Former snowboarder makes embarrassing blunder during live coverage
NBC commentator Todd Richards found himself in an awkward situation during the Winter Olympics on Saturday after being caught on a hot microphone dismissing the men’s snowboarding big air finals as “so boring” while broadcasting live on Peacock.
The 56-year-old former professional snowboarder, who was providing commentary from Italy for the Comcast streaming platform, apparently believed the coverage had gone to an advertising break when he made the candid remarks.
This marked the sixth Winter Games at which Richards has served as a broadcaster, making the unintended on-air moment particularly embarrassing for the experienced commentator.
Richards could be heard remarking: “That was boring. That was so boring. Qualifier was way more exciting.”
The final saw Japanese competitors dominate the podium, with Kira Kimura taking gold and compatriot Ryoma Kimata securing silver.
China’s Su Yiming, who had won the event at the previous Games, had to settle for bronze on this occasion.
NBC commentator Todd Richards found himself in an awkward situation during the Winter Olympics on Saturday after being caught on a hot microphone dismissing the men’s snowboarding big air finals as “so boring” while broadcasting live on Peacock
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American teenager Ollie Martin, just 17 years old, narrowly missed out on a medal by finishing fourth.
Despite the unintended nature of his broadcast comments, Richards has maintained that his assessment of the competition was accurate.
Todd Richards was discussing the snowboarding at the Winter Olympics when he made the blunder
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REUTERS
Taking to Instagram with a video message addressing the incident, Richards wrote: “Figured I should address the ‘hot mic’ moment after the event.
“This is nothing I wouldn’t say to a reporter or in public.
“It was my opinion based on what I saw in the qualifier vs the final medal round.”
The broadcaster was also keen to stress that his criticism was directed at the overall spectacle rather than any individual competitor.
The Winter Olympics will run from February 6 to February 22 | GETTY
“Not one word I said had anything to do with a rider in this event. I feel like I shouldn’t have to say that, but I am. They all rule,” he added.
Richards boasts an impressive pedigree in the sport, having competed for Team USA at the 1998 Nagano Games when snowboarding first appeared on the Olympic programme.
Throughout his career, he claimed numerous titles and earned recognition as a trailblazer in the halfpipe discipline, credited with introducing a skateboarding-influenced approach to the event.
The Massachusetts native’s contributions to the sport were formally recognised last September when he was inducted into the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, cementing his status as one of the discipline’s most influential figures before transitioning to his broadcasting career.
