Keep the Flame Alive

It takes a village to house an Olympian, but what does it take to create that village? Yvan Dubois, Director General of the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games and Mayor of the Montreal Olympic Village tells us how it's done. He was one of the first to create the environment that makes the Olympic Village special and contributes so much to the magical experience of the Games. **DISCLAIMER: Olympic Fever is not endorsed by or affiliated with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.**

You asked, we're delivering! In today's Listener Request episode, we scratch the surface on the world of handball. Jill and Alison talk with USA Team Handball captain Sarah Gascon about the sport and what is wrong with America because it doesn't have much visibility in our country (no, seriously--have you seen how exciting this sport is??).

Once you've listened to Sarah, you can watch the basics explained by USA Team Handball. You can also watch Team USA compete this coming week at a Pan Am Qualifier against Canada. Both the US Men's and Women's teams will take on the Canadian National Teams this Sunday, September 2.

The women's game is at 3pm, followed by the men's game at 5pm (all times US Central). USA Team Handball will be showing a livestream of the event on its Facebook page -- but if you live around Auburn University, you can watch the intensity in person at the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum on Auburn University's campus. Find out more about the event here.

The series continues Wednesday, September 5, when the teams travel to Montreal for a rematch -- The winner gets to represent North America at the 2019 Pan American Games. This is a big deal because the Pan Am Games winner goes straight to the Tokyo Olympics, and 2nd-4th places play for another chance to get into the 2020 Games.

Follow Sarah on Insta and Twitter -- you can also find her on our Team Olympic Fever Twitter list!

If you're interested in learning how to play handball yourself, check out USA Team Handball's map of member clubs -- there might be one near you!

In the second half of the show, Jill tells Alison what went down during the Sr. Women's Day 2 competition at the U.S. Gymnastics National Championships....or more of how disappointing the in-person experience was (save a fantastic seat neighbor). Still, there were some fantastic performances, and Jill dishes on her favorites.

Photo courtesy of USA Team Handball.

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.

After listening to USA Team Handball Women's CaptainSarah Gascon, you'll wonder why Americans aren't in love with Team Handball. Sarah tells Jill and Alison about the game, why it's so exciting--and about the U.S.' blue collar strategic approach. In the second half of the show, Jill dishes to Alison about what went down at the 2018 U.S. Gymnastics National Tournament. **DISCLAIMER: Olympic Fever is not endorsed by or affiliated with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.**

We're on a boat! This week Jill and Alison get a rowing lesson from Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tessa Gobbo, who won in the women's 8 competition.

Learn when Tessa found out she was Olympic caliber, what training for the Games was like, how the water in Rio actually was and perhaps pick up some rowing tips.

Tessa was honored in New Hampshire with a day in her honor. Tessa Gobbo Day is on September 9. Listen to learn how to celebrate it!

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 on a boat! This week Jill and Alison get a rowing lesson from Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tessa Gobbo, who won in the women's 8 competition. **DISCLAIMER: Olympic Fever is not endorsed by or affiliated with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.**

You ever have one of those conversations where you just don't want it to end? That's this week's interview with U.S. judo legend Jimmy Pedro.

Jill and Contributor Ben Jackson chat with Jimmy about the sport, how it struggles to find its place within American sports/martial arts participation and its relationship with MMA. Plus we learn why 2x Olympic Gold medalist Kayla Harrison decided to start fighting MMA.

Plus, the U.S. National Gymnastics Champs is in Boston! Are you around and going to it? Tweet at Jill to let her know!

Follow Jimmy on Twitter! And Facebook! And Insta! And see his judo center's Facebook page! And Insta feed!

Want to hear another great interview with Jimmy (more technical in nature)? Check out Episode 300 of The Grappling Central's podcast.

Also, thanks to Mark Gillespie for microphone advice -- check out his WhiskyCast podcast!

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.

Jill and Contributor Ben Jackson chat with U.S. judo legend Jimmy Pedro about the sport, how it struggles to find its place within American sports/martial arts participation and its relationship with MMA. Plus we learn why 2x Olympic Gold medalist Kayla Harrison decided to start fighting MMA. Plus, the U.S. National Gymnastics Champs is in Boston! **DISCLAIMER: Olympic Fever is not endorsed by or affiliated with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.**

Modern Pentathlon is the Olympics' own sport, developed by the founder of the modern Olympics himself, Pierre de Coubertin. Contributor Ben Jackson interviews 5-time U.S. Senior National Champion Modern Penthathlete Samantha Achterberg on how the sport works and why it's a must-see at the Olympics. Plus, Jill and Alison create their own versions of a modern pentathlon that may or may not be as good as the real thing.

Follow Samantha!! She's on:

Facebook

Insta

Twitter

Website

If you want to catch video of modern pentathlon, check out UiPM TV for the latest clips.

(photos courtesy of Samantha Achterberg)

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.

Modern Pentathlon is the Olympics' own sport, developed by the founder of the modern Olympics himself, Pierre de Coubertin. Contributor Ben Jackson interviews 5-time U.S. Senior National Champion Modern Penthathlete Samantha Achterberg on how the sport works and why it's a must-see at the Olympics. **DISCLAIMER: Olympic Fever is not endorsed by or affiliated with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.**

We're reviewing our first Olympic Fever Book Club selection, which means Book Club Claire is back! Claire Natsis joins us for a discussion of The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, a moving take on the 1936 U.S. Men's Olympic 8-person rowing team.

If you want to watch the related PBS documentary "The Boys of '36," go to its PBS site. It's streaming there, but you might have to be a Passport member to view it (although the trailer and tons of clips are free on that site!). This page also has other streaming options, including iTunes, Amazon and Netflix.

Curious about Leni Riefenstahl's groundbreaking Olympic film "Olympia"? It's on YouTube:

Part 1: Festival of the Nations

Part 2: Festival of Beauty

Our next book club selection will be Lopez Lomong's Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games. We're excited to read a contemporary personal story--Lopez is still competing this season! We'll keep you posted on when we'll have our next book club discussion, but you'll have a couple of months to read the book.

Also on this episode, we have some great news on Team Olympic Fever member Jacqueline Simoneau, and we discuss Italy's multi-city 2026 Winter Olympic bid.

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.