Keep the Flame Alive

Latest Episodes:

Lightning Round with Author Harry Blutstein, Triathlon Director Tim Yount and Karate-ka Tom Scott Nov 28, 2019

Show notes

It's American Thanksgiving, so we're serving up a Lightning Round featuring Team Olympic Fever members Harry Blutstein, Tim Yount and Tom Scott.

Be sure to follow Harry at his website and Tom on Facebook, Insta and Twitter.

Plus, we've got a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT about the show--and the latest in the IOC's hotelnovela. Jill's got a theory--and it's a good one!

Because it's Thanksgiving, we wanted to be sure we thanked you for listening and supporting us in so many ways. We love being able to bring you this show, and we couldn't do it without your support. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

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.

Olympic Hopeful Madelynn Gorman-Shore on Taekwondo Nov 21, 2019

Show notes

This week we talk with Olympic hopeful Madelynn Gorman-Shore to understand how the sport of Taekwondo works. We learn that it's much more than just kicking people in the head, it's also the sport of very expensive socks.

Follow Madelynn on Insta!

In our Team Olympic Fever update, Josh Williamson is starting off his bobsled season right; XC skier Kikkan Randall has a sweet new appointment; and hockey referee Jessica Leclerc is featured in the New York Times.

We also have the latest in the Tokyo 2020 maranovela saga. The maranovela is sadly taking the spotlight over other Tokyo 2020 news, including the main stadium being completed.

Plus, the IOC's got a brand-new sponsor in AirBnb, which is going to sponsor the Games through 2028. We talk about that development….could we have the makings of a hotelnovela?!

Thanks to sponsor PinCollector.com – love to collect and trade Olympic pins? This is the online trading place for collectors!

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

Photo courtesy of USA Taekwondo

Book Club Claire on "Munich 1972" Nov 14, 2019

Show notes

Book Club Claire is back! We discuss our latest pick, Munich 1972: Tragedy, Terror, and Triumph at the Olympic Games by David Clay Large. The book covers the hostage crisis as well as triumphs of the Games (notably in the swimming pool) and controversies (the men's basketball gold medal game)

Our next Book Club selection is The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle by Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen. Perhaps the winner of the longest subtitle this year, this is a brand-new book—it came out just this week! Also check out Listener Nicholas' blog Olympic Rings and Other Things -- he's got a great post on it!

Follow Claire on Twitter!

Even though Tokyo agreed to move the marathon and race walking events to Sapporo, the saga is far from over. We've got the latest installment of this maranovela, which still doesn't answer the question of who's going to pay for all of this.

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

Note: Links to products are affiliate links. We earn commissions through purchases made through them, which helps to fund the show.

Hammer Thrower DeAnna Price's Olympic Experience Nov 07, 2019

Show notes

U.S. Olympian and World Champion Hammer Thrower DeAnna Price is back to tell us about her experiences at the Rio 2016 Olympics and take some listener questions. Plus, a Team Olympic Fever member is making a comeback, and we've got the end of the Tokyo 2020 marathon/race walking saga (or is it?).

When DeAnna talks about "her girls," you can see the love in this video when Fiodorow congratulates her. Warning: You might need a tissue for this one.

Follow DeAnna on Insta and Twitter!

From our Team Olympic Fever Update: If you haven't seen Dawn Harper Nelson's announcement video, you should check it out.

Photo courtesy of DeAnna Price.

Olympian DeAnna Price on Hammer Throw Oct 31, 2019

Show notes

Did you know that a 4kg ball has the power to lift you in the air and slam you on the ground? U.S. Olympian and World Champion Hammer Thrower DeAnna Price tells us how this sport works. Plus, the latest in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic marathon and race walking saga!

Follow DeAnna on social:

Special thanks to our sponsor PinCollector.com! We've got our very own Olympic Fever pin, thanks to them -- we'll update this with how you can get your very own!

Photo courtesy of DeAnna Price.

Olympic Hopeful Tom Scott on Karate Oct 24, 2019

Show notes

Olympic hopeful Tom Scott joins us to explain a sport that's new to the Olympic program at Tokyo 2020: Karate. Tom talks with Contributor Ben Jackson about kata and kumite and what to look for during the competition. You can also learn more from Tokyo 2020's one-minute video!

You can follow Tom on:

In our Team Olympic Fever Update, Tony Azevedo's got a new line of apparel, and Shiva Keshavan can speak at your next event!

Plus, the saga with the marathon and race walking competitions at Tokyo continue. Is an IOC member going rogue…or Rogge? And Paris 2024 has released a new logo -- what do you think of the optical illusion?

Photo courtesy of Tom Scott.

Being an Olympic Team Doctor Oct 17, 2019

Show notes

Olympic teams have a wide range of support personnel--including doctors. On this episode we talk with Dr. Cathy O'Connor, who was the team doctor for the U.S. Women's National Ice Hockey Team for 10 years, including a stint at the Torino 2006 Olympics. Cathy tells us how she got to the Olympics and what it's like managing a team's medical needs -- from concussion management to doping, and everything in between.

In our Team Olympic Fever Update segment, Jill reports back from her and Contributor Ben's trip to Montreal to do the Tough Mountie Challenge, where they got to catch up with our artistic swimmer Jacqueline Simoneau.

Also, Team Olympic Fever author Roy Tomizawa will be speaking in San Francisco on November 6. Here's a link to more information on that event.

In our Tokyo 2020 updates you need to know, we have news on:

the marathon and race walking competitions
the damage from typhoon Hagibis
seating at the boxing venue
more athletes who have qualified for the Games

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

Chellsie Memmel on (Adult) Gymnastics Oct 11, 2019

Show notes

Olympian Chellsie Memmel talks gymnastics with contributor Ben Jackson. She tells what it was like to be an alternate at the Athens 2004 Olympics, then competing while injured at Beijing 2008. Chellsie's still involved in the gymnastics world--including getting back into the sport as an adult. Plus, the USOPC has relaxed the restrictions on Rule 40. We try to make sense of them.

Follow Chellsie on Twitter and Insta to see some of her amazing videos and challenges.

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

Author Harry Blutstein on the Melbourne 1956 Olympics Oct 03, 2019

Show notes

It's a Bucket List episode! Alison's been dying to talk about the infamous Blood in the Water water polo match from Melbourne 1956, and Jill's wanted to talk about the contentious football match between the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia from Helsinki 1952. We get to cover BOTH of them this week with Harry Blutstein, author of the book "Cold War Games: Spies, Subterfuge and Secret Operations at the 1956 Olympic Games," which looks at how politics and history played out at the Melbourne 1956 Olympics (also known as "The Friendly Games"). Hear some amazing stories of the issues with the Soviet Union, Hungary, Yugoslavia, China and Taiwan.

Be sure to check out Harry's website for more stories -- and if you're one of our Patreon patrons, we'll have some bonus audio from this interview for our Bronze level and above patrons. Our Patreon patrons also get a first look at our new sponsorship with PinCollector.com.

In our Team Olympic Fever Update, the dulcet tones of Jason Bryant are in Tokyo to announce at the wrestling test event. Also, Charlie White and Meryl Davis were on Talks At Google -- check it out here!

We've also got a bunch of updates about doping and Tokyo 2020, including this new bus and curb (or "kerb") design.

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

Note: Links to products are affiliate links. We earn commissions through purchases made through them, which helps to fund the show.

Photo courtesy of Harry Blutstein.

Olympian Joe Maloy on Triathlon Sep 27, 2019

Show notes

Rio 2016 Olympian Joe Maloy talks with Jill about what makes a successful triathlete (hint: think mental game).

Joe is currently working for USA Triathlon as its Collegiate Recruitment Program Coordinator. You can follow him on Twitter and Insta.

Some shocking news: Russia's worried about getting banned from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics because the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found some inconsistencies in the samples the Russian Anti-Doping Agency handed over. Inconsistencies?! From RUSADA? Who would've thought!

Our Team Olympic Fever update is full of weddings, babies, bobsled results (yep, it's winter sports time again) and an update on the traveler of the month.

Plus, the Tokyo 2020 organizers have announced what the furniture in the Olympic Village will be--they're sticking with their sustainability initiatives and have come up with something pretty innovative. We have opinions, of course.

Also, from seemingly out of nowhere, TBach unleashes an expertise we'd never guess he had.

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

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