Para swimmer McKenzie Coan returns to the show to tell us all about her experiences at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. She surprised herself by winning a medal and made the most of her time in Paris, particularly when it came to the famous chocolate muffins! Learn more about McKenzie at her website: http://mckenziecoan.com Follow McKenzie on Insta , TikTok , and X . Milan-Cortina 2026 has unveiled its torch relay maps for the Olympics and Paralympics. We have the details on that. Also, the Internati...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 370
Book Club Claire is back with our final selection of 2024, which is Today We Die a Little! The Inimitable Emil Zátopek, The Greatest Olympic Runner of All Time by Richard Askwith. This is the 2016 biography of the world-famous Czechoslovakian runner who competed in long-distance races at London 1948, Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956, racking up five Olympic medals. What did we think of this legend and his biography? Take a listen to find out! Claire also announces our book club roster for 2025, ...
Nov 28, 2024•48 min•Ep. 369
What's more fun than bobsled? Bobsled and champagne! Hear all about the wild rides and lack of safety features that was the first Olympic bobsled (or bobsleigh) competition at Chamonix 1924. For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com . Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive! NOTE: An earlier version of this episode stated that Switzerland has the the most Olympic bobsled medals. That is incorrect. The episode has been edited to reflec...
Nov 25, 2024•16 min
Paralympic para powerlifter Louise Sugden returns to talk about her experiences at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where she finished 5th in the 79kg weight class. However, she also opted to change weight classes this time around. We discuss that decision, the process of what it takes to successfully move down, and whether it was the best choice for this competition. Follow Louise on Instagram , Threads , TikTok and Twitter ! Also on this episode, we discuss the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS...
Nov 21, 2024•46 min•Ep. 368
We spent the past weekend in Atlanta at the annual Olympin Olympic collectors and pin traders show. We had a fun time catching up with other collectors, pin traders, TKFLASTANIs, and--best of all--meeting some listeners! This was also Alison's first trip to Atlanta, so we had to do a little Olympic sightseeing. Nicholas from Olympic Rings and Other Things was kind enough to show us around! We also have a ton of news from upcoming Games! Milan-Cortina 2026 has released the pictograms and look of ...
Nov 14, 2024•44 min•Ep. 367
Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist SSG Sagen Maddalena on this episode to talk with us about the shooting competitions and what the Olympics were like at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, a few hours away from Paris. A former NCAA athlete, Sagen is a member of the US Army's Marksmanship Unit, where she's a shooter and instructor for the unit's International Team. Paris 2024 fueled Sagen's drive for gold at LA 2028. Follow her journey to the next Summer Olympics on Instagram and learn more about t...
Nov 07, 2024•52 min•Ep. 366
Both Alison and Jill are experiencing some post-Paris 2024 blues, and they share what they're doing to combat it--you'll have to figure out whether Alison is being a 90-year-old or not, and you can do so while listening to our Paris 2024 playlist . Another way to combat it is to talk with someone who's been there. We're excited to welcome para cyclist Samantha Bosco back onto the show. Samantha competed in both para track and road cycling at Paris–and won gold in the road race time trial, which ...
Oct 31, 2024•57 min•Ep. 365
For some sports on the Olympic program, it's easy to understand how they evolved: Swim fast, run fast, jump high, score a goal. But sports like artistic swimming? Where did that come from? On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Vicki Valosik , author of Swimming Pretty: The Untold Story of Women in Water , who delved deep in to the world of synchronized swimming to discover its roots--and along the way, she found much more. The book is a treasure trove of rabbit holes, from the connection ...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 364
It's been a little over a month since the Paris 2024 Paralympics ended. How does that expereience resonate with our TKFLASTANIs once real life has settled back in? Wheelchair basketball gold medalist Brian Bell and para shot put gold medalist Noelle Malkamaki return to tell us how the Games were for them and what's next (or not) in their lives. Follow Brian and Noelle on Insta! We also have some news from other TKFLASTANIs, including: Sled hockey player Monica Quimby -- learn more about her post...
Oct 17, 2024•51 min•Ep. 363
Alpine skiing is one of the core sports on today's Winter Olympic program, but it wasn't even an event at the very first Winter Olympics at Chamonix in 1924. Instead, the only skiing that mattered was cross-country, ski jumping, and Nordic combined. Was there drama? Of course! And it started in qualifications. We've got the full story here, including Mother Nature's revenge, an incorrect podium, and the man who created technology that would forever change the sport of skiing. Alison's got the fu...
Oct 14, 2024•15 min
This past weekend, Jill and Producer Ben found herself in Salt Lake City for a few days, which gave her the opportunity to visit some of the Salt Lake City 2002 venues to see how the legacy of those Games continues on. In this episode, hear what it's like at Utah Olympic Park , home of the 2002 ski jumping, Nordic combined and sliding competitions. Currently, the park is a training and competition site, with a learn to ski program for kids. It also has a number of additional activities, includin...
Oct 11, 2024•47 min•Ep. 362
It's been nearly two months since Paris 2024, but athletes who have spent years training for the Games are still processing what happened there. Today we're talking with Canadian race walker Evan Dunfee about his Paris 2024 experience. Paris was Evan's third Olympics and marked a radical shift in his race schedule--for the first time his marquee event--the 50K walk--was off the program, and he'd be racing the 20K as well as the race walk mixed relay, a new event for the Olympics. We've talked wi...
Oct 03, 2024•54 min•Ep. 361
People choose to uproot their lives and move to the US for many reasons, and on this episode we hear one immigrant's story. Elvin Kibet came to America for opportunity--and that opportunity inspired her to give back to her new home by serving her country in the US Army and its World Class Athlete Program unit. Elvin shared her story in author Joanna Garten's book "All in Stride: A Journey in Running Courage and the Search for the American Dream" and talked with us about her journey from a rural ...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 360
It's an epic show today because we have epic listeners! We dissect Paris 2024 with you and discuss: what it was like to watch at home more details of trips to the Games how Paris rates compared to other Games training with a future Paralympian trying visually impaired sports tattoos how well Texan Olympians did Plus, Jill shares a story from her past that's spurred behavior that's almost too embarrassing to discuss on the podcast. And, seven people have declared their candidacies to take over TB...
Sep 20, 2024•2 hr 40 min•Ep. 359
Although we're home from Paris, we still have a lot of Paris 2024 content to share with you! Here's some mixed zone tape from the last couple days of competition. Jill talked with several athletes after their final competitions, so we have: Para powerlifter Bobby Body, who just missed out on the podium Sitting volleyball players Lora Webster and Kaleo Kanahele after winning the gold medal Wheelchair fencer Ellen Geddes after finishing up the team epee competition For a transcript of this episode...
Sep 13, 2024•24 min
It's the last day of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, but there's still plenty of competition before the Closing Ceremonies. Jill heads to para powerlifting to see TKFLASTANI Bobby Body lift, while Alison sees a major showdown at Bercy Arena for the end of the women's wheelchair basketball tournament. Unfortunately, scheduling issues prevented our heroes from getting the required stickers to see the Closing Ceremonies (which, given their reaction to the other three ceremonies, may not have been a bad...
Sep 08, 2024•49 min
It's the penultimate day of the Paris 2024 Paralympics! Jill heads to the Grand Palais one final time to see TKFLASTANI Ellen Geddes compete in the women's team epee competition and lose a little more of her hearing thanks to the French fans. Plus, there's one more game of monster blocking in sitting volleyball, and it's a doozy. Meanwhile, Alison gets in another para athletics session, sees TKFLASTANI Louise Sugden in Para Powerlifting, and heads to Bercy Arena for the men's wheelchair basketba...
Sep 08, 2024•1 hr 26 min
More great competition from the Paris 2024 Paralympics today, as Jill had an adventure (and some sore obliques) learning how to play sitting volleyball. She made the trip out to Versailles to catch some of the para equestrian team competition, then headed to para swimming and miraculously didn't get lost in the venue. Meanwhile, Alison went to the Stade de France for para athletics and then got waylaid at Team USA House getting Team TKFLASTAN interviews (and cookies). Sports on today's program: ...
Sep 07, 2024•1 hr 18 min
It’s been a rainy Day 8 at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, but that did not dampen our spirits, even if it soaked our socks. Jill spent the day at the Eiffel Tower/Champs de Mars stadium complex, in part to see TKFLASTANI Liana Mutia compete in para judo, but also to catch some more blind football. Meanwhile, Alison had a team sports day with wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball. Sports on today’s program: Blind Football Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Athletics Para Cycling Road Para Judo...
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr 10 min
Day 7 of the Paris 2024 Paralympics was pretty magical for your two favorite Paralympics podcasters. Alison spent the day at the hallowed ground of Roland Garros for wheelchair tennis and got clay in more places than she thought was possible. Jill saw a TKFLASTANI destroy a world record at the Stade de France, then ended her day with medal rounds of wheelchair fencing foil, with the Paralympic legend Bebe Vio. Sports on today's program: Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Athletics Para Cycling Ro...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 31 min
Can you spend an entire day in Paris Arena Sud at the Paris 2024 Paralympics? Alison lives to tell the tale of one location, three sports: boccia, goalball and para table tennis. Jill gets a taste of blind football before dashing over to the Team USA House to interview TKFLASTANIs and then head to watch Brian Bell and the US Men’s wheelchair basketball team try to advance to the bracket stage. Sports on today’s program: Blind Football Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Athletics Para Equestrian P...
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 27 min
Day 5 at the Paris 2024 Paralympics brings some highs and lows–and Alison got stuck on the low end of the spectrum. We also learned about Nike’s efforts to develop more inclusive clothing and footwear, and Jill had a splash and dash to and from the splash and dash. Nike has an initiative to develop athletes’ careers post-competitive career, as well as hire more people with disabilities. To that end, they have an initiative called Game On, which is a 12-month program for employment seekers that w...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 31 min
Team Keep the Flame Alive collects more gold today, as Matt Stutzman competes in Para Archery. Alison's got all of the details of his amazingly close matches, plus an encounter that made her day better than wheelchair rugby can. Plus, she has a sensory experience that was like any other. Meanwhile, Jill saw most of TKFLASTANI Brian Bell and Team USA's men's wheelchair basketball team. Then she headed to Team USA's High Performance Center for a Wheelchair Fencing lesson with Paralympian Byron Bra...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 27 min
Another day in Paris, another load of World and Paralympic Records going down! Jill went to Wheelchair Rugby…and let’s just say there may be a podcast fight over who covers the final. Meanwhile, Alison braved the chill of the Grand Palais to see TKFLASTAN bring home a medal in Para Taekwondo. Plus, an email from a TKFLASTANI upended evening plans for all the right reasons. Sports on today’s program are: Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Athletics Para Badminton Para Cycling – Track Para Rowing P...
Sep 01, 2024•1 hr 44 min
The fantastic sporting action at the Paris 2024 Paralympics continues on, but the lovely weather doesn’t. Jill managed a lot of venue issues, including rain at Invalides during the para archery competition. Alison got to the velodrome for a toasty day of para cycling track. Sports on today’s agenda: Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Athletics Para Badminton Para Cycling Track Para Rowing Para Swimming Para Table Tennis Para Taekwondo Shooting Para Sport Sitting Volleyball Wheelchair Basketball W...
Aug 31, 2024•1 hr 57 min
It’s the first full day of competition from Paris 2024, as the Paralympics get off to a great start. Jill went to para track cycling to see TKFLASTANI Samantha Bosco, and Alison had the best day of her life at wheelchair rugby. In the evening, Alison headed over to para swimming for Olivia Chambers’ first final, while Jill wandered around Paris Arena Sud and eventually watched TKFLASTANI Melissa Tapper play para table tennis and Alison Levine play boccia. The sports on today’s program are: Bocci...
Aug 30, 2024•1 hr 12 min
The Paris 2024 Paralympics are officially open! We attended the Opening Ceremonies...and we have opinions on the show, which in a first-ever moment for the Paralympics, took the Opening Ceremonies out of the stadium and put it in the heart of the city (in a temporary stadium, but let's not get too in the weeds with that detail). The ceremony covered a lot of ground over a long span of time, and the athletes marched down the Champs-Élysées into the stadium to great fanfare, which was a lot of fun...
Aug 29, 2024•1 hr 8 min
It’s one day to go until the Paris 2024 Paralympics! We are back in Paris, which means we have more (mis)adventures to share with you. We’re in a new hotel, we have a new Main Press Center, and we’ve been to some interesting events. Alison saw a sneak preview of the Opening Ceremonies and has a full report. Meanwhile, Jill checked off another Olympic swimming pool with a visit to the Georges Vallerey Piscine , swimming venue for the Paris 1924 Olympics. What’s a Games without anyone to cheer for...
Aug 27, 2024•41 min
We're just a few days away from the start of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics, and we have one more member of Team TKFLASTAN to introduce to you! Daniel Romanchuk is a two-time Paralympic medalist in wheelchair racing, both on the track and on the road. Racing since he was four years old, Daniel came onto the Paralympic stage at Rio 2016, where he competed in the Men's T54 class in the 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 5000m. At Tokyo 2020, he won the gold medal in the men's 400 meters T54 event and...
Aug 22, 2024•20 min•Ep. 358
The flame is out and we say au revoir to the Paris 2024 Olympics. First, there were still some competitions to wrap up: Jill made the journey out to Versailles to see the women’s modern pentathlon finals, and Alison saw TKFLASTANI Ben Hallock and Team USA go for the bronze at water polo. Plus, the Marathon Pour Tous looked like a great time for some, but perhaps not for others. And we look at the unusually unjoyful Closing Ceremonies that Paris 2024 gave us. Sports on today’s program: Athletics ...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 10 min
