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Savannah Guthrie jokes about 'terrifying' Winter Olympics experience on Today show

The star shared the traumatic moment

savannah guthrie today show hoda terrifying
Hannah Hargrave
US Deputy Editor
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Savannah Guthrie loves reporting on the Winter Olympics but that doesn't mean she enjoys taking part!

The Today show host opened up about being rescued while reporting on the sporting event back in 2018. 

MORE: Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb share disappointment over 2022 Winter Olympics 

Savannah spoke to her co-host, Hoda Kotb, about the experience and explained how horrified she was to discover she was going to have to learn to ski for a segment on the NBC show.

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"So the [producers] were like, 'You're going to learn to ski in PyeongChang,'" she said, according to People magazine. "I never skied, because I grew up in the desert. We didn't go on skiing vacations.

"That's part of the reason the Winter Olympics are my favorite. Because we didn't have snow [growing up], or ice hockey, or skating, and so it's kind of magical to me."

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However, when it came around to filming the segment, it all went wrong. "First of all, putting on the skiing boots and the whole outfit was harder than anything," said Savannah who hosted the NBC Opening Ceremony coverage this year. Then I fell six times before I even got to the ski lift."

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Savannah is reporting on the Olypmics but from the safety of the Today studio this year 

Hoda agreed, and added: "We look ridiculous. We're like Bambi, we can't even stand up. I can't do it anymore. I like my knees."

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Unfortunately, it didn't get much better for Savannah and despite being "on the bunny slope," she was unable to move. "I was so terrified, I couldn't get down," Savannah admitted.

gus kenworthy© Photo: Getty Images

Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy had to save Savannah 

She had to be rescued by Olympic skier, Gus Kenworthy. "He had just won the gold medal, literally had to put me on his back and ski down the bunny slope with me on his back," she continued. "And I believe he still has back spasms to this day."

Savannah is reporting from the safety of the NY studios this year and Craig Melvin is the only Today show host on site in China. 

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