The 2024 Emmys Included A Visit From Team USA Athletes

The Emmy Awards celebrated another unforgettable year in television, with standout performances in projects like Shogun, The Bear, and Hacks. But over the summer, many viewers were tuned into a different type of TV streaming: the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Throughout the events, many Americans became diehard fans, whether the athletes they were watching were competing on the rugby pitch or gymnastics bars.

In a fun surprise, four American athletes stopped by the Sept. 15 award ceremony — they’d had a big TV year themselves, after all.

A Sporty Surprise

Before the athletes made their appearances, actors Jane Lynch and Brendan Hunt were reflecting on their respective turns as TV coaches (Lynch as Glee’s Sue Sylvester and Hunt of Ted Lasso). Lynch then confessed that she’d given her envelope containing the winner of the Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series award to “some very special guests.”

Enter Ilona Maher, Stephen Nedoroscik, Caeleb Dressel, and Ezra Frech, who represented Team USA in rugby, gymnastics, swimming, and track and field, respectively.

The group was on hand to help present Frederick E.O. Toye with the directing award for his work on Shogun.

While the athletes’ time on the Emmys stage was short, their presence was a pleasant surprise for viewers at home.

One viewer on X (formerly Twitter) wrote that they “literally screamed ‘YESSS’” when Nedoroscik — known to many as “Pommel Horse Guy” — arrived at the show. This summer, the 25-year-old gymnast achieved star status for appearing to take a nap while waiting long hours for his event to start.

As one viewer put it, “seeing all my olympic besties at the [Emmys] made me so happy.” Another loved how, following the Olympics, “the athletes just show up at the most random events for months after,” like the Emmys. “I eat it up every time.”

Beyond The Show

The athletes met some of their A-list fans before the ceremony even began. On the red carpet, actors Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern gushed over Maher.

“You have such good messages of positivity, I send them to my daughter ... You’re such a role model,” Witherspoon said, according to Access Hollywood. Maher said she hoped to work with Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine, and the Morning Show star said her company “would love that.”

The rugby star also met with Lessons in Chemistry nominee Brie Larson. “It’s so funny that the famous people know me,” Maher said, to which Larson responded playfully, “Well, because you’re famous.”