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    Recognize that voice? NJ commentators have starring roles on 2024 Olympics TV coverage

    By Jane Havsy, Morristown Daily Record,

    1 day ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1B9CQF_0ugPcDBh00

    There's much more to the 2024 Olympics than just the Olympians. Dozens of broadcasters are bringing the athletes' feats and personalities to screens large and small.

    NBC has more than 150 commentators across its platforms − some in Paris, many others working from studios in Stamford, Connecticut.

    A few from that long list have connections to the Garden State – including a name or two that might surprise you. Here's a look at the talent with New Jersey connections announcing the Summer Games, which run through Aug. 11.

    Monica Aksamit

    Fencing analyst

    Born in New York City, Aksamit grew up in Matawan. She began her career at the Polish-American Fencing School in Linden. A three-time All-American sabre at Penn State, Aksamit earned team bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio while coaching the fencing club at St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel.

    Kenny Albert

    Water polo play-by-play

    A Closter resident, Albert has broadcast more than 3,000 games in his 30-plus year career. The son of legendary broadcaster Marv Albert, he is the only sportscaster who currently does year-round play-by-play for the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. Kenny Albert once called five different sports in 19 days.

    Jordan Burroughs

    Wrestling analyst

    A wrestler since he was 5 years old, Burroughs won a 2006 NJSIAA title at Winslow Township High School in Camden County, where the gym now bears his name. He was a two-time NCAA champion and three-time All-American for Nebraska. A four-time world champion, Burroughs won Olympic gold in London in 2012, and also competed in the Rio games in 2016. This is his second Olympics as a wrestling analyst.

    Noah Eagle

    Basketball play by play

    Eagle grew up in Essex Fells, the son of veteran sportscaster Ian Eagle. He will do play-by-play for Team USA men's and women's basketball, as well as medal-round games. A Syracuse alumnus, Noah Eagle handles play-by-play for NBC Sports' Big Ten Saturday Night and Big Ten basketball on Peacock, as well as the Tennis Channel and the NFL on Nickelodeon.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=42TE1l_0ugPcDBh00

    Laurie Hernandez

    Gymnastics analyst

    Raised in Old Bridge, Hernandez was part of the USA Gymnastics' Final Five that won a team gold medal at the 2016 Olympics. She also earned an individual silver on the balance beam. This is her second Olympics as a gymnastics analyst.

    Tim Howard

    Team USA men's soccer analyst

    Howard, a former pro goalkeeper from North Brunswick, is providing commentary on the United States men's soccer team's matches. A NBC Sports Premier League analyst and recent inductee into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame, Howard played nearly 200 Major League Soccer matches with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (1998-2003) and Colorado Rapids (2016-19), around a career with Manchester United and Everton in the English Premier League. Howard made 121 appearances for the U.S. men's national team from 2002-17, including 39 World Cup qualifiers and eight World Cup matches in 2010 and 2014. He is currently minority owner and sporting director for Memphis 901 in the USL Championship.

    Matt Iseman

    Peacock Gold Zone host

    A Princeton University graduate and co-host of "American Ninja Warrior," Iseman is part of Peacock's "Gold Zone," a fast-moving format designed to showcase multiple Olympic events at once, a la "NFL Red Zone." This is Iseman's third Olympics with NBC. A cancer survivor, he is also an internal medicine doctor and comedian in Los Angeles.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Oe1Tt_0ugPcDBh00

    Gary Jobson

    Sailing play-by-play

    Raised in Toms River, Jobson graduated from what is now Toms River South in 1969 and was inducted into the school district's Hall of Fame in 1990. The author of 19 books and editor-at-large of Sailing World and Cruising World magazines, Jobson is currently president of the National Sailing Hall of Fame. Jobson spent 31 years at ESPN, covering nine America's Cup events. This is his second year as an NBC sailing commentator.

    Jason Knapp

    Swimming/Wrestling play by play

    The Medford native is calling swimming preliminary heats and wrestling at his seventh Olympics assignment. Knapp, a Syracuse alumnus, has done play-by-play of college basketball for more than 20 years.

    More Olympics: Our guide to NJ athletes at the 2024 Summer Games

    Phaidra Knight

    Women's rugby reporter

    The reporter for women's rugby, Knight grew up on a farm in Georgia. She played for USA Rugby from 1999 to 2013, appearing in three World Cups. She coached the Princeton University forwards in the 2016 season. The following year, Knight was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

    Chris Lewis

    Table tennis play-by-play

    Lewis is handling table tennis play-by-play for the second Olympics. A native of Magnolia in Camden County who attended Paul VI and Syracuse University, Lewis is an announcer for CBS Sports college football, basketball, baseball and lacrosse.

    Tara Lipinski

    Closing Ceremony/Correspondent

    Born in Philadelphia, Lipinski became a roller skating age-group national champion as a 9-year-old in Sewell. Six years later, she became the youngest-ever individual winner at a Winter Olympics with her figure-skating gold at the 1998 games in Nagano, Japan. Lipinski, who trained at the University of Delaware, also won the 1997 world championships. She and broadcast partners Terry Gannon and Johnny Weir will work at their fourth Closing Ceremony.

    Lindsay Dare Shoop

    Rowing analyst

    Shoop won a gold medal for U.S. Rowing's women's eight at the 2008 Olympics. Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, she competed at UVa for three seasons. In 2004, Shoop relocated to Princeton to train with the national team coaches and was part of the world champion women's eights in 2006, 2007 and 2009. This is her second Olympics calling rowing.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1UtWsp_0ugPcDBh00

    Melissa Stark

    Opening Ceremony/Reporter

    Stark will report from her fourth Olympics. Raised in Baltimore, Stark graduated from the University of Virginia. A longtime contributor to ESPN's "SportsCenter" and "Outside the Lines," she joined NBC in July 2003. She lives in Rumson with her husband, Mike Lilley , and their four kids.

    Kathryn Tappen

    USA Network/Peacock host

    Tappen, 43, is on her sixth Olympics assignment, after hosting on the USA Network in Tokyo. A distance runner and basketball player at Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, she set the Rutgers record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Morristown resident joined NBC Sports in 2014 and is the sideline reporter for primetime Big Ten football.

    Jane Havsy is a storyteller for the Daily Record and DailyRecord.com, part of the USA TODAY Network. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis, subscribe today .

    Want to share your story with me?

    Email: JHavsy@gannett.com

    Twitter/X: @dailyrecordspts

    This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Recognize that voice? NJ commentators have starring roles on 2024 Olympics TV coverage

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