ESPN Reporter Coley Harvey on covering his first Summer Olympics: Surprises, Viral Moments, and Iconic Paris Locations

ESPN reporter Coley Harvey is covering the Olympic Games in person for the first time. Arriving a week before the competition began, Harvey’s main assignment was to cover track and field, but he has also been part of ESPN’s coverage of the opening ceremony as well as tennis, fencing, women’s rugby, beach volleyball, and skateboarding.

He is one of 10 ESPN reporters on location in Paris. On a train going back to his hotel after a day at the track and field stadium, Harvey talked with Front Row about his experiences:

What has surprised you the most?
I’m most surprised by how generally easy it is to get around the city. The metro trains are super efficient, with waits that never exceed more than four minutes. There are also special taxis and apps that feature cars that can use specific Olympics lanes, meaning you don’t have to sit in traffic. For as much of a logistical headache as an event of this magnitude — spread all across a city this size — can bring, getting around has been pleasantly simple.

Getting to watch Rafael Nadal play inside Roland-Garros? Pinch me. – Coley Harvey

Do you have any fun stories you can relay about your Olympic experience?
Oh, man. Too many! Probably, my favorites revolve around some of the fun moments I’ve covered. Track and field is the sport I’m primarily covering here, so I was so lucky to be in attendance for the men’s 100-meter final that went down as one of the fastest races in history. I’ll never forget the realization that swept over me and the 77,000-person Stade de France crowd when it became clear [Team USA sprinter] Noah Lyles had won the race.

Then, after the race, a question I posed to Lyles in his news conference went viral. If you’re a sneakerhead, you definitely saw the clip. I asked Lyles if he had given much thought to what his future would be after this race. He blurted out: He wants his own sneaker, not spikes. “Ain’t no money in spikes.”

Unrelatedly, I was also at that same venue the week before for the Team USA women’s rugby sevens walk-off winner over Australia, which earned the team a bronze. It was another banner moment for women’s sports in our country and a big moment for that specific sport itself. After the game, the team received a $4 million donation that will help it be even more competitive at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

My other fun stories revolve around the venues where I’ve watched games. Specifically, the Grand Palais and the foot of the Eiffel Tower were perfect settings for fencing and beach volleyball, respectively. The backdrops were the most amazing I’ve ever seen at a sporting competition. And getting to watch [Spanish men’s tennis great] Rafael Nadal play inside Roland-Garros? Pinch me.