Skiing icons like Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn are pretty much always on the go, shredding slopes or juggling interviews and photo ops. But let’s be real—how many hosts or interviewers do you think they actually remember? Probably just a handful. And how many of those special few do they text or send heartfelt goodbyes to? Oh, that number’s even smaller. But when it comes to someone who truly gets Olympians to open up and share their stories in those deep, heartfelt chats, one name effortlessly stands out—Hoda Kotb.

Hoda is the driving force behind American broadcast journalism and has been co-hosting the entertaining fourth hour of NBC’s Today show since 2007 and the main show for six amazing years. Her charm lit up mornings, and her knack for storytelling made her show’s every segment unforgettable. But now, it seems we are closing a chapter of history. On Friday, Hoda bid her fans an emotional farewell, leaving them in tears. Of course, Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey weren’t going to let this moment pass quietly. With their signature class and warmth, these two skiing queens teamed up to honor Hoda in the most beautiful way.

Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn give an emotional farewell!

Mikaela Shiffrin took a heartfelt moment on January 10 to repost a video by Team USA on X, and it was pure love for Hoda Kotb! The video, which brought all the feels, featured athletes like Jordan Chiles, Gabby Thomas, and more expressing their gratitude for Hoda. Team USA’s caption perfectly summed it up:

Mikaela Shiffrin, with her usual warmth, added her own sweet touch, captioning it, “Much [love] to you, @hodakotb – hope to see you soon! Congratulations and thank you.” In the video, she poured her heart out, saying, “Hi Hoda, it’s Mikaela Shiffrin here, and I just wanted to say thank you so much for all of your support and your cheering and encouragement over the years for all of Team USA and thank you so much for always spreading kindness and compassion on air. We are going to miss watching you and just wishing you all of the best for everything you do in the future.”

The love didn’t stop there! Lindsey Vonn joined in, sharing her gratitude with a heartfelt message: “Hey Hoda, it’s Lindsey. Thank you so much for always being so supportive of us, Team USA, and the Olympics. You’ve always been our biggest cheerleader and had so much enthusiasm, and you cared for us, and it means a lot. So thank you. You’re going to have an amazing next chapter, but we will really miss you. Love you, Hoda.” It was all about love, gratitude, and good vibes as Team USA came together to celebrate their ‘mom’ and cheer her on for her next big chapter.

If there’s one thing that can be said across the board, it’s that Hoda Kotb infused every second she had with passion. She was not only a journalist at the Olympics but the most enthusiastic supporter of Team USA and the one who stood out among the giants, such as Simone Biles, Mikaela Shiffrin, and others, the ones who became giants through her microphone. From the tears in Simone’s eyes when she surprised her in her last episode to the affection of those she called friends, Hoda has left a mark as a fan, a friend, and even a ‘Gym Mom.’ So, who’s going to replace her place now?

Today finds a replacement for Hoda Kotb!

According to a report by ‘USA Today’ from November 14th, 2024, Hoda Kotb is to bid farewell to Today on January 10th. Before she said her final goodbye to the show, she said, “That’ll be the party day, so we’re going to throw a party.” While fans clapped and got ready for this sad send-off, NBC also wanted the audience to know who would be replacing her. The always-dedicated Craig Melvin, known for his years at NBC and MSNBC, is ready to take the reins as co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie. “I’m beyond excited and grateful,” he said, clearly humbled by the moment. “I wanted to thank NBC and the folks here who deemed me worthy … I have enjoyed just a lifetime of blessings, and this is the latest in a long line of blessings.”

Melvin, who has been a part of Today and Dateline, shared his story and the family that has been supportive all along: his wife, Lindsay Czarniak. “I’m just so thankful for her,” he said, adding that she has always been there for him since the beginning of his professional journey. His words were met with a sweet shout-out from Hoda herself: “Craig, you are made for this job. You are that kind of good. You have all the things that this job needs. You’re the right person for it.” With this support, Melvin is ready to go for it as Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn bid the perfect farewell to Hoda Kotb.