Flame Bearers

“Self-confidence is key. You’ve just got to focus on yourself.” Lauren Scruggs isn’t just making history—she’s rewriting it. A two-time Olympic medalist and the first Black American woman to win an individual fencing medal, Lauren's journey has never followed the script. Raised by a single mom, often the only Black girl on the fencing strip, and now a Harvard senior studying philosophy and finance...

“I was always a nerd who just happened to be fast.” LaVonne Idlette didn’t fit the mold—and she never tried to. While most Olympians are laser focused on podiums, LaVonne was balancing elite track training and law school, sprinting toward the London 2012 Games with a briefcase in hand. Today, she’s a lawyer, entrepreneur, and unapologetic powerhouse helping fellow athletes become the CEOs of their...

“I want them to see Natoya Goule in a different way…not just the runner, but the woman, the warrior, the believer.” Jamaican middle-distance star, Natoya Goule has long been known for her speed and tenacity on the track. A three-time Olympian and ADIDAS ambassador, she’s one of the fastest women in the world over 800 meters. But as Natoya reveals in this intimate conversation, her real power lies...

“Don’t wait for perfect timing. Just start.” That’s the mindset Ashley Dyce lives by—and it’s what’s fueled her journey from discovering the Paralympics through a TV commercial to becoming a Team USA Para Powerlifter. Born and raised in Covina, California, Ashley is preparing for LA 2028—her hometown Games. “I’ve had one competition in the U.S. in eight years. This time, my whole community gets to...

“They call me the Queen of Blades because I’ve won medals on three different blades.” Kimberly Alkemade isn’t just fast—she’s transformative. From surviving a traumatic bus accident in France to standing on top of the podium in the same country decades later, Kimberly has rewritten her story of loss into one of power, healing, and purpose. “The sky turned orange,” she recalls of her golden moment...

“Why am I doing this? Who am I doing this for?” Olympic swimmer Kayla Sanchez asks the question that every elite athlete eventually faces—and answers it with heart. After winning medals for Team Canada at Tokyo 2020, Kayla made the bold move to represent the Philippines, honoring her roots and deepening her connection to family, identity, and purpose. For Kayla, swimming for the Philippines isn’t...

“I would tell my younger self: don’t let people tell you your worth…you’re the only one in your body—you know best.” Angélina Lanza is a 2x European champion, World Championship medalist, and 3x Paralympic finalist in track and field for France. In today's conversation, Angélina talks about the highs and lows of her athletic career, including ongoing injuries, losing her mother just before the Tok...

"We won in Paris by winning every day." For Asia Hogan-Rochester, rugby wasn’t part of the plan — until it became their world. The Toronto native went from going to gym class in jeans to standing on the Olympic podium, silver medal in hand. Asia shares how growing up, "I wasn't an athlete. My sport was yapping." But, at 17, Asia picked up a rugby ball. Their friend's older sister (now teammate), C...

“I’m the player’s eyes. I’m the player’s mind. If I mess up, I mess up the whole game.” For Ritah Asiimwe, there are no excuses—it's go-time. A Ugandan Paralympian, African Para-Badminton Champion, line judge, and unstoppable single mom, Ritah is writing her own rules. When not competing herself, she’s called the lines for the world’s top eight players on the biggest stages, standing tall with con...

"Can't and won't are just words. Nobody can predict what you will be able to do tomorrow. You write your own story." Fran Brown is not here to be your inspiration—she’s here to win. A Paralympic cyclist, physiotherapist, and former Para Climbing World Champ, Fran refuses to let anyone else define her journey. From a childhood spent scaling cliffs in Cornwall to an accident that reshaped her path,...

"If it scares you, it’s probably worth doing." For Lara Dallman-Weiss, taking the leap—both on and off the water—has shaped her into the elite athlete she is today. A two-time Olympic sailor who grew up in Minnesota and now calls Miami home, Lara’s journey to the Games wasn’t always straightforward. From playing basketball and track in her youth to making the bold decision to move across the count...

"No one said that being powerful and being feminine were exclusive. You can be both." For Catarina Guimarães, breaking barriers isn’t just a goal—it’s a way of life. A Paralympian for Team USA, Cerebral Palsy Soccer World Cup MVP, and published author, she’s proving that strength and style can coexist. Whether she’s dominating on the track, competing on the soccer field, or adding glitter to her r...

“People sometimes say the Paralympics is just a participation event—but that’s not true.” Tamsin Colley made history as Australia’s youngest-ever track and field Paralympian, competing in the 200m at the Rio 2016 Games. She’s also a dedicated Cerebral Palsy Footballer, balancing multiple sports while advocating for greater inclusion in competition. But Tamsin’s journey hasn’t been without obstacle...

“I never dreamed I would be an athlete. If you had asked me, I would have absolutely said no.” For Shannon Rowbury, running wasn’t part of the plan—until it became clear she had a knack for it. A 3x Olympian and Olympic bronze medalist in the 1500m, she spent decades pushing her limits on the track. But what happens when the race ends? In this episode, Shannon shares the emotional transition from...

"I touched the wall, saw my time, and was already blown away. Then I saw the 16 next to my name and thought—holy, it's happening." For Julimar Ávila, swimming was never just about the clock—it was about proving to herself and the world what was possible. Representing Honduras, she became the first swimmer from her country to make an Olympic semifinal. But her path was anything but linear. From tra...

"Be Brave. Take the Leap." For Neelam O’Neill, shooting was never part of the plan. But from firing her first shots at a tin-roof range in New Zealand to making history as the first female pistol shooter to represent her country at the Paralympics, she has defied every expectation, including her own. "The first time I held a gun, I was seven years old, just shooting cans on a family trip—I didn’t...

“You can either let challenges break you or use them to inspire the next generation.” This belief drives Shelley Looney, a trailblazer in women’s ice hockey and a gold medalist at the first Olympics with women's ice hockey (1998). Growing up in Michigan, Shelley dreamed of playing at the highest level, but had no female hockey players to look up to. She became the role model she never had, scoring...

“You can either let challenges break you or turn you into a superhero.” This belief drives Saman Soltani, a former Iranian national swimming champion turned Refugee Olympic Team canoeist. Born into a culture where restrictions on women in sports are severe, Saman’s dreams were nearly crushed when she faced persecution for trained internationally without adhering to strict hijab laws. Fleeing Iran...

*You can watch this episode of Flame Bearers: UNEDITED on YouTube via the Flame Bearers channel if you would like to tune in with visuals* -------------------- In this episode of Flame Bearers: UNEDITED, we sit down with Babalwa Latsha, the first professional woman XV rugby player in Africa, to hear her story of breaking barriers, embracing identity, and advocating for women in sports. From her ea...

As we step into 2025, we wanted to pause and reflect on some of the incredible conversations we had in 2024. This episode celebrates some of our favorite moments, featuring powerful stories and insights from remarkable athletes. Here are just a few highlights: Caster Semenya, 2x Olympic champ and 3x World champ, reflects on her role as an advocate for women in sports: "It's about time we, as women...

Instead of releasing a new interview this week, we wanted to pause and reflect on some of the incredible conversations we've had in 2024. This episode celebrates some of our favorite moments from interviews this past year, including snippets from our full conversations with each of these athletes. To name a few, you'll hear from: -Kokona Hiraki, World Champion skateboarder, talks about her love fo...

*You can watch this episode of Flame Bearers: UNEDITED on YouTube via the Flame Bearers channel if you would like to tune in with visuals* ------- “Never give up. Any opportunity can come up, and you need to grasp it.” This mantra fuels Husnah Kukundakwe, a 17-year-old, 2x Paralympian from Uganda. In a culture where “most people like me, who are born with a disability, are seen as curses to the fa...

“Your body isn’t broken—it just works differently now.” That’s how Dana Mathewson—3x Team USA Wheelchair Paralympian, and Wimbledon champ—views her body today, but that wasn't always her perspective. At the age of 10, Dana developed a rare auto-immune condition. When most girls are desperately trying to fit in with their peers, Dana was forced to reimagine her identity and future. She shares, “I w...

“What we do is sometimes the least interesting thing about us.” That’s how Julie-Anne Staehli—an Olympian from Canada and pro runner with Team New Balance Boston—sees it. With over a decade of experience competing at the highest levels, Julie-Anne has learned that while competing is a big part of her, it's what she does, not who she is. In this episode, Julie-Anne opens up about her journey, from...

"If you have the chance to be the best in the world at something, even for the fourth time, you should probably take it." Caryn Davies, a 3x Olympic medalist, shares her extraordinary journey of ambition, resilience, and self-discovery in this unfiltered conversation. Caryn, who competed in three Olympic Games—Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), and London (2012)—amassed an impressive record: a silver...