intense as it gets because the expectation is not only that you win, but that you win in this dominant fashion. And so, for them to be able to do that every single time is remarkable.”

Fitzgerald to Lawson on Team USA’s recent dominance in women’s basketball: “For the United States women, you want to talk about decades of dominance…You say it’s the toughest team to make in all of sports. They feel the pressure, but they also embrace the excellence, and I don’t think anyone wants this streak ever to end.”

Lawson: “You look at the dominance on display, and you’re in the middle of what is an incredible run by the U.S. women. This is the best bang for your buck in terms of dominance, in terms of a dynasty, and in terms of excellence – it’s the U.S. women’s basketball team…They continue to blow me away. I think it’s one of the greatest sports dynasties in world history.”

Kara Lawson on Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird: “This group, it’s very often we’re reflective and we look back after an event and say, ‘Oh, that was history.’ We can tell you before this event, you’re going to see history either way, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, mainstays on this U.S. roster – they’re about excellence, they’re about winning.”

Sue Bird to Corey Robinson on winning five gold medals: “Not just this group – of course this group right now, but really all the teammates that we had throughout the years. Even the ’96 team – even though we didn’t play with them, same with the 2000 team – when you’re a part of USA Basketball, you’re all a family, you’re all teammates. I think this one, it’s seven in a row. It’s not just about us, it’s about all the players that have either set the stage or those that are on it right now.”

Diana Taurasi to Robinson: “See you in Paris!”

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TRACK & FIELD – NBC

Ato Boldon on Allyson Felix after Team USA wins gold in women’s 4x400m relay: “Take a good look at your screen, because you are unlikely to see somebody like this again in your lifetime. Allyson Felix was a prodigy who was great in high school, skipped college to turn pro, and has been producing year after year. If this is her final Olympics, and she has said that it is, then that’s the way you want to go out – with the gold.”

Sanya Richards-Ross on Team USA after their women’s 4x400m win: “The 4×400 is in great hands with Athing Mu and Sydney McLaughlin…Team USA was dominant in this run.”

Leigh Diffey on Felix: “The word ‘legend’ is used pretty loosely – it is so appropriate with Allyson Felix. What a career and what an inspiration.”

Boldon on Felix: “Allyson Felix has earned the right to end her Olympic career in this way. She’s teaming with three women who have run extremely well at these Games, including two American prodigies just like she used to be.”

Diffey on Team USA winning gold in the men’s 4x400m relay: “As the old adage says, save the best for last. The U.S. men do not have a gold medal on track in these Tokyo 2020 Games – they do now!”

Richards-Ross on the Team USA’s men 4x100m relay: “Redemption for Team USA! They leave Tokyo with a big win here tonight.”

Diffey on Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge pulling away in the men’s marathon to win gold: “What’s happening is a marathon masterclass…He was with the pack for the majority of this race and then said, ‘Guys, see you later. I’m checking out. I’m en route to another gold medal.’”

Kara Goucher on Kipchoge winning back-to-back men’s marathon gold medals: “A lot of us already felt he was (the best ever), but this cements it. He is just a champion for people. He says running is about inspiring others and encouraging people to believe that nothing is impossible…and that humans are not limited. He just proves it every time he goes out there and performs like this and inspires us.”

***

DIVING – NBC

Ted Robinson on China’s Cao Yuan and Yang Jian winning gold and silver in the men’s 10m platform: “Just another chapter in China’s unceasing diving dynasty.”

Cynthia Potter on Great Britain’s Tom Daley winning bronze in the men’s 10m platform: “He stepped it up. It’s the right time, and Tom Daley has all kinds of experience…He’s not only a competitor, he’s a performer.”

HANDBALL – NBC

Mike Tirico on handball: “Do you know this sport? This sport is so cool. I love watching this. Look, America, this is one of five sports in the Summer Games that the U.S. has never won an Olympic medal…this is like gym class, athletes, basketball players…America can get good at this sport. Atlanta in 1996 was the last time the U.S. competed in team handball at the Olympics on the men’s side. It’s likely in the Games when the U.S. hosts in 2028. There’s got to be a way America can get good at that sport, right?”

ABOUT NBC OLYMPICS

A division of NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympic Games. NBC Olympics is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history. NBCUniversal owns the U.S. media rights on all platforms to all Olympic Games through 2032. NBC Olympics also produces thousands of hours of Olympic sports programming throughout the year, which is presented on NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms.

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