Mike Tirico will be joining Rowdy Gaines as a play-by-play announcer for Wave II of the US Olympic Trials, which begin on Sunday. Tirico will be replacing Dan Hicks, who will miss the trials due to the fact that he is covering the US Open of golf from June 17-20.
Tirico currently works at NBC’s prime time Olympic Host, having covered the 2018 winter Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. In addition, Tirico has worked as the play-by-play announcer for the NFL, NASCAR, and the NHL, covering events such as the Indianapolis 500 and the Stanley Cup Final.
Although he has worked the Olympics before, this will be Tirico’s first endeavor in swimming coverage. He will be joined by longtime announcer Rowdy Gaines, who has covered every Olympic Games since 1996. Gaines also has covered meets such as the World Championships, NCAA Championships and US Nationals.
During Wave I of Olympic Trials, Olympian Elizabeth Beisel and reporter Patrick Kinas covered the meet for NBC. For both announcers, it was their first time covering a major meet for the company.
Gains and Tirico will begin their coverage on Sunday, June 13, with the meet carrying on through Sunday, June 20. Unlike the Wave I competition, the Wave II meet will feature a schedule that includes prelims, semi-finals, and finals, with the top two athletes in each event qualifying for the US Olympic Team.
All prelims sessions will be available to stream on USASwimming.org or via the NBC sports app. Finals will be shown on NBC every night at approximately 8 pm eastern time.
Please have some announcer explain to the viewing public the difference between the crawl and the freestyle choice in swimminf
Who is doing the post race interviews?
Dan Hicks is covering the French Open (tennis), not golf.
Was musing how there could be a less watered down feed available for those who know swimming. Like the local radio playing while you watch your football team (without the bias)
Clearly Rowdy and Elizabeth know swimming, but they talk like we’re dummies. Troy Aikman says “cover 2 shell” or A gap and football folks understand that. Why not swimming?
For years now, the reasoning always seems to be, “ it’s for non-swimming viewers so they can understand the sport.” Well, how’s that working for ya, USA/NCAA Swimming? Competitive Swimming isn’t going to gain fans by kindergarten comprehension level commentating. However, better prepared commentating that stays present in the races might earn the respect of those who love and follow the sport. And, please…. please…. spare us the former Olympians who make guest appearances during the trial heats. Their rambling, memory lane stories are tiresome at best and have no significance to the current event. Focus on the kids in the water… it’s their moment. There’s plenty of time to focus on the stars when they’re racing.
I was hoping for Klete Keller this year. Well…
I was hoping for Howard Stern and Baba Booey
Kinas/Beisel did a fantastic job with Wave 1, especially for first-timers. It was an exciting meet to watch in no small part because of their enthusiasm and banter. They worked really well together.
Rowdy will prep him! I’m sure we he will confirm that someone is moving close to the lane line to draft off the neighboring swimmer (unless s/he is breathing the other direction and forgets….)