(NEXSTAR) MILAN, Italy - NBC announcer Mike Tirico highlighted the resilience and "human spirit" of Olympic athletes during a recent discussion about the most significant moments of the games. Tirico reflected on the gold medal victories of Mikaela Shiffrin and Elana Meyers Taylor while addressing the unique pressures athletes face on the world stage. The veteran broadcaster noted that the Olympic Games showcase the personal stories of athletes more prominently than professional leagues. Tirico's reflections followed a dense month of coverage that included hosting the Super Bowl, Sunday night basketball and the Olympics. Shiffrin secured a gold medal in the slalom competition after facing previous Olympic struggles. Shiffrin was a heavy favorite entering the event, having won seven of the eight World Cup slalom races held throughout the season. She finished in second place in the only race she did not win. Tirico emphasized the pressure of being the final skier in the competition. "That's why we love sports, I think," Tirico said. "Because you want to see the best be the best in that defining moment. And she knew it and she crushed it." Bobsled athlete Taylor won a gold medal in the monobob at age 41 while balancing the challenges of raising two children with hearing issues. Tirico, who has known Taylor for eight years, interviewed her via FaceTime from Milan while she was stationed in the mountains. Tirico described the experience of sharing such success stories as a highlight of his career. "Those are the things that you go, wow, what a fun job to watch other people succeed and at their highest moments, be able to share those with not just them and you, but America," Tirico said. While some celebrated victories, other favorites like figure skater Ilia Malinin faced disappointment. Malinin finished in eighth place in the men's competition despite high expectations for a gold medal. Tirico noted that the "Olympic rings" bring a specific type of pressure that athletes often discuss among themselves. During a conversation with Malinin, Tirico asked how the skater handled public scrutiny on social media. Malinin admitted he waited a day before checking his phone to see what people were saying about him. "A lot of their community is their phone," Tirico said. "And those are the people who are weighing in. And many of them don't know who they are." Tirico acknowledged that covering these stories often leads to personal emotion. He noted that although he maintains a neutral journalistic stance, he felt "choked up" watching athletes like Shiffrin and Taylor. He stated that the humanity of sport manifests itself in the Olympics more than in the NFL or NBA. "Just because this job does require us to be journalists, we can also be human as well," Tirico said. "And that's what I love about the Olympics." Tirico also noted he had recently spoken with Breezy Johnson, who has also experienced a successful month of competition. Malinin is expected to return to Olympic competition in four years. Tirico suggested that a single "bad day" does not diminish Malinin's status as one of the best in his sport. "You just feel that way about certain people," Tirico said regarding Malinin's prospects of winning a future gold medal. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published