The Seven Network has assembled their Winter Olympics commentary team, which will anchor what will be 2022’s biggest broadcast and digital event.
The Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games will be broadcast live and free on Seven and 7plus.
COMMENTATORS
Alister Nicholson
Alister has become one of Australian sport’s most recognisable voices over the past decade as an ABC Grandstand commentator on cricket and AFL football. While he has been a popular member of Seven’s BBL commentary team in recent years, his broadcasting experience extends to the NRL, A-League, Commonwealth Games, Australia’s major golf tournaments, and the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. For Beijing 2022, he will be calling the moguls, aerials and skeleton.
Dirk Nannes
Dirk was a freestyle skier before embarking on his cricket career that saw him represent Australia. He competed in mogul events at two FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cups and has more recently been part of Seven’s Olympic coverage for PyeongChang 2018. Dirk returns to the commentary team to call the men’s and women’s moguls and big air events in Beijing.
David Culbert
A long jump finalist at the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992 and two-time silver medallist at the Commonwealth Games, Dave has established himself as a renowned Olympic Games broadcaster and will provide commentary for freestyle skiing, snowboarding, and bobsleigh.
Michael Kennedy
Michael Kennedy will provide expert commentary on Australia’s Winter Games’ campaign. A former World Cup moguls’ skier and now CEO of Snow Australia, “Kenno” has been involved in high performance since Salt Lake City 2002 and worked with Alisa Camplin on her historic first ever snow gold medal for Australia. Michael returns to Seven’s coverage following his contributions in PyeongChang 2018.
Katya Crema
Katya represented Australia as an alpine and ski cross skier at the Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, along with various World Championships, World Cups, and the Winter X-Games. Kat will be providing expert commentary on the ski cross.
Luke Kneller
Growing up in Jindabyne NSW on the slopes of Perisher and Thredbo, Luke has been involved in the snow industry from an early age. He competed on an international level in slopestyle and halfpipe until 17, where he was fortunate enough to follow the Winter Games around the world. After high school, Luke traded his skis for a camera, to pursue his passion in media and film production. Luke was a member of Seven’s commentary team for PyeongChang 2018 and will return to commentate the slopestyle and women’s half pipe.
Mia Rennie
Shortly after Mia learned to walk, she was given her first pair of skis. By 16, Mia became Australia’s youngest female skier to compete at a Freeski World Cup in 2019. Despite suffering a broken collar bone, a torn ACL and a broken nose, Mia competed at the Youth Olympics Games in 2020 with just four days’ skiing under her belt. While she recovers from another knee injury sustained in 2021, Mia will share her slopestyle knowledge as part of Seven’s commentary team.
Mitchell Tomlinson
Mitchell has been heavily involved in the action sports world since he was 14. For the past six years, he has been a presenter on the Vans Park Series Tour, in addition to commentating on skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding competitions around the globe, including the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics for the Seven Network. Mitchell will commentate on the halfpipe and slopestyle events.
Scott McGrory
An outstanding Australian cyclist and sport broadcaster, Scott won gold in the Madison at the Olympic Games Sydney 2000 in one of the most remarkable stories every told. His accomplishment alongside Brett Aitken is legendary and he will be ready to carry that knowledge and emotion into his speedskating commentary for Beijing 2022.
Steven Bradbury
Arguably Australia’s most iconic moment in Winter Olympics history, Steven Bradbury claimed Australia’s first ever Olympic Winter gold medal in an unbelievable win in the men’s speedskating at Salt Lake City 2002. Now a motivational speaker, the four-time Olympian will join Seven’s coverage to provide commentary across speedskating and short track.
Matt Hill
Matt is a leading Australian race caller and sport broadcaster. Recognised throughout the industry for his flair, commitment and accuracy, he has honed his art over many years calling a myriad of sports from horse racing to greyhound racing, tennis, AFL, the Olympic Games, and more. Matt will call the short track and alpine skiing.
Ryan Tiene
One of Australia’s best backcountry snowboarders, Ryan established himself as one of the world’s premier snowboarding talents when he reached global pro status in 2010. Competing professionally from the age of 15, Ryan has slowed on competitive snowboarding and is now sharing his knowledge of the sport with younger generations. Ryan will take part in Seven’s coverage of the slopestyle, halfpipe, and big air events.
Steph Prem
Steph is a five-time Australian champion snowboarder and was the only female to represent Australia in snowboard cross at Vancouver 2010. Throughout Seven’s Winter Olympics coverage, Steph will commentate snowboard cross and the parallel giant slalom.
Jono Brauer
Jono is a dual Olympian, having competed for Australia in alpine skiing events in Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010. His best results were seen on the big stage at the 2006 World Cup in Chamonix, where he finished 14th in the alpine skiing combined. Brauer enjoyed a successful international career from 1997 until 2010, when he called time on his career at the end of his last race in Vancouver. Jono will call alpine skiing sessions.
Michelle Steele
One of Australia’s best skeleton athletes, Michelle was the first woman to represent Australia in the Olympic skeleton event at the Torino Games in 2006. Making her World Cup debut in 2005, just 13 weeks after trying the sport, Michelle claimed a silver medal at the Nagano World Cup in 2017 and became the first Australian to take home a World Cup skeleton medal. Michelle joins Seven’s coverage, calling the men’s and women’s skeleton, and women’s monobob events.
Steve Hewitt
Father of Dean Hewitt – one half of Australia’s inaugural Olympic curling team – Steve represented Australia at the Albertville Olympics in 1992, when it was a demonstration sport. He will call Seven’s coverage of curling alongside Andy Maher, as he watches his son Dean and teammate Tahli Gill make history as the first Australian curling team to compete at the Winter Games.
HOSTS
Hamish McLachlan
Hamish is one of Australia’s best and most experienced broadcasters, having hosted and commentated on a wide range of sports including the Olympic Games, AFL, horse racing, tennis, and Commonwealth Games. He will co-host Seven’s prime-time coverage of Beijing each night alongside Abbey Gelmi. Hamish boasts extraordinary Olympic Games knowledge and a passion and enthusiasm for all sporting disciplines.
Abbey Gelmi
Abbey has quickly become one of Seven’s most versatile hosts, having presented across the network’s Olympics, AFL, cricket, horse racing and Brownlow Medal coverage with poise, grace, and infectious enthusiasm. As the granddaughter of Australian middle-distance great Herb Elliott, sport is in Abbey’s blood. Following her first Olympic Games coverage for Tokyo 2020, Abbey will return to Seven’s prime-time coverage of Beijing 2022 alongside Hamish McLachlan.
Johanna Griggs
Joh represented Australia in swimming at the Auckland Commonwealth Games in 1990, winning bronze in the 100m backstroke, before she went on to become one of the most popular television personalities on Australian screens. Joh has been part of Seven’s coverage of almost all major sporting events, including the Olympic Games, tennis, and horseracing, as well as hosting top-rating program Better Homes and Gardens. Joh will welcome viewers on air from midday AEDT Monday to Friday in what will be her third Olympic Winter Games coverage for Seven.
Matt Shirvington
One of the greats of Australian track and field, Matt represented his country at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the 1998 and 2006 Commonwealth Games, and seven World Championships. A key member of the 7NEWS, Sunrise and 7SPORT teams, Matt recently hosted the afternoon coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Seven. Matt will co-host afternoon events alongside Emma Freedman.
Emma Freedman
Emma is a popular television and radio presenter with extensive experience across a wide range of sports. She anchored Seven’s morning coverage on 7mate of Tokyo 2020 and is a regular host of Seven’s horse racing coverage, in addition to covering the Supercars Bathurst 1000 for Seven in 2021. Emma will co-host afternoon events each day alongside Matt Shirvington.
Basil Zempilas
Basil has been a commentator for Seven’s Olympic Games coverage since 2000, including his famous call of Steven Bradbury’s unbelievable come-from-behind win and Australia’s first Winter Olympics gold medal in Salt Lake City in 2002. Basil will again be a valued member of Seven’s commentary team when he hosts Seven’s Olympic Winter coverage from 11.30pm AEDT each night alongside Georgie Parker.
Georgie Parker
Georgie is a popular television presenter with experience across multiple sports, including Seven’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games coverage and AFL. She is a former member of the Australian women’s hockey team, claiming a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2014. Georgie will round out Seven’s coverage of the Winter Games from 11.30pm AEDT each night alongside Basil Zempilas.
Mel McLaughlin
Mel is a highly respected sports anchor and live-to-air broadcaster who has covered a host of major international sporting events, including both summer and winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games, the FIFA World Cup, tennis and most recently the 2021-22 Ashes series. Mel will be joined by Jason Richardson and Lydia Lassila to steer viewers through all the action each weekend from 10am AEDT .
Jason Richardson
“Richo” is a Stawell Gift winner who has carved out an impressive broadcasting career with Seven. He has hosted and commentated on various events including the Au stralian Open tennis, the past two Olympic Games, Spring Racing Carnival, Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Lydia Lassila
Since making her Olympic debut at Salt Lake City in 2002, Lydia has become one of Australia’s most successful female aerial skiers. Winning gold in 2010 and bronze four y ears later in Sochi, Lydia has enjoyed an incredibly successful career, becoming the first Australian woman to compete in five Winter Games. Beijing will mark Lydia’s first Olympic Winter Games as a member of Seven’s commentary team. She will co-host alongside Mel McLaughlin and Jason Richardson each weekend from 10am AEDT.
Andy Maher
Describing himself as the “unfunny one” from The Front Bar and “least swashbuckling” member of Seven’s BBL commentary team, Andy is also a highly respected journalist and sports presenter on radio and television. Andy’s extensive media commitments cover a variety of sports, including AFL and cricket. Following his co-hosting success at Tokyo 2020 alongside Australian basketball legend, Andrew Gaze, Andy will return to Seven’s Olympic coverage for the Winter Games.
Jacqui Cooper
Jacqui’s record five world titles, 40 World Cup medals, 24 World Cup wins and three major World Championship medals puts her in a league of her own as the greatest aerial skier of all time, man or woman. Her best Olympic result was a fifth in Vancouver, when she beat the odds to reach the final after suffering a major hip injury seven months earlier. Jacqui will provide expert commentary for all of Seven’s aerials coverage as well as some snowboarding, while she will also join Andy Maher and Andrew Gaze on The Summer Chill.
Andrew Gaze
An Australian basketball legend, Andrew led the Boomers at five Olympic Games and was the Australian flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Sydney 2000. After joining Seven’s broadcast team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Andrew will return to Seven’s Olympic coverage alongside Andy Maher and Olympic aerial skier, Jacqui Cooper.
Mark Beretta
Mark, or “Beretts” as he’s more affectionately known, is one of Australia’s best known and most admired sports commentators. He has covered almost every major Australian and international sporting event in an incredible career spanning three decades, including every Summer and Winter Olympics Seven has covered since 1996, the AFL, Australian Open tennis, and Supercars. For the past 18 years, Mark has been a much-loved member of Sunrise, keeping viewers up to date with all the latest sports headlines from Australia and around the world. He is also a 10-time Australian water ski champion.