Keep the Flame Alive

We're less than 500 days away from the start of Tokyo 2020, so we thought it would be fun to look back at the last Games held in Tokyo and compare the two. Tokyo 1964 was special for many advances, both for the Games and for the country of Japan–it's interesting to note those changes and wonder how we'll experience with the next Summer Games. Plus, we have a lot of TOFU (which includes Jill, surprisingly), as well as other Olympic news, including this Kickstarter about a Munich 1972 design book. Don't forget to support the show–there's not that much time before Tokyo 2020, and we'd like to have the resources to do more great things with this podcast. We appreciate all the support we get so very much! 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.

Alison is back, so we're doing a deeper dive on the new sports proposed for Paris 2024. Last October, we talked with The Sports Examiner's editor Rich Perelman about the proliferation of sports in the Olympics, so we're bringing you that conversation. Plus some TOFU and news from Tokyo 2020. Check out Rich's publication and follow him on Twitter and Facebook. 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.

Jill's flying solo this week, but that gives us more time for the start of our exploration of the new Olympic sports on the Tokyo 2020 program. This week we're talking with sport climber (and American Ninja Warrior competitor!) Josh Levin. Josh talks with us about the 3 disciplines of sport climbing: speed, bouldering and lead climbing. We knew it was a physically tough sport, but the mental game and the cooperation among athletes is also incredibly impressive. Follow Josh online: Website Twitter Facebook Insta LinkedIn And check out one of his American Ninja Warrior competitions! We'll have Josh back to talk about his climbing career and his pursuit of Olympic qualification on a future episode, so stay tuned. So many events for our Team Olympic Fever members this week! Jill mentioned that you can watch Samantha Achterberg compete in a modern pentathlon world cup in Cairo -- check out the competition at UPIM-TV and on Facebook (try here or here for the latter) Thanks to all of our Patreon patrons -- join the fun here! 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. Photo credit: IFSC / Eddie Fowke

It's Part 2 of our interview with diver Laura Wilkinson! She talks about earning the gold in Sydney while having a broken foot, then also about Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 -- and now her potential comeback for Tokyo 2020. Plus, Paris 2024 has announced the new sports it wants to put on the program -- this could b-interesting (if you know what we mean). And Indonesia wants to bid for 2032! Follow Laura online: Website Hope Sports Podcast Facebook Instagram Twitter Photo courtesy of Laura Wilkinson. 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.

Book Club Claire is BACK! Join us for our discussion of David Maraniss' Rome 1960: The Olympics that Changed the World. Follow Claire on Twitter and check out her Olympics blog -- she's got some great entries from the US Curling National Champs and the US Figure Skating National Champs, both of which she attended! Our next book selection will be The Second Mark: Courage, Corruption, and the Battle for Olympic Gold by Joy Goodwin. Buy a hardcover, paper copy or Kindle version through these links to Amazon, and you'll be supporting the show (we get a commission on these purchases). We'll meet again around the end of April, so you've got time to read! Lots of sad news this week, including the death of The Flying Finn, Matti Nykänen who was one of the most celebrating ski jumpers in the world, earning medals at both Sarajevo 1984 and Calgary 1988 (where he swept the golds). He was wildly popular in Finland, and we're on the hunt for this biopic called "Matti: Hell is for Heroes." Check out the trailer. As always, we appreciate our Patreon donors -- join today, and Alison might make you Jell-o! 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.

We have a legend in the house this week! It's part one of our interview with Sydney 2000 gold medalist Laura Wilkinson. In this episode Laura explains how the sport works -- and something unusual that a lot of divers have in common. Follow Laura: Facebook Insta Twitter Website She also has her own inspirational podcast called Hope Sports where she interviews athletes about their journeys on and off the field, their successes and their struggles. We highly recommend it! We also talked about that epic moment from the Seoul 1988 diving competition, when Greg Louganis smacked his head on the board--and still won the gold. Plus some Tokyo 2020 mascot updates and a little slice of TOFU! Don't forget to support the show--it all helps to bring you a better podcast and more features leading up to Tokyo 2020! Photo courtesy of Laura Wilkinson. 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.

If you're an Olympics buff, you likely have some souvenirs lying around, but Teri Hedgpeth gets to work with one amazing Olympic collection. Teri's the first Archivist for the U.S. Olympic Committee, and she talks with us about what she walked into when she started the job (it has to do with basement storage), some of the unique items in the collection (including a Marshall Islands $75 coin) and how she gets donations. If you're on LinkedIn, follow Teri - she regularly posts pictures of interesting artifacts from the collection. Do you have a favorite Olympic souvenir? Share it with us on our Facebook Group - or tag us on Insta and Twitter. We'll also share some of our favorite artifacts this week. Tomorrow's the beginning of the month, which means our Patreon patrons get their bonus material--check us out and join the club! Your donation goes a long way into keeping the show going, especially as we prepare for Tokyo 2020. Photo courtesy of Teri Hedgpeth. 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.

It's another Listener Request episode! On a blustery October day, Jill went to Long Island, NY to take in the US 30K Race Walking National Championships, where she chatted with several of the judges, including Gary Westerfield and Maryanne Daniel to learn more about this very misunderstood sport and how magical it can be. No, seriously--it's way cooler than the media makes it out to be every four years. Plus, we've got a big heaping of TOFU of ice! Thank you to all of our patrons that signed up this past week. Bronze level and above patrons get access to exclusive audio clips, and if you want to learn more about race walking (you know Jill asked about the money), in February you'll get a nice long edition of deleted content from this race (race walks take hours; a regular episode doesn't). Join the club today at Patreon! 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.

It's going to be Milano-Cortina vs. Stockholm-Åre for the right to host the 2026 Winter Olympics. This week we talk about the two bids and start pondering which will win the IOC's vote come June 24-26. The IOC also recently published an essay on how it wants to evolve the Games for future generations. This was interesting because it likely signals a change in the Olympic program. We've got some listener feedback about this and talk about the sports that could be in danger. 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.

This week we're going back in time a little bit when Marketing didn't have the power of social media that it does today. In the 1990s, Olympic marketing was focused more around the event itself rather than making it an event consumers thought about regularly. Then came marketers like our guest Stuart Sheldon, who thought about ways to integrate sponsors and National Governing Bodies and the Olympics like never before. Hear about the transformation that took place in the world of sports marketing. 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.

Our very first Team Olympic Fever member Josh Williamson joins us to tell us how life's been during his first year as a bobsledder and what's on tap for this season. We also talk about our holiday gifts -- if you got something cool and Olympic related, share it in our Facebook Group! 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.

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.

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! 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.

"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: Insta Twitter 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. 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.

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. 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.

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: Facebook Insta Twitter Website Thanks as always for listening, and until next week, keep the flame alive! Photo courtesy of Kim Rhode. 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.

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! 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.

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! Twitter Facebook Insta Website 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. 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.

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: Twitter Facebook Insta 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): Patreon iTunes/Apple Podcasts - leave us a review! Photo courtesy of Tony Azevedo. 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.

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: Lopez Lomong's 4 South Sudan Foundation South Sudan timeline – BBC Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement Olympic Refuge Foundation Olympic Solidarity Refugee Olympic Team 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: Patreon iTunes/Apple Podcasts – leave us a review! 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.

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: Share it with your Olympic-loving friends! Write a review on iTunes! Become a patron! Thanks, as always, for listening, and until next week, keep the flame alive! 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.

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.

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 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.

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! 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.

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! 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.

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 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.

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! 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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! 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.

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! 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.

Modern Pentathlon is the Olympics' own sport, developed by the founder of the modern Olympics himself, Pierre de Coubertin. Contributor Ben Jackson interviews 5-time U.S. Senior National Champion Modern Penthathlete Samantha Achterberg on how the sport works and why it's a must-see at the Olympics. Plus, Jill and Alison create their own versions of a modern pentathlon that may or may not be as good as the real thing. Follow Samantha!! She's on: Facebook Insta Twitter Website If you want to catch video of modern pentathlon, check out UiPM TV for the latest clips. (photos courtesy of Samantha Achterberg) 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.

We're reviewing our first Olympic Fever Book Club selection, which means Book Club Claire is back! Claire Natsis joins us for a discussion of The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, a moving take on the 1936 U.S. Men's Olympic 8-person rowing team. If you want to watch the related PBS documentary "The Boys of '36," go to its PBS site. It's streaming there, but you might have to be a Passport member to view it (although the trailer and tons of clips are free on that site!). This page also has other streaming options, including iTunes, Amazon and Netflix. Curious about Leni Riefenstahl's groundbreaking Olympic film "Olympia"? It's on YouTube: Part 1: Festival of the Nations Part 2: Festival of Beauty Our next book club selection will be Lopez Lomong's Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games. We're excited to read a contemporary personal story--Lopez is still competing this season! We'll keep you posted on when we'll have our next book club discussion, but you'll have a couple of months to read the book. Also on this episode, we have some great news on Team Olympic Fever member Jacqueline Simoneau, and we discuss Italy's multi-city 2026 Winter Olympic bid. 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.

We're reporting in from the Podcast Movement conference, where we're learning a ton of ways to improve our show and do more fun things with you, our listeners! Thanks to the listeners who donated during our PyeongChang 2018 donation campaign--some of those funds helped defray the cost of the conference, and we really appreciate your help because this week has been so beneficial to us! Also, welcome to our new listeners whom we met at the conference! This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Mexico City 1968 Olympics, and on today's show we start exploring its Cultural Olympiad celebrations. Gustavo Morales-Cirión of the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington D.C. walks contributor Ben Jackson through its exhibit "Constructing Mexico68," which looks at the venues and sculptures (and Raquel Welch videos) of these Games. The exhibit is open until August 15, so if you're in the DC area, check it out (note: it's a pretty small exhibit). The institute is located at: 2829 16th St NW Washington, DC 20009 It's open Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm. If the door is locked, ring the buzzer. If you want to know more about Ruta de la Amistad, the organization Gustavo mentioned, check out their website, Mexico68.org. Gustavo also talked about the "Judas statues," these papier-mache cartonería sculptures that Pedro Linares made for outside the venue. They are pretty amazing -- check out some of them here, and see the last remaining one here. Team Olympic Fever member Lauren Gibbs will be speaking at TedX Pasadena! Find out more information here. We also talked about the U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearings on an anti-doping bill. Here's a list of representatives on the committee who you can contact to let them know your thoughts. Next week is our Book Club episode, where Book Club Claire will be back to discuss our first selection, The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. Drop us an email, tweet or Facebook page post to let us know what you thought of it! Also, we're going to do some on location episodes on rowing and judo, so if you have questions about those sports, we want to hear them! 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.

Montreal 1976 is the poster child for how not to build a cost-effective Games. The city went into a ton of debt (note: that's the city--we'll learn in a future episode that the organizing committee didn't go into debt), which infamously took 30 years to pay off. That must mean there are a lot of white elephant stadiums around, right? Not exactly. This week, Jill and contributor Ben Jackson go on a tour of the Olympic Park--or Parc Olympique. Their guide Cédric Essiminy, PR officer at the Olympic Park organization, talks about the structures and what they're doing today to make revenue. Millions of dollars of revenue annually. Plus, the Tokyo 2020 schedule is out; Beijing 2022 has announced its events; and sad news from the world of figure skating. 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.

In a nice display of transparency, the International Olympic Committee released its host city contract documentation. We read it so you don't have to--and we definitely understand why cities drop out of the Olympic bidding process. You won't believe what this contract calls for--or maybe you will. One really important thing in the IOC's efforts to lower the costs of hosting the Olympics: It does not yet have a mascot for its "New Norm" program. Maybe we can help them! Plus we've got an update from our biathlete Clare Egan! Clare fills us in on her Olympic experience, what went into her decision to keep competing and what's going on with the corruption scandals at the International Biathlon Union (IBU). You can keep up with Clare on: Twitter Instagram Website As we mentioned, our team ice hockey ref Jessica Leclerc is raising money for Tri for a Cure, so here's her donation page, if you're so inclined. Also, Listener Sandy has started a podcast about obscure museums! If you love unusual museums and lots of fun facts (and we know you do because you're our type of people), check out her show "Made in Museums." *Please no hybrid animals or Olympic symbols (rings, flame, etc.). Let's keep it non-creepy and the IOC off everyone's back. 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.

Today we're delighted to have Canadian Olympian Jacqueline Simoneau to explain the sport of synchronized swimming (also known as artistic swimming). This sport is no joke - it requires stamina and strength and the ability to take a kick, perhaps to the head. Jacqueline explains it all, the sequins, the hair gelatin, and the amazingly complicated moves like stack lifts, spins and thrusts. It's nothing like that classic SNL sketch. Jacqueline competed in the duet competition with veteran Karine Thomas at the Rio 2016 Games, earning a 7th place for their combined routines. Check out their free performance here (they're first up), which is pretty amazing, but here's their 2015 Pan Am free routine, which is phenomenal (Jill may have watched it a few times today). Follow Jacqueline on Twitter and Insta! We also have updates on team members Erin Jackson and Emily Cook! Photo courtesy of Jacqueline Simoneau/Team Canada. 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.

How did we celebrate Olympic Day? Jill and Alison are recovering from their exciting #OFODs and talking about listeners' celebrations. Then it's time to see whether Alison gets all fangirl over one of her favorite Olympians, U.S. ice dancer Charlie White. Together with his partner Meryl Davis, Charlie's won silver at Vancouver 2010 and gold at Sochi 2014 (check out their amazing free dance). He rounds out the medal trifecta with a bronze at Sochi in the team event. Charlie talks with us about the sport of ice dancing and his experiences in creating a long-lasting successful working relationship with his partner, and he also attempts to convert Jill on the complexity of the twizzle. Will he succeed? Listen and find out! Follow Charlie on Twitter and Insta. You can also get updates from him and Meryl through their website and Facebook page. 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.

Jill catches up with phenom U.S. Olympic Speedskater Erin Jackson about her experience at PyeongChang. Then Jill & Alison talk about the Canadian Olympic Committee's brand new Canadian Olympic Experience exhibit at its Montreal offices. Erin's going to be competing at the Inline Speedskating World Championships in the Netherlands soon. Follow along here (in Dutch, but you might be able to parse out something). Or catch up with Erin on Twitter and Insta. You can find out information about the Canadian Olympic Experience here. Put Montreal high up on your travel list -- it's a great city, and this is a really fun exhibit. It's almost Olympic Day, so we discuss some of the great Olympic Day #OFOD activities we've seen -- post yours on Twitter or on our Facebook page. We love seeing your Olympism in action! We hope you're enjoying The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, the first book selection for our Olympic Fever Book Club. We've got some initial discussion going on at our Facebook page and on Twitter. Let us know what you think of the book so far. We'd love to hear from you! Plus, we preview some upcoming episodes -- more Montreal! Synchronized Swimming! Charlie White! All coming your way soon! 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.

Bonjour a Montreal! Jill and contributor Ben Jackson report in from the Montreal 1976 Olympic Village, where they're staying for a few days. They talk about all of things that are holdovers from the Games, as well as some of the quirks of the building. Our guest this week is Canadian Olympian Olya Ovtchinnikova who competed at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in sabre fencing. In the first part of her interview with Jill, Olya talks about how the sport of sabre works (and why you need to practice watching before Tokyo 2020). No longer competing, Olya's now working with the Canadian Olympic Committee as a Manager in the Athlete Marketing Program. You can follow her on Twitter here. Follow Team Canada on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook too! Don't forget about Olympic Day! Try a new sport or learn something about the Olympics and Olympic values, post the results on social with #OFOD. You've got until the end of the month to share in the fun (on this episode, Alison shares some of the things she's doing to celebrate). 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.

A look back, a look ahead. In 2024, Paris will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the second time they hosted the Olympics. Jill and Alison spend this episode looking at the innovations from Paris 1924 and the parallels between it and Paris 2024. We look forward to what the 2024 Games will bring! (we can only hope it's as good as Alison's rendition of the "Chariots of Fire" theme). Plus, a trivia extravaganza, and we hear your reports from Olympic Day #OFOD! Remember, you can celebrate Olympic Day by learning something new about the Olympic Movement; participating in a sport (new to you or otherwise); practicing Olympic values; or getting someone to buy you a steak.....well, maybe not that last one, but you get our drift. Post up your pics and video on social with #OFOD. 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.

Contributor Ben Jackson is back with another part of last fall's interview with 3x Olympic Aerialist Emily Cook. Emily talks about overcoming adversity and returning from injury--and she had a doozy of an injury. Emily also talks about how to stay motivated and how to be OK if things don't go according to plan. Follow Emily on Facebook, Twitter, and Insta! Plus, we debut our Book Club with contributor Claire Natsis. Claire's first choice is the New York Times bestseller, The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. We'll be discussing the book during the first week of August, so put it at the top of your reading list! 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.

Scott Riewald, the U.S. Olympic Committee's Director of High Performance, talks to us about bringing back its reality/documentary show "Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful" and what's new for season 2. If you want to try out for the show, check out their website. Show partner 24 Hour Fitness is hosting tryouts all over the country on June 2 -- you still have time to get in on this opportunity! The test includes a 30-meter sprint, pull ups and a vertical jump. Also on this episode, we realize we're getting close to Olympic Day, so we start preparing for our first Olympic Day celebration. You too can get in on the fun --learn something about the Olympics or try a new sport, post the results on social media with #OFOD! Olympic Day takes place on June 20, but we're celebrating through June 24. We look forward to seeing what you do! 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.

She's a five-time Olympian, winner of the first US Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing, first American to win a cross-country world championship--and now she's a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission. Kikkan Randall joins us on this week's show! Kikkan made history in PyeongChang with Jessie Diggins in the cross-country team sprint and captivated viewers with their face glitter and pink hair. Olympic moments don't get any better than this victory, which you can see here (grab a Kleenex--you might need one) and the race recap here. We talked with her about about perseverance, debunking pregnancy myths and her new gig on the IOC Athletes' Commission. She also does a lot of work with a great organization called Fast and Female, which encourages girls to get in and stay involved with sports. Follow Kikkan on Insta and Twitter--and at her website! Also on the show, we recap the Team USA Awards Show and talk royal trivia. 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.

Wouldn't it be amazing if your job took you to the Olympics? NBC Boston Video Journalist Sean Colahan lived the dream this winter by covering the Olympics for the local news station. Sean tells us what it was like to be a local news cameraman at PyeongChang 2018, the gold medal game he saw, the pins he traded, and just how cold it was. Here are some of the stories Sean put together while he was in South Korea: Finger Hearts Hospitality Houses Olympic Pictures Olympic Wrap Plus, Alison has updates on the Russian doping scandal and a major coaching change for a figure skating medalist. Finally, we put a dream out into the universe--will it come true? 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.

Jill's just back from Rome, Italy, and naturally did a little Olympic tourism while she was there, so she and Alison talk about the game-changing Olympics of Rome 1960 and Jill talks about some venues that still remain. Plus, the Team USA awards and trivia. 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.

Jill and Alison talk with Trevor Tiffany of A&T Europe and Chairman of Myrtha Pools USA to learn where Rio 2016's swimming pools went. That's right. They moved. Swimming pools can move! Plus, Trevor tells us about swimming pool plans (or non-plans) for Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024 and LA 2028. 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.

Remember when we talked with figure skating mental coach Rebekah Dixon? The mental coach who was working with the great Meagan Duhamel? Well, now we talked with Meagan herself! Canadian pairs figure skater and 3x Olympic medalist Meagan Duhamel joins us to talk about her Olympic experiences at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018. Follow Meagan on Twitter and Insta -- and check out her healthy living blog! 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.

Did you know that the very first modern Olympics was held in April? We decided to celebrate by watching the 1984 TV miniseries "The First Olympics: Athens 1896." You can watch Part 1 and Part 2 on YouTube. This, of course, means we need to set the record straight on some a lot of facts, so Jill goes to Colby College to talk with Pat Burdick about the James Connolly collection and geek out about seeing the first modern Olympic medal ever awarded. Then University of Michigan associate professor Mark Clague explains the situation with the U.S. national anthem in 1896. The Connolly Collection is pretty cool, and Colby has some of it digitized. Check it out here--and note that pic! David Caruso looks like him! If you've got any info on historical collections or want to look at a particular Games in history, drop us a line! 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.

We answer questions we had during PyeongChang, namely, why do different sports have such different uniforms? Alison chats with Susan Sokolowski, Associate Professor and Director of the Sports Product Design Program at the University of Oregon, to learn more. Plus, seven interested cities have decided to hang out with the IOC's New Norm and have officially stated that they intend to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Who's bidding, and who doesn't stand a chance? We take a look! 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.