Keep the Flame Alive

Latest Episodes:

Book Club Claire on "Games of Deception" Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

Book Club Claire is back to discuss "Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany" by Andrew Maraniss. We also hear from author Roy Tomizawa about his book "1964," which is our next selection. We wonder which Team Olympic Fever Quarantine House we should stay in, and we have some gymnastics qualification updates for Tokyo 2020.

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

DISCLAIMER: OLYMPIC® is a trademark of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee ("USOPC"). Any use of OLYMPIC® in the Olympic Fever podcast is strictly for informational and commentary purposes. The Olympic Fever podcast is not an official podcast of the USOPC. The Olympic Fever podcast is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.

Catching Up with Tom Scott and Sean Colahan Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

We're catching up with more members of Team Olympic Fever to see how they're faring in the COVID-19 pandemic. Today we're chatting with our karate Olympic hopeful Tom Scott and video journalist Sean Colahan. Plus, we talk about the Olympic flame's current location, and we have a new self-isolation Olympic sport we think should be up for consideration in the Olympic program.

Follow Tom Scott:

Follow Sean Colahan on Twitter.

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

An NGB Perspective with USA Weightlifting CEO Phil Andrews Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

Today we're learning what the Olympics are like from a National Governing Body (NGB) point of view. Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Weightlifting joins us to talk about what his NGB does for its elite, Olympic-bound athletes, as well as for its clubs, coaches and other athlete members. We also talk about drug testing in the wake of COVID-19 and how that's especially important to the sport of weightlifting.

Follow Phil on Twitter and Insta, and check out his website!

USA Weightlifting is currently holding virtual competitions - learn more here!

We also mentioned an Olympic Channel short on the legendary Greek weightlifer Pyrros Dimas, who's now working with USA Weightlifting. Grab a tissue and watch that here.

Congrats to our Team Olympic Fever triathlete Joe Maloy on the birth of his daughter! Also, will Team Olympic Fever gymnast Chellsie Memmel make a comeback? Follow her on social @CMemmel and find out.

We have new dates for Tokyo 2020! The Olympics will take place from July 23 to August 8, 2021, and the Paralympics will take place from August 24 to September 5, 2021. The Tokyo Organizing Committee and Here We Go task force got those out in short order!

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

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Postponed Mar 26, 2020

Show notes

It's official: The Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We look at the timeline of the decision. We also check in with Team Olympic Fever members Jacqueline Simoneau, DeAnna Price, Samantha Schultz and new members Dr. Mary O'Connor and Phil Andrews to see how they're doing. We also discuss some of the thousands of pieces that are in play in rescheduling the Games for (likely) 2021.

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

John MacLeod, Montreal 1976 Olympic Water Polo Player Mar 19, 2020

Show notes

We welcome John MacLeod back to the show to talk about his experiences as a member of Team Canada's 1976 Olympic water polo team. John tells us what it was like to make the team, travel behind the Iron Curtain and march in the Opening Ceremonies. We also discuss what it was like to return to normal life after having a great Olympic experience, and how that transition can be difficult. Jill also tells a couple of Olympic-related stories of when she visited Innsbruck back in 1992 (her clothes were almost as fabulous as those from the 1970s). Plus, our self-isolation wouldn't be complete without relating an update on what COVID-19 has disrupted in terms of the Tokyo 2020 plans.

We need your help! We've started mapping out all of the Olympic-related sites in the world so that wherever you go, you might be able to visit a little bit of Olympism. Help us fill up our map with arenas, museums, statues, etc. Together we can show how the Olympics have touched all parts of the world.

Don't forget, our next book club episode is coming up! You can find our latest selection here.

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

Maura Grogan, U.S. Luge Pioneer Mar 13, 2020

Show notes

We're going back to 1976 to hear one Olympian's story of what life was like on the luge track at a time when there wasn't even a U.S. Luge Association. Maura Grogan, née Haponski, tells us how she got involved in the sport as a high schooler, what it was like to train with hardly any resources, and about her time at the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck. This is definitely the story of taking Pierre de Coubertin to heart and valuing the participation aspect of the Olympics (but hey, the U.S. team finished all their runs, which was an amazing feat for them).

If you want to know more about that time in U.S. luge history, Sports Illustrated ran a piece just before the 1976 Olympics that's a fantastic read.

We've got a Team Olympic Fever update with Clare Egan, Erin Jackson and Jacqueline Simoneau. Catch Jacqueline on the radio here.

The Olympic Flame has officially been lit! We talk about the torch lighting ceremony – and yes, the women in the Greek temple are priestesses, not goddesses, as we keep saying. But the flame! It's lit!

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

The Evolution of Olympic Commercialism Mar 05, 2020

Show notes

We're back! We definitely needed that break from learning we have to rename our show, but now we need to come up with a name. That's where you come in – we're having a Show Name Suggestion Bonanza, and we'd like your input! [note: this is not a contest; we're just looking for ideas]. Fill out the form here – it's got a list of considerations we have to keep in mind. We'll take suggestions through March 15, 2020. Thanks for your participation!

On to today's show:

The Olympics used to be a showcase for amateurism, but over time they've grown more and more commercialized. Authors Stephen R. Wenn and Robert K. Barney join us to talk about their new book The Gold in the Rings: The People and Events that Transformed the Gamesand the key people throughout Olympic history who made an impact on its trajectory. Yep, that includes some Avery Brundage talk!

Stephen is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University. Robert is a professor emeritus and founding director emeritus of the International Center for Olympic Studies at the School of Kinesiology at Western University. They have also written with Scott Martyn the book Tarnished Rings: The International Olympic Committee and the Salt Lake City Bid Scandal.

You can learn more about their book from University of Illinois Press.

We've got lots of TOFU from our bobsledders, divers and gymnasts – and big news for the dulcet tones of Jason Bryant.

It's been a couple of weeks, so we have a ton of Tokyo 2020 news:

Most importantly, as of right now, the Games will not be suspended or cancelled due to coronavirus. Please stop asking the IOC about it.
Japan's podium uniforms have been released
The Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage is going to have the first Olympic agora at a Games, opening April 24 through August 16. Here's a schedule and map
The Torch will be lit next week (NEXT WEEK!), but our friend Karolos Grohman writes that the ceremonies in Greece will be scaled back
Also, what do you think of Tokyo 2020's kinetic pictograms? Alison definitely has some opinions on them.

We also have an IOC update which includes a list of athletes who have officially changed countries.

And, Paris 2024 has an official surfing venue!

Lightning Round with DeAnna Price, Madelynn Gorman-Shore, Mallory Comerford and Jake Dalton Feb 27, 2020

Show notes

While we're taking a break after last week's big news, we've got a Lightning Round episode for you. This edition features hammer thrower DeAnna Price, taekwondo athlete Madelynn Gorman-Shore, swimmer Mallory Comerford and gymnast Jake Dalton.

**DISCLAIMER: OLYMPIC® is a trademark of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee ("USOPC"). Any use of OLYMPIC® in the Olympic Fever podcast is strictly for informational and commentary purposes. The Olympic Fever podcast is not an official podcast of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.**

Change Is in the Air Feb 20, 2020

Show notes

We've got a big announcement about the future of the show -- we tell you all about it in this episode.

Hannah Brown, Olympic Archery Official Feb 14, 2020

Show notes

Might Alison have found a distant relative? We're talking archery with Hannah Brown, the chair of officials for the Tokyo 2020 archery tournament. She tells us how an archery tournament is set up, and what she remembers from tournaments (hint: It's not who wins). She did the test event too, so she describes the Tokyo venue and how you can "have a go" if you have tickets to any of the archery dates at the Olympics. [If you do go, and you hear massive cheering for the officials, Jill's in the stands.]

Also, this week's slice of TOFU with DeAnna Price, Clare Egan, Erin Jackson and Laura Wilkinson.

Several countries have released their Tokyo 2020 team uniforms, and we have thoughts.

Tokyo's got great plans for the Paralympic flame, and Tahiti has the French waves.

Photo: Dominique Porte/FFTA, courtesy of Hannah Brown

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