Keep the Flame Alive

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Episode 65: Olympic Lightning Round 2 Dec 27, 2018

Show notes

It's a holiday week, so we're bringing you another set of Olympian Lightning Round interviews for your enjoyment. This week we've got hurdler Dawn Harper Nelson, water polo player Tony Azevedo and shotgun shooter Kim Rhode. Happy New Year!

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.

Episode 64: Adam Stirn, Olympic Zamboni Driver Dec 20, 2018

Show notes

When you need Olympic-caliber hockey ice, you get the best in the world. For the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics, Adam Stirn got the call to be an ice technician at the ice hockey venue, where he drove the Zamboni on a nightly basis. Learn what makes good hockey ice, and just how difficult it is to drive a Zamboni!

Episode 63: "Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful" Winner Lindsey Mayo Dec 13, 2018

Show notes

"Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful" came back for another season, and we've got another winner on the show! Lindsey Mayo, winner and Olympic hopeful in rugby, joins us to talk about her experiences on the show. We also check in with season 1 winner Josh Williamson, who appeared on this season. Plus, a lot of TOFU--and a most inspired Christmas gift.

You can follow Lindsey on Twitter.

Our friend Josh is on social at:

Also, we've been making our own appearances! Listen to us on Ask Win (Win has a great Olympic story of her own) and Podcast Business Journal.

Thanks for listening, and until next week, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Episode 62: A Freeze on Boxing Dec 06, 2018

Show notes

This past weekend could've been d-day for boxing and weightlifting. The IOC Executive Board met to determine whether or not those two sports should remain on the Olympic Program for Tokyo 2020.

Weightlifting seems to be making improvements, but the IOC decided to put a freeze on boxing. What does that mean? Jill and Alison delve into what's going on within the AIBA, boxing's international federation. Like this controversy from Seoul 1988.

The freeze could potentially be a good situation. After all, something similar happened just a few years ago when the IOC decided to pull wrestling from the Tokyo 2020 schedule. We welcome back the dulcet tones of Jason Bryant, who explains how bad off wrestling was.

Check out Jason's site and wrestling podcasts at MatTalkOnline. You can also find him Facebook and Twitter.

Also on the show, Jill talks about the new documentary on Tommie Smith's and John Carlos' actions during the 1968 Mexico City Games. It's called "The Stand: How One Gesture Shook the World."

Plus, we have a short TOFU update! Check out Nathan Bartholomay and Deanna Stellato at the Golden Spin of Zagreb.

Don't forget to support the show! You can join our group of patrons and get your hands on fun swag.

Episode 61: Kim Rhode's Olympics Nov 29, 2018

Show notes

Kim Rhode is back on the show to talk about her Olympic experiences. She's got one of the most storied Olympic careers, having competed in 6 Olympics, having to learn a new event midway through, and earning a medal at each one of them. She's got some great stories, from fun in the Olympic Village at Atlanta, to having her son watch her compete in Rio.

We also recap "Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful" Season 2, which was on over the weekend, and we have some Team Olympic Fever updates.

Kim Rhode's aiming for her 7th Olympics in Tokyo. You can follow her journey on social media:

Thanks as always for listening, and until next week, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of Kim Rhode.

Episode 60: Lightning Round 1: Jimmy Pedro, Tessa Gobbo & John Naber Nov 22, 2018

Show notes

It's Thanksgiving Day weekend in the US, which means Jill and Alison are busy carbo loading (well, to be fair, Jill's doing a 5K too). This week we debut a recurring segment: The Lightning Round.

In recent months we've asked our interviewees the same 5 questions. Hear how Olympic judo coach Jimmy Pedro, Olympic rower Tessa Gobbo and Olympic swimmer John Naber answer them.

It's perfect listening while you wait to baste your turkey or prepare other Thanksgiving foods....and if this isn't your holiday, you get a nice, short episode!

We'll be back next week with Kim Rhode, who dishes on some of her favorite Olympic memories. Let's just say that the Atlanta Olympic Village sounded like such a fun place!

Thank you for listening. This week, especially, we can't say thank you enough. Until next time, keep the flame alive!

Episode 59: Kim Rhode on Olympic Shotgun Shooting Nov 15, 2018

Show notes

Legend in the house! 6x Olympian and 6x Olympic medalist Kim Rhode joins us to explain how the Olympic shotgun events work.

But first! We have a correction on the Hollywood version of the Blood in the Water polo match between Hungary and the USSR at the 1956 Olympics. Quentin Tarantino was the producer behind the documentary "Freedom's Fury," which was narrated by Mark Spitz.

Plus, there is a Hungarian movie (which Jill vaguely remembered finding but couldn't do so quickly) called "Children of Glory" produced by Andy Vajna and directed by Krisztina Goda:

Entire movie: https://youtu.be/VS69waHIPL4
Trailer (English): https://youtu.be/F32mX62TIug
Movie website: http://www.szabadsagszerelemafilm.hu/

Back to this week's main event. We are honored to have Kim Rhode with us today. Kim is the first athlete – male or female – to win medals at six consecutive Olympic Summer Games in any sport, a feat she achieved between Atlanta 1996 and Rio 2016 and which only Italian luger Armin Zöggeler has equalled in the Winter Games. She is also the first Olympic shooter, male or female, to compete in all three shotgun events – trap, double trap and skeet.

[Not] Surprisingly, Kim's interview went long, so we're dividing it into two episodes. Today she explains how the shotgun sports work--from the uniform to the rifle to how much she shoots in ammo on a given day (thank you, Winchester, indeed). And here's some more info on her gun that was stolen.

Follow Kim online!

Plus, we have not-so-surprising news about Tokyo 2020 and great news from our team. It's an action-packed episode!

And we're always grateful to our patrons, who keep our flames (i.e.--the podcast) alive. Join the patrons club today!

Photo courtesy of Kim Rhode.

Episode 58: Tony Azevedo's World of Water Polo Nov 08, 2018

Show notes

We're jumping in the pool to talk with 5x Olympian Tony Azevedo about the sport of water polo. This is another sport that's no joke -- did you know it's the only sport that develops certain muscles in your feet? Tony gives us the lowdown on techniques, controversies with hand gluing and ball deflation, and what it's like to be in the Croatian celebrity press.

Also, the US Olympic Committee has de-sanctioned USA Gymnastics as a National Governing Body. We talk about the ramifications and timing of this decision.

You can find Tony online at tonyazevedo.com and follow him on:

Check out his new company 6-8 Sports and see how it can improve your water polo game!

For more info about things we discussed:

See sculling in action here!

More info on The Blood in the Water match here!

(note: there is a documentary out there called Freedom's Fury, but its site isn't really supported anymore)

Support the show! It keeps our flame alive (i.e.--helps cover the bills, find more of our people, and create great new content):

Photo courtesy of Tony Azevedo.

Episode 57: "Running for my Life" with Book Club Claire Nov 01, 2018

Show notes

Book Club Claire is back to discuss Lopez Lomong's book "Running for my Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games."

Lopez has had a remarkable life so far: He was kidnapped by Sudanese rebel fighters, escaped that situation with people he called his "angels," spent most of his childhood in a Kenyan refugee camp, and was chosen to move to the United States where he developed his running talents and earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic teams in 2008 and 2012. He's still competing for a spot on the Tokyo 2020 team and working to improve conditions in South Sudan.

Here are some resources to help you learn more and help out:

And if you're curious about Alison's latest beef with Mary Carillo, that was from "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" Episode 183.

Follow Claire on Twitter!

Support the show:

Episode 56: Dawn Harper Nelson's Olympics Oct 25, 2018

Show notes

Hurdling great Dawn Harper Nelson is BACK! This week she talks with us about gold at Beijing 2008, silver at London 2012, and a heartbreaking 2016 US Olympic trials. Plus, we've got TOFU, a Tokyo 2020 update, and an opportunity for you to help the Beijing 2022 Games. Also, Jill and Alison discuss who would win in a mascot race.

Here are Dawn's races — once you listen to the show, check out the London race again and see if you see what Dawn's talking about.

Beijing
London
The 2016 Olympic Trials and her post-race interview
Rio 2016 – US sweeps the podium

Don't forget to follow the next chapter of Dawn's journey — you can find her on Twitter and Insta at @DHarp100mH. On Facebook she's Dawn Harper Nelson, and her website is www.dawnharpernelson.com

In our Tokyo 2020 Update, we mention the new Paralympic schedule. Find it here.

Want to submit a proposal for the Beijing 2022 Opening Ceremonies? Find out more info here. If you do enter, remember, Alison likes lots of drums.

Do you need more Soohorang in your life? Who doesn't?! It was nice to see this clip on Twitter recently.

Don't forget to support the show–there's so many ways to keep our flame alive: