Olympics.com Podcast

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“I cried myself to sleep every night about being disabled” - Six-time Paralympic champion David Weir Dec 05, 2018

Show notes

British Paralympian David Weir has won more London Marathon titles than anyone on the planet.

But despite his success, he’d never come to terms with his disability. He was born with a spinal cord transection that left him unable to use his legs.

Frustrated by his lack of options in the sporting world growing up, he went on to excel at wheelchair racing.

Even after winning six gold Paralympic medals, by the time he won his record-breaking seventh London Marathon in 2017, he felt no joy.

Weir had to face up to the inner turmoil he had been burying since childhood.

“I never showed my emotions to my family. I never spoke to my mum and dad about my disability... I just bottled things up for years and years.”

The 39-year-old opened up about why he wants to represent Great Britain at Tokyo 2020, the highs of London 2012, and his life-changing counselling sessions.

Creating hope after tragedy with Bronx gymnast John Orozco Nov 28, 2018

Show notes

“It's not popular for men to be emotional in America. Especially black men.”

Family tragedy. Injuries. A new mission in Los Angeles.

You may remember US gymnast’s emotional NBC interview after he qualified for Rio 2016.

He beat the odds to make the team after injuries and the sudden death of his mother.

Orozco never made it to Brazil. Another injury ended his sporting career.

Now, the 25-year-old is looking to become a singer in Los Angeles.

“Hope is not… an empty concept. It's something that you have to create the meaning for - what is your hope?”

LINKS:

Lifeline

Samaritans UK

John Orozco Instagram

Scott Bregman Twitter

Ed Knowles Twitter

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Chinese ski jumpers take their first ski lesson as they target Beijing 2022 Nov 21, 2018

Show notes

China have sent some of their most promising athletes to Norway to transform them into Winter Olympians.

A set of athletes aged 15-20 have been given an incredible challenge.

They haven’t ever worn skis before but are still hopeful of becoming international level ski jumpers.

We went behind-the-scenes on their first day on the slopes.

Plus, double Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal, 35, joined us to tell about how to achieve longevity in skiing.

Credits:

Chinese Ski Jumping (Reporter: Nicklas Vinde) and Aksel Lund Svindal (Reporter: Alessandro Poggi)

Triple Olympic champion swimmer Anthony Ervin says ‘Winning can be terrible’ Nov 14, 2018

Show notes

Swimmer Anthony Ervin won Olympic gold aged 19. His life then fell apart. He was homeless for a time, attempted suicide, and drank heavily. By 2016, he had completely turned his life around and won the 50m freestyle at the Olympics.

Aged 35, he was the oldest individual Olympic gold medal winner in swimming.

This time though - he was ready.

“Winning can be a terrible thing that happens to you. It can completely intoxicate you… Winning is a test.”

We spoke about Ryan Lochte, growing up with Tourette’s, and how he wants to compete at Tokyo 2020.

LINKS:

Anthony winning gold in Rio

Anthony's book

The other book he recommended

Andre Agassi's book

The myth of Icarus

If any of the topics in this episode distressed you, please talk to some one! Or let us know... In the UK, the charity Samaritans are very helpful.

Simone Biles: The full, exclusive interview Nov 07, 2018

Show notes

Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles is now a 14-time world champion. The records fell in Doha with her achievements made all the more unbelievable after she was admitted into hospital on the eve of competition with a kidney stone.

The Olympic Channel Podcast spoke to her just after she had won her dramatic all-around title.

Plus, reporter Scott Bregman and gymnastics writer Blythe Lawrence (@rockergymnastic) picked out the best stories from an action-packed world championships.

Failing at life with BMX Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker Oct 31, 2018

Show notes

The consequences for failure in BMX at the Olympics are high. New Zealand’s Sarah Walker knows about this – she’s broken 18 bones over her career.

A big crash meant she missed out on Rio 2016 after her silver medal at London 2012.

She believes that the definition of failure should be reassessed.

“(Society sees) failure as such a bad word. It’s so negative and this thing that you need to avoid (but) I aim to fail every week.

"Then if I have a bigger failure – I have practiced that feeling – and I am more comfortable with it and I am more accepting of the outcome.”

Find out how to make some epic fails – Olympic style.

LA life: On campus with US gymnasts Jordyn Wieber and Madison Kocian Oct 24, 2018

Show notes

As we gear up towards the artistic gymnastics world championships in Doha, we sat down with two incredible Olympic gold medal winning gymnasts.

Jordyn Wieber became world champion in 2011 but then missed out on the all-around final at London 2012.

"I felt like I had failed because I didn’t live up to those expectations."

Now, she's at UCLA as a coach and is flourishing.

Plus, we get the inside-track on Simone Biles from her team-mate Madison Kocian.

"I’m really excited to see how she does at worlds, I’m sure she’s going to do well."

Behind the scenes at the Golden Generation premiere Podcast Special Oct 23, 2018

Show notes

Get up-to-speed with the new documentary 'The Golden Generation'. We have interviews from both directors - including with the Oscar-winner Juan Jose Campanella.

Plus, we get the full low-down on why Manu Ginóbili and the rest of this Argentinian basketball team from Athens 2004 were really 'The Golden Generation'.

Youth Olympic Games review with Waleed Abu Nada of Jordan Oct 17, 2018

Show notes

Waleed Abu Nada set up a weightlifting club in the biggest refugee camp for Palestinians outside of Palestine.

Here was here in Buenos Aires for the Youth Olympic Games as part of the Jordan team.

We spoke about our favourite moments from the past few days and also how he started his club.

Plus, the latest headlines.

LINKS:

Documentary about weightlifting club

Esports, the Olympics and Gamer Jake Lyon at the Youth Olympic Games Oct 17, 2018

Show notes

He’s 22 and already considered a veteran in the gaming world.

Jake Lyon says that Esports and the Olympics could learn a lot from each other.

“You could be confined to a wheelchair… you can be a man, woman, young (or) old – all these barriers that would usually require divisions – in Esports they don’t mean anything.”

Plus, we have the latest headlines from Buenos Aires and an athlete to watch.

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