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Cycling Commentating Legend Phil Liggett Announces This is His Last Olympic Games

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Known to many as the voice of cycling, Phil Liggett is a legend in the commentary box. The 2024 Summer Olympic Games mark Liggett’s 17th games having covered both Summer and Winter editions. Recently, while on a broadcast for Channel Nine’s Wide World of Sports from Australia, Liggett announced that this would be his last coverage of the Olympic games.

Liggett will turn 81 years old the day of the closing ceremony, and he states that by the time the next Summer games roll around, he’ll be 85 which he feels is just “too old.”

While Phil Liggett has announced that he is retiring from Olympic commentary, it does not seem like this is a goodbye to all cycling commentary just yet. Many outlets’ coverage seems to imply that he is retiring for good, but Liggett posted to Twitter today that the “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated!” We’ve reached out for comment and will report back if we get an official word from Phil.

Either way, chapeau Phil, and thanks for the memories!

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Reformed Roadie
Reformed Roadie
4 months ago

Sometimes you have to know when it is time…
As someone who’s been a fan of Phil’s since the cycling bug bit hard in the ’89 Tour…it has been rough watching the last few Tours.

Bdogg72
Bdogg72
4 months ago

Knowing when to retire is a valuable skill; for athletes and commentators.

VanessaD
4 months ago
Reply to  Bdogg72

His energetic voice will definitely be missed . He’s narrated the bike tours for decades .

Paul Switzer
Paul Switzer
4 months ago

Phil did a great job this year. I’m okay with a few mistakes here and there. Another couple years is fine would be great. For beloved announcers, I’d rather they stay a year too late than retire too early. Doc Emrick (NBC hockey) was similar to Phil. Yeah, he made a few mistakes and was not as sharp towards the end but he was still a joy to listen to. Same with Phil. I look forward to him being on the TdF coverage next year.

mud
mud
4 months ago

During this year’s Tour Bob Roll had to correct him repeatedly. This has been going on for years. Van de Velde and Roll make a great team, time for Christian to call the TdF.

Doc Sarvis
Doc Sarvis
4 months ago

A truly tragic day for two reasons. A legend retires and Steve Schlanger is going to be the voice for years to come. One of the most irritating on the planet. Must get paid the word.

Larry Falk
Larry Falk
4 months ago

The Eurosport announcing is 100 times better than what NBC puts out.

Bdogg72
Bdogg72
4 months ago
Reply to  Larry Falk

Eurosport is far better. NBC truly has no clue.

Mountain biker
Mountain biker
4 months ago

Phil is a legend and the last 4 comments are ragging on Phil and his retirement from Olympic cycling. You all are beyond ridiculous to think the sport is better off with out him. Fn troll’s

King County
King County
4 months ago

I like Phil. He just had a way about him. It was cool how he psuedo-pumped up Cavendish at the tour, (“Mark, if you are going to do it, now is the time..”)

Jon
Jon
4 months ago

He can now join his friends Lance and George on their podcast.

Elbi
Elbi
4 months ago

Phil Liggett, my two now adults met the lovely and gracious man once who “is the voice” of cycling, to those writing he had to be corrected etc I have but two things to say.
To the disparaging remarks
You identify and name hundreds of cyclists at any given moment with fleeting glimpse on a TV monitor
THEN
Let’s see how well you try the above at 70, 75 or 80 years of age or even right now…..

What say you now

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