Olympics.com Podcast

Surfing legend and 11-time world champion Kelly Slater invited us to his new ranch in California, USA. He has created a wave pool that, he claims, produces the best artificial waves in the world. It's located roughly 160 kilometres inland and we took a visit. Olympic Channel podcast reporter Ashlee Tulloch also caught up with six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore who looks, simply, remarkable on Kelly’s wave. Surfing is making its first Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020 so grab your board (or headphones) and let’s head to the beach (or a state-of-the-art artificial wave pool). Big thanks to WSL for all their help with this week's episode. SUBSCRIBE: Olympic Channel Podcast comes out every Wednesday. LINKS: Kelly Slater Ranch: http://www.kswaveco.com/ Open by Andre Agassi https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6480781-open The Nine Club Podcast http://www.thenineclub.com/the-nine-club-show-podcast/

Nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis has some big ideas about how to shake up the athletics world and make the sport even more entertaining to watch in the post-Bolt era. Plus, we hear from the grassroots with ex-sprinter turned Olympic Channel social media don Mathilde Delorme. LINKS: Olympic Channel Podcast: https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/features/podcast/ Far From Home: https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/playback/far-from-home/core-branded-far-from-home/ Podcast recommendation: https://soundcloud.com/designmatters Book recommendation: http://charlesduhigg.com/the-power-of-habit/

Sparkles, music and dancing… the Olympians are already crushing the latest season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’. We went backstage and managed to grab a quick word with some of the contestants like Adam Rippon, Tonya Harding and Chris Mazdzer. Plus, we got the lowdown on what it takes to be a good judge from dancing legend Peter Maxwell from the World DanceSport Federation.

Is the world's future in good hands? Four-time Olympic champion Johann Olav Koss gives his reasons to be optimistic. Plus, Syrian refugee swimmer Yusra Mardini stands as an example to show that her generation can have a ‘no excuses’ attitude. Remember that if you like the podcast - subscribe and leave a five-star review where you can… (Update - we had to resend because of an audio glitch - all fixed now!)

We are all scared of something, aren’t we? But imagine the fear that is racing through the veins of a BMX rider at the Olympics: it’s dangerous and some of your peers have struggled with life-changing injuries. So how can you compete with complete focus? We take advice from Olympic champion Connor Fields who says conquering fear is just part of his job. We also have skateboarder Shuriken Shannon who talks about what spooks him out. Plus, Shannon speaks on behalf of the skateboarding community about their fears about the sport’s inclusion at Tokyo 2020.

Expectations can affect any achievement. Five-time Olympic champion Missy Franklin went into London 2012 without any expectations and had the time of her life. At Rio 2016, she admits her approach wasn’t correct. What are her expectations for Tokyo 2020? Plus, Singapore’s first ever Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling beat the world and Michael Phelps in Rio. How can he manage expectations going forward in his career?

To become the world’s first Olympic champion in skiing and snowboarding was impressive – but how difficult is it to have two passions? Can you balance two things that you love? Ester Ledecka opens up about her dual passion for skiing and snowboarding. Plus, Olympic gymnast turned actor Danell Leyva reveals why he’s walked away from the sport he loved. And what if your passion isn’t paying the bills? Olympic bronze medallist snowboarder Alex Deibold led a chat with some of his US teammates who have to subsidise their sporting careers with jobs on construction sites.

For an Olympian, pushing things to the maximum is normal. But where is the breaking point? We speak to pro-surfer Mick Fanning about when your days of performing at the maximum have passed, sport climber Josh Levin about peaking performance and we put snowboarder Sven Thorgren through his physical paces.

It’s a generational gap of gold as all the guests are gold medal winners. We have 15-year-old Russian figure skater, Alina Zagitova, on why she had to give up sweets to be Olympic champion. Michael Johnson gives us his view on the world of athletics. Plus, why is six-time Olympic champion cyclist Chris Hoy preparing for a very chilly expedition?

Double Olympic champion figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu spoke to the Olympic Channel podcast in English which was an absolute pleasure. Plus, Hope Solo talks about life away from the football field and freestyle skier David Wise opens up about dealing with disaster – both in, and out, of competition.

Olympic Channel is the place where the Games never end and neither does the podcast! These are probably the best interviews we have done here. Both Lindsey and Mikaela were really honest and open and it was an absolute privilege to speak to the athletes from North and South Korea. We'll be taking a short break for a couple of weeks but will be back very soon for even more very, very soon.

We are proud to present a special bonus podcast about our first film from the signature Five Rings Films series. We’ve got an interview with Jaroslav Spacek who was on the team. We speak to a journalist who remembers what it was like back in the Czech Republic. Plus, from Indiana Jones, Jason Bourne, Back to the Future to ‘The Nagano Tapes’... we speak to big time Hollywood movie producer Frank Marshall who worked on this project too.

The Games may be coming to an end but the Olympic Channel is the place where the Games never end... We say goodbye to Olympic Channel volunteer Haeji Kim. Plus, we get some sage advice from the most decorated French Olympian of all-time - biathlete Martin Fourcade.

Norway are having an incredible Winter Olympic Games here in PyeongChang. So we ask two gold medallists and the chef de mission – what is their secret? Plus, in episode 15, we get to speak to the man with the best moustache at the Olympic Games – ski jumper Robert Johansson...

Where’s the party at? Austria threw a fiesta to remember after snowboarder Anna Gasser created history by winning gold at the inaugural Olympic Big Air event. We chilled with another Austrian snowboarder Julia Dujmovits who is into yoga. Plus, can cheerleading make it as an Olympic sport? Olympic channel reporter Alessandro Poggi went to find out. We also sent him to US skier Lindsey Vonn’s press conference. Let's just say that she was a little surprised by our question. Get episode 15 on your headphones immediately.

After a mini break, we are back with Polish ski jumping extraordinaire Kamil Stoch. He won gold here in PyeongChang but he also gives us the details of his chat with Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski. US figure skater Ashley Wagner talks about her different Olympic experience as an alternate to the team. And how does a rugby star go via the NFL to bobsleigh? Australia’s Hayden Smith explains that and much more in Episode 14. A packed show for certain…

Three legends for episode 13: one Iron Man with a gold medal in skeleton for South Korea, a skiing phenomenon with five Olympic medals and a daredevil ski jumper who is still rubbing shoulders with the young guns in his mid-40s.

We are back. After a busy day meant no podcasting, it's a return to some top interviews. Olympic Channel reporter Alessandro Poggi has been on fire speaking to Spanish figure skater Javier Fernandez and surprise Super G Olympic champion Ester Ledecka. We bagged some time with Great Britain's best ever Winter Olympian - Lizzy Yarnold. Plus, it kind of all unravelled for host Ed Knowles as he was given a knitting lesson by Finland's snowboard coach. Episode 12 is a big one...

PyeongChang remains very cold but are we losing the cold in other places? US skiers Ted Ligety and Gus Kenworthy have seen, at first-hand, the changes. Plus, we get the lowdown on the new Olympic event, Big Air, from the man who oversaw its construction. And we caught up with Olympic gold medallist Frida Hansdotter of Sweden after her shock win against Mikaela Shiffrin in the women’s slalom. Episode 11 is another busy one…

Happy New Year from PyeongChang. Olympic Channel volunteer Haeji Kim looked a little glum as she was working away on the podcast and not with her family to celebrate. But we cheered her up with some loud clothing courtesy of Norway's curling team. Plus, what is going on with all those Winnie the Pooh dolls when Yuzuru Hanyu performs? And, we've got a nice little interview with French snowboarder Pierre Vaultier who took gold in a crazy snowboard cross race. Episode 10 is full to the brim and waiting for you right now...

We grabbed some time with Olympic silver medallist snowboarder Ayumu Hirano of Japan. He gave a great interview but made a funny confession (in English) at the end. We hear Erin Jackson's crazy story as she qualified for the US long track speedskating team even though she's more of an inline skater. And the wonderful Olympic gold medallist figure skater Robin Cousins casts his expert eye over the men competing for gold in PyeongChang. Episode 9, people, is here...

Have you ever met someone after seeing their hilarious social media posts and they've been, well, a bit disappointing in real life? Well, US figure skater Adam Rippon is nothing like that. He's great online and in person. Freestyle skier Torin Yater-Wallace has had so many setbacks but his inner strength has somehow got him here to PyeongChang 2018. Plus, episode eight also can't be without a nod to a special day in the calendar- Haeji Kim tells Ed what happens with Valentine's Day here in South Korea. (Re-sent without 10 mins of silence... Sorry about that!)

He finally did it! Skier Marcel Hirscher has added an Olympic gold medal to his already very full trophy cabinet. We catch up with him - plus the three Dufour-Lapointe sisters talk about their difficult year. Olympic Channel volunteer Haeji Kim is back for more on Korean culture - if we can tear her away from her phone. And that's not easy... It's all here on Episode 7.

Tops off time! Tongan flagbearer Pita Taufatofua braved the PyeongChang cold shirtless at the Opening Ceremony but what's the story behind the stunt? Freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy gives us a secret about his abs. And Eritrea's first alpine skier Shannon-Ogbani Abeda reveals his lessons from the Youth Games. Episode six is already here...

Fancy doing some freezing surfing? Olympic champion skier Julia Mancuso did! She gave us her expert view on the USA alpine skiing team. It's 30 years since the movie 'Cool Runnings' - now the women's Jamaican team want in on the action - we have an interview with Jazmine Fenlator and Carrie Russell. Plus, what's kimchi? Episode five has all the answers...

The buzz of the Opening Ceremony is still in the air but it's straight back to business for episode number four. Olympic champion skier Lindsey Vonn cried at a press conference plus we have an incredible interview with Ghana's first skeleton slider Akwasi Frimpong.

It's go time! PyeongChang starts to fill up ahead of the Opening Ceremony so we get the lowdown from two-time Olympic champ and France flagbearer Martin Fourcade on how the cold affects the biathlon plus some fascinating perspective from Wim Hof who argues we should embrace the cold. Plus, Ed and Haeji warm up by talking about spicy food.

It was an early start for the Olympic Channel podcast team this morning to bag a place at the news conference for top USA half-pipe snowboarders Shaun White and Chloe Kim. We catch up with them plus get a bit of snowboard history from Hilary Sims. And Olympic Channel volunteer Haeji Kim teaches Ed about Korean superstitions. Beware of the fan at night...

Grab your backstage pass to PyeongChang 2018 for the first episode of the Olympic Channel podcast. We learn the Korean word for 'awesome'. Plus, we sit down with Olympic gold medallist snowboarder Jamie Anderson and Olympic bronze medallist curler Eve Muirhead.