Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost will cover Olympic Surfing for NBC

Colin Jost has been one of the most reliable faces on Saturday Night Live over the last decade. He's held down the Weekend Update desk with co-host Michael Che, and now, he's been tapped to cover Olympic Surfing during NBC's 2024 coverage.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jost will be the only NBC commentator to travel to Tahiti, in order to interview the athletes on the ground. The rest of the network's team, including lay-by-play announcer Joe Turpel and analyst Michael Parsons, will be working remotely from NBC's broadcast center in Stamford, Connecticut.

Colin Jost is a surfer in his personal life

Jost, who is a recreational surfer himself, is thrilled by the opportunity. He issued a statement upon being chosen, and made it clear that he was eager to provide the finest coverage possible. He also made a joke about his lack of physical prowess, as it to be expected from an SNL veteran:

"I’m honored to get to watch the best surfers in the world compete on one of the heaviest waves imaginable, and to help showcase the rich history of surfing in Tahiti. And my Writer’s Guild Health Insurance is excited to see what the coral reef does to my back."

Molly Solomon, the executive producer and president of production for NBC Olympics, felt that Jost's unique combination of charisma, on-camera experience, and surfing interest made him a no-brainer choice to cover the Olympic events.

Jost will join other SNL alum in covering the Olympics

"[Colin] is going to bring his unique flair to reporting on the competition, athletes, and beautiful surroundings in one of the most breathtaking Olympic venues ever," Solomon opined in a public statement. "Tune in to see if he catches a wave for America."

Interestingly, Jost isn't the only Saturday Night Live alum who will play a crucial role in NBC's Olympics coverage. Kenan Thompson will provide commentary for Peacock, while Leslie Jones, who appeared on the show from 2014-19, will be the network's “chief super fan correspondent" in Paris.