Keep the Flame Alive

It's official: The Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We look at the timeline of the decision. We also check in with Team Olympic Fever members Jacqueline Simoneau , DeAnna Price , Samantha Schultz and new members Dr. Mary O'Connor and Phil Andrews to see how they're doing. We also discuss some of the thousands of pieces that are in play in rescheduling the Games...

We welcome John MacLeod back to the show to talk about his experiences as a member of Team Canada's 1976 Olympic water polo team. John tells us what it was like to make the team, travel behind the Iron Curtain and march in the Opening Ceremonies. We also discuss what it was like to return to normal life after having a great Olympic experience, and how that transition can be difficult. Jill also te...

We're going back to 1976 to hear one Olympian's story of what life was like on the luge track at a time when there wasn't even a U.S. Luge Association. Maura Grogan, née Haponski, tells us how she got involved in the sport as a high schooler, what it was like to train with hardly any resources, and about her time at the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck. This is definitely the story of taking Pierre de C...

We're back! We definitely needed that break from learning we have to rename our show, but now we need to come up with a name. That's where you come in – we're having a Show Name Suggestion Bonanza, and we'd like your input! [note: this is not a contest; we're just looking for ideas]. Fill out the form here – it's got a list of considerations we have to keep in mind. We'll take suggestions through...

While we're taking a break after last week's big news, we've got a Lightning Round episode for you. This edition features hammer thrower DeAnna Price, taekwondo athlete Madelynn Gorman-Shore, swimmer Mallory Comerford and gymnast Jake Dalton. **DISCLAIMER:  OLYMPIC® is a trademark of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee ("USOPC"). Any use of OLYMPIC® in the Olympic Fever podcast is str...

We've got a big announcement about the future of the show -- we tell you all about it in this episode. 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 i...

Might Alison have found a distant relative? We're talking archery with Hannah Brown, the chair of officials for the Tokyo 2020 archery tournament. She tells us how an archery tournament is set up, and what she remembers from tournaments (hint: It's not who wins). She did the test event too, so she describes the Tokyo venue and how you can "have a go" if you have tickets to any of the archery dates...

We're back in the gym with U.S. gymnast Jake Dalton, who tells us about his experiences at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics. We also learn about the strategy involved in the gymnastics team competition. Follow Jake on Facebook , Insta and Twitter . Also subscribe to his YouTube channel for more gymnastics videos! Our Team Olympic Fever Update, sponsored by PinCollector.com , includes the late...

We're diving in the pool this week! Mallory Comerford, Olympic hopeful, US National Team member and swimmer for the International Swim League's Cali Condors, shares some tips on what freestylers are doing in the water, so we viewers can better figure out what's going on in the pool (beyond the drive to be the fastest swimmer). Of course, since it's us, we also want the lowdown on swimsuits--Mallor...

Book Club Claire is back! We've got a rousing discussion of "The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle" by Kent Alexander & Kevin Salwen. The book covers the story of the bombing during the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and how the rise of the 24-hour media cycle contributed to getting the story wrong. Claire also talks with Andrew Maraniss, the...

We're hitting the beach with Olympic hopeful beach volleyball athlete Kelly Claes. Kelly and her partner Sarah Sponcil are currently ranked 8th in the world ….although that might not be enough to get them to Tokyo. Kelly tells us all about the sport and how they're dealing with the pressure of the upcoming Games. Plus, the Tokyo 2020 ticket design has been released, and we talk about who might be...

Movie Club is now in session! We welcome our newest contributor Fran Johnson (aka Film Buff Fran) to lead us in a discussion of "Chariots of Fire," the Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning story of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, British runners who competed at the Paris 1924 Olympics. As mentioned in the show, there was a documentary produced in the run up to London 2012 that traced the real Chario...

Team USA recently aired Season 3 of its "The Next Olympic Hopeful" program in which it tests athletes from around the country to find potential talent that can fill out the development programs in some of the smaller sports on the Olympic program. Skeleton winner Leah Fair joins us to talk about her experience on the show, what it's like to hurl yourself down a mountain face first, and what she le...

Jill and Alison are celebrating the Christmas and New Year's holidays, so that means it's time for another Olympic Lightning Round episode where we hear from past guests. This time we have lightning round questions for ice technician and Zamboni driver Adam Stirn , gymnast Chellsie Memmel and author Roy Tomizowa . Our show sponsor this week is RR Auction . Founded in 1976, RR Auction is a globally...

We're wading back into the gymternet because we need to learn some of the finer points of men's artistic gymnastics before we watch them at Tokyo 2020. Two-time U.S. Olympic gymnast and world medalist Jake Dalton walks us through all of the apparatuses and gives us more details about them. We also talk about The Dalton, sandpaper—and of course, biceps. We'll have Jake back on the show in a few wee...

It's a bad news, good news kind of week. First, the bad news: Russia's out of the Olympics for the next four years (pending appeal) due to the continued issues with doping. We've got opinions--and lots of sighs. But the good news is great: We catch up with "The Next Olympic Hopeful" winner and Team Olympic Fever rugby player Lindsey Mayo to see what she's been up to in the year since her win. Let'...

We often hear the title "chef de mission" mentioned during an Olympics, but what is it that a chef actually does? We get the scoop from Team Canada's chef de mission to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Marnie McBean. Marnie is a multi-medal winning Canadian Olympic rower who competed at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996, winning 3 gold and 1 bronze. A back injury sidelined her while at Sydney 2000 and led t...

It's American Thanksgiving, so we're serving up a Lightning Round featuring Team Olympic Fever members Harry Blutstein, Tim Yount and Tom Scott. Be sure to follow Harry at his website and Tom on Facebook , Insta and Twitter . Plus, we've got a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT about the show--and the latest in the IOC's hotelnovela. Jill's got a theory--and it's a good one! Because it's Thanksgiving, we wanted to...

This week we talk with Olympic hopeful Madelynn Gorman-Shore to understand how the sport of Taekwondo works. We learn that it's much more than just kicking people in the head, it's also the sport of very expensive socks. Follow Madelynn on Insta ! In our Team Olympic Fever update, Josh Williamson is starting off his bobsled season right; XC skier Kikkan Randall has a sweet new appointment; and hoc...

Book Club Claire is back! We discuss our latest pick, Munich 1972: Tragedy, Terror, and Triumph at the Olympic Games by David Clay Large. The book covers the hostage crisis as well as triumphs of the Games (notably in the swimming pool) and controversies (the men's basketball gold medal game)   Our next Book Club selection is The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell,...

U.S. Olympian and World Champion Hammer Thrower DeAnna Price is back to tell us about her experiences at the Rio 2016 Olympics and take some listener questions. Plus, a Team Olympic Fever member is making a comeback, and we've got the end of the Tokyo 2020 marathon/race walking saga (or is it?). When DeAnna talks about "her girls," you can see the love in this video when Fiodorow congratulates her...

Did you know that a 4kg ball has the power to lift you in the air and slam you on the ground ? U.S. Olympian and World Champion Hammer Thrower DeAnna Price tells us how this sport works. Plus, the latest in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic marathon and race walking saga! Follow DeAnna on social: Twitter Insta Special thanks to our sponsor PinCollector.com ! We've got our very own Olympic Fever pin, thanks t...

Olympic hopeful Tom Scott joins us to explain a sport that's new to the Olympic program at Tokyo 2020: Karate. Tom talks with Contributor Ben Jackson about kata and kumite and what to look for during the competition. You can also learn more from Tokyo 2020's one-minute video ! You can follow Tom on: Facebook Insta Twitter In our Team Olympic Fever Update, Tony Azevedo's got a new line of apparel ,...

Olympic teams have a wide range of support personnel--including doctors. On this episode we talk with Dr. Cathy O'Connor, who was the team doctor for the U.S. Women's National Ice Hockey Team for 10 years, including a stint at the Torino 2006 Olympics. Cathy tells us how she got to the Olympics and what it's like managing a team's medical needs -- from concussion management to doping, and everythi...

Olympian Chellsie Memmel talks gymnastics with contributor Ben Jackson. She tells what it was like to be an alternate at the Athens 2004 Olympics, then competing while injured at Beijing 2008. Chellsie's still involved in the gymnastics world--including getting back into the sport as an adult. Plus, the USOPC has relaxed the restrictions on Rule 40. We try to make sense of them. Follow Chellsie on...