The Best of U.S. – The 2018 Winter Olympics Superstar Commercials

NBC’s the Best of U.S. 2018 Winter Olympic ads feature Shaun White, Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin, Nathan Chen, and Chloe Kim.

NBC’s Best of U.S. commercial series for the Winter Olympics superstars of Team USA aired last night during the NFL Super Bowl. The featured leadoff promo showcased Shaun White watching tape of himself with Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” painting a picture to the ear. At first, we see White witnessing himself getting injured on-screen before picking up his snowboard in real-life and going right back to train solo.

While it may be dinner time for his company of friends, White imagines the table transforming into a halfpipe. He then watches an earlier tape of him when he was younger holding up the American flag. The images of his younger self flash across the screen as he trains anew for this Winter Olympics then the words ‘Shaun White is the Best of U.S.’ are seen.

Shaun White is the Best of U.S. Commercial

The production values on Shaun White’s commercial are simply astounding. It was easily one of the most memorable promos in years. Especially, for those know White’s recent backstory getting a perfect 100 at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Snowmass, Colorado after suffering injuries previously including 62 stitches to his head following a crash. This Best of U.S. promo blended the past and future in a way that stays with you going into the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Lindsey Vonn is the Best of U.S. Commercial

Alicia Key’s “Girl On Fire” sets the tone immediately on Lyndsey Vonn’s Best of U.S. commercial. We see Vonn as a youngster skiing, then a teenager, and into the world-class athlete known the world over. The dark side of the sport is then seen when the Alpine Skier crashes and is taken up on a stretcher to a helicopter.

Then the recovery process begins from the hospital into the weight room and right back into Alpine Skiing action as “This Girl is on Fire!” is heard in the background. We see Vonn winning medals and standing on the podium, before the words ‘Lindsey Vonn is the Best of U.S.’ are seen.

Mikaela Shiffrin is the Best of U.S. Commercial

Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B Good” is heard playing as we see Mikaela Shiffrin skiing elegantly. The camera zooms into a phrase on her helmet ‘ABFTTB’, which was a note she received as a youngster that meant “Always be faster than the boys.”

We then see an imagined styled vision of Shiffrin’s childhood where she’s beating everyone in everything from bike races to tests to foot races. We eventually go back to Shiffrin pausing during her current training to sign a young fan’s helmet with the same phrase ‘ABFTTB’. The words ‘Mikaela Shiffrin is the Best of U.S.’ are seen.

Nathan Chen is the Best of U.S. Commercial

The signature lyrics by James Brown “1, 2… Get Down” are heard from his song “The Boss” as we see Nathan Chen practicing his Figure Skating skills on the ice, occasionally falling. He trains both at the gym and the ice rink and continues to evolve as a skater.

Eventually, Chen is getting the attention of the ice hockey team that plays before he practices each time. His moves get more and more advanced each time, until after landing one we hear Brown’s “I told you so” part of the song. The words ‘Nathan Chen is the Best of U.S. are seen.

Chloe Kim is the Best of U.S. Commercial

Ray Charles’ “America the Beautiful” is heard as we see Chloe Kim’s dad dropping her off at snowboarding practice. We see Kim’s father doing whatever it takes to make sure Chloe is on the right path to success in snowboarding at one point.

At one point he says “I have to do what’s best for my daughter” after being told “We hate to see you go Mr. Kim” at work. Chloe Kim becomes happy and by the end of the commercial, she’s the one driving him home with a trophy. The words ‘Chloe Kim is the Best of U.S.’ are seen.