NBC Host Chuckles at Awkward 'Penis Gate' Olympics Question

Mike Tirico responds to Dan Patrick's inquiry about covering ski jumping scandal.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

NBC host Mike Tirico was interviewed by Dan Patrick and was asked about covering the 'penis gate' scandal at the Winter Olympics, where there were suspicions that ski jumpers had been injecting acid into their genitalia to impact the dimensions of their suits. Tirico couldn't help but grin at the question, acknowledging it was a 'funny story' but saying NBC had not yet covered it in primetime, though they would continue to research the issue.

Why it matters

The 'penis gate' scandal highlights the lengths athletes will go to gain an edge in highly competitive sports like ski jumping, where the dimensions of the suit can impact performance. It also shows how the media must navigate sensitive topics and decide how to responsibly cover such scandals.

The details

The dimensions of each ski jumper's suit are partly determined by a measurement of their stride length, taken from the lowest point of their genital area. This means a bigger suit can increase lift and reduce the rate of descent, giving jumpers an advantage. There were suspicions that some ski jumpers had been injecting acid into their genitalia to impact these measurements.

  • Tirico was interviewed on The Dan Patrick Show while in Milan, Italy to anchor NBC's primetime Olympics coverage.
  • The 'penis gate' scandal emerged in the days leading up to the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The players

Mike Tirico

A 59-year-old NBC broadcaster who was anchoring the network's primetime coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics from Milan, Italy.

Dan Patrick

The host of The Dan Patrick Show, who interviewed Tirico about the 'penis gate' scandal at the Winter Olympics.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I think the ski jumping thing is one of the funnier stories. I think we all go to great lengths to cover a story like that. Everything you say about that story is problematic in some way, shape, or form. Isn't it funny? That is an only-in-the-Olympics funny story.”

— Mike Tirico, NBC Host (The Dan Patrick Show)

“It makes sense in all regards as you watch, anybody who's sailed or put a kite up in the air, you see how you want to get the right amount of air to a certain place to keep that in the air long enough.”

— Mike Tirico, NBC Host (The Dan Patrick Show)

“We have not yet covered that story in primetime. It's a very deep research pool, and we will continue to get our best person on it.”

— Mike Tirico, NBC Host (The Dan Patrick Show)

What’s next

NBC will continue to research the 'penis gate' scandal and may cover it in primetime Olympics coverage.

The takeaway

The 'penis gate' scandal at the Winter Olympics highlights the extreme measures some athletes will take to gain a competitive edge, and the challenges media outlets face in responsibly covering such sensitive topics while maintaining journalistic integrity.