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On the track, a relay team can make or break its race based on the quality of its baton handoffs. 2004 Olympic relay gold medalist and current Bethel University head track coach Andrew Rock walks us through the process of handing off the baton. And, we announce our virtual Closing Ceremonies meetup.

You can follow Andrew's teams on social @bethelxctf and visit their website.

As we mentioned on the show, the US women's 4x100 relay team had a tougher time qualifying for the finals at the Rio 2016 Olympics -- but check out this video, because the cameras really focus in on the handoffs, and you can see exactly what Andrew talks about.

In our visit to TKFLASTAN, we check in on Kelly Claes, MCamp, Chellsie Memmel, Shiva Keshavan and Chloe Kim. Check out Shiva's interview with our next book club author Abhinav Bindra and Chole's interview on Just Women's Sports.

In Tokyo 2020 new, the Paralympic schedule has been confirmed, and we have a short maranovela update.

Plus, the USOPC has released its 2019 annual report, which means we get to see where all of the money goes.

Thanks to all of our Patreon patrons who support the show. Please consider supporting us financially either with a one-time donation or ongoing support, as our expenses this year have greatly increased due to a forced rebranding. If you can't support us financially, please leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app or tell friends about the show.

Thanks for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

photo: courtesy of Andrew Rock

Book Club Claire is back to discuss 1964: The Greatest Year in the History of Japan: How the Tokyo Olympics Symbolized Japan’s Miraculous Rise from the Ashes by Roy Tomizawa. Also, we have found our nickname for John Coates--and we can't even take credit for it.

Our next book is A Shot at History by Abhinav Bindra with Rohit Brijnath. There are a couple of versions - we’ll be reading the updated 2017 version. Look for your copy at bookstores and libraries, and we’ll discuss it in October.

As mentioned in our visit to TKFLASTAN, Dr. Kristin Keim was on an episode of Koop Cast, and Dr. Victoria Jackson was on The Intercollegiate.

Meant to coincide with Tokyo 2020, a bunch of documentaries are coming out this summer. They include HBO's "The Weight of Gold," about Olympic-related depression; "Rising Phoenix," a documentary on the history of the Paralympics that will air on Netflix; and Sky Sport 3's documentary about 100 years of the Silver Ferns, New Zealand's Olympic team.

If you watch these, let us know what you think--and if you can help us figure out how to see the Silver Ferns, doc, please let us know!

NEXT WEEK: Olympian Andrew Rock tells us how to pass the baton during athletics relays. Don't miss it!

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

We report back on what went down in the International Olympic Committee's 136th Session, which is the big gathering of all IOC members. We've got an announcement from TBach, news from Tokyo 2020, plus reports from all of the other Games on the docket.

Today is also one year to go until Tokyo 2020 (in 2021), so the Tokyo Organizing Committee had a recognition celebration. It was a little more somber than last year's, but beautifully done. Grab your Puffs -- you'll need them when you watch it!

Don't forget to join in our One Year to Go celebration -- we're Zooming together on Friday, July 24 at 12pm Eastern. Then at 8pm Eastern, dial up the Sydney 2000 official film on YouTube and meet us on Zoom again to watch it together (and marvel how it's been 20 years since Sydney). For Zoom links, email us at flamealivepod@gmail.com.

With one year to go, there's a multi-day event happening on AirBnb Experiences, and you can hang with some of our TKFLASTANIs! Cook Indian food with Shiva Keshavan; be inspired by Lauren Gibbs; or take a rock climbing class with Josh Levin.

We're super-excited to have some new out-going music! For the next year, through Tokyo 2020, we'll be featuring Archdale's song "Tokyo." Check out their website and follow them on Spotify and Facebook.

NEXT WEEK: Book Club Claire is back for our discussion of Roy Tomizawa's 1964: The Greatest Year in the History of Japan.

This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of the Moscow 1980 Olympics, which may be better known for the 66-country boycott of them. Our TKFLASTANI archivist Teri Hedgpeth joins us to talk about the boycott and a new exhibit she put together for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee that honors the US athletes who were affected by it.

Follow Teri on LinkedIn!

We are working on a side project about the 1980 boycott from a global aspect, so if you were involved or have historical context to present, we would be interested in talking with you. Please email us at flamealivepod@gmail.com and put “boycott” in the subject line, and we’ll get back to you to talk further.

In our visit to TKFLASTAN, we learn that Clare Egan and the US women's biathlon team are having a Bonfire fundraiser to support the ladies' travel fund. New t-shirt designs go up every two weeks, so be sure to check it out (and don't blame us if you end up with a t-shirt drawer that's nothing but biathlon-themed shirts. Nothing wrong with that)!

John Shuster and his curling team have been nominated for Team USA's Team of the Year. Fan voting is on through July 20.

Did you catch our ice dancer Charlie White and his wife Tanith hosting the International Skating Union's inaugural ISU Skating Awards? You can watch a replay here.

Thanks to our Patreon patrons for keeping our flame alive! If you enjoy the show, please consider donating.

We love to hear from you!

Email us at flamealivepod@gmail.com or call our VM hotline at 208-FLAME-IT. We’re flamealivepod on Twitter and Insta and Keep the Flame Alive Podcast Group on Facebook.

We welcome back our TKFLASTANI travel expert Ken Hanscom, COO of Ticket Manager, who tells us the latest on how to make plans to travel to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021.

Follow Ken on Twitter and Insta. Follow Ticket Manager on Twitter.

We also have a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT about our plans to celebrate one year to Tokyo 2020 on July 24! Look for more details on our Insta, Twitter, Facebook Page and Facebook Group this week!

Our TKFLASTANIs have been on a bunch of podcasts and in documentaries. Here are the links to the ones we mentioned on the show:

• Marnie McBean on the Connor Carrick Podcast
• Phil Andrews on Throw Big Throw Far
• Victoria Jackson talking about her Boston Globe piece on Global Sport Matters and ESPN Radio
• John Shuster in CurlingZone's doc "Anything Is Possible - An American Curling Story"

Love the show? Keep our flame alive! Support the show by donating through Patreon. If you're interested in advertising on the show, leave us a VM at 208-FLAME-IT (you can also leave us a VM if you just want to say hi!).

NEXT WEEK: Ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Moscow 1980 Olympics, TKFLASTANI archivist Teri Hedgpeth will be on to discuss the US boycott of these Games and a virtual exhibit she created to honor the American Olympians who didn't get to compete.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

This week is Canada Day and American Independence Day, so we're celebrating with a Lightning Round episode. This one features our TKFLASTANI archery official Hannah Brown, travel/tickets expert Ken Hanscom and 1976 Olympic luger Maura Grogan.

We need to cool off, so we're hitting the ice -- the curling ice, that is. On this episode we talk with Derek Leung, a graduate student pursuing a research master’s in geology at the University of Edinburgh. His focus is on the damage evolution of curling stones, so we wanted to hear what he's discovered about the rocks themselves.

Derek has a YouTube channel called Minerals Rock! where you can see his slo-mo research in action. He also has a GoFundMe page to help defray the costs of studying abroad.

Good news from our Gamesmaker TKFLASTANIs! Teri Hedgpeth has published an article in Olympika: The International Journal of Olympic Studies. Sean Colahan won an Emmy for this story. And Lou Jones has an online exhibit documenting the pandemic in Boston.

Be sure to check out the virtual tours at the National Paralympic Heritage Trust.

Thanks so much for listening, and keep the flame alive!

Simone Biles and Michael Phelps are among the Olympians who have ADHD. But what is that disorder, and how does it affect elite athletes? Dr. Claudia Reardon, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry of University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and co-chair of the International Olympic Committee's working group "Mental Health in Elite Athletes," joins us to talk about how athletes can manage and excel with this condition.

We welcome back 4x canoe sprint Olympian András Törő, and in this episode we talk about his Olympic experiences at Rome 1960, where he won a bronze medal; Tokyo 1964, where he defected; Munich 1972, which suffered a terrorist attack, and Montreal 1976. Also, we follow up on the latest developments in the IOC's and USOPC's efforts to acknowledge athletes' opinions and desires when it comes to making protests. Plus there's information from the IOC's latest Executive Board meeting, and some news from TKFLASTAN.

Mentioned on the show:

The IOC's statement on racism and inclusion.

Gwen Berry's open letter.

USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland's response.

András' book Chronicles of an Olympic Defector.

The McLaren Report on corruption within the International Weightlifting Federation and Weightlifting House's episode about it.

It's been a tough week in America--and in cities around the world that are rising up against racism and social injustice. In hundreds of cities, people are banding together to make a statement about the brutal killing of George Floyd and to demand change.

Because of the situation going on in the world, we wanted to take some time and look at protests that have occurred on the Olympic stage throughout its existence, even though Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter states, "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas." The IOC even clarified this earlier this year to prevent displays at Tokyo 2020.

And while the IOC believes that sport and politics don't mix, we also note how that belief conveniently goes by the wayside when the IOC wants to promote a political agenda.

The dulcet tones of Jason Bryant mercifully tell us how to pronounce TKFLASTAN, our land of former guests. In part of this week's update, we learn that ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson was on an episode of "Behind the Gold." Check it out here!

We'd love to hear from you - email us at flamealivepod@gmail.com or call us at 208-FLAME-IT.

Thank you so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

It's a holiday week here in the US, so we've got a Lightning Round episode for you. Past guests Marnie McBean, Kelly Claes and Karolos Grohmann face up to the slow roll of our lightning round questions.

Follow our guests:

Marnie: Twitter | Insta | Website

Kelly: Twitter | Insta | Website

Karolos: Twitter

Also, here's Marnie's amazing Barcelona 1992 Opening Ceremonies uniform. This is a national treasure.

Thank you to all of our Patreon patrons! If you like what you hear, please support the show with a donation or by telling a friend!

We'd love to hear from you--call our VM hotline at 208-FLAME-IT.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

It's Mental Health Awareness Month, so we welcome Dr. Kristin Keim back to the show to talk to us about how athletes -- and non-athletes -- can think about how to care for our mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Follow Kristin online on Insta, Twitter and Facebook.

In our visit to TKFLASTAN, we learn that Teri Hedgpeth has left the USOPC, but not before putting together a bunch of virtual exhibits. Jackie Wong was on Jeopardy--get the highlights on his Twitter feed. Brianna Decker has a new dog. And John Shuster wrote the foreword to this juicing book and taught Blake Shelton how to curl.

In Tokyo 2020 news, the Tokyo Organizing Committee CEO warns of cost cuts -- probably to the torch relay. We've got ideas.

Next week, we're having a listener-curated Lightning Round episode. Vote for your favorites at our Facebook Group. Deadline for voting is Tuesday, May 26 at 11:59pm Eastern Time US.

Thanks so much to our Patreon donors whose support makes this show possible. If you like what you're hearing, please make a donation.

Thank you for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

It's week 2 of canoe! On this episode, 4x Olympian Andras Törő tells us details about the Canoe Sprint discipline that will help us watch it better at the Olympics.

Andras is pretty amazing. Competing for Hungary, Andras won a silver medal in the Men's 1000m C2 event (that's doubles) at the Rome 1960 Olympics. [check out this video of his event - his boat's in the middle. Was Hungary robbed?]He competed at Tokyo 1964 in singles, and came in 4th. That's when he decided to defect to the US.

He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees, then made the US Olympic team and competed at the Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 Olympics.

Once he retired, he stayed involved with the sport on many levels, from coaching to being involved in the international federation. He also was a member of the US Olympic Committee's Athletes' Advisory Council, then became the secretary for the USOC for a four-year term.

Now he's written a memoir about his life called Chronicles of an Olympic Defector. You can find it at Mascot Books or wherever you buy books. We're having Andras back on in June to talk about his Olympic experiences and his defection, so you've got time to read the book before you get more of the back story!

Also on the show, we've got the word from the International Olympic Committee's first virtual Executive Board meeting. We read between the lines of TBach's report of the day to figure out just what's in store for Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic Movement.

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Insta - and join our Facebook Group to talk with fellow Olympic lovers!

We'd like to send our eternal flame of gratitude to our Patreon patrons, whose contributions help make this show possible. Please consider contributing at http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod.

Thanks for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

We're back! Same fun Olympics podcast, but a brand new name! We're still getting things transitioned over to the new name -- you'll see a new website soon, and the back catalog will get reconfigured as well.

We have all new social media handles--new accounts actually, so please follow us and help others find us. It's the same across Insta, Twitter and Facebook--@flamealivepod. Our Facebook Group is Keep the Flame Alive Podcast.

We welcome New Zealand Olympic medalist and silver fern owner Luuka Jones to the show to talk to us about the sport of canoe slalom. She tells us about what it's like excelling on the global stage without much support, and what having support can do for your performance. And we learn the best ways to get canoes and kayaks to anywhere in the world.

Luuka also tells us about her experiences competing at Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016, where she won the silver medal. She's qualified for Tokyo 2020, so we look forward to cheering her on at the Olympics next year.

Follow Luuka on Facebook, Insta and Twitter!

Also on the show, our Team update -- but what should we call our team, now that we can't use Team Olympic Fever? Let us know! The update includes mention of Jake Dalton (and his biceps)' new YouTube show "A Drink with Jake," which you can find here.

Plus, some news from the Olympic world and what the surfing waves are like in Tahiti.

Call us! We'd love to hear from you! Our new VM number is 208-FLAME-IT.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

It's our last episode of Olympic Fever (but don't worry, we're not going anywhere--we're just changing our name)!

This week, we're having a Movie Club meeting, so that means a visit from Film Buff Fran. Fran joins us to discuss "Miracle," the story of the 1980 US men's ice hockey team, also known as the "Miracle on Ice."

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 is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.

Book Club Claire is back to discuss "Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany" by Andrew Maraniss. We also hear from author Roy Tomizawa about his book "1964," which is our next selection. We wonder which Team Olympic Fever Quarantine House we should stay in, and we have some gymnastics qualification updates for Tokyo 2020.

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 is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.

We're catching up with more members of Team Olympic Fever to see how they're faring in the COVID-19 pandemic. Today we're chatting with our karate Olympic hopeful Tom Scott and video journalist Sean Colahan. Plus, we talk about the Olympic flame's current location, and we have a new self-isolation Olympic sport we think should be up for consideration in the Olympic program.

Follow Tom Scott:

• Facebook
• Insta
• Twitter

Follow Sean Colahan on Twitter.

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 is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.

Today we're learning what the Olympics are like from a National Governing Body (NGB) point of view. Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Weightlifting joins us to talk about what his NGB does for its elite, Olympic-bound athletes, as well as for its clubs, coaches and other athlete members. We also talk about drug testing in the wake of COVID-19 and how that's especially important to the sport of weightlifting.

Follow Phil on Twitter and Insta, and check out his website!

 USA Weightlifting is currently holding virtual competitions - learn more here!

We also mentioned an Olympic Channel short on the legendary Greek weightlifer Pyrros Dimas, who's now working with USA Weightlifting. Grab a tissue and watch that here.

Congrats to our Team Olympic Fever triathlete Joe Maloy on the birth of his daughter! Also, will Team Olympic Fever gymnast Chellsie Memmel make a comeback? Follow her on social @CMemmel and find out.

We have new dates for Tokyo 2020! The Olympics will take place from July 23 to August 8, 2021, and the Paralympics will take place from August 24 to September 5, 2021. The Tokyo Organizing Committee and Here We Go task force got those out in short order!

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 is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.

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 for (likely) 2021.

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 is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.