Hoda Kotb Declared the ‘Best Cheerleader’ in Clip With Team USA
Hoda Kotb's daughters may not be with her at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but she's still in full mom mode as she congratulated the U.S. men's gymnastics team.
Following Team USA's historic win on Monday, July 29, which saw the men's gymnastics division win its first Olympic medal since 2008, the Today personality was lucky enough to run into some of the newly-decorated bronze medalists.
"I'm so proud of you guys," the 59-year-old media personality told the trio of gymnasts as she hugged each of them in a clip of the interaction shared to her Instagram grid on Tuesday. "That was so fun to watch."
Kotb was so impressed by the athleticism that she rewatched coverage of the competition, telling Team USA that she "actually watched it in the gym again this morning, crying."
"It was on repeat," she added, emphasizing just how proud she was before Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik–dubbed "Pummel Horse Guy" by fans–chimed in, calling it "the best experience of my life."
"Ever!" Kotb interjected, noting that she was "so happy" to speak to the gymnasts who stood before her: Nedoroscik, Asher Hong and Brody Malone. Other team members noticeably absent from the run-in include Frederick Richard and Paul Juda.
The doting mom of two gushed once more in the accompanying caption, "Proud of you xoxo???????? @usagym."
Kotb's followers didn't wait long before deciding that she, as well as Team USA, deserved a round of applause.
"You are the best Hoda !!" one top-liked comment gushed. "Everyone’s cheer leader ??????."
Someone else simply called her "the best cheerleader! ??."
"Congratulations! They were incredible. So proud of them. I especially loved the way they cheered each other on and supported each other," a third admitted. "True team spirit. They brought the bronze back to the USA! Way to go! ????."
Another said they loved how Kotb treated the team "like they were your sons," joking, "It's the head cradle."
"Everyone needs a Hoda in their life ??," someone else suggested.
"You are the ‘momma’ to all and everyone’s loudest cheerleader and that is what we all love about you," a different Instagram user declared.
This is the latest in a series of fan-adored interactions Kotb has had while overseas and comes just days after she went viral for cheering on the U.S. women's gymnastics team. Other instances she's documented for fans include posing with her "bestie" Snoop Dogg, meeting her "dream" celebrity and recording fellow Today co-anchors Al Roker and Craig Melvin's impromptu karaoke sesh.
