Flame Bearers

By Founded by Jamie MittelmanSports

Flame Bearers episodes

February 02, 2022 Sport Is Freedom: Aline Rocha (BRA)
When Aline was 15 years old, she was in a car accident that paralyzed her from the waist down. That said, she says "sport changed my life, not the accident." According to Aline sport gave her wings, the ability to travel, and to meet people from all over the world.
In this episode, we speak with Brazilian Paralympic cross-country skier, Aline Roche about her passion for sport, and what it’s like to be the only female para cross country skier from all of South America competing in the 2022 Winter Games. As a former Flag Bearer for her nation and someone who has competed in both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, we also discuss what it's like to be disabled in Brazil and her hopes for women in para sports for the future.
Contributing expert include Fernando Orso (Aline's Coach and Husband), Dr. Mônica da Silva Araujo (PhD in Anthropology and Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Federal University of Piauí, Brazil)
This episode was made possible by Michael Cerqueria. Thank you for your translation help, Michael!
17 min
January 26, 2022 Being the First: Mialitiania Clerc (MG)
Mialitiana (Mia) is the first woman Winter Olympian from Madagascar and her goal is to "inspire all Africans." While she grew up in France with her adoptive parents, a big part of Mia's identity is as a Malagasy, and she wants to be living proof that a black African woman can reach the top in this sport.
In this episode, Mia shares what it means to be the first and only Malagasy woman to compete in the Winter Olympics, as well as about her remarkable recovery from her broken tibia and fibula less than a year ago.
Contributing experts include Stéphane Clerc (Mia's Father), and Elodie (Mia's Friend).
Media clips from:
-Philippe rAz YouTube, 'mia clerc ski Courchevel World Cup'
-Mia Clerc Ski YouTube, 'Mia Clerc Ski France3 Alpes JO 2018'
-Olympics' Youtube, '16-year-old Malagasy Clerc competes in the Women's Giant Slalom | Winter Olympics 2018 | PyeongChang'
-Mr History YouTube, 'A Super Quick History of Madagascar'
-Geography NOW YouTube, 'Geography Now! MADAGASCAR'
-Al Jazeera English YouTube, 'Why people in Madagascar are starving | Start Here'
-WION YouTube, '10 casualties with over 500 people displaced due to flash floods in Madagascar| WION Climate Tracker'
22 min
January 19, 2022 Being The Underdog: Mariama Jamanka (GER)
Reigning Olympic gold medalist, Mariama Jamanka never thought the words 'Olympic Champion' would apply to her, as a relative newcomer to bobsledding and as a member of the former 2nd German sled. In PyeongChang, Mariama and brakewoman, Lisa Buckwitz shattered all expectations, shocking the world by winning gold.
In this episode, we speak with Mariama about her underdog gold medal and what it’s like being a woman of color bobsledder. Going into the 2018 Games she kept thinking, "We are not the favorites. I have never won a medal for first place." Hear how things have changed.
Contributing experts include Heike Größwang (Secretary General, International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation) and Jerry Brewer (National sports columnist for the Washington Post).
Media Clips from:
-NBC Sports' 'Black Bobsledders Make History - 2018 Winter Olympics'
-Olympics.com's 'Germany's Mariama Jamanka takes Women's Gold | Bobsleigh'
-IBSF 'Highlights BMW World Cup women's bobsleigh in Innsbruck - Igls' Facebook Post
-Sunflowerboy_xd 74 YouTube, COOL RUNNINGS | The Second Race ["Feel the Rhythm! Feel the Rhyme!" ]
-IBSF 'From summer to Winter Olympics' Facebook Post
19 min
January 12, 2022 Making the Tough Calls: Bradie Tennell (USA)
US Olympic bronze medalist and 2X National Champion figure skater, Bradie Tennell has already made a career out of breaking records…and unfortunately her feet. As of Dec. 31 2021, (just after this interview was recorded), Bradie made the tough decision to withdraw from figure skating Nationals due to her chronic foot injury. Though Bradie’s path to the Beijing Olympics ends here, her journey is well worth celebrating as a fantastic example of her prioritizing herself and her love of the sport over pushing and risking life-long injury.
In this episode, we talk about Bradie's passion for figure skating, her decision to opt out of Nationals, and how she overcomes hardship.
24 min
January 05, 2022 Invisibility of Disability: Акжана Абдикаримова (ROC)
To kick off Season 2, we speak with 2x Russian Paralympian (soon to be 3x), biathlete and wheelchair racer, Akzhana Abdikarmova. She shares what it means to represent the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and sheds light on the invisibility of disability in Russia, how it has evolved, and how it hasn’t over the past 30 years.
Akzhana grew up with spina bifida and is constantly looking for ways to inspire local youth with disabilities; that's why she started several Instagram accounts amplifying the experiences of disabled athletes (@Gromova Team and @Gromovateam_junior) . Akzhana says that young para athletes are the individuals who motivate her the most, especially throughout the pandemic when she's been largely isolated: "I need to be their motivation and their role model. I'm doing this for them."
Contributing experts include: Mary Yntema (President and CEO, WorldBoston), and Denise Roza (Founder and Director, Perspektiva).
Media Clips from:
-Paralympic Games' YouTube, 'Middle distance sitting | Cross-country skiing | PyeongChang2018 Paralympic Winter Games'
-Paralympic Games' YouTube, 'Women's 400 m T53 | Victory Ceremony | 2016 IPC Athletics European Championships Grosseto'
-RT's YouTube, 'Entire Russian Paralympic team banned from Rio Games'
-BBC New's YouTube, 'Russian athletes banned from Rio 2016 - BBC News'
-Vox's YouTube, 'How ski warfare created biathlon'
-Team USA's YouTube, 'Paralympic Biathlon | U.S. Paralympics'
-Paralympic Games' YouTube, 'Sports of the Paralympic Winter Games: Biathlon'
-Channel 4 News' YouTube, 'Disability and Russia, a strange relationship'
27 min
November 19, 2021 Caster Semenya (South Africa): Who Decides Who's Female and Why?
It’s been a while since the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, but we wanted to amplify and celebrate a voice the world missed in Japan. 2x Olympic gold medalist and 3x World Champion runner, Caster Semenya was barred from competing in her events because of her higher than 'normal' testosterone levels. Caster was legally blocked by the International Association of Athletics Federations (now World Athletics) from competing unless she changed her natural body via hormone shots, surgery, or birth control pills. She didn’t.
In this episode, Caster shares her triumphs and challenges, and opens up about what this journey has been like for her. Just three days ago the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated that testosterone will not determine sex eligibility in future Games, but as we know, Tokyo has come and gone. That said, as Caster selflessly says, "This is about the future, the young ones".
Caster, you deeply inspire us with your courage, strength, and determination. Thank you for trusting us to tell your story.
Contributing experts in order of appearance include: Becky Motumo Molete (Managing Director, Afrimogul Sports Talent, Caster's Manager); Dr. Jessica Kremen (Pediatric Endocrine Physician, Boston Children's Hospital), and Dr. Ole-Petter Hamnvik (Co-Director, Transgender Health Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital).
Thank you to Harvard Kennedy School's Dr. Zoe Marks and to Middlebury College's Dr. Karin Hanta for your editing guidance.
Media clips from:
-NBC Sports' YouTube, 'Caster Semenya wins women's 800 meter final at 2016 Rio Olympics'
-CBS Sports' YouTube, 'Caster Semenya Takes 400M Race with Furious Finish'
-World Athletics' YouTube, 'Women's 800m Final | IAAF World Championships London 2017'
-SuperSport's YouTube, 'In Conversation with Caster Semenya'
-eNCA's YouTube, 'Caster Semenya breaks her silence'
-NPR's 'Olympic Runner Caster Semenya Wants To Compete, Not Defend Her Womanhood'
-NPR's ''I Am A Woman': Track Star Caster Semenya Continues Her Fight To Compete As Female'
-NPR's 'Olympic Runner Caster Semenya Wants To Compete, Not Defend Her Womanhood'
-Olympics.com's 'DSD athletes: What does it mean to be DSD and how gender and sex are the big issues in athletics'
-SABC News' YouTube, 'Caster Semenya says her battle with IAAF is a fight for Human Rights'
34 min
September 01, 2021 Being the Sole Woman: Kamila Dosmalova (KAZ)
Kamila started taekwondo when she was 9 years old and was the only girl on the team; years later, she's still the only woman, this time on Kazakhstan's Parataekwondo Paralympic team. In this episode, we speak with Kamila and her coach, Sultan, with the help of her friend and colleague, Meyept, Manager, National Paralympic Committee of Kazakhstan who translated our conversation live from Russian. In this conversation we discuss what it's meant for Kamila to be the only woman throughout her journey as well as how she's navigated her disability.
12 min
August 18, 2021 Jessica Long (USA): Perfection, Faith & Paraswimming
Jessica Long is one of the most successful athletes in Paralympic Games' history, holding 23 medals with 13 of them being gold. As she heads into her fifth Paralympics, Jessica shares that while her gold medals are "super cool", for her, it's "really about the journey."
In this episode, this naturalized American swimmer from Russia shares what it's like to grow up adopted, without legs, and born on a leap year, and how she strived to find perfection as a means to fill what she felt were voids in her life. Jessica lets us in on her connection to God and discusses how her faith has evolved over time.
28 min
August 04, 2021 Lean On Your Support System: Ni Nengah Widiasih (IDN)
At the age of four, Ni Negah Widiasih lost use of her legs at age four due to polio. In Rio she made history, becoming Indonesia's first Paralympic powerlifting medalist. Ni Negah is a firm believer that 'You were born to stand out, to be appreciated and loved for who you are.'
According to her, her journey to Tokyo is thanks to the unwavering support of her family and friends. Despite her unique set of challenges, Ni Negah is determined to go for the gold while rolling with the punches. I spoke with her with the support of a translator, Rea Candra if any when there where times when she preferred to speak in Indonesian.
Contributing experts include Carol Pandak, Rotary’s Director of PolioPlus; Rea Candra, Translator
18 min
July 21, 2021 Family & Friends First: Jacqueline Simoneau (CAN)
In this episode, we speak with 4X Pan American Games' gold medallist and soon to be 2X Canadian Olympic Jacqueline Simoneau. At home, she's Jacqueline and in the pool, she goes by Jackie. We hear how her journey to the Olympic pool has been “synchronized” with hard work, a touch of glamour and the loving support of family and friends. We explore how the sport of artistic swimming evolved from the days of vaudeville as well as how gender plays a role in unexpected ways.
Contributing experts include: Lynda South-Simoneau (Mother), Rob Simoneau (Father), Christian Simoneau (Brother), Claudia Holzner (Current Duet Partner for Tokyo), Steven Findlay (Jacqueline's Boyfriend), Eric Myles (Chief of Sports, Canadian Olympic Committee), and Vicki Valosik (Professor, Georgetown University).
Audio clips from: FINA's Artistic Swimming World Series 2021's Jacqueline Simoneau's 'Mesmerising Solo Free Routine', Summer sports' Jacqueline Simoneau/Karine Thomas - synchronized swimming Duet Final - pan am games toronto 2015, TheThings Celebrity '12 Strict Rules Synchronized Swimmers Have To Follow', The Hearts Center Community's 'Song - Canadian national anthem "O Canada"—All four verses!', and CBS Sports' Synchro Swimmers Karine Thomas and Jacqueline Simoneau - Partnership.
27 min

About Flame Bearers

From the publisher's feed

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio. We tell stories via video production, podcasts, and live events and have supported just shy of 400 world-class athletes from 52…