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The countdown to the 2020 Olympics starts here...
From figure skating to gymnastics, we bring you the top Olympic talk around Tokyo 2020 with the biggest name athletes.
It's the official Olympic Channel podcast and it comes out every Wednesday.
Past guests include Simone Biles, Lindsey Vonn, Yuzuru Hanyu, and more than 50 others.
Mirai Nagasu
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After she was passed over for the USA team for Sochi 2014, Mirai Nagasu was done with figure skating.
“It wasn’t fun… I used to think, ‘I deserve to sit here in my puddle of tears and cry.’”
She vowed to make a comeback and became the first American woman to land a triple axel at the Olympics.
Olympic champion Meryl Davis sat down with her to speak about the 2018 Olympics, Gracie Gold’s sarcasm and how she landed that big jump.
Podcast: The tears behind triple axel triumph with Mirai Nagasu
Podcast: The tears behind triple axel triumph with Mirai Nagasu
The USA figure skating star had an emotional catch up with Olympic champion Meryl Davis about the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.Thomas Fogdö
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Thomas Fogdö was one of the best alpine skiers in the world. He had won the slalom world cup title, and finished fifth in both the Albertville 1992 and Lillehammer 1994 Olympics. But in 1995 the Swede broke his back in a training accident in Are. He was paralysed, at the age of 24. Despite now being in a wheelchair, the Swede has continued to give back to the sport he loves so much and told the Olympic Channel podcast how he has forged a life trying to help others who have suffered similar injuries.
Podcast: "I would love to walk again... [But] if I had the possibility to turn back time I guess I would stay like this," Paralysed Olympian Thomas Fogdö
Podcast: "I would love to walk again... [But] if I had the possibility to turn back time I guess I would stay like this," Paralysed Olympian Thomas Fogdö
Thomas Fogdö was one of the best slalom skiers in the world, but his life took an unexpected turn when he broke his back in a training accident. Despite now being in a wheelchair, the Swede has continued to give back to the sport he loves so much, and now helps others who have suffered similar injuries.BERNICE WILSON
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Great Britain’s Bernice Wilson was a promising young sprinter, but her career took a turn for the worse when she enlisted the services of ex-UK Athletics coach Dr. George Skafidas. They began dating, and he persuaded Wilson to start doping. She was caught, banned for four years, and vowed to come back clean. With her ban nearing completion, she tested positive again. But this time Skafidas had been doping the Briton without her knowledge. Wilson alerted the authorities. Three years on she is now a clean competitor and anti-doping campaigner. She told the Olympic Channel podcast how she made mistakes, was manipulated, and how she's trying to make amends.
Podcast: Bernice Wilson on being manipulated into doping
Podcast: Bernice Wilson on being manipulated into doping
Great Britain’s Bernice Wilson was a promising young sprinter, but her career took a turn for the worse when she enlisted the services of ex-UK Athletics coach, Dr. George Skafidas. They began dating and he persuaded Wilson to start doping. She was caught, banned for four years, and vowed to come back clean. With her ban nearing completion, she tested positive again. But this time Skafidas had been doping the Briton without her knowledge. Wilson alerted the authorities. Skafidas received a life-time ban from the sport. Three years on she is now a clean competitor and anti-doping campaigner. She told the Olympic Channel podcast how she made mistakes, was manipulated, and how she's trying to make amends.BOBBY CLAY
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Bobby Clay's promising running future was put on hold because she over-trained and under-ate. After winning numerous British titles and earning herself a team GB bib, the rising star's body broke. She was diagnosed with bone disease Osteoporosis at the age of 18. Now aged 21, Clay is competing in the UK national track cycling championships as part of her recovery, but still has Olympic ambitions as a runner. She shares her story as a word of warning to other young athletes.
Podcast: ''I sat down in the gym and my shin snapped...'' - Bobby Clay, diagnosed with Osteoporosis at 18 years of age
Podcast: ''I sat down in the gym and my shin snapped...'' - Bobby Clay, diagnosed with Osteoporosis at 18 years of age
Bobby Clay's promising running future was put on hold because she over-trained and under-ate.After winning numerous British titles and earning herself a team GB bib, the young rising star's body broke. ''I got to the point where I sat down in the gym and my shin snapped. It’s something we do every day and I couldn’t even do that without breaking. If I can’t do that, how was I meant to run.'' Now aged 21, Clay is competing in the UK national track cycling championships as part of her recovery but still has Olympic ambitions as a runner. She shares her story as a word of warning to other young athletes.WILFRED BUNGEI
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Kenya's Wilfred Bungei seemingly had it all: Money, fame, and an Olympic 800m gold medal. However, after retiring he slipped into deep alcoholism 'chaos', almost losing his life several times, missing the birth of his child, and also losing friend and fellow gold medallist Samuel Wanjiru.
Now, over seven years sober, Bungei is helping other alcoholics and former athletes avoid making the same mistakes. Olympic Channel reporter Evelyn Watta travelled to Kenya to hear the former track star's emotional story.
Podcast: Olympic champ Wilfred Bungei on alcoholism & almost losing his life
Podcast: Olympic champ Wilfred Bungei on alcoholism & almost losing his life
Kenya's Wilfred Bungei seemingly had it all: Money, fame, and an 800m Olympic gold medal. However, after retiring he couldn't fill 'the vacuum' that training and competing once occupied and slipped into deep alcoholism. He almost lost his life several times, missed the birth of his child, and lost friend and fellow gold medallist Samuel Wanjiru. Now, over seven years sober, Bungei is helping other alcoholics and former athletes avoid making the same mistakes he did. Olympic Channel reporter Evelyn Watta travelled to Kenya to hear Bungei's emotional story.LUCY DAVIS
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Lucy Davis has always loved horses from a young age, but had to juggle her Olympic ambitions with studying at Stanford. After missing the team for London 2012, the American finally realised her dream in Rio. She came away with a team silver, then suffered from post-Olympic blues which took her two years to "figure out". We hear from her about missing out on gold, how she recovered from her mental struggle, and her business which she hopes will drive new interest in equestrian sport.
Podcast: Equestrienne Lucy Davis on recovering from burnout and giving back
Podcast: Equestrienne Lucy Davis on recovering from burnout and giving back
Lucy Davis isn’t your average Olympic silver medallist. A Stanford graduate with a major in architecture, she’s also a top-level equestrian showjumper. But even the best athletes suffer burnout, as Davis found out after winning silver in Rio. “I kind of lost a lot of motivation,” she admits – and it took her two years before she finally found a new calling. Part of that involves giving back to her sport through her business, PonyApp. “There is this community of people around the world that love horses and have no outlet for it. So we're trying to galvanise that energy and direct it towards the sport and its exposure.”FIVE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES FOR 2019
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If you’re looking for some motivation to achieve what you want in 2019, then have a listen to these amazing stories from across the Olympic world. We hear from Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin, Jordyn Wieber, and more. Whatever your aim for the new year, we hope these stories from the greats will inspire you on your way to greatness.
Podcast: Five inspirational stories to get 2019 started the right way
Podcast: Five inspirational stories to get 2019 started the right way
If you’re looking for some motivation to achieve what you want in 2019, then have a listen to these amazing stories from across the Olympic world. We hear from Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin, Jordyn Wieber, and more. Whatever your aim for the new year, we hope these stories from the greats will inspire you on your way to greatness.BEST OF 2018
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From Simone Biles to Yuzuru Hanyu, some of the world's best athletes have appeared on the podcast this year. We've put together a selection of some of the most popular interviews of 2018.
Podcast: The most popular Olympic Channel Podcast episodes of 2018
Podcast: The most popular Olympic Channel Podcast episodes of 2018
To celebrate our first incredible year, we have put together highlights from some of our most downloaded interviews of the year. We have an absolute stellar line-up including Simone Biles, John Orozco, Anthony Ervin, Brian Orser and Yuzuru Hanyu.MICHELA MOIOLI
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Italian Michela Moioli felt nervous ahead of her first Olympic snowboard cross final at Sochi 2014. Those nerves turned into despair as the hope of medalling was crushed when she crashed. Aged just 18 – it seemed like her whole career could have ended. She had torn her cruciate ligament in her knee. She dedicated herself to making a comeback and, at PyeongChang 2018, she won gold. We spoke about pasta, her post-Olympic comedown, and plans for Beijing 2022.
Podcast: How to come back from career-threatening injury with Michela Moioli
Podcast: How to come back from career-threatening injury with Michela Moioli
Italian Michela Moioli felt nervous ahead of her first Olympic snowboard cross final at Sochi 2014. Those nerves turned to despair as her medal hopes were crushed when she crashed heavily. Aged just 18, her career was in jeopardy after suffering a torn cruciate ligament in her knee. But she dedicated herself to making a comeback and four years later at PyeongChang 2018 she won gold. We spoke to Michela about pasta, post-Olympic blues and Beijing 2022.BRIAN ORSER
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We sent Olympic champion figure skater Meryl Davis to Vancouver to cover the Grand Prix Final for the Olympic Channel Podcast. And she bumped into a familiar face. Double Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser is coach to Yuzuru Hanyu, Javier Fernandez and Evgenia Medvedeva.
Davis and Orser chatted about Hanyu’s ankle injury, Fernandez’s European Championships mission and what his opinion on Medvedeva’s inconsistent season.
“I ask everyone for their patience. Please. It will be great. Really great. But there’s no quick fix.”
Podcast: Brian Orser - The man behind the world’s greatest figure skaters
Podcast: Brian Orser - The man behind the world’s greatest figure skaters
We sent Olympic champion figure skater Meryl Davis to Vancouver to cover the Grand Prix Final for the Olympic Channel Podcast. And she bumped into a few familiar faces. Double Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser is coach to Yuzuru Hanyu, Javier Fernandez and Evgenia Medvedeva. Davis and Orser chatted about Hanyu’s ankle injury, Fernandez’s European Championships mission and what his opinion on Medvedeva’s inconsistent season. “I ask everyone for their patience. Please. It will be great. Really great. But there’s no quick fix.”DAVID WEIR
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British Paralympian David Weir has won more London Marathon titles than anyone on the planet. But despite his success, he’d never come to terms with his disability.
“I never showed my emotions to my family. I never spoke to my mum and dad about my disability... I just bottled things up for years and years and years.”
The 39-year-old opened up about why he wants to represent Great Britain at Tokyo 2020, the highs of London 2012, and his life-changing counselling sessions.
Podcast: Paralympic champ David Weir on disability, crying, and counselling
Podcast: Paralympic champ David Weir on disability, crying, and counselling
British Paralympian David Weir has won more London Marathons than anyone on the planet. But despite his success, he had never come to terms with his disability. He was born with a spinal cord transection that left him unable to use his legs. Frustrated by his lack of options in the sporting world, he went on to excel at wheelchair racing in the T54 category. Even after winning six Paralympic gold medals, by the time he won his record-breaking seventh London Marathon in 2017, he felt no joy. Weir had to face up to inner turmoil he had been burying since childhood. “I never showed my emotions to my family. I never spoke to my mum and dad about my disability... I just bottled things up for years and years and years.” The 39-year-old opened up about why he wants to represent Great Britain at Tokyo 2020, the highs of London 2012, and his life-changing counselling sessions.JOHN OROZCO
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“It's not popular for men to be emotional in America. Especially black men.”
You may remember US gymnast’s emotional NBC interview after he made the team for Rio 2016. He beat the odds to make the team after injuries and the sudden death of his mother. Orozco never made it to Brazil. Another injury ended his sporting career. Now, the 25-year-old is looking to become a singer in Los Angeles.
Podcast: Creating hope after tragedy with US gymnast John Orozco
Podcast: Creating hope after tragedy with US gymnast John Orozco
“It's not popular for men to be emotional in America. Especially black men.”Family tragedy. Injuries. A new mission in Los Angeles. You may remember US gymnast’s emotional NBC interview after he made the team for Rio 2016.He beat the odds to make the team after injuries and the sudden death of his mother.Orozco never made it to Brazil. Another injury ended his sporting career.Now, the 25-year-old is looking to become a singer in Los Angeles.“Hope is not… an empty concept. It's something that you have to create the meaning for - what is your hope?”CHINESE SKI JUMPING + AKSEL LUND SVINDAL
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A set of athletes aged 15-20 have been given an incredible challenge. They haven’t ever even worn skis but are still hopeful of becoming international level ski jumpers. China have sent some of their most promising athletes to live in Norway to transform them into Olympians. We went behind-the-scenes on their first day on the slopes. Plus, double Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal joined us to tell about his longevity in the sport, injuries and his friend Lindsey Vonn.
Podcast: Chinese ski jumpers take first lesson as they target Beijing 2022
Podcast: Chinese ski jumpers take first lesson as they target Beijing 2022
A set of athletes aged 15-20 have been given an incredible challenge. They haven’t ever even worn skis but are still hopeful of becoming international level ski jumpers. China have sent some of their most promising athletes to live in Norway to transform them into Olympians. We went behind-the-scenes on their first day on the slopes. Plus, double Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal joined us to tell about his longevity in the sport, injury, Lindsey Vonn, and retirement.ANTHONY ERVIN
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A swimmer who won two individual Olympic gold medals 16 years apart - with a suicide attempt, a reignited passion for swimming, and the birth of his daughter in between. Ed Knowles spoke to the oldest individual Olympic medallist in swimming about the curse of winning, Ryan Lochte's problems and competing at Tokyo 2020.
Podcast: Triple Olympic champ Anthony Ervin says winning can be 'terrible'
Podcast: Triple Olympic champ Anthony Ervin says winning can be 'terrible'
Swimmer Anthony Ervin won Olympic gold aged 19. His life then fell apart. He was homeless, attempted suicide, and drank heavily. In 2016, he won the 50m freestyle. Aged 35, he became the oldest individual Olympic gold medallist in swimming. “Winning can be a terrible thing that happens to you. It can completely intoxicate you… Winning is a test.” He spoke about Ryan Lochte, growing up with Tourette's, and how he wants to compete at Tokyo 2020.SIMONE BILES
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The four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles joined us for a chat during the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Doha. Scott Bregman spoke to her about performing with a kidney stone, her friendship with Morgan Hurd, finding her voice online and the story behind how she met boyfriend Stacey Ervin.
Simone Biles exclusive: "There is still a lot to work on"
Simone Biles exclusive: "There is still a lot to work on"
Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles is now a 14-time world champion. The records fell in Doha with her achievements made all the more unbelievable after she was admitted into hospital on the eve of competition with a kidney stone. The Olympic Channel Podcast spoke to her just after she had won her dramatic all-around title. Plus, reporter Scott Bregman and gymnastics writer Blythe Lawrence picked out the best stories from an action-packed world championships.SARAH WALKER
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It doesn't feel great to fail. But Olympic silver medallist BMX rider Sarah Walker says we should aim to fail at something every week. The stakes for failing in BMX are higher than in most other walks of life. The Kiwi has broken 18 bones in her body over her career.
Embracing failure with BMX Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker
Embracing failure with BMX Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker
The consequences for failure in BMX are high as New Zealand’s Sarah Walker well knows – she’s broken 18 bones over her career. A big crash meant she missed Rio 2016 after her silver medal at London 2012. She believes that failure should be reassessed. “(Society sees) failure as such a bad word. It’s so negative and this thing that you need to avoid (but) I aim to fail every week. Then if I have a bigger failure – I have practised that feeling – and I am more comfortable with it and I am more accepting of the outcome.” Find out how to make some epic fails – Olympic style.JORDYN WIEBER AND MADISON KOCIAN
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Ahead of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Doha, we spoke to two Olympic gold medallist gymnasts from Team USA who are both based in Los Angeles to study at UCLA. Wieber became world champion in 2011 but then missed out on the all-around final at London 2012. Find out why her switch to coaching has seen her flourish like never before. Plus, we get the inside-track on Simone Biles from her 'Final Five' team-mate Madison Kocian.
