Blind Landing

Latest Episodes:

Assembling The World’s Best Gymnastics Team (with author Dvora Meyers) Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

At most US Olympic Trials, you earn your spot by being the top finisher. In sports like track & field and swimming, it’s the top finishers who get to compete at the Paris Games this summer. Gymnastics doesn’t work that way –– but some people think it should. Unpacking this messy, subjective process are two guests: Dvora Meyers, author of The End Of The Perfect 10, and Emily Giambalvo, reporter at The Washington Post.

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How Female Gymnasts In Their 20s Became The Frontrunners For Olympic Gold (with Emily Giambavlo from The Washington Post) Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

The story for nearly half a century has been that youth is the key to women’s gymnastics –– but in recent years, there’s been a surge of female gymnasts in their twenties dominating the sport. Emily Giambalvo from The Washington Post joins host Ari Saperstein to break down how everything we were told about success in gymnastics got turned upside down.

You can follow Emily at @EmilyGiam on Twitter and read all her work at www.washingtonpost.com

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The Trifecta: How Simone, Suni, & Gabby Made History Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

On May 18th 2024, the gymnastics world saw something that had never happened before: the return of three Olympic all-around champions. Host Ari Saperstein unpacks this historic story with producer Maddie Bender.

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The Improbable Comeback of Rebeca Andrade Nov 06, 2022

Show notes

The making of Rebeca Andrade, one of the greatest gymnasts of all time and a comeback unlike any other.

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Kristi Yamaguchi: Asian American Idol May 18, 2022

Show notes

For many Asian Americans, seeing Kristi Yamaguchi win the gold in women’s figure skating at the 1992 Olympics was everything. She was more than a famous athlete — she was one of the few Asian Americans on TV, period. Yet for Kristi, the polished, glamorous image that we all saw was very different from her experience on the inside. From her choice to skate solo to seeking endorsements in an anti-Asian climate, reporter Stefanie Ritoper looks at the moments that almost stopped Kristi from becoming the Kristi Yamaguchi that we all know.

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Ukrainian Gymnast Illia Kovtun & The Story Behind The Photo Seen Around The World Mar 18, 2022

Show notes

On this special episode of Blind Landing, we're stepping away from figure skating and going back to the world of gymnastics to bring you Ukrainian gymnast Illia Kovtun. Illia tells us about what it's been like to compete during the invasion of Ukraine and the story of how politics found it's way onto the competition floor.

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Mabel Fairbanks: Beyond The Edge Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

Mabel Fairbanks changed figure skating forever. As a Black figure skater in the 1940s, Mabel made a name for herself skating in ice shows all over the world — but was barred from entering competitions because of the color of her skin. Mabel made it her life’s mission to get Black skaters into the sport and to reach the highest peaks. Using excerpts of interviews with Mabel never before heard by the public, we’re bringing you not just the story of Mabel Fairbanks, but Mabel herself — her voice, in her own words.

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Out On The Ice: Part 3 Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

“Out On The Ice” concludes with the story of Adam Rippon, the first out skater to represent the US at the Olympics, and a new generation of queer skaters determined to change the culture of their sport.

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Out On The Ice: Part 2 Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

For decades, skaters have been pushed to play into narrow gender stereotypes on and off the ice, leaving queer athletes feeling like being themselves wasn’t an option –– but not everyone was going to stay silent.

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Out On The Ice: Part 1 Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

From the outside, figure skating might look like a queer haven, a space where LGBTQ+ athletes can be out and open… but inside of the sport? That couldn’t be farther from the reality.

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