Olympic Fever

Legend in the house! 6x Olympian and 6x Olympic medalist Kim Rhode joins us to explain how the Olympic shotgun events work. Plus, a Tokyo 2020 update and fantastic news from Team Olympic Fever!

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, USA Gymnastics has been de-sanctioned by the USOC. What's next?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Happy Anniversary to us! That's right--one year ago this week, we launched our very first episode! This week, we sit down with swimming legend John Naber, the golden boy of the 1976 Montreal Olympics. He won 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. Plus a doping update, US Paralympic rewards and a big slice of TOFU.

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, and we're wowed at our Team Olympic Fever members' accomplishments for this week's slice of TOFU.

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 hear some great Olympic stories, like this week's interview with Joan and Sid Marantz, who volunteered with Youth Services for the LA 1984 Olympics. Joan tells us all about developing educational tools, and Sid tells us what it's like to actually be Sam the Eagle.

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. Here he tells us how it's done.

After listening to USA Team Handball Women's CaptainSarah Gascon, you'll wonder why Americans aren't in love with Team Handball. Sarah tells Jill and Alison about the game, why it's so exciting--and about the U.S.' blue collar strategic approach. In the second half of the show, Jill dishes to Alison about what went down at the 2018 U.S. Gymnastics National Tournament.

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.

Jill and Contributor Ben Jackson chat with U.S. judo legend Jimmy Pedro 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!

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.