Flame Bearers

After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.

That’s what this new Best Of series is all about: spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:

✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”
✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.
✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.
✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.
…and many more!

You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.

In this episode, Greatness in Motion, Kimberly Alkemade (Netherlands, para-athletics) explains how shifting between prosthetic blade sponsors—from Ottobock to Xiborg to Össur—mirrors her growth as an athlete and her fight against the financial barriers facing para-sport. Fran Brown (Great Britain, paracycling) shares how defining her own path turned “can’t” into world titles and Paralympic medals. Caryn Davies (USA, rowing) reflects on embodying Olympic values—excellence, friendship, respect—and how she applies them beyond sport in her law career. Marzieh Hamidi (Afghanistan, taekwondo), now training in France for the Refugee Olympic Team, speaks about resilience, displacement, and representing Afghan women denied that freedom. Each story redefines greatness not as perfection or power, but as persistence, adaptation, and motion toward something bigger than self.

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.

For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @‌flamebearers

Follow us:
Instagram - / flamebearers
Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast
LinkedIn - / flame-bearers
TikTok - / flame_bearers
X - / flame_bearers
Our Website - https://flamebearers.com/

Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.
If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!

After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.

That’s what this new Best Of series is all about: spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:

✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”
✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.
✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.
✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.
…and many more!

You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.

In this episode, Role Models V1, Ariana Ramsey (United States, rugby) shares how she uses social media to bring visibility to women’s rugby and redefine what “rough” looks like for girls in sport. Jackie Dubrovich (United States, fencing) reflects on being a role model even through losses and helping younger teammates grow. Manasi Joshi (India, para badminton) talks about transforming personal struggle into inspiration for others with disabilities. Shelly Looney (United States, ice hockey) describes building a stronger pipeline for girls to see themselves in the game. Asma Nyang (Senegal, judo) urges women to become the fan base women’s sports need. Marzia Hamidi (Afghanistan, taekwondo) tells her story of escaping Taliban rule to keep her Olympic dream alive. Marta Pen Freitas (Portugal, track and field) calls for women to take leadership roles in sport governance.

Together, these athletes redefine what it means to be a role model — through resilience, visibility, and purpose.

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.

For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearers

Follow us
Instagram - / flamebearers
Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast
Linkedin - / flame-bearers
Tiktok - / flame_bearers
X - / flame_bearers
Our Website - https://flamebearers.com/

Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.
If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!

After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.

That’s what this new Best Of series is all about: spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:

✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”
✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.
✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.
✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.
and many more!

You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.

In this episode, With a Little Help, Cynthia Appiah (Canada, bobsleigh pilot) shares how her coaches guided her through her toughest season back to the podium. Asia Hogan Rochester (Canada, rugby sevens) reflects on rebuilding team culture, healing from injuries, and rising to Olympic silver. Natoya Ghoul Toppin (Jamaica, 800m) draws strength from her faith to overcome fear and rebuild confidence. Marine Fatoumatta Camara (Mali, boxing) tells of choosing to represent Mali and becoming the country’s first female boxing medalist. Husnah Kukundakwe (Uganda, paraswimming) recalls qualifying through lockdown determination with her mom and coach. Giancarla Trevisan (Italy, 400m) shares how training partners and patience led her from injury to a personal best. Fran Brown (Great Britain, para cycling) describes how friendship and opportunity reignited her path to elite sport. Together, their stories show how belief, mentorship, and community transform self-doubt into collective strength.

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.

For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @‌flamebearers

Follow us -
Instagram - / flamebearers
Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast
Linkedin - / flame-bearers
Tiktok - / flame_bearers
X - / flame_bearers
Our Website - https://flamebearers.com/

Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.
If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!

After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.

That’s what this new Best Of series is all about: spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:

✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”
✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.

You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.

🎧 In this episode: Young Talent

Kokona Hiraki (Japan, skateboarding) shares the joy of progression and skateboarding’s artistry beyond contests.
Lauren Scruggs (USA, foil fencing) reflects on sibling-fueled beginnings and channeling fierce role models.
Taylor Winnett (Paralympic swimming) recounts injury, discovering para sport, and choosing the pool over a paycheck.
Regina Salmons (USA, rowing) explores body changes, belonging, and valuing feel over aesthetics.
Farida Osman (Egypt, swimming) explains longevity through seasonal resets to avoid burnout.
Jackie Dubrovich (USA, foil fencing) celebrates creativity, adaptability, and real-time problem solving.
Bryony Page (Great Britain, trampoline) details retraining mind and body to move through fear.

These voices frame talent as curiosity guided by resilience and rest—and offer listeners practical ways to nurture it.

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.

For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @‌flamebearers

Follow us -
Instagram - / flamebearers
Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast
Linkedin - / flame-bearers
Tiktok - / flame_bearers
X - / flame_bearers
Our Website - https://flamebearers.com/

💬 Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.
📺 If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!

Flame Bearers: Pathways to Paris is a finalist for the 5th Annual Anthem Awards! We’re in the running in three categories: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Human and Civil Rights, AND the Anthem Community Voice Award. This award is determined entirely by public support. Voting ends October 30, so please vote today and share with your networks!
Link to vote: https://celebrate.anthemawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/diversity-equity-inclusion-belonging/awareness-categories/

After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.

That’s what this new Best Of series is all about: spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:

✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”
✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.
✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.
✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.
and many more!

You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.

In this episode, Going the Distance, Natoya Goule-Toppin (Jamaica, 800m) shares her relentless fight through illness and injury to return stronger on the track. Caster Semenya (South Africa, 800m) reflects on reclaiming power and self-love after years of scrutiny and legal battles. Anna Jurt (Switzerland, modern pentathlon) finds joy in the process, learning resilience through failure and persistence. Husnah Kukundakwa (Uganda, paraswimming) opens up about how swimming helped her embrace her identity and confidence despite discrimination. Shannon Rowbury (USA, 1500m) explains how lessons from Olympic competition fuel her work mentoring others in performance and mindset. Together, these women redefine endurance—not just as physical stamina, but as faith, identity, and the will to keep showing up.

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.

For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @‌flamebearers

Follow us -
Instagram - / flamebearers
Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast
Linkedin - / flame-bearers
Tiktok - / flame_bearers
X - / flame_bearers
Our Website - https://flamebearers.com

Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.
If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!

Flame Bearers: Pathways to Paris is a finalist for the 5th Annual Anthem Awards! We’re in the running in three categories: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Human and Civil Rights, AND the Anthem Community Voice Award. That last one is where you come in. This award is determined entirely by public support. Voting ends October 30, so please vote today and share with your networks! 

After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.

That’s what this new Best Of series is all about: spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:

✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”
✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.
✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.
✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.
and many more!

You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.

In this episode, UE Hispanic Edition, we celebrate Latina pride, identity, and heritage through the voices of three extraordinary athletes. Julimar Ávila (Honduras, swimming) shares how family roots and long hours at the pool shaped her love for the water and her pride in representing Honduras on the Olympic stage. Lavonne Idlette (Dominican Republic, track and field) reflects on her journey from Hampton University to the 2012 Olympics and the unbreakable bond she found with her mother’s homeland. Alejandra Aybar (Dominican Republic, Paralympic swimming) speaks about resilience, respect, and breaking misconceptions around Paralympic athletes. As we close out Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the athletes who proudly represent their heritage — honoring their voices, their journeys, and the cultures that shaped them.

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.

For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearers

Follow us -
Instagram - / flamebearers
Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast
Linkedin - / flame-bearers
Tiktok - / flame_bearers
X - / flame_bearers
Our Website - https://flamebearers.com/

Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.
If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!

After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.

That’s what this new Best Of series is all about—spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:

✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”
 ✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.
 ✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.
 ✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.
 and many more!

You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.

In this episode, Resilience and Perserverence, athletes open up about what it costs to keep going and how they rebuild when everything says stop. Canadian bobsleigh pilot Cynthia Appiah shares how the sport helped her find her voice and the confidence to stand up for herself. U.S. wheelchair tennis star Dana Mathewson describes a childhood diagnosis, initial resistance to adaptive sport, and the moment tennis finally clicked. Olympic trampolinist Bryony Page talks about fear, losing confidence, and the practical tools that brought her back to big skills. Chelsea Edghill, table tennis Olympian from Guyana, pushes back on the “it looks easy” myth and explains how mindfulness keeps her centered. Jamaican middle-distance runner Natoya Goule-Toppin recounts a car accident, a lingering nerve issue, and racing her way back to 1:55 form. Malian-French boxer Marine Fatoumata revisits burnout and abuse, then finding a coach and team that respected her and saved her career. And French figure skater Maé-Bérénice Méité remembers an Achilles rupture that ended an Olympic qualifier and how she rediscovered joy by making skating a game again. Together, these stories show resilience as a practice: setting boundaries, seeking support, and choosing to try again.

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.

For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearers

Follow us -
 Instagram - / flamebearers
 Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast
 Linkedin - / flame-bearers
 Tiktok - / flame_bearers
 X - / flame_bearers
 Our Website - https://flamebearers.com/

Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.
 If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!

After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.
That’s what this new Best Of series is all about—spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. 

We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:
✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”
 ✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.
 ✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.
 ✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.
 and many more!

You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.

In this episode  we explore how elite women athletes define who they are in the face of pressure, expectation, and change. You’ll hear Afghan taekwondo champion Marzia Hamidi confront what it meant to lose, and reclaim, her identity when the Taliban banned women from sport. Fran Brown, British Paralympic cyclist, pushes back on “inspiration porn” to assert her professionalism and agency. Asia Hogan-Rochester, Olympic silver medalist with Canada Rugby Sevens, celebrates individuality, glitter, mismatched cleats and all, as fuel for confidence. And Catarina Guimarães (Team USA) shows that power and femininity aren’t opposites, reminding young girls they can love bows and sparkle and still be absolute beasts on the field. Together, these stories reveal identity as both a fight and a freedom, something you own, protect, and proudly bring to the world.

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.
For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearers
Follow us -
 Instagram - / flamebearers
 Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast
 Linkedin - / flame-bearers
 Tiktok- / flame_bearers
 X- / flame_bearers
 Our Website - https://flamebearers.com/
Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.
 If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!

After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.

That’s what this new Best Of series is all about—spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:

✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”
 ✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.
 ✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.
 ✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.
 and many more!

You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.

In this episode — My Identity (Part 1) — we explore who athletes are beyond medals and headlines. Two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya says “take me as I am” and challenges narrow ideas of womanhood in sport. Three-time Olympian Shannon Rowbury opens up about the identity shift after stepping away from competition, how she “meditates through movement,” and the power of running community (including her time supporting the San Francisco State team). Claire Taggart, a boccia athlete from Northern Ireland competing for the United Kingdom, reflects on being multifaceted — a woman and a disabled elite athlete — and on boccia’s post-Tokyo move to gendered events giving women new space to shine. This is identity in motion: honest, layered, and unapologetically real.

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.

For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearers

Follow us -
 Instagram - / flamebearers
 Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast
 Linkedin - / flame-bearers
 Tiktok- / flame_bearers
 X- / flame_bearers
 Our Website - https://flamebearers.com/

Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.
 If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!

After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.

That’s what this new Best Of series is all about—spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:

✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”
✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.
✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.
✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.
and many more!

You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.

In this episode, we continue our global journey through the voices of women athletes sharing heartfelt advice they wish they could give their younger selves. You’ll hear from Olympic Refugee Canoist, Saman Soltani on choosing joy amid hardship, Indian swimmer Chahat Arora on overcoming criticism, and U.S. Paralympian Catarina Guimarães on how setbacks shape strength and more! This episode is a powerful reminder that while every athlete’s journey is unique, the lessons they’ve learned can be applied by all. 

-------
Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.

For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearers

Follow us -
Instagram - / flamebearers
Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast
Linkedin - / flame-bearers
Tiktok- / flame_bearers
X- / flame_bearers
Our Website - https://flamebearers.com/