‘Leave Katie Ledecky alone,’ Team USA fans tell Jimmy Fallon after his joke during Olympics closing ceremony interview

TEAM USA fans didn’t appreciate Jimmy Fallon bothering Katie Ledecky and Nick Mead during the Paris Olympics closing ceremony.

The late-night TV host interviewed the US gold medallist together with Mike Tirico as they hoisted the American flag during a parade of nations at Stade de France on Sunday.

Getty

Getty

Getty

During the chat, Fallon , 49, asked Ledecky whether she would swim rather than take a flight back to America after the ceremony.

But the joke didn’t land with Team USA fans, who already didn’t like the fact the NBC stars didn’t let the Olympians savor the moment.

“Why is Jimmy Fallon interviewing Katie Ledecky in the middle of the f**king parade of countries?????” one asked.

“Mike Tirico and Jimmy Fallon should leave Katie Ledecky and Nick alone and let them enjoy this moment,” another wrote.

“Can only imagine Tirico’s eye roll while Fallon was asking Ledecky if she was going to swim home,” a third said.

“Jimmy Fallon bugging Katie Ledecky during the opening ceremony has pissed me off why is he allowed to be involved in things,” one added.

Ledecky , 27, actually couldn’t hear Fallon’s question because of the noise inside the arena, the US swimmer said, making the moment all the more awkward.

The DC native won two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze during the Paris Olympics .

One of the golds came in the 800-meter freestyle, which she has now won at four straight Games.

By doing so, Ledecky joined Michael Phelps as the only swimmer to win the same Olympic event four times in a row.

She also took her career gold medal tally to nine, becoming only the sixth Olympian to reach that number.

Phelps is the only athlete to have won more.

Ledecky received the news she would be the Team USA flag bearer from fellow swimmer Robert Finke.

The Olympic legend was visibly emotional as she answered Finke’s call.

It’s been an honor representing our country here in Paris. I’m so proud to be a part of this team

Katie Ledecky

“You’re making me cry,” she said.

After putting her closing ceremony jacket on, Ledecky continued, “This is a huge honor.

“Can’t wait for the closing ceremony.

“It’s been an honor representing our country here in Paris.

“I’m so proud to be a part of this team.”

Team USA finished the Paris Olympics at the top of the medal table after winning 40 golds, 44 silvers, and 42 bronzes.

'Global sports superpower'

By Sunni Upal, Deputy US Sport Editor

USA needed their women’s basketball stars to deliver a late gold medal Sunday to finish on top in Paris.

While the American team were way ahead on overall medal count, the gold medal table is what counts in most parts of the world, and the US again showed that they are the planet’s sporting superpower.

The games started slowly in terms of gold medals for Team USA.

The swim team needed a late charge to hold off a challenge from Australia in the pool. But their track and field dominance with 14 gold medals at the Stade de France is what carried this team in Paris.

Simone Biles also returned in style with three golds and a silver in gymnastics after her tough time in Tokyo three years ago.

The USWNT also had a redemption after their Women’s World Cup disaster last year, with Mallory Swanson scoring the winning goal in the gold medal game having missed the tournament in 2023 through injury.

But the final word went to USA’s basketball teams – with LeBron James and Co winning a fifth straight men’s gold medal, and Diana Taurasi and team making it eight straight.