Robin Williams and the Olympics (video)

Robin Williams
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Robin Williams ran the 800m in 1:58 and opened his first “Saturday Night Live” monologue by talking about the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics.

Williams, who died Monday at 63, had several ties to the Olympics and Olympic sports.

They began when he attended (Larkspur, Calif.) Redwood High School and ran for the cross-country and track and field teams. Commenters here have discussed Williams’ running exploits.

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On Feb. 11, 1984, Williams hosted “Saturday Night Live” for the first of three times. He opened his monologue with jokes about the Winter Olympics.

Later in the show, Williams dressed as a bobsledder for a sketch.

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In 1996, Williams went on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno on the day after the Atlanta Olympic Closing Ceremony. Other guests included the first men’s Olympic beach volleyball champions, Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes.

source: Getty Images
Getty Images

In 2002, Williams joked about the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics with very not-suitable-for-work language.

Also in 2002, Williams’ double for ice skating in “Death to Smoochy” was two-time Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko.

Later in 2002, Williams was part of San Francisco’s video presentation in a failed attempt to win the U.S. bid for the 2012 Olympics over New York (New York won the bid, and London later won the Games). From The New York Times:

Robin Williams delivered a taped 2012 weather report for San Francisco, describing a map in which San Francisco is “paradise,” and New York is “hot, caliente! I see swimmers crawling for joy in the triathlon, marathoners hardly breaking a sweat on the Golden Gate bridge.

On the Dan Patrick Show last year, Williams was asked what sports movie he would make that hasn’t been made. He immediately told the story of Ethiopian Abebe Bikila, who won the 1960 Rome Olympic marathon barefoot, then successfully defended his gold medal four years later.

Perhaps Williams’ legacy with the Olympics, though, should be a group of videos he narrated in 2000 and 2002, titled “Celebrate Humanity,” which can be found here.

NBC Olympics, Universal Sports announce Youth Olympics coverage

2023 French Open women’s singles draw, bracket

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At the French Open, Iga Swiatek of Poland eyes a third title at Roland Garros and a fourth Grand Slam singles crown overall.

Main draw play began Sunday, live on Peacock.

Swiatek, the No. 1 seed from Poland, can join Serena Williams and Justine Henin as the lone women to win three or more French Opens since 2000.

Turning 22 during the tournament, she can become the youngest woman to win three French Opens since Monica Seles in 1992 and the youngest woman to win four Slams overall since Williams in 2002.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Men’s Draw

But Swiatek is not as dominant as in 2022, when she went 16-0 in the spring clay season during an overall 37-match win streak.

She retired from her most recent match with a right thigh injury last week and said it wasn’t serious. Before that, she lost the final of another clay-court tournament to Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, the No. 4 seed and Wimbledon champion, are the top challengers in Paris.

No. 3 Jessica Pegula and No. 6 Coco Gauff, runner-up to Swiatek last year, are the best hopes to become the first American to win a Grand Slam singles title since Sofia Kenin at the 2020 Australian Open. The 11-major drought is the longest for U.S. women since Seles won the 1996 Australian Open.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

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2023 French Open Women’s Singles Draw

French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw

2023 French Open men’s singles draw, bracket

French Open Men's Draw
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The French Open men’s singles draw is missing injured 14-time champion Rafael Nadal for the first time since 2004, leaving the Coupe des Mousquetaires ripe for the taking.

Main draw play began Sunday, live on Peacock.

Novak Djokovic is not only bidding for a third crown at Roland Garros, but also to lift a 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy to break his tie with Nadal for the most in men’s history.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Women’s Draw

But the No. 1 seed is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who won last year’s U.S. Open to become, at 19, the youngest man to win a major since Nadal’s first French Open title in 2005.

Now Alcaraz looks to become the second-youngest man to win at Roland Garros since 1989, after Nadal of course.

Alcaraz missed the Australian Open in January due to a right leg injury, but since went 30-3 with four titles. Notably, he has not faced Djokovic this year. They could meet in the semifinals.

Russian Daniil Medvedev, who lost in the French Open first round in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, is improved on clay. He won the Italian Open, the last top-level clay event before the French Open, and is the No. 2 seed ahead of Djokovic.

No. 9 Taylor Fritz, No. 12 Frances Tiafoe and No. 16 Tommy Paul are the highest-seeded Americans, all looking to become the first U.S. man to make the French Open quarterfinals since Andre Agassi in 2003. Since then, five different American men combined to make the fourth round on eight occasions.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

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2023 French Open Men’s Singles Draw

French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw