NBC Sports
NBC is bringing more star power to its Olympic promotions -- again pairing a musical artist with one of Team USA's top athletes.
In a promo released Monday, Grammy Award-winner SZA joins seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles at World Champions Center, the gym her family owns in Spring, Texas. SZA shares her history as a gymnast herself, saying she pivoted to music when it became "clear to me I wasn't going to be a national gymnast."
Biles knows quite a bit about that. She qualified for her third Olympic team by winning trials on last night, hardly a shock for the greatest all time in her sport. Biles has 37 Olympic or world medals and, even at this point in her career, is doing gymnastics so difficult that no one can match her skills.
That made an impression on SZA, who has four Grammys. Before a handstand competition with Biles, SZA said, "This is my dream to talk to you. ... I was so hype. You're like my wildest dream.
"I just have never seen anything like you. No one has."
NBC will use the two-minute promo in its coverage and social platforms and plans to release more parts from their conversation later. It previously
released a promotion of sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson and rapper Cardi B meeting and getting their nails done while talking about what it takes for Richardson to be one of the best sprinters in the world.
Richardson qualified to her first Olympics last week and is a likely medalist in the 100 meters. NBC will release more clips from Richardson's conversation with Cardi B, as well.
