IOC President Addresses Savannah Guthrie’s Winter Olympics Absence

The president of the International Olympic Committee is sending love to Savannah Guthrie, who backed out of covering the 2026 Winter Olympics amid the search for her mother, Nancy Guthrie.

“I do want to say that our hearts and all of our thoughts and prayers are with Savannah,” Kristy Coventry said during an appearance on the third hour of the Today show on Friday, February 13. “Savannah and a few of you interviewed me last year, and we’re thinking of you.”

Coventry told Savannah’s Today show colleagues, “We’re sending all of our good wishes to you and obviously to the team here. We know it’s been a bit rough, so just wanted to let you know we’re all thinking of you.”

While describing the energy in Italy, Coventry said there’s been so much “inspiration” throughout the Winter Olympics so far and “the athletes are doing incredible.”

“I’m surrounded by [positive] spirit daily,” she continued. “Being able to see athletes that are inspiring each other, that have the compassion for each other to go and embrace one another, even if one of them has done well and the other one maybe not so well … It’s the best of humanity that we’re getting to see day to day.”

Savannah, 54, was expected to cover the Olympics in Milan for NBC but dropped out after Nancy, 64, was reported missing on February 1.

“Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time. Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother,” an NBC Sports spokesperson told Us Weekly in a statement on February 3. “We will share additional information about our Opening Ceremony coverage plans soon.”

Terry Gannon and Mary Carillo were on the scene to kick off the Winter Olympics on February 6.

“That is exactly what it takes to bring you the Olympics, a team and we are certainly without a very important, beloved member of our team tonight: Our friend and colleague Savannah Guthrie,” Gannon said while holding back tears during the opening ceremony. “She is dearly missed by everybody here.”

Carillo agreed, adding, “She sure is, she’s covered so many Olympics, hasn’t she? And she loves them. Right now, of course Savannah and her family are in unspeakable, unfathomable pain. We know in the U.S. that her extended family is legion. Savannah, my friend, it’s the same way here.”

Us also confirmed on February 6 that Hoda Kotb adjusted her travel plans after being slated to cover the Olympics. She has instead been filling in for Savannah on the Today show, anchoring with Craig Melvin in New York City.

As the search for Nancy continues, Savannah’s Today family has been vocal about their support, beginning their daily broadcasts with the latest updates on the case.

“Hoda is joining us this morning as our Today family continues to navigate uncharted territory, balancing the updates on the search for Savannah’s mom with all the other stories of the day, like we normally do,” Melvin told viewers on Monday, February 9. “But we know things are far from normal right now. So folks, we are asking for your grace as we continue to do this.”

Kotb added that “Savannah and her family are our top priority” but acknowledged that the team still has a job to do. She emphasized that everyone at the morning show is sending “thoughts and prayers” to Savannah “24/7” while she remains in Arizona.

While the FBI have released photos of a person of interest, no suspects have been identified nearly two weeks after Nancy was reported missing.