“I never dreamed I would be an athlete. If you had asked me, I would have absolutely said no.” For Shannon Rowbury, running wasn’t part of the plan—until it became clear she had a knack for it. A 3x Olympian and Olympic bronze medalist in the 1500m, she spent decades pushing her limits on the […]

“I touched the wall, saw my time, and was already blown away. Then I saw the 16 next to my name and thought—holy, it’s happening.” For Julimar Ávila, swimming was never just about the clock—it was about proving to herself and the world what was possible. Representing Honduras, she became the first swimmer from her […]

“Be Brave. Take the Leap.” For Neelam O’Neill, shooting was never part of the plan. But from firing her first shots at a tin-roof range in New Zealand to making history as the first female pistol shooter to represent her country at the Paralympics, she has defied every expectation, including her own. “The first time […]

“You can either let challenges break you or use them to inspire the next generation.” This belief drives Shelley Looney, a trailblazer in women’s ice hockey and a gold medalist at the first Olympics with women’s ice hockey (1998). Growing up in Michigan, Shelley dreamed of playing at the highest level, but had no female […]

“You can either let challenges break you or turn you into a superhero.” This belief drives Saman Soltani, a former Iranian national swimming champion turned Refugee Olympic Team canoeist. Born into a culture where restrictions on women in sports are severe, Saman’s dreams were nearly crushed when she faced persecution for trained internationally without adhering […]

*You can watch this episode of Flame Bearers: UNEDITED on YouTube via the Flame Bearers channel if you would like to tune in with visuals* ——————– In this episode of Flame Bearers: UNEDITED, we sit down with Babalwa Latsha, the first professional woman XV rugby player in Africa, to hear her story of breaking barriers, […]

As we step into 2025, we wanted to pause and reflect on some of the incredible conversations we had in 2024. This episode celebrates some of our favorite moments, featuring powerful stories and insights from remarkable athletes. Here are just a few highlights: Caster Semenya, 2x Olympic champ and 3x World champ, reflects on her […]

Instead of releasing a new interview this week, we wanted to pause and reflect on some of the incredible conversations we’ve had in 2024. This episode celebrates some of our favorite moments from interviews this past year, including snippets from our full conversations with each of these athletes. To name a few, you’ll hear from: […]

*You can watch this episode of Flame Bearers: UNEDITED on YouTube via the Flame Bearers channel if you would like to tune in with visuals* ——- “Never give up. Any opportunity can come up, and you need to grasp it.” This mantra fuels Husnah Kukundakwe, a 17-year-old, 2x Paralympian from Uganda. In a culture where […]

“Your body isn’t broken—it just works differently now.” That’s how Dana Mathewson—3x Team USA Wheelchair Paralympian, and Wimbledon champ—views her body today, but that wasn’t always her perspective. At the age of 10, Dana developed a rare auto-immune condition. When most girls are desperately trying to fit in with their peers, Dana was forced to […]

“What we do is sometimes the least interesting thing about us.” That’s how Julie-Anne Staehli—an Olympian from Canada and pro runner with Team New Balance Boston—sees it. With over a decade of experience competing at the highest levels, Julie-Anne has learned that while competing is a big part of her, it’s what she does, not […]

“If you have the chance to be the best in the world at something, even for the fourth time, you should probably take it.” Caryn Davies, a 3x Olympic medalist, shares her extraordinary journey of ambition, resilience, and self-discovery in this unfiltered conversation. Caryn, who competed in three Olympic Games—Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), and London […]

Charlie Guest, is a 2x Olympic skier, psych student, and an advocate for gender equity in sports. After breaking her back in 2014, Charlie went on to become the first British woman to ever win an Alpine European Cup (2019) and later went on to rack up 3 titles. Charlie opens up about her passion […]

In this episode, we sprint into the life of Jodie Williams, a 3x Olympian from Great Britain, beginning with her early days as an unstoppable young athlete. Jodie recalls her first taste of victory, winning races at school sports days and even being pitted against older boys in a heptathlon when “no one could beat […]

Celina Toth traded in her gymnastics leotard for her swimsuit at age 12, where she quickly rose up the ranks, and consistently maintained her spot on the Canadian National Team since 2008. “I was the oldest diver to ever qualify for their first Olympics in Canada at 28…a testament to my character, that I was […]

Chahat Arora is a Indian national record holder in breast stroke who has been one of the most consistent swimmers for her country over the past decade. That said, for Chahat swimming is “more about being happy than being successful. If I’m happy doing what I love, that’s good enough for me right now.” In […]

We heard you loud & clear: you want more athlete’s stories, so we responded. Today, we launch Flame Bearers: UNEDITED, a new video and podcast series celebrating the journeys of elite women athletes from around the world at all phases of their journeys: seeking their first international qualifications, a the pinnacle of their careers, and […]

Asmaa is a 2x Olympic judoka and 6x African Champion who came to judo when most athletes are retiring. Now at 41, Asmaa has decided to say goodbye to the mat on her terms and focus on her next chapter. But first, let’s hear how she got to where she is today. She’s a Parisian […]

Debinha (Deb) and Bia Zaneratto are two of the greatest soccer legends in the game. Both grew up playing with the boys, and in Deb’s case often playing with whatever the neighborhood kids could grab that resembled a ball. Bia had her first opportunity to play with girls at 13. In this conversation we sit […]

Tezna grew up thinking that maybe one day, she could be a Paralympic swimmer. At 12, she became South Africa’s para national champ. When Tezna got in an accident one week before the Rio Paralympic Trials, she took a step away from sports to reset. Years later, she decided to pick up track and field […]

Tezna grew up thinking that maybe one day, she could be a Paralympic swimmer. At 12, she became South Africa’s para national champ. When Tezna got in an accident one week before the Rio Paralympic Trials, she took a step away from sports to reset. Years later, she decided to pick up track and field […]

Taylor has been in the pool since age 4, when her mom (a swim coach) and older sister (also a swimmer) first introduced her to the water. A D1 recruit at Loyola University Maryland, Taylor was gearing up to make a splash at the collegiate level. She was then diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a condition […]

Alejandra is the Dominican Republic’s first female Paralympic swimmer, a Parapan American silver medalist, engineer, dog mom, and as she shares, “a 4’3” tall girl promoting inclusion.” When not swimming (which she does 4-5 hours a day), Alejandra works for the International Paralympic Committee, making sport more accessible for all. As if that’s not enough, […]

Manasi Joshi has won 10 gold, 9 silver and 15 bronze medals at level 1 international tournaments. She’s a former World Champion (SL3), an engineer, an Arjuna award winner, Aspen Fellow, and has spoken at Harvard. As Manasi approaches the Paris Paralympics, she’s feeling “stronger than ever.” That said, she’s pauses to flag HOW she […]

Bonus Content from The Unlocked Foundation’s ‘Celebrate Her’ event in Paris. The UNLOCKED Foundation is a women-founded, nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women to take brave steps toward closing the wealth gap in their own lives. In honor of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Flame Bearers Founder & CEO Jamie Mittelman joined The Unlocked Foundation at […]

Anastasia is a 3x World Champion and a 2X Paralympian on a mission to change how people ‘see’ the visually impaired. To truly see them as they are, not stereotypes. When asked to describe a blind person, Anastasia offers that “most people think of a man walking around like a zombie, big dark glasses, and […]

Growing up, Claire was drawn to creative and artistic pursuits: piano and trumpet, drawing, reading. At 17, her life changed when she started experiencing mobility issues. Two years later she was diagnosed with dystonia, a neurological condition characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and spasms. Claire found boccia at a local club, and credits Great Britain’s […]

As a young gymnast, Bryony saw kids jumping up and down on the trampoline and decided, “I want to try that! It looks like so much fun!” Three Olympic medals later, including her sparkling new gold from Paris, and she clearly hasn’t stopped having fun. As World & European Trampoline Champion, Bryony has all of […]

Watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel ►/ @flamebearers Ariana came across rugby in high school school and at first, she “had no idea what rugby was, but it reminded [her] of capture the flag.” She was looking for a sport outside of track that she could compete in throughout college, […]

Taky Marie-Divine Kouamé is a World Champion and 9x French Champion track cyclist, a photographer, an entrepreneur, and so much more. As Marie-Divine shares, “doing other things keeps me sane. It’s not a distraction. It makes me a better athlete.” She recently worked with our co-host Maé-Bérénice Méité on an exciting documentary series following French […]

Jackie first started with dance and gymnastics, but quickly found out those weren’t her sports. She had a cousin who fenced, so she gave it a try… 21 years later, she’s at her second Olympics. A first generation American, Jersey girl, and World # 10 in Women’s Foil (fencing), Jackie is committed to being a […]

At the age of 5, Farida dreamt of becoming a professional swimmer. Flash forward to 2011 and Farida was crowned World Junior Champion in the 50M butterfly in Lima, Peru, placing Egypt for the first time in history among the medaling countries. And from there, the accolades kept coming: -3X African Female Swimmer of the […]

Watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel ►/ @flamebearers This interview was conducted with the help of a translator (why at times, we address the question to an interpreter). At 5 years old, Kokona’s parents brought her to a local skatepark and she immediately “wanted to be like the cool skateboarders” […]

Watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel ►/ @flamebearers Giancarla wanted to be a soccer player when she was younger and got into track to stay in shape in the off season. That said, her love of soccer has stuck with her and in Tokyo 2021, she tried to hop onto […]

Regina tried “almost every other sport” growing up, and then she found rowing at age 13. “It felt like home” she shares. Besides the feeling she loved of “pushing off the oar” and gliding through the water, Regina “saw other women who looked like [her].” A World Silver Medalist in the Women’s Eight and 2x […]

Watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel ►/ @flamebearers In Tokyo2020, Chelsea was Guyana’s first-ever table tennis Olympian and her nation’s flagbearer, so as she heads into her second Olympics, she’s coming in with high hopes…and a lot of eyes on her. That said, her path to Paris has focused on […]

Marta was the “little Chinese” girl, but when she found track, she was better than everyone (including the guys), so she became “the fast girl.” According to Marta, running was what made her different and special. “When you find something that you can hold onto, you’re going to show off your superpower.” For Marta, that […]

Watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel ►/ @flamebearers Marzieh, the daughter of two Afghan parents, grew up as a refugee in Iran. “They treated us differently” she shares, which eventually led her family to move back home to Afghanistan. In her home country, Marzieh joined the Taekwondo national team and […]

Watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel ►/ @flamebearers What does it take to be the FIRST? To dream beyond what’s considered possible? Marine Fatoumata Camara is the first and only elite female boxer from Mali. As she shares, she’s gone “where people didn’t expect her to because they didn’t know […]

Watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel ►/ @flamebearers Sunny Choi grew up as a gymnast and first watched the 1992 Olympic gymnastics in her sparkly Little Mermaid tutu. On the drive to her first gymnastics class, 3-year-old Sunny asked Mom if she was going to win a gold medal. This […]

Maé-Bérénice Méité is a 2x Olympian and 6x National Figure Skating Champion from France who is also an entrepreneur, artist, content creator, and so much more. She’s deeply passionate about sharing the behind-the-scenes realities of being a world-class athlete, including the challenges and struggles. Maé-Bérénice co-hosts our interviews in Flame Bearers: Pathways to Paris celebrating […]

2x Olympic Gold Medalist and 3x World Champion, Caster Semenya has made headlines since winning the 800m at the 2009 World Athletics Championships at the age of 18, yet the media (and many of her fellow athletes) wouldn’t gracefully acknowledge her generational talent for what it was, but rather started accusing her of being a […]

This episode is co-hosted by Michelle’s son, Cody. As Michelle shares, “If you want to know who I am, Cody has been with me through it all.” According to Cody, growing up, “my classmates and teachers would pull me aside and say, ‘we know who your Mom is,’ but for me, she was just my […]

It’s been a few months since the World Cup, but we committed to telling the stories of the entire first USWNT, so we tracked down one of the two outstanding players. Here she is! Tara Buckley O’Sullivan, grew up doing everything with her twin sister, Moira. The duo would go to their older brother’s soccer […]

Yes, it’s been a few months since the World Cup, but we committed to telling the stories of the entire first USWNT, so we tracked down one of the two outstanding players. Here she is! Sharon was the first woman to be named U.S. Soccer Player of the Year and according to Michelle Akers, she’s […]

Kim Crabbe was the first African-American to roster on the USWNT. She was on the 1986 team, but given that we’ve been telling the stories of the original USWNT trailblazers, Kim needed to be celebrated. According to longtime friend and soccer leader, Samuel Okpodu, Kim is the “Cinderella of soccer…Today everybody’s enjoying it, but nobody […]

Denise was a swimmer, diver, gymnast, and track and field athlete before becoming a soccer player at 14. That said, Washington had strong support for women’s soccer at the time, so once she was hooked, she was all in on soccer. Hilariously, Denise and Michelle have a moment where they both share how they felt […]

Pam was working in the credit department of JCPenney when she got a call from The Washington Post asking her about making the first U.S. Women’s National Team — she hadn’t heard from U.S. Soccer yet, so she wasn’t sure what was happening. The Post had the scoop — she was on the team. The […]

*Content Warning: This episode includes stories of sexual abuse. This production contains material of a highly sensitive nature including stories of sexual grooming and manipulation that may be triggering. Resources provided below.* Cindy remembers going to her brothers’ soccer games to watch. “They didn’t have girls soccer then, and I was dying to play… I […]

While Kathy (or Ridgey as she was called) had older sisters, she grew up playing with the boys, and doing so in what SHE wanted to wear. Just as Kathy started public elementary school, the rules changed to allow girls to wear pants (Kathy’s older sisters had been required to wear dresses or skirts). As […]

Nobody in Ann’s family played soccer, so at 12, she went to the town firehouse to sign herself up — she strategically jotted down “goalie” because she thought it increased her odds of making the team. Flash forward to UVA, and Ann is playing field hockey to help with the costs, yet she returned home […]

Kim Wyant is used to being the first. She recorded the first USWNT goalkeeper win, the first shutout, the first anterior ACL injury (was the first goalie to be replaced by a field player, shoutout Lori Henry), was one of the first female BMX riders, and as of eight years ago (in 2015) became the […]

When asked to recall her first soccer memory, Lori shares her team’s post-game tradition: whether they won or lost, 6-year old Lori and team would go to the nearby hamburger establishment and chow down on free french fries. And while the teams have changed over the years, Lori’s love for the game has only kept […]

Emily grew up as #7 of 8 kids so she always had someone to play with…and she played every sport possible, particularly enjoying team sports. Older sister, Aimee describes Emily’s “quiet strength” and “natural leadership” at a young age. Coach Mike Ryan called Emily a “maverick” because she tucked in her shirt sleeves, and wore […]

Margaret (or as she goes by in soccer, Tucka) grew up in Palo Alto, California, where there were three teams for players ages 10-16. Tucka made the All Star team as a 10 year old, and she didn’t stop there… She shares about her time at Cal (currently tied with Alex Morgan at #3 for […]

When Lori Henry talks about her six year run on the USWNT, she talks about the “little moments along the way,” the moments she says that changed her life. She describes making the first team, being the last name called and not hearing it, but having her teammates jump on her in a pig pile. […]

Linda Gancitano was the first girl on her high school boy’s soccer team, so she got to play alongside her younger brother, Nick. According to Nick, even at an early age, Linda “never took any guff from anyone” and would slide tackle the biggest male forwards. Flash forward to University of Central Florida (UCF) and […]

Stacey Enos is one of the three original University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels to blaze the trail to the USWNT. Stacey was actually the FIRST Tar Heel to earn a cap for the USWNT, but Stacey was used to being the first, or the only one doing something. “I had to play with […]

“What a gritty bunch, you know?” was Ruth Harker’s response when asked about her team, the original USWNT. Ruth grew up with her Mom and older brother Steven (who she calls the Harker ‘golden boy’) who would put peanut butter on her face and hold her down while their dog licked it off. She was […]

Sofia grew up wanting to do everything her older brother, Tommaso did, so when he took to the slopes, she begged her Mom to let her join. At 6, she forecasted her future: she wanted to be a famous ski racer who would win World Cups. Flash forward to today, and she’s crowned the ‘queen […]

Yip Pin Xiu is a “born and bred city girl’, having grown up in Singapore with her close-knit family flying kites, playing in the sand pool, and at five, getting in the with her brothers. Swimming started as a family activity. Fast forward to 2008, and Pin Xiu became Singapore’s first ever Paralympic gold medalist. […]

Sam Mewis grew up flipping over rocks in the woods of Massachusetts hunting for salamanders, while Lynn Williams grew up on a pecan farm with her “huge family of non-farmers” in Clovis, California. Flash forward and the two are inseparable. According to Sam & Lynn, they’re in a “very serious platonic friendship.” As former roomies […]

Noelle Lambert grew up playing in the dirt and on the field with her older brothers, watching the Pats, Bruins, Celtics, and Red Sox. She was always active, keeping up with the boys. Flash forward to college at UMass Lowell where Noelle is playing Division 1 lacrosse, and she’s in an accident that changes everything. […]

Camila goes by Cami, Pirelli, or Pantera Guaraní, the Guaraní Panther; Guarani is the language, and culture of the community of people Camila belongs to, and for Camila, it’s important to honor where she comes from. Today, we spotlight Paraguayan track and field star, Pantera, who holds more than a dozen gold and silver medals […]

The last time we heard from USA Sitting Volleyball star, Nicky Nieves, she was gearing up for the Tokyo Paralympics, hot after winning gold in Rio. We focused on her identity as an Afro Latina and Black Lives Matter (BLM). I asked her if we have made any progress since our last conversation, “I feel […]

We met Nicky Nieves, USA Sitting Volleyball in Season 1. Our conversation focused on her identity as a proud Afro Latina and the Black Lives Matter movement. Today, we catch up with since our last conversation in the fall of 2020. Nicky’s full episode launches Wednesday, April 12th.

Masomah is the first female Olympic cyclist from Afghanistan, and getting to the Olympics hasn’t just been a battle against her own skills and competitors, but also against the Taliban. In this episode, Masomah discusses her departure from Afghanistan, journey to Tokyo as part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Refugee Team, and how she […]

Masomah is the first woman Olympic cyclist from Afghanistan. Her fight to compete and to the podium hasn’t just been against her own records and competitors, but with the Taliban. Tune in next Wednesday for Masomah’s full episode, in which we discuss her rise to Tokyo as part of the Olympic Refugee team, her bold […]

Victoria considers herself a proud “Puerto Rican American.” Having grown up in the Houston, Texas area. she “was considered a Latina,” but then when she went to Puerto Rico, she “was seen as American.” According to Victoria, for some, her personal identity falls in a bit of a “gray area.” In today’s interview, we spotlight […]

Ritah lost her hand when machete and hammer-wielding thieves broke into her Grandma’s house in 2005. Today, Ritah is the African Para Badminton Champion and was one of only four Ugandan Paralympians who participated in the Tokyo Paralympics. Today she opens up about losing her hand, and how she’s moved forward (including relearning how to […]

Sneak peek of our upcoming episode with Ugandan Para Badminton Champ, Rita Asiimwe. Ritah was one of 4 Ugandan Paralympians who participated in the Tokyo Paralympics. In her episode, she shares about defending her family against thieves who broke into her grandma’s home, losing her arm to these thieves who assaulted her with machetes and […]

23-year old Qatari track star Kenza Sossé, qualified for Tokyo, and then days before her flight to Japan, tested positive for COVID-19. After years training for the Olympics, she had watch from a room in Morocco. Her response? She “went back to training harder than ever.” In today’s conversation, Kenza shares for the first time […]

Sneak peek of our upcoming episode with 23 year old Qatari track and field star, Kenza Sossé. Kenza shares about her experience qualifying for the Games and then testing positive for COVID-19 the week of her departure for Tokyo…In Kenza’s full episode, she discusses her bounce back after missing the Olympics, and her commitment to […]

We met Manasi Joshi in Season 1, when she discussed losing her leg, rehabbing through badminton, and disability policy in India. Today, we follow up with Manasi since our last conversation in the fall of 2020. We discuss her rise to world #1 in both parabadminton singles and mixed doubles and her hopes for the […]

Sneak peek of our upcoming episode with Manasi Joshi, #1 in Parabadminton singles and doubles. This episode is an Athlete Follow Up with Manasi, who we spotlighted in Season 1. If you would like to hear Manasi’s backstory, go back and give her original episode a listen. Manasi’s full episode launches 2/2.

Liu Jiayu goes by Birdie because of the height she gets in the half-pipe — she FLIES. That said, it hasn’t always this way. Liu Jiayu started snowboarding at age 11 when the sport didn’t really exist in China, so she didn’t have people on the mountain she could copy or learn from…she spent her […]

We heard from quite a few of you that you liked our sneek peaks of upcoming episodes, so given our bi-weekly publishing schedule, we’ll drop trailers for who is next in the off weeks. Next week we spotlight Chinese snowboarding phenom, Liu Jiayu. Here’s just a bit of what you can expect. Tune in next […]

We met Alejandra when she did a Flame Bearers social media takeover in the lead up to the Tokyo Paralympics, showing us a day in her life. Alejandra now shares her more including how she went from not knowing how to swim to Paralympian in 7 years. “In 2015 when I started swimming, there was […]

We want to honor Alejandra’s story to the best of our abilities, so because of the holidays and New Year, we will publish her episode next Wednesday, 1/4. That said, here’s a bit of what you can expect. Tune in next week for her full story!

Dr. Seun Adigun is the first African to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. She spearheaded the first female bobsled team from her country, and track and field runner but that’s not all, she’s also a biomechanist, chiropractor and founder. According to Dr. Adigun, “You have to pave the way so that others […]

Every 4th episode this season, we’ll circle back with an athlete we’ve previously worked with to update you on her life and what we previously discussed. In Season 1, Deja focused on her ongoing battles with mental health and her attempted suicide. In this new episode, we discuss Deja’s life two years later. She opens […]

We want to honor Deja’s story to the best of our abilities, so because this week is Thanksgiving in the United States, we will publish her episode next Wednesday, 11/30. That said, here’s a bit of what you can expect. Tune in next week for her full story!

Alexa is a 2x Olympian (Tokyo and Rio) and the first Mexican woman to win a World Championship Medal. She’s one of the 100 most powerful women in Mexico (via Forbes Magazine), yet according to her manager, Frida Martinez, “She doesn’t know she’s a role model. That’s her superpower. She doesn’t know she’s that big.” […]

Diede de Groot has won 31 majors, is the current world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, and achieved a Golden Grand Slam: winning all four major tournaments in a calendar year (2021). She’s also a force off the court; Diede advocates for people with disabilities and adaptive clothing. “It’s not always easy to […]

Sue is one of the most iconic athletes in the world: she’s been a professional athlete for 20 years, won 5 gold Olympic medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) and has become one of the most outspoken advocates for social change. Further, between her Olympic and FIBA World Cup medals, she holds the most medals […]

Flame Bearers: Keeping the Fire Burning spotlights women Olympians and Paralympians who sought to compete in the Tokyo Summer or Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. In this season, we discuss what happens AFTER the Games, when the fans and cameras go home. We’re going beyond the glamour to see how these women stay focused when […]

Simidele (Simi) was the first African and black woman to compete in Skeleton at the Olympics, and more recently, the first African to take home gold at an international bobsled competition: “We don’t have the facilities [in Nigeria], and we don’t have the equipment, so to know that I was going into that space with […]

In light of Russian war on Ukraine, this special edition episode is different than our normal episodes. In an effort to elevate Ukranian voices and the connection between sports and politics, we speak with three elite Ukrainian athletes: Valentina Molchanets (Professional Triathlete and European Champion, Aquathlon, U23), Vita Oleksiuk (Paralympian, Currently #5 in World Paratriathlon […]

When Mihaela was 9, she went to a park and saw some kids inline skating. She didn’t realize it was actually for the winter sport of speed skating, but she was curious enough to give it a try herself: “In that moment, I decided my life. Here I am 13 years later, still doing it” […]

3x Paralympic Gold Medalist, Kendall Gretsch is one of the only athletes who competed in Tokyo this past summer who is also competing in Beijing. Less than 6 months ago Kendall won gold in Paratriathlon, and she’s now one of the Para Nordic favorites in Beijing. In this episode we talk about how Kendall got […]

Dr. Natalia Siuba-Jarosz is an elite Polish Parasnowboarder and Doctor in Radiology. She has gone by Simba ever since her last name was misspelled in grade school, and the nickname stuck. In this episode we hear how Natalia balances both the world’s of elite snowboarding and being a doctor, as well as her thoughts on […]

Valentina or ‘The Lioness’ grew up in Italy as a ‘very competitive child’ with her three sisters and one brother. She describes her heritage as “the perfect mix” of cultures, crediting each of her parents and their respective origins with various parts of who she is today (her Dad is from Italy and her Mom […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

At age five, Danusia watched Elena Zamolodchikova of Russia compete on TV, and decided then and there that she wanted to be an Olympic gymnast. 22 years later, Danusia’s dream is coming true: she’ll be Jamaica’s second-ever Olympic gymnast. In this episode, we begin by talking about how Danusia got into gymnastics, talk about what […]

Being a “non traditional athlete” with brachial plexus has never held Deja back. Even though her condition was caused by medical malpractice during her birth, this 2x Paralympic gold medalist (100m & 200m) says she wouldn’t change a thing if she could: she’s where she is today because of what she’s been through. In this […]

To date, Ray is the only Lebanese athlete who has qualified for Tokyo, but Ray is used to blazing her own trails: she was the first Arab female Olympic Trapshooter, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Ammunition Line entrepreneur, Academy founder, and servant leader for her country of Lebanon. She’s definitely someone to keep in your […]

Sarah Davies is Great Britain’s best ever female weightlifter on a pound for pound basis, lifting between 100-125kg (or 220-275 lbs) depending on the event, snatch or clean and jerk. She’s also an international beauty pageant queen. Sarah’s journey is about defying convention, whether it’s in beauty pageantry or weightlifting: she goes for what she […]

Carlotta is not only a Vice World and European Champion, but also an outspoken activist who leads by thoughtful example. She believes that inaction is action in and of itself, whether it comes to racism or environmentalism. Carlotta grew up competing as the only black rower in her community and knows what it’s like to […]

Eliza showed up to her first fencing class in a dress and little patent leather shoes because she wanted to make a good first impression. In tow, came siblings Robert Junior and Gracie. Flash forward to today, she’s currently ranked as the #6 fencer in the world. In this episode, US sabre fencer, Eliza Stone, […]

Tamara (Tami) basó los 18 años, más de lo previsto. Ahora tiene 23 años y se está convirtiendo en una de las mejores jugadoras de tenis de mesa del mundo. Ella nació con la espina bifida. Tami fue la primera jugadora de tenis de mesa Chilena en ganar oro en los Juegos Parapanamericanos, y es […]

Tamara (Tami) was introduced to table tennis in a rehabilitation center: Tami was born with spina bifida and had a life expectancy of 18. She is now 23 years old, the first Chilean table tennis player to win gold at the Parapan American Games, and on her way to Tokyo. Tamara’s ability to reach and […]

You’ve already met some of our incredible athletes, but we wanted to provide you with an even more unfiltered snapshot of who they are. As bonus content, we sat down with an intimate group to discuss their resiliency during the Games’ postponement and their wishes moving forward. Brought to you in partnership with the student-led […]

2016 Paralympic silver medalist, 2x World Champion, and 5x World medalist, Sophia Herzog is passionate about breaking stereotypes. She grew up in a small town of 450 people and was the first person with a disability to go to through her town’s high school, so she’s used to being the first. In this episode, Sophia […]

When Haydy won the 2019 Pentathlon African Championship, she became the first athlete worldwide to qualify for Tokyo. She now hopes to become the first Egyptian woman to compete in two different Olympic sports: she will be competing in modern pentathlon, and she’s additionally hoping to qualify in fencing. In this episode, Haydy Morsy discusses […]

Naya Tapper is a leading try scorer for Team USA’s Rugby Team. She wanted to be the “first girl in the NFL” but when she found rugby, she was hooked. In this episode, Naya Tapper of the USA Women’s Rugby Team discusses finding rugby, self love and speaking out about racial justice. We’ll start by […]

Madeleine (Maca) and Tanya are close friends who play for the Australian beach handball team. They both juggle full time jobs: Maca is a lawyer and Tanya a teacher. Tanya also has ulcerative colitis. In this episode, Maca and Tanya discuss the pressures of managing professional careers and health on top of being elite athletes. […]

Kimberly didn’t start running until she was 27 — she’s now 30. In her 2019 debut race, the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, she came away with a silver and bronze medal in the 200m and 100m. She’s seeking to compete on the Danish Para Track and Field Team in Tokyo. When Kimberly was […]

Zahra Nemati is arguably Iran’s most popular female athlete. While she grew up competing in taekwondo, after a car accident left her legs paralyzed, she decided to pick up a bow and arrow at the age of 21. Zahra’s physical disability allows her to qualify for the Paralympics, but she also was also the first […]

Paralympic 100M bronze medalist and World Championship silver medalist, Kym Crosby has ‘limited sight, limitless dreams.’ Kym is legally blind, but she hasn’t let that stand in the way of anything she sets her mind to, including becoming one of the world’s fastest women. As half-Jamaican, she identifies as bi-racial, but the world has rarely […]

While most know Danish Olympic Rower, Ida Jacobsen for her prowess on the water, she’s also a political science junkie and cheese expert (much to the chagrin of her boyfriend, Samir). Ida decided she was going to compete in the Olympics shortly after her first time rowing 12 years ago. Therefore, the current postponement of […]

Katarina grew up on the island of Newfoundland, so at an early age, her parents, Leonard and Lisa thought that it was important she learn to swim. 20 years later, Roxon brought home her first medal, a gold in the 100-m breaststroke in Canadian record time during the 2016 Paralympics. This episode dives into Katarina’s […]

2019 Women’s Afrobasket MVP, Ezinne Kalu plays for the reigning African champions, Nigeria’s D’Tigress. While most know Ezinne for her talent on the court, she’s also jumped headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship; she’s launched her own cosmetics company, Kalu Kosmetics, and an organization empowering young girls who want to play basketball, the Kalu Team […]

Nicky is a middle blocker on the USA’s Sitting Volleyball team, and a Rio Paralympic gold medalist. She is an Afro Latina and an outspoken advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement, spearheading conversations about race on her team and via social media. This episode explores Nicky’s experience playing volleyball without a hand, but focuses […]

Lea Davison is a 2X Olympic Mountain Biker and 2016 World Championship silver medalist looking to qualify for her 3rd Olympics. Lea is unabashedly herself in all ways, including being open about her sexuality: Lea is gay. This episode takes a dive into some of Lea’s professional cycling highlights, her co-founding of Little Bellas with […]

Manasi Joshi is India’s current Para-badminton World Champion and BBC India’s Sportswoman of the year. One day on her way to work, a truck ran into Manasi; hours dragged on before she received treatment, and her leg eventually needed to be amputated. In this episode, Manasi talks about losing her leg, how badminton was a […]

Sanda is a Syrian refugee, living in the Netherlands with her husband (who is also her coach) and their three children. She’s a current International Olympic Committee (IOC) Refugee Athlete Scholarship-Holder, the elite group amongst which the 2021 Refugee Team will be selected. This episode spotlights what it means to be refugee, how Sanda copes […]

Becky is on the US Women’s National Soccer Team and has been the rock of the back line for the last 8 years. She’s an Olympic gold medalist and has played in both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, won the 2015 and 2019 World Cup championships, and recently became the US Women’s National Team Players […]

Flame Bearers actively celebrates the current generation of women Olympians and Paralympians seeking to go to Tokyo. We have real conversations about what it means to be amongst the best female athletes in the world, and discuss the untold stories not caught on camera including the difficult daily tradeoffs and tensions many feel about their […]