WRAL’s Rio Team (l to r) Jeff Gravley, Keith Baker, Renee Chou, Ed Wilson, Debra Morgan & Brad Simmons on their last day of Olympic coverage in Rio. We believe their work has been gold medal worthy!
It’s not how you begin, it’s how you finish. WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Debra Morgan, Renee Chou & Jeff Gravley, along with WRAL-TV Photojournalists Ed Wilson, Keith Baker and Brad Simmons dealt with delayed flights, missed connections and lost luggage on their way to Rio. Once they finally made it to the 2016 Summer Olympics, the Super Six wasted no time scouring the Brazilian city for stories to beam back to the Triangle.WRAL
The group found North Carolina connections, such as former N.C. State gymnast turned coach of Team USA’s Laurie Hernandez, to report on for the folks back home. They saw Usain Bolt run, Michael Phelps win, and Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross play volleyball. So many adventures for one packed two-week period.
Here are the photos from their final days in Rio. The news crew got a boost of support during those last days as WRAL-TV Vice President & General Manager Steve Hammel and his wife, Renee, arrived at the Olympics with CBC President & CEO Jim Goodmon and his wife, Barbara. The couples were kind enough to share their personal photos from their Rio journey with Capcom as well.
For a final time…enjoy!
SLIDESHOW: The Final Days of Team WRAL in Rio
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From WRAL-TV's Renee Chou: Samba time! Thinking about wearing this on the anchor desk so I can be taller than WRAL Bill Leslie! -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: (From Fri, 8/19): - Look who we ran into TODAY! -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Another excellent experience: equestrian jumping. Horses weren't as fast as Usain Bolt, but they are SUPER agile! -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Another excellent experience: equestrian jumping. Horses weren't as fast as Usain Bolt, but they are SUPER agile! -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Another excellent experience: equestrian jumping. Horses weren't as fast as Usain Bolt, but they are SUPER agile! -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Another excellent experience: equestrian jumping. Horses weren't as fast as Usain Bolt, but they are SUPER agile! -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Another excellent experience: equestrian jumping. Horses weren't as fast as Usain Bolt, but they are SUPER agile! -
From WRAL-TV's Debra Morgan: You're looking at history here! Helen Maroulis wins gold in wrestling! She tells me about how she's trying to get more girls involved in the sport and see what she ate first to celebrate at 5pm on WRAL TV!! -
From WRAL-TV's Debra Morgan: You're looking at history here! Helen Maroulis wins gold in wrestling! She tells me about how she's trying to get more girls involved in the sport and see what she ate first to celebrate at 5pm on WRAL TV!! -
From WRAL-TV's Ed Wilson: Eating good in Rio. -
From Barbara Goodmon: Guests of NBC at Olympics. Staying in Copacabana on the beach. We saw Duke beat Argentina and today went to women's semifinals high dive. Going to see Bolt tonight Having wonderful time. Remember to go to WRAL-TV, home of NBC, to keep you up to date -
From Barbara Goodmon: Guests of NBC at Olympics. -
From Barbara Goodmon: Jim Goodmon at the Rio Olypmics -
From Barbara Goodmon: Barbara & Jim Goodmon at the Rio Olympics -
From Barbara Goodmon: Guests of NBC at Olympics. Staying in Copacabana on the beach. We saw Duke beat Argentina and today went to women's semifinals high dive. Going to see Bolt tonight Having wonderful time. Remember to go to WRAL-TV, home of NBC, to keep you up to date -
From Barbara Goodmon: Went to men's final beach volleyball Brazil won gold Did not start until after midnight but sat through the whole thing in pouring rain Another great experience at the Olympics -
From Barbara Goodmon: Went to men's final beach volleyball Brazil won gold Did not start until after midnight but sat through the whole thing in pouring rain Another great experience at the Olympics -
From Barbara Goodmon: Went to men's final beach volleyball Brazil won gold Did not start until after midnight but sat through the whole thing in pouring rain Another great experience at the Olympics -
From Barbara Goodmon: Went to men's final beach volleyball Brazil won gold Did not start until after midnight but sat through the whole thing in pouring rain Another great experience at the Olympics -
From WRAL-TV's Renee Chou: Finally getting to sample some Brazilian eats thanks to Rafael Sampaio, owner of a bar/restaurant in Ipanema. Had some pastels (fried pastry filled with beef, cheese or shrimp); Carne Seca (sundried, shredded beef fried in a ball of dough); and Calabresa, sausage sautéed with onions in a sugar cane liqueur. Had only a SIP of a caipirinha (Brazil's national cocktail.) I was on the clock! All delicious. I consider this necessary, in-depth reporting! -
From WRAL-TV's Renee Chou: Pastels-- fried pastries filled with beef, cheese, or shrimp -
From WRAL-TV's Renee Chou: Carne Seca-- fried dough balls with shredded, sundried beef inside -
From WRAL-TV's Renee Chou: Great talking with Olympic gold medalist and shot put thrower Ryan Crouser! His winning throw also set an Olympic record. He is a giant teddy bear! 6' 7", 290 pounds, and truly the nicest guy. This height differential makes me laugh! -
From WRAL-TV's Renee Chou: Look who came to visit! In the green, WRAL Vice President and General Manager Steve Hammel, and Capitol Broadcasting Company Preisdent and CEO Jim Goodmon stopped by to say hello to the WRAL Rio crew. They wanted to personally tell us how much they're enjoying our coverage... And to let us know we'll be staying another 2 weeks to cover the Paralympic Games! Ha! Just kidding on that last part! They did joke about that. Our bosses have such a sense of humor. It was great to see them! Their encouraging words came at just the right time. We're closing in on the finish line! -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Amazing operation and tour of the International Broadcast Center. Beautiful prime time set and NBCSN set -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Amazing operation and tour of the International Broadcast Center. Beautiful prime time set and NBCSN set -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Amazing operation and tour of the International Broadcast Center. Beautiful prime time set and NBCSN set -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Amazing operation and tour of the International Broadcast Center. Beautiful prime time set and NBCSN set -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Amazing operation and tour of the International Broadcast Center. Beautiful prime time set and NBCSN set -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Amazing operation and tour of the International Broadcast Center. Beautiful prime time set and NBCSN set -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Amazing operation and tour of the International Broadcast Center. Beautiful prime time set and NBCSN set -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Amazing operation and tour of the International Broadcast Center. Beautiful prime time set and NBCSN set -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Amazing operation and tour of the International Broadcast Center. Beautiful prime time set and NBCSN set -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Super hardworking WRAL Team Rio crew. In the home stretch! -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Brazil-Germany was my first soccer game ever. I cannot imagine attending a more exciting soccer match ever again! Terrific outcome for the home team. -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Brazil-Germany was my first soccer game ever. I cannot imagine attending a more exciting soccer match ever again! Terrific outcome for the home team. -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Brazil-Germany was my first soccer game ever. I cannot imagine attending a more exciting soccer match ever again! Terrific outcome for the home team. -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Brazil-Germany was my first soccer game ever. I cannot imagine attending a more exciting soccer match ever again! Terrific outcome for the home team. -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Brazil-Germany was my first soccer game ever. I cannot imagine attending a more exciting soccer match ever again! Terrific outcome for the home team. -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Brazil-Germany was my first soccer game ever. I cannot imagine attending a more exciting soccer match ever again! Terrific outcome for the home team. -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Brazil-Germany was my first soccer game ever. I cannot imagine attending a more exciting soccer match ever again! Terrific outcome for the home team. -
From WRAL-TV's Steve Hammel: Brazil-Germany was my first soccer game ever. I cannot imagine attending a more exciting soccer match ever again! Terrific outcome for the home team. -
From Barbara Goodmon: Jim and WRAL station manager had tour of NBC''s production team for Olympics. They were happy to see WRAL's news team Also got to see longtime friend and NBC employee Susan LaSalle. -
From Barbara Goodmon: Jim and WRAL station manager had tour of NBC''s production team for Olympics. They were happy to see WRAL's news team -
From Barbara Goodmon: Jim and WRAL station manager had tour of NBC''s production team for Olympics. They were happy to see WRAL's news team -
From Barbara Goodmon: Jim and WRAL station manager had tour of NBC''s production team for Olympics. They were happy to see WRAL's news team -
From Barbara Goodmon: Went to Track and Field last night in a beautiful stadium. Bolt and his relay team were presented gold medals. US Centrowitz won also won gold medal. Another great experience. -
From Barbara Goodmon: Went to Track and Field last night in a beautiful stadium. Bolt and his relay team were presented gold medals. US Centrowitz won also won gold medal. Another great experience. -
From Barbara Goodmon: Went to Track and Field last night in a beautiful stadium. Bolt and his relay team were presented gold medals. US Centrowitz won also won gold medal. Another great experience. -
From Barbara Goodmon: Went to Track and Field last night in a beautiful stadium. Bolt and his relay team were presented gold medals. US Centrowitz won also won gold medal. Another great experience. -
From WRAL-TV's Jeff Gravley: When am I the short one in the photo? When I stand with the bronze medalists from USA women's volleyball. Foluke Akinradewo, Christa Dietzen & Jordan Larson. Congrats ladies. -
From WRAL-TV's Debra Morgan: They swept the 100m hurdles! Meet Team USA's Triple Threat at 11pm on #wral! #WRALinRio2016 -
From WRAL-TV's Debra Morgan: So excited to meet Allyson Felix, the most decorated woman in US track and field history!! She won gold in the 4x400 relay, the same event I ran in high school (at a MUCH slower pace of course!!) -
From WRAL-TV's Debra Morgan: So excited to meet Allyson Felix, the most decorated woman in US track and field history!! She won gold in the 4x400 relay, the same event I ran in high school (at a MUCH slower pace of course!!) -
From WRAL-TV's Renee Chou: 40th and FINAL live shot from Rio!!!! Composed on air, doing my happy dance on the inside. Here in Rio, Ed Wilson and I also put together 15 stories for the evening newscasts and I called in 12 radio updates for Mix 101.5. If you include travel, we worked 22 consecutive days. Marathon assignment -- DONE! I am ready to come home! -
WRAL's Rio Team (l to r) Jeff Gravley, Keith Baker, Renee Chou, Ed Wilson, Debra Morgan & Brad Simmons on their last day of Olympic coverage in Rio. We believe their work has been gold medal worthy! -
From WRAL-TV's Debra Morgan: Just finished our last live shot at the 2016 Rio Olympics! 24 years covering so many amazing events together and still having a blast working with WRAL Jeff Gravley & our entire #wral team! -
From WRAL-TV's Renee Chou: Last night in Rio! It's been an amazing, 20-day stay.
Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Debra Morgan, Renee Chou, Ed Wilson, Keith Baker, Steve Hammel & Jeff Gravley and Barbara Goodmon for these capcom photos.
In case you missed any, here are all the stories we’ve posted about the adventures of WRAL-TV’s Super Six in Rio, plus the addition of two executives and their wives during the final days of the games: