Olympic Channel Podcast

As Alexandra Banfield prepares to represent England at the 2019 ICU World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida, the Solihull-based athlete explains how she balances an emotional job as a chemotherapy nurse with the rigours of training for a major competition. Plus, we sent influencer Gina Scarangella to London to see how the sport has grown in the country.LINKSEverything you need to know about the 2019 ICU World Cheerleading ChampionshipsEd Knowles on Twitter

She’s fast. She’s Jamaican. And she’s coached by four-time Olympic medallist Ato Boldon. Briana Williams won the 100m and 200m at the U20 World Championships. Now, she is hoping to reach the 2019 World Championships (‘if her coach knows what he’s doing’ – Ato’s words not ours!) and maybe even Tokyo 2020. We spoke to both about sunglasses, Jamaican beaches, and beating FloJo’s long-standing sprint records.LINKS:Briana Williams on Instagram Ato Boldon on Twitter Bobby Clay episode

The question on everyone’s lips was ‘Who is Sarah Sellers?’. The American beat the odds to finish second in the 2018 Boston Marathon. The Olympic Channel Podcast spoke to the full-time nurse about what’s changed a year on, her Tokyo 2020 chances, and why she will never pay for a first class flight. LINKS:The Ultimate Guide to the Boston MarathonOlympians hail "incredible experience" of running a marathon in PyongyangSarah Sellers on InstagramEd Knowles on Twitter

Coach Brian Orser has some of the best figure skaters in the world training at his famous ‘Cricket Club’ in Toronto, Canada. Two of the newest additions to the team are Evgenia Medvedeva and Jason Brown. “They do have a very special chemistry,” said Orser. “They are from different backgrounds - but they seem to jive really well.” Olympic champion Meryl Davis spoke exclusively to the pair and Brian Orser about what makes their relationship so unique. LINKS: How to fall in love with a figure skater with Aljona Savchenko’s husband Liam Cross Daily blog from the world championships Evgenia Medvedeva Instagram Jason Brown Instagram Brian Orser Instagram Meryl Davis Instagram Ed Knowles on Twitter

Her phone totally blew up. After being out with friends, US gymnast Katelyn Ohashi came home to 50,000 more followers on social media.We hear the full story behind the ‘Perfect 10’ routine that went viral, her friendship with Simone Biles, and the biggest life lesson from legendary coach Valorie Kondos Field.The Olympic Channel Podcast also spoke to Miss Val about what’s next for American gymnastics and what she’s learnt in her three decades at UCLA.LINKSJohn Orozco podcastKatelyn Ohashi Instagram Miss Val Instagram Scott Bregman Twitter Ed Knowles Twitter Original Perfect 10 Routine in Full Updated Perfect 10 Routine in Full

The ISU 2019 World Figure Skating Championships in Japan are upon us.Olympic champion figure skater Meryl Davis talks about what it’s like to compete at the top-level and gives her expert opinion on Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan and Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia.Plus, the Olympic Channel Podcast put Meryl on the spot to make some predictions about who will come out on top.Find out how to SUBSCRIBE Meryl Davis on Instagram Scott Bregman on Twitter Ed Knowles on Twitter

President of the Women Sports Foundation and top USA bobsleigher gave an in-depth chat about her career, head injuries and women’s issues. We spoke to her just before the World Championships where, despite being one of the favourites to win, she crashed out and suffered her fifth concussion.It’s not clear if she will retire or continue competing but this outspoken interview is evidence of her leadership skills.Also, Elana spoke well about knowing the limits of your own body.“A lot of women have this tendency to try to ‘tough it out’. I think (because) there’s a societal stigma that we are weaker sex... we push through things when we shouldn’t necessarily.”LINKS:Elana Meyers Taylor TwitterEd Knowles TwitterVideo of last week’s Ramla Ali podcast

It’s something to tell your mum about – winning a national championship. But Ramla Ali preferred to keep her boxing career secret. She was a refugee from Somalia who discovered boxing in London’s East End.“My mum… in her eyes to be a good Muslim girl you have to be fully covered. But I think just different things work for different people.”We visited her gym in London to talk family secrets and representing Somalia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.LINKS: Ramla Ali Instagram Andrew Binner Twitter Ed Knowles Twitter

Kristina Vogel, one of the world’s very best female track cyclists, won her record-breaking 11th title at the 2018 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.Four months later, she was paralysed and in a wheelchair.A junior Dutch cyclist was practising standing starts when Vogel crashed into him at full speed.The double Olympic champion feels no resentment.“I don’t need to forgive (the person because) I have no anger about him.”She doesn’t know if her family feels the same.“I have never asked them if they have forgiven him… I am scared to question that.”The 28-year-old talked about her life-changing accident, acceptance and forgiveness.LINKS:Kristina Vogel Instagram Mirai Nagasu Tweet Ed Knowles Twitter SUBSCRIBE

After she was passed over for the USA team for Sochi 2014, Mirai Nagasu was done with figure skating.“It wasn’t fun… I used to think, ‘I deserve to sit here in my puddle of tears and cry.’” She vowed to make a comeback and became the first American woman to land a triple axel at the Olympics – and took home Olympic bronze in the team event.Olympic champion Meryl Davis sat down with her to speak about the 2018 Olympics, the sarcasm of her teammate Gracie Gold and how she landed that big jump.LINKS:Mirai Nagasu on Instagram The triple axel 2018 Olympics routine in full Meryl Davis Instagram Ed Knowles on Twitter

Thomas Fogdö was one of the best slalom skiers in the world, but his life took an unexpected turn after he broke his back in a training accident. Despite now being in a wheelchair, the Swede has continued to give back to the sport he loves so much and help other athletes who have suffered similar injuries. Thomas Fogdö on TwitterActive Life FoundationAlessandro Poggi on TwitterAsh Tulloch on TwitterSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Great Britain’s Bernice Wilson was a promising young sprinter, but her career took a turn for the worse when she enlisted the services of ex-UK Athletics coach, Dr. George Skafidas.They began dating and he persuaded Wilson to start doping. She was caught, banned for four years, and vowed to come back clean.With her ban nearing completion, she tested positive again. But this time Skafidas had been doping the Briton without her knowledge.Wilson alerted the authorities. Skafidas received a life-time ban from the sport. Three years on she is now a clean competitor and anti-doping campaigner.She told the Olympic Channel podcast how she made mistakes, was manipulated, and how she's trying to make amends.LINKS:Andrew Binner on TwitterBernice Wilson on TwitterUK Anti-DopingSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Bobby Clay's promising running future was put on hold because she over-trained and under-ate. After winning numerous British titles and earning herself a team GB bib, the young rising star's body broke. ''I got to the point where I sat down in the gym and my shin snapped. It’s something we do every day and I couldn’t even do that without breaking. If I can’t do that, how was I meant to run.'' Now aged 21, Clay is competing in the UK national track cycling championships as part of her recovery but still has Olympic ambitions as a runner. She shares her story as a word of warning to other young athletes. LINKS: #TRAINBRAVE TRAIN BRAVE on Twitter Ash Tulloch on Twitter Bobby Clay on Twitter SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Kenya's Wilfred Bungei seemingly had it all: Money, fame, and an 800m Olympic gold medal.However, after retiring he couldn't fill 'the vacuum' that training and competing once occupied, and slipped into deep alcoholism.On several occasions he almost lost his life, and missed the birth of his child."There is only three destinations for an alcoholic: Institutions - which is treatment, you will go to jail because you will do something stupid that will put you in trouble, or you will die."Now, over seven years sober, he is helping other alcoholics and former athletes avoid making the same mistakes. Olympic Channel reporter Evelyn Watta travelled to Kenya to hear Bungei's emotional story.LINKS:Alcoholics AnonymousSamaritansEvelyn Watta on TwitterSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST 

Lucy Davis isn’t your average Olympic silver medallist. A Stanford graduate with a major in architecture, she’s also a top-level equestrian showjumper. But even the best athletes suffer burnout, as Davis found out after winning silver in Rio. “I kind of lost a lot of motivation,” she admits – and it took her two years before she finally found a new calling. Part of that involves giving back to her sport through her business, PonyApp. “There is this community of people around the world that love horses and have no outlet for it. So we're trying to galvanise that energy and direct it towards the sport and its exposure.” LINKS:PonyApp Lucy Davis on Instagram ‘His name is Barron’ – Lucy Davis introduces Barron on the Olympic Channel Showjumping warm-ups with Lucy Davis on the Olympic Channel SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

If you’re looking for some motivation to achieve what you want in 2019, then have a listen to these amazing stories from across the Olympic world. We hear from Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin, Jordyn Wieber, and more. Whatever your aim for the new year, we hope these stories from the greats will inspire you on your way to greatness. LINKS: Missy Franklin Jordyn Wieber Yusra Mardini Michael Phelps Klete Keller

To celebrate our first incredible year, we have put together highlights from some of our most downloaded interviews of the year. We have an absolute stellar line-up including Simone Biles, John Orozco, Anthony Ervin, Brian Orser and Yuzuru Hanyu. LINKS: Simone Biles John Orozco John’s song Anthony Ervin Brian Orser Yuzuru Hanyu

Italian Michela Moioli felt nervous ahead of her first Olympic snowboard cross final at Sochi 2014. Those nerves turned to despair as her medal hopes were crushed when she crashed heavily. Aged just 18, her career was in jeopardy after suffering a torn cruciate ligament in her knee. But, she dedicated herself to making a comeback and, four years later at PyeongChang 2018, she won gold. We spoke to Michela about pasta, post-Olympic blues, and Beijing 2022. LINKS: Against All Odds Michela Moioli Instagram

We sent Olympic champion figure skater Meryl Davis to Vancouver to cover the Grand Prix Final for the Olympic Channel Podcast. And she bumped into a familiar face.  Double Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser is coach to Yuzuru Hanyu, Javier Fernandez and Evgenia Medvedeva. Davis and Orser chatted about Hanyu’s ankle injury, Fernandez’s European Championships mission and what his opinion on Medvedeva’s inconsistent season.  “I ask everyone for their patience. Please. It will be great. Really great. But there’s no quick fix.” LINKS: Nathan Chen Facebook Live Meryl Davis Instagram