Elmo meets Simone Biles, tweets Stephen Nedoroscik as ‘Sesame Street’ Muppets continue Olympics coverage
Elmo is at the Olympics, and he’s meeting lots of athletes, like Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky, and tweeting with “the pommel horse guy.”
Updated Aug. 6, 2024. Originally published Aug. 4, 2024.
‘Sesame’ in Paris: Elmo and friends at the Olympics
Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and even Rocco (he’s just a rock!) have traveled all the way from “Sesame Street” and arrived at the Paris Olympics to report with Snoop Dogg, interview athletes, and learn lots of new words. As you watch the Olympics on NBC or Peacock, you might see the friendly Muppets reporting live or recapping previous events.
The trio’s commentary is certainly different from any other broadcaster’s perspective of the Games. Summarizing the first week, Abby described “the horsey on the water” that appeared during the opening ceremonies while Cookie Monster referred to Team USA divers Cook and Bacon as “two athletes after me own heart.”
In all seriousness, the beloved characters also bring their own sense of positivity and charm to NBC’s coverage. As Elmo remarked during the group’s appearance on the “Today” show, the Olympic Games is where “the whole world works together and plays together. That’s cool.”
Simone Biles, Elmo, and (sigh) Rocco at the Olympics
With 11 medals, Simone Biles is the most decorated Olympic gymnast of all time. Elmo met Biles and mentioned how encouraging it was to see her and fellow gymnast Jordan Chiles support each other during their events.
Much to Elmo’s chagrin, Rocco also tagged along for the big Olympics trip. What’s he gonna do in Paris, anyway?! He’s a ROCK!
‘Sesame Street’ Muppets meet Team USA Olympics athletes
With the help of Olympians Lauren Scruggs and Lee Kiefer, Cookie Monster tried his hand at fencing — using baguettes in place of swords, of course.
Melissa Jefferson from Team USA’s track and field was all smiles with Abby Cadabby following her medal-winning event.
Team USA swimmer Katie Ledecky celebrated her Olympics win with Abby, Elmo, and Cookie Monster, the latter of whom attempted to eat one of Ledecky’s medals.
The “Sesame Street” stars also met Team USA swimmers Carson Foster and Chris Guiliano.
Team USA gymnasts Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles met up with Abby and Elmo for hugs and selfies.
Elmo also got to meet the Team USA rowers Liam Corrigan, Michael Grady, Justin Best, and Nick Mead. The little monster even got to hold their medal; pretty neat for a three-and-a-half-year-old.
When you can’t meet, you tweet: Elmo and Stephen Nedoroscik
The Olympic Games are inspiring, and the athletes’ stories often empower younger generations of future Olympians to pursue their sports dreams. When Elmo heard gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik talk about being a specialist at the pommel horse gymnastics event (earning him the viral nickname “pommel horse guy”), the red monster reached out to Nedoroscik on social media platform X to learn more.
The exchange that followed cannot be described as nothing less than a meeting of the minds:
Disclosure: The social media platform X requires an age minimum of 13 years old. Elmo is three and a half, but his bio states that his account is run “with help from mommy and daddy.”
Elmo shows Olympics-level strength, bravely returns to the ‘Today’ show
After meeting the Team USA Olympics rowing team, Elmo told “Today” anchors — Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker — that he and the rowers sang “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” together.
Among the Sesame residents’ other discoveries in France? Cookie Monster tried Espresso for the first time. “It make me eyes extra googly.”
Elmo should be commended for his bravery in returning to “Today.” When he appeared on the morning talk show earlier this year, Larry David attacked Elmo on live TV, much to the horror of the anchors, as well as Louie, Elmo’s dad.
Cookie Monster meets Snoop Dogg
Cookie Monster and Snoop Dogg surprised Martha Stewart at the Olympics. (What a sentence.)
Snoop Dogg is a regular commentator of various events throughout the Games for NBC, and his buddy Martha Stewart joined him for a few videos. During a segment in which Stewart and Snoop discussed the Games, Cookie Monster entered the frame to wish Stewart a happy birthday and deliver her some macarons (which are made from cookies, after all).
Later, Cookie and Snoop took to social media to share a snack on camera.
Slimey is on his way
Another “Sesame Street” friend is en route to Paris! Slimey — the pet worm belonging to Oscar the Grouch — has packed is bags and is on the way to join his friends at the Olympics.
More Olympics to come
In addition to more ongoing coverage from Elmo at the Olympics, there’s more to come as Paris 2024 continues. The Olympic Games has been keen on integrating entertainment personalities throughout the two-week coverage of athletic events. In addition to the “Sesame Street” friends stopping by NBC platforms and Snoop Dogg reporting live in the field, the opening ceremonies began with Steven Spielberg and concluded with Céline Dion, with the Minions stealing the Mona Lisa in the middle of the show for good measure.
The closing ceremonies — presented live on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock — will toss in some more showmanship as Tom Cruise performs a stunt in two continents and as Jimmy Fallon co-hosts the proceedings with NBC’s primary Olympics host, Mike Tirico, as well as figure-skating commentators Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski, and Johnny Weir.
The real question: Can Elmo, Abby, and Cookie attend every Olympics from now on?
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