Aly Raisman Makes Her ESPN Broadcasting Debut as a Gymnastics Analyst This Week

The retired Olympic athlete is nervous and excited to honor and be a part of the sport in a new way.

Aly Raisman.Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

Aly Raisman is leveling up, and NCAA sports viewers are reaping the benefits of her latest career move. The retired professional gymnast, who is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and former U.S. women’s gymnastics team captain, is making her ESPN broadcasting debut Friday.

The SI Swimsuit model joins the network as an analyst, with her first commentary during a meet between No. 8 LSU and No. 6 Kentucky at 9 p.m. ET on SEC Network and the ESPN+ streaming service.

“I’m so excited. If I’m being honest, I’m also very nervous because I want to do a good job,” the 29-year-old Raisman admitted. “I’m just really excited and appreciative for the opportunity to be able to stay involved in the sport.”

Aly Raisman on Day 4 of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

She also noted that while being a broadcast analyst is a bit out of her comfort zone and different than anything else she has done, she’s looking forward to taking on the role as it is “a really cool new chapter and a big challenge.”

The Massachusetts native, who left the sport in January 2020, said in preparation she has watched more gymnastics than she has since she was 8 years old—specifically reruns of the ’96 Olympics “over and over again.”

The two-time world champion practices offering comments, notes and criticism on gymnastics performances and records herself to then go back and audit her own voice and words.

“I’m just hoping that in the moment I won’t be too nervous. I’m trying to imagine it as if I’m sitting in a living room with friends and people who don’t know anything about gymnastics, and I’m kind of just walking them through it and explaining how things go,” she added. “I just kind of want to be able to do my best to just enjoy it and also just be a fan for the night and have fun.”

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