Top 10 Funniest SNL Olympics Sketches

Jason Priestley plays Brian Demming, an Olympic Figure Skater going for the gold. There’s just one issue: he spends more time horizontally on the ice than on his skates. It’s a hilarious send-up of those moments where a performance just goes really wrong. You’ve got to hand it to Priestley for his commitment to the physical comedy here; it’s really gold-medal stuff. His routine looks more like that scene from “Bambi,” where the eponymous character tries to walk across the ice— only Bambi looks more graceful and elegant. The commentary, often interrupted by an “Oh” makes it all that much funnier. Poor Brian! He should really put some ice on that!

This “Weekend Update” bit might be short, but it packs plenty of laughs. Gilda Radner plays Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut, who is being interviewed by John Belushi. Well, John Belushi with an accent. Korbut competed in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics and famously missed out on a gold medal to Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci after some slip-ups. Anyway, Chevy Chase’s pointed questioning probably didn’t help the spirit of good sportsmanship here. While the real Korbut likely accepted her silver medal with grace, Radner’s take is anything but gracious. She hilariously says what many Olympians probably wish they could say when they fall short of the top spot.

A few years before Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte became embroiled in a scandal, “SNL” was already lampooning him. Seth MacFarlane took on the role, dropping by the “Weekend Update” desk to discuss some of Lochte’s favorite shows from the fall TV lineup. Lochte’s interviews are notoriously; how do we put this kindly… Well, they tend to be memorable, that’s for sure. MacFarlane brilliantly nails his slow drawl and delivers quips that often raise more questions than they answer. The real Lochte reportedly didn’t love the impression and essentially responded by challenging MacFarlane to a swimming race. Come on, he’s basically just pitching a sketch here, right?

Did you ever notice that, before the Paris 2024 Olympics, you didn’t really see men compete in Artistic Swimming? Well, back in the 80s, a pair of brothers campaigned to change that. Martin Short and Harry Shearer star in a mockumentary about their journey to become the first men to break into the sport. Their trainer, played by Christopher Guest, brings an energy that we’d like to believe accurately replicates what preparing for the event might look like. We’re not saying these two were responsible for the Olympics officially allowing men into the sport, but just look at them—who wouldn’t tune in to watch this?

Choosing Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics stirred up a lot of controversy, partly because of Russia’s human rights record, especially with the LGBTQIA+ community. While the “Figure Skating Championship” is fun to watch, Kate McKinnon’s portrayal of Russian correspondent Olya Povlatsky is absolutely hilarious. Olya takes jabs at her village and country with sharp, funny comments about the issues, all under the guise of her own experiences. McKinnon hits every joke with perfect timing, making each one funnier than the last. Even Seth can't resist cracking up. If you were planning to travel for the Olympics that year, she definitely gave you a vivid picture of her hometown.

You may have caught Jones interviewing swimmer Katie Ledecky at the 2024 Paris Olympics. We’d like to believe that this was essentially the audition that landed her that gig. Jones admits that before the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, she wasn’t all that invested in the games. However, she became a major fan after watching them in person. In this segment, she shares her experiences with so much enthusiasm that it could be an Olympic sport in itself. At one point, ice hockey gold medalist Hilary Knight even joins the fun, daring Colin to show off some moves. Honestly, every event would be better with Leslie Jones as a commentator.

It’s 3022, and the Olympics have gone intergalactic. It promises to be an epic event, but hosting the games in space comes with its own set of issues. Events are canceled, others are pending, and there’s a short supply of oxygen. To make matters worse, someone has hit the big red “self-destruct” button, and safety is just an “alien horde” away. As doom looms, Andy Samberg wraps up his space talk and reflects on his own life instead. He also ends the song with a line that seems to borrow from Justin Timberlake’s “My Love.” We hope that when Zargon eventually wins their bid to host the Olympics, it goes better than this.

Have you ever dreamed of having a swimmer’s body? It’s never been easier—just follow the Michael Phelps Diet! Fancy a carb-fest breakfast topped with a gallon of coffee ice cream? Hey coffee beans grow on plants, sounds pretty balanced to us. Already thinking about lunch? Go wild; just make sure you stop at 12,000 calories. Just listen to the people who have tried it and made it work. Yes, there’s a cameo that hasn’t aged well, but let’s just move past that. Oh, also, disclaimer: Do not attempt the Michael Phelps Diet unless you are training for at least five to six hours a day and preparing for Olympic-level competition.

In this skit, Jennifer Lopez and Fred Armisen play Telemundo presenters baffled by the Winter Olympics in Canada. They can’t fathom the cold weather or understand the sports there. Come on, Canada, couldn’t you finish building that ramp? But we guess that’s what you get from a country that apparently doesn’t have any beaches. All their field correspondents are equally shocked by what they witness. Shuffleboard on ice? Yeah, we’re not buying it either. The entire cast sells the bit convincingly, making it absolutely hilarious. That said, we’re putting on our mitts so we can proudly wave the Canadian flag in celebration of our beautiful beaches up here!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Weekend Update: Kerri Strug and Kippy Strug on Winning Olympic Gold”
So, Kerri Strug Still Won Gold with Her Brother Kippy by Her Side? Can She Have Another Gold Medal for That?

“Mormons on the Slopes”
Taking Their Mission to New & Snowy Heights

“Swimming Instructor”
A Swimming Lesson to Never Forget, Even If You Really Want To

Maybe the Michael Phelps Diet isn’t quite your thing. How about trying the Belushi approach? You might not see the comedian as your typical athlete, but with the right sugary treat, you, too, can gain energy for all kinds of athletics. Let’s be honest—who hasn’t eaten a chocolatey donut and felt ready to smoke out the competition? The premise is simple, and the execution is spot-on. Just seeing a box of those donuts probably makes you think of this skit and crack a smile. Another disclaimer: while it worked for Belushi, we wouldn’t recommend trying it yourself. However, you might just score a six-pack from laughing through this skit!

Which “SNL” Olympics sketch would you award a gold medal to? Let us know in the comments.