Paris 2024: NBCU to Present Record-Setting U.S. Olympic Team Trials Coverage with ‘Making Team USA’
Story Highlights
The road to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 for the United States’ best and brightest athletes starts here: NBCUniversal will present comprehensive coverage of Making Team USA Presented by Xfinity — the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Trials — this spring and summer. NBCU is presenting over 200 hours of coverage, including more than 35 hours in primetime on NBC in the lead up to the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris, France, which take place July 26-Aug. 11.
Team USA is arguably the hardest Olympic team to make and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Trials are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of the athletes involved, representing the culmination of decades of training and preparation. NBCU’s Making Team USA coverage strives not only to capture the athletic performances at the Trials but to also include athlete-led storytelling and behind-the-scenes content to fully present the experience of qualifying for the Olympics.
“All the drama we love about the Olympics begins with Making Team USA, when our nation’s best athletes vie to make the most competitive team in the world. In some events, it’s harder to qualify for the U.S. team than it is to win a medal at the Olympics themselves,” says Molly Solomon, Executive Producer & President of NBC Olympics Production. “Earning a place on Team USA is a lifelong dream for these athletes and most of them get only one opportunity to do so, which is what makes the competition so fierce and the drama so compelling. But the reward for all the hard work is sweet — once you make Team USA, you’re an Olympian for life.”
“The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Trials offer some of the best competition anywhere in the world – a testament to the excellence and depth of the athlete pool striving to represent Team USA in Paris this summer,” says Rocky Harris, USOPC chief of sport and athlete services. “We are looking forward to the Paris Games – opening just a little more than 100 days from now – but first we join fans around the country in celebrating the awesome effort of athletes giving their all to make Team USA.”
NBCU’s April coverage consists of wrestling, rowing, and canoe/kayaking while June covers swimming, diving, track & field, and gymnastics, including 14 nights in primetime on NBC. Some of the most anticipated stories and athletes for the June events leading into Paris include:
- Swimming: Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky, who could tie or break the all-time record for Olympic gold medals won by a U.S. woman (8); seven-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel, who earned five in Tokyo; 14-time world medalist Kate Douglass; and six-time Olympic medalist Ryan Murphy. Coverage runs from June 15-23 and includes nine nights of primetime coverage on NBC.
- Gymnastics: The most decorated gymnast in history and four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles looks to make her third U.S. Olympic Team in hopes of becoming the first woman to win two Olympic all-around titles since Czechoslovakia’s Věra Čáslavská in 1964 and 1968. Like Ledecky, Biles has the chance to tie or break the all-time record for Olympic gold medals won by a U.S. woman (8). She likely won’t be the only gold medalist on hand in Minneapolis; three-time Tokyo Olympic medalist and defending Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee seeks her second Olympic berth and a chance to match Čáslavská’s feat, and 2012 gold medalist Gabby Douglas looks to make the field in Minneapolis as well. Other top women are Tokyo Olympic floor gold medalist Jade Carey; Tokyo Olympic team silver medalist Jordan Chiles; six-time world medalist Shilese Jones; and four-time world medalist Leanne Wong. The U.S. men feature the most talent in a generation, including individual 2023 World Championship medalists Fred Richard and Khoi Young, and past world medalists and Tokyo Olympians Brody Malone and Yul Moldauer. Live coverage takes place June 27-30 and culminates with the women’s final live in primetime on NBC.
- Track & Field: Six-time world champion Noah Lyles, coming off a 2023 World Championship performance that saw him become the first athlete since Usain Bolt to win the men’s 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay; defending Olympic women’s 400m hurdles champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone; reigning women’s 100m world champion Sha’Carri Richardson, looking to make her Olympic debut; and two-time defending Olympic men’s shot put gold medalist and world record holder Ryan Crouser, aiming to become the first athlete to win three consecutive shot put gold medals. Track & field coverage runs from June 21-24 and June 27-30, featuring eight nights of primetime on NBC.
- Diving: Tokyo Olympic synchronized 10m platform silver medalist Jessica Parratto, aiming for her third Olympic appearance; Tokyo Olympic synchronized 3m springboard silver medalist Andrew Capobianco; and Tokyo Olympian Tyler Downs are all expected to compete. Coverage will take place June 17-23, and includes live coverage of the men’s and women’s springboard and platform finals on NBC.
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As presenting sponsor, Xfinity will partner with NBCUniversal to shine a light on the journeys of these remarkable athletes across its connectivity and entertainment platforms. Xfinity is also rolling out its Xfinity Athlete Connections program, which will provide a “connections credit” to each athlete who qualifies for the 2024 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams to help them remain connected while pursuing their dreams this summer.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 will be nothing short of extraordinary. As a proud partner of Team USA, we’re honored to spotlight the incredible athletes on their path to Making Team USA,” says Matt Lederer, Vice President, Brand Partnerships & Amplification, Xfinity. “And, our Xfinity Athlete Connections program will keep Team USA athletes connected to what matters most during their pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic gold.”
