(WCMH) – The 2022 Winter Olympics begin Feb. 3 and NBC looks back on some of America’s most iconic athlete moments as well as the voices of the announcers who broadcast those historic victories.
The spot begins with a clip from the 1980 Olympics men’s ice hockey tournament held in Lake Placid, where the Soviet Union was heavily favored to win. In a dramatic upset, the United States defeated the Soviets 4–3 in a game that became known as “Miracle on Ice”. In the closing seconds of the game, legendary NBC announcer Al Michaels makes his famous plea: “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”
Figure skater Sarah Hughes’ gold medal moment in 2002 in Salt Lake City is the second competition to be highlighted in the promotion. As the 16-year-old completes her routine, announcer Tony Hammond triumphantly proclaims, “Sarah Hughes just knocked the house down!”
Hughes’ victory came from behind after clinching fourth place after his short program. After a clean and emotional free skate, Hughes took the top step of the podium ahead of familiar names Michelle Kwan, who won bronze, and Sasha Cohen, who placed fourth overall. Russian Irina Slutskaya won silver.
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(L to R) U.S. gold medalist Sarah Hughes waves to the podium after the women’s figure skating event at the Olympic Ice Center, February 21, 2002, during the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. The silver medalist is Russian Irina Slutskaya, American favorite Michelle Kwan fell during her program and took the bronze. AFP PHOTO JACQUES DEMARTHON (Photo by JACQUES DEMARTHON / AFP) (Photo by JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP via Getty Images) -
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(L to R) U.S. gold medalist Sarah Hughes listens to the national anthem on the podium after the women’s figure skating event at the Olympic Ice Center, February 21, 2002, during the XIX Olympic Winter Games of Salt Lake City. The silver medalist is Russian Irina Slutskaya, American favorite Michelle Kwan fell during her program and took the bronze. AFP PHOTO JACQUES DEMARTHON (Photo by JACQUES DEMARTHON / AFP) (Photo by JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP via Getty Images) -
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Anton Apolo Ohno (L) of the United States leads the field as Arian Nachbar (C) of Germany and Cees Juffermans of the Netherlands chase after the men’s 500m quarter-finals in the qualifying competition 2002 Olympic short track speed skating at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 26, 2001. Ohno finished first in that race but failed to advance past the semifinals. Salt Lake City will host the 2002 Winter Olympics. AFP PHOTO/George FREY (Photo by GEORGE FREY / AFP) (Photo credit should read GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images) -
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Anton Apolo Ohno of the US skates to a first place finish in the men’s 1500m final at the 2002 Olympic short track speed skating qualifying competition at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah October 25, 2001. Salt Lake City will host the 2002 Winter Olympics. AFP PHOTO/George FREY (Photo by GEORGE FREY / AFP) (Photo credit should read GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images) -
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American skier Lindsay Vonn takes a picture backstage as she waits before parading during the Closing Ceremony at BC Place in Vancouver on the last day of the 2010 Winter Olympics February 28, 2010. AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BUREAU (Photo credit should read MARTIN BUREAU/AFP via Getty Images) -
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PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 17: Jessica Diggins of the United States competes in the Women’s 4x5km Relay on Day 8 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics at Alpensia Cross Country Center on February 17, 2018 in Pyeongchang- gun, South Korea. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) -
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PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 17: Jessica Diggins of the United States competes in the Women’s 4x5km Relay on Day 8 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics at Alpensia Cross Country Center on February 17, 2018 in Pyeongchang- gun, South Korea. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) -
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TOPSHOT – American Mikaela Shiffrin competes in the Women’s Combined Downhill at Jeongseon Alpine Center during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on February 22, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/ AFP via Getty Images) -
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PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 22: Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States competes in the Women’s Alpine Combined on Day 13 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics at Yongpyong Alpine Center on February 22, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea South. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) -
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TOPSHOT – American Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates on the podium during the women’s alpine combined slalom victory ceremony at the Jeongseon Alpine Center during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on February 22, 2018. (Photo by Martin BERNETTI / AFP ) (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images) -
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PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 22: Silver medalist Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States celebrates on the podium during the Women’s Alpine Combined on Day 13 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Yongpyong Alpine Center on February 22 February 2018 in Pyeongchang -gun, South Korea. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) -
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PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 22: Silver medalist Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States celebrates on the podium during the Women’s Alpine Combined on Day 13 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Yongpyong Alpine Center on February 22 February 2018 in Pyeongchang -gun, South Korea. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) -
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PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 14: Gold medalist Shaun White of the United States celebrates during the Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe Final on day five of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics at Phoenix Snow Park on February 14, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) -
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PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 14: Shaun White of USA takes 1st place during Snowboard Men’s Halfpipe Final at Pheonix Snow Park on February 14, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea . (Photo by Laurent Salino/Zoom Agency/Getty Images) -
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PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 14: Gold medalist Shaun White of the United States shows his emotion during the victory ceremony of the snowboard men’s halfpipe final on day five of the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang Winter 2018 at Phoenix Snow Park on February 14, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) -
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U.S. gold medalist Shaun White poses on the podium during the Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe Medal Ceremony at Pyeongchang Medals Plaza during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on February 14, 2018 . / AFP PHOTO / Martin BUREAU (Photo credit should read MARTIN BUREAU/AFP via Getty Images) -
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PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 14: Gold medalist Shaun White of the United States poses during the medal ceremony for the snowboard men’s halfpipe final on day five of the Olympic Games in 2018 PyeongChang Winter at Medal Plaza on February 14, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
The spot continues to step forward in Olympic history with a clip of speed skater Apolo Ohno cruising to the finish line at the 2006 Games in Turin, as an announcer declared: “And that’s gold for Ohno!”
Ohno’s segment is followed by a clip of alpine skier Lindsey Vonn racing down a hill in victory at the 2010 games, with the announcer’s celebratory words, “Lindsey Vonn leading!”
Vonn became the first American to win an Olympic downhill gold medal that year in Vancouver.
Next up is cross-country skier Jessie Diggins, who came from outside to win at PyeongChang in 2018. In a hoarse screech, an announcer shouts, “Here comes Diggins! followed by “Oh, what a moment!”
Along with teammate Kikkan Randall, Diggins won the first Olympic gold medal for the United States in cross-country skiing in the women’s team sprint in 2018.
Then, Diggins’ victory celebration dissolves to a white screen with the words ‘experience story’, which transitions to alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin’s gold medal in PyeongChang and a second clip of Shiffrin holding up triumphantly an American flag, as Dan Hicks is heard saying, “Gold for Mikaela Shiffrin.”
The last two shots showing an athlete are those of snowboarder Shaun White in PyeongChang. White takes major airs on the halfpipe, then in another shot, raises his board and cheers for gold as the announcer, using dramatic pauses, declares, “Shaun White takes gold! “
