Keep the Flame Alive

Latest Episodes:

Episode 55: Hurdles with 2x Olympic Medalist Dawn Harper Nelson Oct 18, 2018

Show notes

Dawn Harper Nelson, gold medalist at Beijing 2008 and silver medalist at London 2012 in the 100m hurdles, explains how to approach a hurdle race. Plus, Jill has a startling confession--or perhaps you'd call it a b-confession.

So many links for you this week. First off, follow Dawn:

Twitter:@DHarp100mH

Insta:https://www.instagram.com/dharp100mh/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/dawnharpernelson

www.dawnharpernelson.com

Some of the videos of her that we mentioned on the show:

Watch her do some exercises and be all inspirational.

Her victory at Beijing 2008.

Her silver medal race at London 2012.

A snippet of her Aha Talk.

We'll have Dawn back on next week -- she'll go into her victory at Beijing, her silver at London and the crushing blow she felt at the Rio Olympic Trials.

Also, the dulcet tones of Team member Jason Bryant will be lighting up an arena in Budapest at the World Wrestling Championships. Catch those here -- and they're also going to be on NBC Olympics this weekend!

Check out Finn Sisu's Kikkan Randall ski pole fundraiser.

Also, here's a look at the recently released cycling course for Tokyo 2020 -- views of Fuji-san, everyone!!

Don't forget about our latest Book Club selection, Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong.

It takes an enormous amount of time and effort to put together this show, and we're trying to raise the funds to continue to make it possible. Other ways you can support us where we earn some bucks:

Patreon!

Don't have money? No problem! We also need to keep finding our people -- we know there are more out there, and you can help us find them:

Nominate us for a Discover Pod award!
Share us with your family, friends, connections and followers on all of your socials! We've seen some of this in action already--thank you so much for getting our name out there!

And some fun for you:

Join our Facebook Group, where you can shoot the breeze with your fellow Olympic fans. You never know...you might get a sneak peek and give some input on future shows!

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 54: Jason Bryant on Olympic Announcing Oct 11, 2018

Show notes

MatTalkOnline's Jason Bryant returns to tell us about his adventures as the in-house English announcer for the wrestling competition at the Rio 2016 Olympics. It's a wild journey that goes through Uzbekistan, naturally.

Follow Jason on Twitter and his network on Facebook for all the latest in the world of wrestling.

We also have a slice of TOFU for you, as well as some insensitivity at a recent sailing test event. Wasn't us! We weren't there!

Brand new: Join our virtual water cooler at our Facebook Group. We love hearing your thoughts on various Olympic activities.

Thanks for listening, and keep the flame alive!

Photo by Larry Slater

Episode 53: Youth Olympic Games? What Youth Olympic Games? Oct 05, 2018

Show notes

Did you know that the 2018 Youth Olympic Games is opening this weekend?

Wait a second....there's a Youth Olympic Games?

Yep.

Jill and Alison spend this episode--and only this episode--talking about why the Youth Olympic Games exists and if it's worth the trouble. Olympic and multi-sport/multi-day event expert Rich Perelman talks them through the YOG and if it's a good thing for the Olympic movement.

Rich is also the founder and editor of The Sports Examiner, a thrice-weekly publication that covers the entire Olympic program (FTR: we're subscribers). Follow him on Twitter at @RichPerelman.

As always, we've got a slice of TOFU for you and a Tokyo 2020 update. Tokyo 2020 volunteering info is here.

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

Episode 52: The John Naber Swimming Experience Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

Happy Anniversary to us! That's right--one year ago this week, we launched our very first episode (you want to go back and listen, right?.....Maybe not. We didn't really get into a groove until a few episodes in)!

It's been a year of amazing adventures and fascinating Olympic stories, and this week's guest is no exception. We continue what seems to be a Montreal theme this year and sit down with swimming legend John Naber. John was the golden boy of the 1976 Montreal Olympics, winning four gold medals and one silver medal, and setting multiple world records that held up for years.

John talks about swimming, his Montreal experience, his career as a broadcaster and his work with Olympians for Olympians Relief Fund. And we talk about the puzzle that is this week's show pic and the fact that Jill has not yet been able to get that quarter out. You better believe you'll hear about it when she does.

Follow John on Twitter and Facebook!

We also have some great news about the USOC's decision to create equity between Olympians and Paralympians in terms of medalist monetary awards. Check out Oksana Masters' reaction.

Plus, we try to make sense of WADA's decision to readmit RUSADA.

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

Episode 51: How Olympic Wrestling Works with Jason Bryant Sep 20, 2018

Show notes

On this week's show, the dulcet tones of Wrestling Hall of Fame writer, broadcaster and announcer Jason Bryant joins the show to explain the ins and outs of one of the oldest Olympic sports: Wrestling. Plus, Alison hatches a 10-year plan to compete at LA2028.

You can find Jason online at Mat Talk Online -- and if you like wrestling (don't you?--or don't you now after listening to this episode?), check out his podcasts. Jason is currently announcing at the Jr. World Championships in Slovakia through Sept. 23, and next month he'll be in Budapest for the Sr. World Championships.

You must watch the Rulon Gardner/Aleksandr Karelin match from Sydney 2000. That link's to the entire match (in Japanese, no less), but here's a composite story on the event, to understand just how big of a deal this was.

Then, you have to see Gardner's retirement match. WARNING: You might need a Kleenex first (Jill needs a Kleenex right now, just thinking about it).

Speaking of big deals, how about our Team member Jimmy Pedro getting inducted into the International Judo Federation Hall of Fame??? We did not talk about the ceremony itself -- but check this out, because this must've been some shindig!

The Judo World Championships is happening right now in Baku, Azerbaijan. Check it out here.

Team member Erin Jackson should be skating with Jacksonville Roller Derby in the WFTDA Playoffs in Atlanta. Her team is seeded third and its first game is on Saturday. Look for video here (paywall).

Thanks for listening, and keep the flame alive!

Photo by Larry Slater

Episode 50: Being Sam the Olympic Eagle Sep 13, 2018

Show notes

Jill is back from the World Olympic Collectors' Fair, and she's got some great stories of touring the LA Coliseum and the LA84 Foundation. She also got to catch up with our Olympin friends, make some new friends and hear some great Olympic stories, like this week's interview with Joan and Sid Marantz.

Joan and Sid have been Olympic fans and collectors for decades, and when the Olympics were in Los Angeles in 1984, they both volunteered with the movement. Joan worked in Youth Services helping put together educational materials, and Sid got to be one of the few people to portray Sam the Olympic Eagle.

That's right. Jill's favorite mascot! She got the story behind what it's like to be a mascot, and she also learned about one of the interesting educational projects that happens with the Olympic Games.

One of the other things Jill and Alison talk about is how the LA84 Foundation displays its collection of mascots:

Won't somebody please help these guys?

Listener Beth mentioned this episode of "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," with Christine Lagarde, who may currently be known as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, but at one time was on the French National Synchronized Swimming team! You can listen to that here -- Christine was on the July 14, 2018 episode.

Thanks as always for listening -- and if you're fans, please share the show with your other Olympic-loving friends. Keep the flame alive!

Episode 49: How to Build an Olympic Village with Yvan Dubois Sep 06, 2018

Show notes

It takes a village to house an Olympian, but what does it take to create that village? Yvan Dubois, Director General of the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games and Mayor of the Montreal Olympic Village tells us how it's done. He was one of the first to create the environment that makes the Olympic Village special and contributes so much to the magical experience of the Games.

Plus, kudos to Sarah Gascon and the US Women's Handball team for winning their series against Canada for the right to go to the 2019 PanAm Games in Lima, Peru.

Also, Samantha Achterberg is competing in the Modern Pentathlon World Champs on September 10 and 12 - catch the action on upimtv.org.

Episode 48: Sarah Gascon on Why We Should Play Handball Aug 30, 2018

Show notes

You asked, we're delivering! In today's Listener Request episode, we scratch the surface on the world of handball. Jill and Alison talk with USA Team Handball captain Sarah Gascon about the sport and what is wrong with America because it doesn't have much visibility in our country (no, seriously--have you seen how exciting this sport is??).

Once you've listened to Sarah, you can watch the basics explained by USA Team Handball. You can also watch Team USA compete this coming week at a Pan Am Qualifier against Canada. Both the US Men's and Women's teams will take on the Canadian National Teams this Sunday, September 2.

The women's game is at 3pm, followed by the men's game at 5pm (all times US Central). USA Team Handball will be showing a livestream of the event on its Facebook page -- but if you live around Auburn University, you can watch the intensity in person at the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum on Auburn University's campus. Find out more about the event here.

The series continues Wednesday, September 5, when the teams travel to Montreal for a rematch -- The winner gets to represent North America at the 2019 Pan American Games. This is a big deal because the Pan Am Games winner goes straight to the Tokyo Olympics, and 2nd-4th places play for another chance to get into the 2020 Games.

Follow Sarah on Insta and Twitter -- you can also find her on our Team Olympic Fever Twitter list!

If you're interested in learning how to play handball yourself, check out USA Team Handball's map of member clubs -- there might be one near you!

In the second half of the show, Jill tells Alison what went down during the Sr. Women's Day 2 competition at the U.S. Gymnastics National Championships....or more of how disappointing the in-person experience was (save a fantastic seat neighbor). Still, there were some fantastic performances, and Jill dishes on her favorites.

Photo courtesy of USA Team Handball.

Episode 47: Rowing with Olympic Gold Medalist Tessa Gobbo Aug 24, 2018

Show notes

We're on a boat! This week Jill and Alison get a rowing lesson from Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tessa Gobbo, who won in the women's 8 competition.

Learn when Tessa found out she was Olympic caliber, what training for the Games was like, how the water in Rio actually was and perhaps pick up some rowing tips.

Tessa was honored in New Hampshire with a day in her honor. Tessa Gobbo Day is on September 9. Listen to learn how to celebrate it!

Episode 46: Judo with Jimmy Pedro Aug 17, 2018

Show notes

You ever have one of those conversations where you just don't want it to end? That's this week's interview with U.S. judo legend Jimmy Pedro.

Jill and Contributor Ben Jackson chat with Jimmy about the sport, how it struggles to find its place within American sports/martial arts participation and its relationship with MMA. Plus we learn why 2x Olympic Gold medalist Kayla Harrison decided to start fighting MMA.

Plus, the U.S. National Gymnastics Champs is in Boston! Are you around and going to it? Tweet at Jill to let her know!

Follow Jimmy on Twitter! And Facebook! And Insta! And see his judo center's Facebook page! And Insta feed!

Want to hear another great interview with Jimmy (more technical in nature)? Check out Episode 300 of The Grappling Central's podcast.

Also, thanks to Mark Gillespie for microphone advice -- check out his WhiskyCast podcast!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected