Olympic Channel Podcast

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

British Paralympian David Weir has won more London Marathon titles than anyone on the planet.But despite his success, he’d never come to terms with his disability. He was born with a spinal cord transection that left him unable to use his legs. Frustrated by his lack of options in the sporting world growing up, he went on to excel at wheelchair racing.Even after winning six gold Paralympic medals, by the time he won his record-breaking seventh London Marathon in 2017, he felt no joy.Weir had to face up to the inner turmoil he had been burying since childhood.“I never showed my emotions to my family. I never spoke to my mum and dad about my disability... I just bottled things up for years and years.”The 39-year-old opened up about why he wants to represent Great Britain at Tokyo 2020, the highs of London 2012, and his life-changing counselling sessions.

“It's not popular for men to be emotional in America. Especially black men.” Family tragedy. Injuries. A new mission in Los Angeles. You may remember US gymnast’s emotional NBC interview after he qualified for Rio 2016. He beat the odds to make the team after injuries and the sudden death of his mother. Orozco never made it to Brazil. Another injury ended his sporting career. Now, the 25-year-old is looking to become a singer in Los Angeles. “Hope is not… an empty concept. It's something that you have to create the meaning for - what is your hope?” LINKS:Lifeline Samaritans UK John Orozco Instagram Scott Bregman Twitter Ed Knowles Twitter SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

China have sent some of their most promising athletes to Norway to transform them into Winter Olympians.A set of athletes aged 15-20 have been given an incredible challenge.They haven’t ever worn skis before but are still hopeful of becoming international level ski jumpers.We went behind-the-scenes on their first day on the slopes.Plus, double Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal, 35, joined us to tell about how to achieve longevity in skiing.Credits:Chinese Ski Jumping (Reporter: Nicklas Vinde) and Aksel Lund Svindal (Reporter: Alessandro Poggi)

Swimmer Anthony Ervin won Olympic gold aged 19. His life then fell apart. He was homeless for a time, attempted suicide, and drank heavily. By 2016, he had completely turned his life around and won the 50m freestyle at the Olympics.Aged 35, he was the oldest individual Olympic gold medal winner in swimming.This time though - he was ready.“Winning can be a terrible thing that happens to you. It can completely intoxicate you… Winning is a test.”We spoke about Ryan Lochte, growing up with Tourette’s, and how he wants to compete at Tokyo 2020.LINKS:Anthony winning gold in RioAnthony's bookThe other book he recommendedAndre Agassi's bookThe myth of IcarusIf any of the topics in this episode distressed you, please talk to some one! Or let us know... In the UK, the charity Samaritans are very helpful.

Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles is now a 14-time world champion. The records fell in Doha with her achievements made all the more unbelievable after she was admitted into hospital on the eve of competition with a kidney stone.The Olympic Channel Podcast spoke to her just after she had won her dramatic all-around title.Plus, reporter Scott Bregman and gymnastics writer Blythe Lawrence (@rockergymnastic) picked out the best stories from an action-packed world championships.

The consequences for failure in BMX at the Olympics are high. New Zealand’s Sarah Walker knows about this – she’s broken 18 bones over her career. A big crash meant she missed out on Rio 2016 after her silver medal at London 2012. She believes that the definition of failure should be reassessed. “(Society sees) failure as such a bad word. It’s so negative and this thing that you need to avoid (but) I aim to fail every week."Then if I have a bigger failure – I have practiced that feeling – and I am more comfortable with it and I am more accepting of the outcome.” Find out how to make some epic fails – Olympic style.

As we gear up towards the artistic gymnastics world championships in Doha, we sat down with two incredible Olympic gold medal winning gymnasts.Jordyn Wieber became world champion in 2011 but then missed out on the all-around final at London 2012. "I felt like I had failed because I didn’t live up to those expectations."Now, she's at UCLA as a coach and is flourishing.Plus, we get the inside-track on Simone Biles from her team-mate Madison Kocian."I’m really excited to see how she does at worlds, I’m sure she’s going to do well."

Get up-to-speed with the new documentary 'The Golden Generation'. We have interviews from both directors - including with the Oscar-winner Juan Jose Campanella.Plus, we get the full low-down on why Manu Ginóbili and the rest of this Argentinian basketball team from Athens 2004 were really 'The Golden Generation'.

Waleed Abu Nada set up a weightlifting club in the biggest refugee camp for Palestinians outside of Palestine.Here was here in Buenos Aires for the Youth Olympic Games as part of the Jordan team.We spoke about our favourite moments from the past few days and also how he started his club.Plus, the latest headlines.LINKS:Documentary about weightlifting club