“I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new,” Hota Kotb tearfully told her co-hosts on the TODAY Show in September last year, marking the end of an era. For over 17 years, she has been the friendly face, the warm voice, and the ultimate hype-woman. So it’s only natural that the NBC wouldn’t forget to point out the veteran’s “compelling interviews, in-depth reporting, integrity and indubitable charisma” in their tribute article, and neither did Team USA and its team members. But before we get to that…

Kotb wasn’t just a broadcaster; she was the broadcaster—a mom, a motivator, and the kind of person who lights up whatever room she walks into. To Team USA, Hoda wasn’t just someone who covered their stories—she was part of their stories. She made the athletes feel seen, heard and celebrated. In fact, she was the one Jordan Chiles sat down with for her first live interview after losing the bronze at the Paris Olympics. “Honestly, it’s been really, really hard just to comprehend everything that’s been happening,” an emotional Chiles had told Kotb back then.

Perhaps that’s the reason the retired journalist’s co-host Savannah Guthrie had deemed her a special position. Appearing on The Jimmy Fallon Show in March last year, Guthrie had proclaimed, “Hoda is like the unofficial den mother of USA Gymnastics. She cheers for them so hard. Speaking of Tokyo, during the pandemic, where we weren’t allowed to really even look at each other, Hoda was like, ‘Well their families aren’t here and someone’s going to give them a hug’ and the Japanese government was like ‘Tell that woman to stop hugging the athletes.’ It was like an international incident.”

So, as expected, emotions were running high in the TODAY studio on her last day (lovingly tagged as ‘Hodaboration’)—intensified by the slew of celebrities who showed up to bid their favorite interviewer goodbye. First, it was Oprah Winfrey, paying a heartfelt tribute through a pre-recorded message. Then it was Dwyane Wade, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kristin Chenoweth, and even Kermit the Frog. But the best surprise of all came from Team USA…

Simone Biles showed up in person, making Kotb visibly emotional. Tagging the broadcaster as their “Olympic mom”, Biles said, “I’ve been coming to the TODAY show for years, and sharing vulnerable stories which Hoda has given us such a great platform to be open and raw and to just feel like a safe space, so I appreciate all you’ve done for us to allow us to tell our stories. That’s how our relationship started… and now coming into adulthood we get to riff, we get to talk and chat, and it’s just been a beautiful thing that’s flourished.”

But that wasn’t even all: a heartwarming video tribute from US gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Stephen Nedoroscik sealed the deal, showing just how much this woman means to the athletes she’s championed for years.

Team USA’s official X account shared a video message for their biggest cheerleader on January 9. Captioned, “A thank you to Team USA’s mom ❤️ Team USA celebrates @hodakotb’s final episode of the @TODAYshow,” the video started with the Pommel Horse medalist saying, “I just want to say thank you so much for being so kind to Team USA. Not only at Paris, but so may Olympics. In fact you were so kind to me that you even let me keep you glasses and that meant so so much to me. I want to tell on behalf of everyone on Team USA, you are so kind and we are going to miss you.”

Jordan Chiles also gave a message right from the heart: “You’ve been such an amazing supporter of Team USA gymnastics and such an amazing gym mom.” If anyone knows what it feels like to have Hoda cheering them on, it’s Jordan. She talked about how Hoda’s encouragement kept her motivated through highs and lows, making her feel like more than just an athlete. “I couldn’t be more honored to have known you. And I can’t wait to see what the future and chapter of who Hoda Kotb is. And I love you so much. And Team USA Gym Mom forever. Love you,” Jordan added, full of gratitude.

Apart from that, alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin also made an appearance on the video, where she thanked Kotb for all her “support and encouragement over the years,” and for “always spreading kindness and compassion on air.” Olympic medalist sprinter Gabby Thomas, on the other hand, said, “I wanted to say thank you so much for supporting Team USA over the years and cheering on us at the Games. You are awesome and we’ll miss you so much.”

Additionally, Lora Webster, Nathan Chen, Ali Truwit, Bobby Finke, and several others also shared their words of endearment with the 60-year-old.

Their various tributes together painted a picture of one who wasn’t just reporting on the Olympics but living them with the athletes. Hoda wasn’t just a cheerleader; she was family.

Hoda Kotb’s legacy as team USA’s biggest cheerleader

If there is anything people agree on, it is that Hoda Kotb brought heart to every interaction. She was not just any other journalist reporting from the Olympics, but the biggest fan of Team USA. She cheered loudly while Simone Biles bounced back, winning an unexpected gold. And she celebrated unexpectedly with all the lesser-known gold medalists and made everybody a star. Jordan Chiles once said, “She’s more than a host. She’s someone who cares deeply about the people she talks to.” And that wasn’t just lip service. Hoda’s interviews didn’t feel like interviews—they felt like conversations with someone who got it. Someone who cared.

“She made me feel like my journey mattered,” says Stephen Nedoroscik. And isn’t that what every athlete wants—to feel like the world sees their hard work, their sacrifices, their triumphs? Hoda did that, and she did it with a smile that could light up an entire stadium. Her legacy is not about the years she spent on the Today Show, but about the memories she created and the lives she touched. From Jordan’s heartfelt thanks to Stephen’s playful humor, it’s obvious that the mark Hoda has left will be one that remains for a lifetime.

And with the curtain finally falling on Hota’s illustrious career, one thing’s clear; She has left her mark. And that too, both on and off the mat for all of Team USA. To Jordan Chiles and Stephen Nedoroscik, she is more than someone with a mic, she is a friend, a fan, and even a “Gym Mom”. And the tears in Simone Biles’s eyes when she surprised her just goes on to show how much Kotb means to all she has advocated for.

It’s not goodbye, just “see you later.” Wherever Hoda’s next adventure may take her, there is one thing that will always be true: she will always be Team USA’s biggest cheerleader—their brightest light and their forever “mom.”