Keep the Flame Alive

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Randal Roark and Michael Dobbins on Atlanta 1996's Legacy Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Atlanta 1996, so we are talking about the legacy of those Games from the city planning perspective. We're joined by Randal Roark and Michael Dobbins, who along with Leon Eplan wrote the new book Atlanta's Olympic Resurgence: How the 1996 Games Revived a Struggling City. During the Games, Randal was the director of planning and design for the Corporation for Olympic Development in Atlanta for the design of public projects in preparation for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Michael Dobbins was Atlanta's commissioner of planning, development and neighborhood conservation from just before the Games and for the following 6 years. We talked about the planning that went into those Games, plans that didn't work and the legacy of those Games.

You can get the book (and support the show) by buying it through our Bookshop.org storefront.

Randal and Michael are also speaking at the Atlanta History Center this week, and there's a virtual option - check it out!

News from TKFLASTAN includes updates from:

The dulcet tones of Jason Bryant
Ice dancer Charlie White: Check out his talk with the Peninsula Skating Club
Jordan Gray

We're just a few days away from the start of Tokyo 2020! We've got:

COVID-19 updates
News from the Olympic Village, including Korea's Rule 50 violation
Another scandal surrounding the Opening Ceremonies
Who's getting the Olympic Laurel? Also, what is the Olympic Laurel?
The Virtual Team Korea House
News on the fan situation
What Team USA is doing for athlete families

Our Tokyo fun!

We have an ebook viewing guide that covers both the Olympics and Paralympics - get your copy on Amazon
Play Opening Ceremonies bingo with us - get your bingo card through our Facebook Group, or email us for a card (flamealivepod@gmail.com)
Log onto Tokyo 2020's Fan Zone, then join the Keep the Flame Alive Podcast Fantasy League - we tell you the access code in the episode.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

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Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

SPC Alejandro Sancho on Greco-Roman Wrestling Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

One week from Tokyo 2020! Today we're learning about Greco-Roman wrestling from SPC Alejandro Sancho of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program. Alejandro will be competing for Team USA at Tokyo 2020 in the 67kg weight class. We talk about how to distinguish Greco-Roman from freestyle wrestling and what it's like to drop someone on their head.

Alejandro is slated to compete on August 4, so be sure to tune in and watch him wrestle!

What are our TKFLASTANIs up to this week? We've got news from:

Evan Dunfee
Roy Tomizawa - here's his latest TV appearance
Jacqueline Simoneau - here's here latest radio appearance

And we've got the latest from Tokyo 2020, including:

TBach's Uncle Yoshi moment
COVID-19 troubles
VIP updates
More Opening Ceremonies uniforms!
Medal Ceremony changes

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of: U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program

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Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

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Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

Tim Sherry on 3 Position Rifle Shooting Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

We're on the shooting range with SPC Tim Sherry of Team USA and the US Army Marksmanship Unit. Tim walks us through the sport of 3 Position Rifle, including how to shoot in wind and rain, dealing with your feet falling asleep during competition, how puberty affects your shooting, the cost of a rifle, and why the new Olympic mixed rifle event will be exciting to watch.

Follow Tim on Facebook, Insta and Twitter.

Plus, our TKFLASTANIs are arriving in Tokyo, and we have more team news from:

Jordan Gray, featured in the New York Times
McKenna Geer
Renska Lok

In Tokyo, the other shoe dropped, as the city reentered a state of emergency and officials declared there will be no spectators at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. We talk about the implications of that, both now and in the future.

Athletes are arriving, and not everyone's so happy about some of the wording used to help keep the bubble intact.

Plus, TBach has made it to Tokyo! We're getting ready for an IOC family reunion at the next IOC Session.

Also, Alison's been on the hunt for Team USA Oreos for quite some time. How successful has her latest shopping trip been?

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of USA Shooting.

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Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

Historian Georgia Cervin on the Evolution of Women's Gymnastics Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

Women's gymnastics is one of the most popular Olympic events, but the way the sport evolved made it ripe for abuse and overtraining. Sports scholar and former international gymnast Georgia Cervin joins us to talk about her book, Degrees of Difficulty: How Women's Gymnastics Rose to Prominence and Fell From Grace. We talk about the beginnings of the sport as a display of feminity and how Cold War rivalries led to younger competition and created an environment that led to multiple types of abuse. We also talk about how the sport itself has changed over the decades, the introduction of the Code of Points and how stars like Simone Biles are pushing the envelope and showing what women are achieving in this sport.

Learn more about Georgia's work at her website.

Following up on our news about Tokyo 2020 golden mailboxes, Listener Don reminded us that London 2012 did the same thing (Paris 2024 and LA 2028, we hope you're taking note and make it a trend).

What are our TKFLASTANIs up to this week? We've got news from:

Karateka Tom Scott
Boxer Ginny Fuchs (check out Texas Monthy's film on her)
Modern Pentathlete Samanta Schultz
Bobsledder Josh Williamson (featured here)
Bobsledder Lauren Gibbs (news on her NFT auction here)

We also have news from Tokyo 2020, including:

The constantly changing policies on spectators at the Olympics
The Athletes' Village pre-opening
How some nations' athletes are getting to the Games
Status updates on Caster Semenya and Sha'Carri Richardson

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo credit: University of Illinois Press

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Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

"Total Olympics" Author Jeremy Fuchs Jul 05, 2021

Show notes

On this episode we look at great and unique Olympic moments with Jeremy Fuchs, author of the new book "Total Olympics: Every Obscure, Hilarious, Dramatic and Inspiring Tale Worth Knowing." We talk Olympic legends, how the Nazis used the 1936 Winter Olympics as a dress rehearsal for the Berlin Summer Olympics, and the infamous plunge for distance event.

Jeremy's book is the perfect gift for the Olympics fan in your life. It's full of short articles on everything you need to know about to know about the Olympics, and it's packed with great photos. Buy it here (affiliate link) and follow him on Twitter.

What are our TKFLASTANIs up to this episode? We've got news from:

Plus, the latest news from Tokyo 2020 and a review of the Team USA Oreos.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

Abdi Abdirahman on Marathon Running Jul 01, 2021

Show notes

Abdi Abdirahman knows how to run for a long time. He's the only American distance runner to have qualified for 5 Olympics, 3 Games at 10000m and 2 at the marathon distance. He'll be running the marathon at Tokyo 2020, so we and Book Club Claire talked with him about how both of these races work and what's up with the controversial Nike Vaporfly road shoes.

Abdi has also written a book about his life and his approach to running. Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun will be out in August, and you can pre-order your copy here.

Follow Abdi on Insta!

What are our TKFLASTANIs up to this week? We've got news from:

Hammer thrower DeAnna Price
Decathlete Jordan Gray
Water polo Olympian Tony Azevedo
Runner/Chaplain Madeline Mims
Olympian/Film Director John MacLeod

In Tokyo 2020 news:

We've got new information about the International Olympic Committee's protest ban.
The Tokyo Organizing Committee has also backpedaled from its initial decision to ban athletes' children who are breastfeeding.
Columbia's bit hit by a doping penalty (guess which sport).
The Japanese postal service has found an ingenious way to commemorate Team Japan's gold medal performances at these Olympics.
The International Paralympic Committee has named its refugee team.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo: Team USA

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

Olympian and Paralympian Melissa Tapper on Table Tennis Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

What do pimples have to do with table tennis? Australian Olympian and Paralympian Melissa Tapper explains all -- and what she says about the sport will have you glued to the screen during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Follow Milly on Facebook, Twitter and Insta, and check out her website for more info.

In news from TKFLASTAN, we have updates from:

Lauren Gibbs
Marnie McBean (check out Xander's Podcast here)
Evan Dunfee
Sydney Collier

And news from Tokyo 2020, including a tidbit about an Opening Day event.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of Table Tennis Australia.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

Seychellois Swimmer Felicity Passon Jun 24, 2021

Show notes

As Americans, we're used to Team USA being a major force at any Olympics, but what's it like to represent a small country? Today we're talking with swimmer Felicity Passon, who will compete for the Seychelles at the Olympics. Felicity tells us about the few resources she has access too, how her National Olympic Committee is trying to improve sport within the country, and how she hopes to make it better for the next generation of athletes. Plus, we've got a big announcement!

Felicity's qualified for the 200m backstroke, so we also talked about how that event works and some things to look for as you watch it.

Plus, lots of updates from TKFLASTAN, including news from:

Mallory Comerford
Dawn Harper-Nelson
Michelle Carter
DeAnna Price
Samantha Schultz - support her Bonfire campaign here
Ginny Fuchs - watch "Mysteries of Mental Illness" here

And our Tokyo 2020 update, we talk about the spectator situation, who's shown up and tested positive for Covid-19, and the Tokyo Organizing Committee's mobile app release with one month to go!

Photo courtesy of Felicity Passon

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022

Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Ben Ryan on Rugby Sevens Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

Rugby coach Ben Ryan led the Fiji men's rugby sevens team to the country's first-ever gold medal, which they earned at the sport's Olympic debut at Rio 2016. We talked with Ben about how the sport works -- and got some sunscreen tips.

Follow Ben on Twitter and Insta and check out his website. Season 2 of The Ben Ryan Podcast starts in July, so check it out.

What are our TKFLASTANIs up to this week? We've got news from:

Chellsie Memmel
Laura Wilkinson
Mallory Comerford
Tom Scott
McKenna Geer
Dawn Harper-Nelson
DeAnna Price
Michelle Carter
Jacqueline Simoneau
Samantha Schultz
Stephanie Roble & Maggie Shea
Andrew Maraniss - Here's the link to his upcoming conversation with Reggie D. Ford.

In our Tokyo 2020 update, we talk about the final version of the Playbooks, which are to give guidance on how to navigate the Olympics during Covid-19. This includes how to navigate showering and ice baths.

Also, Brisbane has been approved by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board to be the host for the 2032 Olympics. The final step: One more vote by the entire IOC membership at the upcoming IOC Session that takes place before Tokyo.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of Ben Ryan.

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Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Support the show:

Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online: