Olympics.com Podcast

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The tears behind the triple axel triumph with figure skater Mirai Nagasu Feb 13, 2019

Show notes

After she was passed over for the USA team for Sochi 2014, Mirai Nagasu was done with figure skating.

“It wasn’t fun… I used to think, ‘I deserve to sit here in my puddle of tears and cry.’”

She vowed to make a comeback and became the first American woman to land a triple axel at the Olympics – and took home Olympic bronze in the team event.

Olympic champion Meryl Davis sat down with her to speak about the 2018 Olympics, the sarcasm of her teammate Gracie Gold and how she landed that big jump.

LINKS:

Mirai Nagasu on Instagram

The triple axel 2018 Olympics routine in full

Meryl Davis Instagram

Ed Knowles on Twitter

Paralysed Olympic skier: "If I had the possibility to turn back time... I would stay like this." Feb 06, 2019

Show notes

Thomas Fogdö was one of the best slalom skiers in the world, but his life took an unexpected turn after he broke his back in a training accident.

Despite now being in a wheelchair, the Swede has continued to give back to the sport he loves so much and help other athletes who have suffered similar injuries.

Thomas Fogdö on Twitter

Active Life Foundation

Alessandro Poggi on Twitter

Ash Tulloch on Twitter

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Sprinter Bernice Wilson on being manipulated into doping Jan 30, 2019

Show notes

Great Britain’s Bernice Wilson was a promising young sprinter, but her career took a turn for the worse when she enlisted the services of ex-UK Athletics coach, Dr. George Skafidas.

They began dating and he persuaded Wilson to start doping. She was caught, banned for four years, and vowed to come back clean.

With her ban nearing completion, she tested positive again. But this time Skafidas had been doping the Briton without her knowledge.

Wilson alerted the authorities. Skafidas received a life-time ban from the sport. Three years on she is now a clean competitor and anti-doping campaigner.

She told the Olympic Channel podcast how she made mistakes, was manipulated, and how she's trying to make amends.

LINKS:

Andrew Binner on Twitter

Bernice Wilson on Twitter

UK Anti-Doping

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''I sat down in the gym and my shin snapped...'' - Bobby Clay, diagnosed with Osteoporosis at 18 years of age Jan 23, 2019

Show notes

Bobby Clay's promising running future was put on hold because she over-trained and under-ate.

After winning numerous British titles and earning herself a team GB bib, the young rising star's body broke.

''I got to the point where I sat down in the gym and my shin snapped. It’s something we do every day and I couldn’t even do that without breaking. If I can’t do that, how was I meant to run.''

Now aged 21, Clay is competing in the UK national track cycling championships as part of her recovery but still has Olympic ambitions as a runner. She shares her story as a word of warning to other young athletes.

LINKS:

#TRAINBRAVE

TRAIN BRAVE on Twitter

Ash Tulloch on Twitter

Bobby Clay on Twitter

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Olympic champ Wilfred Bungei on alcoholism 'chaos' and almost losing his life Jan 16, 2019

Show notes

Kenya's Wilfred Bungei seemingly had it all: Money, fame, and an 800m Olympic gold medal.

However, after retiring he couldn't fill 'the vacuum' that training and competing once occupied, and slipped into deep alcoholism.

On several occasions he almost lost his life, and missed the birth of his child.

"There is only three destinations for an alcoholic: Institutions - which is treatment, you will go to jail because you will do something stupid that will put you in trouble, or you will die."

Now, over seven years sober, he is helping other alcoholics and former athletes avoid making the same mistakes. Olympic Channel reporter Evelyn Watta travelled to Kenya to hear Bungei's emotional story.

LINKS:

Alcoholics Anonymous

Samaritans

Evelyn Watta on Twitter

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Equestrian medallist Lucy Davis on recovering from burnout and giving back to the sport Jan 09, 2019

Show notes

Lucy Davis isn’t your average Olympic silver medallist.

A Stanford graduate with a major in architecture, she’s also a top-level equestrian showjumper.

But even the best athletes suffer burnout, as Davis found out after winning silver in Rio.

“I kind of lost a lot of motivation,” she admits – and it took her two years before she finally found a new calling.

Part of that involves giving back to her sport through her business, PonyApp.

“There is this community of people around the world that love horses and have no outlet for it. So we're trying to galvanise that energy and direct it towards the sport and its exposure.”

LINKS:

PonyApp

Lucy Davis on Instagram

‘His name is Barron’ – Lucy Davis introduces Barron on the Olympic Channel

Showjumping warm-ups with Lucy Davis on the Olympic Channel

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Start 2019 the right way with five inspirational Olympic stories Jan 02, 2019

Show notes

If you’re looking for some motivation to achieve what you want in 2019, then have a listen to these amazing stories from across the Olympic world.

We hear from Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin, Jordyn Wieber, and more.

Whatever your aim for the new year, we hope these stories from the greats will inspire you on your way to greatness.

LINKS:

The best of the Olympic Channel Podcast 2018 Dec 26, 2018

Show notes

To celebrate our first incredible year, we have put together highlights from some of our most downloaded interviews of the year.

We have an absolute stellar line-up including Simone Biles, John Orozco, Anthony Ervin, Brian Orser and Yuzuru Hanyu.

LINKS:

How to come back from a career-threatening injury with snowboarder Michela Moioli Dec 19, 2018

Show notes

Italian Michela Moioli felt nervous ahead of her first Olympic snowboard cross final at Sochi 2014.

Those nerves turned to despair as her medal hopes were crushed when she crashed heavily.

Aged just 18, her career was in jeopardy after suffering a torn cruciate ligament in her knee.

But, she dedicated herself to making a comeback and, four years later at PyeongChang 2018, she won gold.

We spoke to Michela about pasta, post-Olympic blues, and Beijing 2022.

LINKS:

Against All Odds

Michela Moioli Instagram

Brian Orser - The man behind the world’s greatest figure skaters Dec 12, 2018

Show notes

We sent Olympic champion figure skater Meryl Davis to Vancouver to cover the Grand Prix Final for the Olympic Channel Podcast. And she bumped into a familiar face.

Double Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser is coach to Yuzuru Hanyu, Javier Fernandez and Evgenia Medvedeva.

Davis and Orser chatted about Hanyu’s ankle injury, Fernandez’s European Championships mission and what his opinion on Medvedeva’s inconsistent season.

“I ask everyone for their patience. Please. It will be great. Really great. But there’s no quick fix.”

LINKS:

Nathan Chen Facebook Live

Meryl Davis Instagram