Unlike last year’s Summer Games, Hoda Kotb isn’t on the sidelines at the 2022 Winter Olympics cheering on athletes on behalf of the Today show. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t excited to see all the incredible triumphs from Team USA.
Case in point, after Olympic freestyle skier Brad Wilson’s journey to a gold medal was cut short, he didn’t let the news damper his enthusiasm for his teammate and girlfriend Jaelin Kauf. When it was her turn to compete in the women’s moguls on February 6, Brad watched from the bottom of the slope as Jaelin crossed the finish line and earned her first Olympic medal. Upon seeing her nab silver, he broke out into a heartwarming celebration of clapping and jumping.
Though Jaelin’s run and Brad’s reaction were only seconds long, the moment has already become an unforgettable part of the Winter Olympics. Shortly after, Hoda reposted the video of Brad on her Instagram page from NBC’s official Olympics Instagram account.
“Proud boyfriend moment. Olympian @wilsfreestyle is pumped for his girlfriend @jaekauf!” the caption read. The Today show cohost’s fans couldn’t agree more and began sharing heartfelt words about the clip in Hoda's comments section.
“That’s love and excitement – Best Olympic Boyfriend ever 😍,” one person wrote. “When you love BIG ❤️ ❤️ ❤️,” another added. “Love to see the overwhelming joy for another’s accomplishments!!!!” a different fan said. “The best reaction to a win!! 🏆❤️,” a follower commented.
Afterward, Brad kept the festivities going with his own Instagram post. “@jaekauf is an Olympic medalist! So proud of her,” he wrote. “She is an absolute beast. After everything she went through, she went out and skied like herself. ❤️ so happy to be a part of this team!”
What’s more, Hoda got the chance to show Brad’s reaction on the Today show. “Oh, my God!” she said on air. “I love that video so much.”
Selena is the entertainment and news editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers the latest on TV, movies and celebrities. In addition to writing and editing entertainment news, she also spotlights the Hispanic and Latinx community through her work. She is a graduate of CUNY Hunter College with a B.A. in journalism and creative writing.
