Lindsay Czarniak: A Veteran Voice at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics

The Olympics hold a special place in the heart of Lindsay Czarniak. It was during the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing that she first connected with her now-husband, Today host Craig Melvin. Fast forward nearly two decades, and Czarniak is immersed in covering her sixth Olympic assignment – the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. She’s a key part of USA Network’s daily coverage, bringing the action to life.

“It’s exciting,” Czarniak shared. “For me, it’s a role where you’re covering what you’re seeing in real time. You’re also talking to analysts who all bring something unique to the table. Many of these sports, like curling or biathlon, aren’t regularly featured, so it’s fun to bring viewers along and give them a taste of the Games. Italy is the perfect backdrop, making the experience even more amazing.”

The Evolution of Olympic Coverage

We spoke with Czarniak about her experiences covering the Olympics over the years.

“Olympic coverage has changed in so many ways, but the core of what makes it special remains the same,” she explained. “Being a part of this is an opportunity I’m incredibly grateful for. You always feel the magic and excitement. It’s fascinating to work with people from different networks and backgrounds, all coming together for this event. You have to learn to collaborate quickly, and you’re covering people’s lifelong dreams. There’s something truly special about the stakes involved. I love it – it means experiencing every emotion. It’s an honor to cover something these athletes have worked towards for years. And in terms of live television, it’s always unpredictable. Anything can happen, and that’s part of the thrill!”

Czarniak recounted a recent example: “We already had a hockey game postponed due to a team illness. That’s just one example of how anything can happen.”

Behind the Scenes: Preparation and Dedication

Even when broadcasting from a studio, the preparation is extensive. “There’s a lot of prep work involved. With an event like the Olympics, so many different shows contribute to bringing it to the air. It’s a well-oiled machine that NBC Sports has created. For our show, we have pre-show meetings, and planning begins well in advance. Of course, curveballs are thrown, but we do all the normal things to put on a show. I rely on my writers, researchers, and our producer to put it all together. I learned last time, working overnight, that sleep is a premium! You have to take advantage of any rest you can get. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You don’t want to miss any of the action.”

Embracing New Sports and Evolving Traditions

This year’s Games feature eight new events, including Mountaineering. Czarniak is enthusiastic about the additions. “I think it’s really cool when new sports join the Olympics. It’s an opportunity for the world to discover something people are passionate about. Why not? I’m excited to see it. The Olympics need to evolve, and adding new sports reflects that. NBC Sports does a great job understanding what people want to watch and tailoring the coverage accordingly. Adding sports is just another way to deliver that content.”

Stories to Watch at the 2026 Games

Czarniak is particularly excited about several storylines. “I’ve really gotten into women’s hockey. I’m interested in seeing if the U.S. and Canada will have a rematch and if the U.S. can win gold. I also love ice skating, and [Madison] Chock and [Evan] Bates are an amazing ice dancing couple. Their story is awesome. One of my favorite things about covering the Olympics is learning from the experts and gaining their perspective. It’s like covering an NFL game and sitting with a former player to get their insights.”

Balancing Career and Family with Craig Melvin

It’s a busy time for both Czarniak and her husband, Craig Melvin, who was recently promoted to Today co-anchor. “It’s been awesome to watch him in this role. The Today show is a well-run machine, and it’s made the transition easier for him. I’m incredibly proud of him. It’s been a full year already, which is shocking! I know his character and how much he cares about people, which is why this job is so important to him. He treats everyone with the same respect, both on and off camera.”

Czarniak notes that the increased responsibility comes with more expectations. “It’s not just about the workload; it’s about the leadership role. There’s more weight to the position. It’s required some adjustments in terms of sleep and rest.”

Managing work and family life is a priority. “Craig has become very good at sectioning his time and protecting his peace. We’ve made progress in evolving how he gets his sleep and how we navigate things as a family. Family time is very important to us. We try to have dinner together as much as possible. My dad, a journalist, once gave us advice when we first moved to Connecticut: ‘Maximize your time together. There will be ups and downs, but make the most of the time you have.’ That’s always stuck with me.”

“Things No One Tells You” Podcast

Czarniak also hosts the “Things No One Tells You” podcast, where she explores often-unspoken realities of life. “I wanted to focus on the themes and actual things that come up in life that nobody tells you. I started in my work and came across a lot of different types of people, a lot of them athletes. When you’re talking off camera or somewhere, you’d have these conversations that are very relatable and inevitably someone says. “There’s one thing nobody tells you.” I love to explore. What it is here is the real truth about the stuff. I feel when we talk about things that may be a little bit hard to talk about or taboo or think about that question, I think it brings us together. With Craig on the podcast, he shared that when you reach your dream job, you realize what to do next. It’s human nature to look around and assess the situation. I like building episodes around concepts rather than focusing on specific guests.”

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics coverage is streaming across NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and Peacock through February 22.