Broadcaster’s Hot Mic Moment Steals the Show in Snowboard Big Air

Some moments at the Olympics are meant to be celebrated on the podium. Others go viral because a commentator forgot a mic was live. That’s exactly what happened during the men’s snowboarding big air final at Milan-Cortina 2026.

NBC’s Todd Richards, a former pro snowboarder, was heard muttering mid-broadcast: “That was boring. That was so boring. The qualifier was way more exciting.” The comment hit the internet like a snowball avalanche.

The final itself was anything but dull. Japan’s Kira Kimura soared to gold with jaw-dropping tricks, Ryoma Kimata took silver, and China’s Su Yiming claimed bronze.

American teenager Ollie Martin landed just outside the podium in fourth. Fans were cheering, cameras were flashing, but somewhere in the commentary booth, honesty got the better of Richards.

The Clip Spread Like Wildfire

Within minutes, clips were everywhere. Some laughed at the raw candidness; others winced at the thought of insulting Olympic athletes on the world stage.

Richards later clarified on Instagram that he was talking about the pace of the final, not the athletes themselves. He made a point of praising every competitor, calling their routines “insane” and technically brilliant. Still, the moment sparked debate about the fine line between live commentary and casual off-the-cuff honesty.

Live broadcasting is ruthless. One second, a commentator thinks they’re off-air, muttering to themselves; the next, the entire world is watching and replaying every word. And honestly, that’s part of what makes it so fun.

Beneath all the glossy production and carefully scripted coverage, moments like this give us a peek at someone just thinking out loud – raw, unfiltered, and very human.