USA Cycling's Senior Data Analyst Ryan Cooper joins us to talk about Project 4:05, the quest to win the women's track cycling team pursuit gold medal at Paris 2024.

The US wasn't considered much of a contender for the podium--defending gold medalists Germany and reigning world champions Great Britain were considered to be the main teams vying for the top prize.

However, Ryan developed a process to uncover more with data analytics using machine learning and real-time analytics to optimize rider selection, race strategy and aerodynamic efficiency.

If all went according to plan, Team USA's riders Jennifer Valente, Lily Williams, Chloe Dygert and Kristen Faulkner could top the podium with a time of 4:05.

Hear Ryan's process, the race results and the subsquent major award beyond the gold medal that USA Cycling received for this endeavor.

Follow USA Cycling on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok!

In Milan-Cortina 2026 news, we have updates on ticket sales, volunteers, sneakers and the construction of Arena Santa Giulia, the new ice hockey stadium. International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons also has high hopes for improved accessibility.

In news from TKFLASTAN, we hear from Alison Levine, Kim Rhode and Dick Pound.

For more information and a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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3x Paralympian and U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program member SFC Elizabeth Marks joins us to tell us about her experience in the pool at Paris 2024. Ellie competed in seven events, winning five silver medals. Ellie tells us what she thought about her third Games, including her thoughts on the infamous Paris 2024 chocolate muffins.

We also discuss how swimming is an intellectual sport, how she's adapted to the sport throughout her career, and how she mentors other athletes.

Learn more about the U.S. Army's WCAP here and follow Ellie on Insta! Special thanks to the U.S. Army for making this interview possible.

We also have a lot of news from upcoming Games! Milan-Cortina 2026 has unveiled its torches. LA 2028 announced a new Olympic venue plan, new events, and an athlete quota that will see more women than men at these Olympics.

In news from TKFLASTAN, we hear from:

• Sprinter Kenny Bednarek
• Former fencer Olya Abasolo Ovtchinnikova
• Fencer Nick Itkin

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thank you to our ongoing contributors and patrons! This show thrives because of our listeners. If you appreciate the work that goes into this show and want to give back, learn how to do so here. All patrons (including free levels) will soon be able to access a special episode, so sign up today!

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

We sail back in time to Sydney 2000! Alison explores the origins of the official Olympic mascots, Syd, Millie, and Olly, and the Paralympic mascot Lizzie. But Sydney doesn't stop with the mascot fun--the hosts of the Sydney 2000 recap show The Dream brought us Fatso, who stole the athletes' and fans' hearts....and caused some controversy along the way.

See one of Fatso's best moments here: https://youtu.be/dJZS6DdS9xI?si=BjalIj50J6EA4-WB

Then Jill heads across Sydney Harbor to the sailing competition to revisit the men's sailing competition, specifically the Two Person Keelboat (Star) and One Person Dinghy (Laser). Death looms in the background of both of these competitions, the fat lady eventually sings, and karma says g'day.

See some of the wild action between Ben Ainslie and Robert Scheidt here: https://youtu.be/twM3ZBS1irA?si=l8za0HTllVz-fFuH

For a transcript of this episode and a full sourcelist, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thank you to our ongoing contributors and patrons! This show thrives because of our listeners. Want to give back? Learn more here.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Games History Moment with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown is released monthly. In 2025, these episodes explore the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics Look for our regular episodes every week, with daily editions during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Newsletter: Sign up at https://mailchi.mp/ee507102fbf7/flamealivepod

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Five-time Olympian Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee. She's the first woman and the first African to lead the organization.

What's her story, and how will she shape the Olympics for years to come? We take a deep dive to find out.

Plus, another chapter in the Milan-Cortina 2026 slidingnovela, updates (and concerns) for LA 2028, and Brisbane 2032 missed the Agenda 2020+5 memo.

Looking for tickets to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics? Another ticket drop happens on April 8, 2025. Paralympic tickets? Always on sale.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thank you to our ongoing contributors and patrons! This show thrives because of our listeners. Want to give back? Learn more here.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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Alison went to the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships in Boston and has all of the behind-the-scenes details! Find out what you can't see on TV and how different the skater's performances were in person!

Also check out our figure skating-themed Patreon episode this month! And get more scoop from Figure Skating Champs in our free Substack.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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Book Club Claire is back for our first selection of 2025, which is by a TKFLASTANI! We're reading Beyond Expectations: An Extraordinary Equestrian Journey from Deadly Diagnosis to the Paralympic Games by Sydney Collier with Heather Wallace.

For Sydney, a routine eye exam turned into a diagnosis of a life-threatening rare disease. She's defied all expectations--particularly in terms of lifespan--to become a Paralympian in para dressage. She overcame some pretty touch obstacles to earn her ticket to Rio 2016, and the book discusses how she's famous in the rare disease world and her journey to Rio.

Follow Claire and Sydney on Insta!

Also on this episode, a Paris 2024 bullying case goes to trial, lots of news from Milan-Cortina 2026, and the International Olympic Committee has elected a new president! We have our initial thoughts on the new boss of the Olympics.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

We do use affiliate links where possible. If you purchase something through them, we may earn a commission.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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While the Sydney 2000 Olympics are generally considered to be one of the best Games of all time, yet they still had their fair share of issues, particularly in the gymnastics venue.

In the latest installment of our year-long look back at Sydney 2000, Alison explores the numerous debacles during the gymnastics competitions, including a women's team competition that saw a podium change years later, and an all-around competition that forced a massive change in the vault starting with Athens 2004.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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Sometimes all of the training and preparation in the world doesn't get you to the Paralympic podium. Boccia player Alison Levine experienced that firsthand during the Paris 2024 Paralympics, when tournament bracket design forced her to face the other top player early on in the elimination rounds. Play didn't go her way, and she didn't get the results she wanted.

It didn't get better in the mixed doubles tournament, when she and teammate Iulian Ciobanu lost to Thailand in the bronze medal match.

Even with the disappointment, Alison's Paris experience was, on the whole, a good one. Along with talking about the tournament and how she regrouped after the Paralympics, Alison tells us about life in the Athletes' Village, how accessible design made life a lot easier for a couple of weeks, and the infamous Paris 2024 chocolate muffin.

Learn more about Alison at her website, and follow her on Insta and X.

This week, we're also celebrating one year to go until the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympics! Tickets for the Paralympics go on sale March 6.

We also have another installment of our Milan-Cortina 2026 slidingnovela--this time, with good news!

Plus, news from the International Olympic Committee, the World Games (with a Games-first event for Chengdu 2025), and an update from Team Keep the Flame Alive.

And finally, this month, we'll have a special feature on our Patreon for all members, free and paying. Check it out and join us there!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348