Holt’s Interview with Phelps airs Tonight on NBC Nightly News
Also Tonight on NBC Nightly News: Holt Interviews U.S. Track and Field Star Allyson Felix and Bob Costas Profiles Jamaican Sprinter Usain Bolt
Phelps Will Also be Live on TODAY August 15
RIO DE JANEIRO (August 14, 2016) – Michael Phelps tells NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt “this is exactly how I wanted to go out” in Holt’s sit-down interview with the most-decorated Olympic athlete of all time. Holt’s interview with Phelps, who participated in his finale race Saturday, airs tonight on “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.” In the interview, Phelps tells Holt why Rio was his last Olympics, what he told his family this weekend and what’s next for the athlete.
Also tonight on NBC Nightly News: Holt profiles U.S. track and field star Allyson Felix and Bob Costas profiles Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. When asked to explain his popularity in his home country, Bolt says “I’m a big deal (laughs). Everybody loves me … they always compare me to Bob Marley.” An excerpted portion of the interview is included below.
Phelps secured his 23rd career Olympic gold medal, and 28th overall, on Saturday, winning the 4×100 M medley relay with teammates Ryan Murphy, Cody Miller and Nathan Adrian. The Americans broke an Olympic record time of three minutes, 27.95 seconds.
Holt anchors Nightly News from Rio through August 19 from the 2016 Olympic Games. Michael Phelps will also appear live on NBC News’s “TODAY” show tomorrow, Monday, August 15.
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Excerpted Interview Transcript of Bob Costas with Usain Bolt
BOB COSTAS: Explain to an American, being as modest as you can, how big you are in this country.
USAIN BOLT: I’m a big deal (laughs). I wanted to say, but – everybody loves me. For me it’s just one of those things that, they always compare me to Bob Marley and for me to be compared to Bob Marley…
BOB COSTAS: The reggae legend Bob Marley.
USAIN BOLT: Exactly, the reggae legend Bob Marley, for me says it all.
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ABOUT NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH LESTER HOLT
“NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” is America’s most-watched evening newscast, going beyond the day’s headlines to uncover stories of how people’s lives are affected by the world around them. “NBC Nightly News” reaches over 24 million people every week through its broadcast and millions more through NBCNews.com, the “Nightly News” app, and social media platforms. Lester Holt is the anchor and Sam Singal is the executive producer.
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For more information contact:
Jake Urbanski
NBC News
212-664-3211
jake.urbanski@nbcuni.com
