Keep the Flame Alive

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 w...

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 Lon...

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...

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 sa...

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 movemen...

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 s...

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?), c...

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...

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 a...

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 e...

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 Septem...

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 f...

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 goo...

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...

  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, welc...

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...

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...

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 noth...

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...

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 ou...

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 in...

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...

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 co...

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...

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...