1 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we've just 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: landed in Italy and our bodies are somehow inexplicably already 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: seventy five percent pasta. It's Thursday, February fifth, and on 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: today's show, we're skipping the need to know and getting 5 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: right to my conversation with US Nordic Combined athlete Anika Malasinski. 6 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 2: Nordic Combined What's that you ask? 7 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: Oh? Just the only Olympic sport winter or summer in 8 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: which women are still not allowed to compete at the Games. 9 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: Combining ski jumping and cross country skiing. Men's Nordic Combined 10 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: debut at the very first Winter Olympics in nineteen twenty four, 11 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,199 Speaker 1: and over one hundred years later, it's still only men 12 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: who are allowed to compete at the Olympics, despite the 13 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: fact that women's events have been added to the World 14 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: Cup and World Championships. 15 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 2: Now, this is our last show before. 16 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: We start bringing you covered from on the ground in Italy, 17 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: and it felt right to spend it shining a spotlight 18 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: on a woman we won't be covering at the Games. 19 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: Ahead of the Milan Courtina Olympics, Malasinski has been leading 20 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: the charge on social media and in interviews just like 21 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: this one, calling on the IOC to make sure that 22 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: women have a future in the sport. We discussed what 23 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: that battle has looked like for her, whether she's had 24 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: support from male athletes, and what it's been like watching 25 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: her brother Nicholas prepare for his Olympic debut in the 26 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: very same sport in which she's been denied a chance 27 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: to qualify. That conversation is coming up right after this. 28 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: Joining US now, she's a Nordic combined athlete, ranked fifteenth 29 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: in the world in twenty twenty five. A three time 30 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,119 Speaker 1: world Championship team member, she took gold in the twenty 31 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: twenty three US National Championships. A native of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, 32 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: she was raised by a Finnish mother from the Arctic 33 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: Circle and a ski instructor father. Her brother, Nicholas, is 34 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: also a member of the national team. She split her 35 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: years between the Rocky Mountains and Finland up until her 36 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: senior year of high school. Before every jump, she recites 37 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: the mantra, I am strong, I can do this. Star 38 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: of the short documentary Anka, where she lands. It's Anka 39 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: mallisonski hi onika. 40 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 3: Hi oh my God, you guys go oh all those 41 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 3: points exactly spaw. Oh. 42 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, we love that. 43 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: We love starting off on a positive and accurate note. 44 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: We're so grateful that you're joining us. The reason that 45 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: we're talking to you, of course ahead of the Games, 46 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: even though we won't be seeing you in the Games, 47 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: is to better understand why Nordic Combined is the only 48 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: sport that women are still not competing the same way 49 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 1: the men are in the Olympics. But we've got to 50 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: rewind because I bet you a lot of people listening 51 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 1: don't even know what the Nordic combined is. 52 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 2: So let's start with the basics and have you explain 53 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 2: the sport to us. 54 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, so, Nordic and mine it's a very insanely cool 55 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 3: sport because I feel like a lot of athletes they're 56 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 3: training for one and one and only sport, and for 57 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 3: Nordic and mind, we compete and train for two completely 58 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 3: completely different sports. So it's ski jumping and cross country skiing. 59 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 3: And these are like very hard sports to combine because 60 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 3: it's like with the ski jumping, it's so much more 61 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 3: mental and you need the to use those fast switch 62 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 3: muscles and honestly just have the balls to even ski jump, 63 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 3: and then for skiing it's you know, how long can 64 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 3: you stay in that pain cave and you know how 65 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 3: gritty are you to just like be able to ski 66 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 3: to the finish line no matter how much pain you're in. 67 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 3: And then combining that both is just it's super exhilarating. 68 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 3: It's a really cool sport. 69 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: So this combination, are you skiing a long distance until 70 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: you happen upon a jump and then you do the 71 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 1: jump and they're timing it all or are they completely 72 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: separate events One is a score and one is a 73 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: time and then they're combined. 74 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, so it's the second one. It's like with Nordica Mine, 75 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 3: the day is full. We wake up early in the morning, 76 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 3: we head to the ski jumps. We usually have one 77 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 3: trial jump to try to like you know, test out 78 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 3: the jump, see what you have to do because every 79 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 3: ski jump is a little bit different. And then you 80 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 3: go into the competition, and with the competition that comes 81 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 3: with how far you're going, style points and what the 82 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 3: judges are like ranking those styles. 83 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 2: Point Position in the air landing. 84 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's mostly the landing, like you need to land 85 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 3: in a telemark. If you don't land in a telemark, 86 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 3: you're actually gonna get points taken off, and. 87 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: That's the position your body's in is called. 88 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 3: The telemark no no, So when you land, that's a telemark. 89 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 3: So one like forward, the other one back, kind of 90 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 3: like in a lunge. But there is also like style 91 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 3: with like how you're flying, are your arms flailing? Like 92 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 3: are they right by your side? So all of that 93 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 3: being calculated. Like let's say if I were to go 94 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 3: ninety five meters with like really really good style and 95 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 3: I'm number one, then I am leaving the start line 96 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 3: in cross country at zero zero, and then based off 97 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,599 Speaker 3: of style and how far you go, they're put into 98 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 3: like the point systems staggered start. 99 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: Yes, so it allows for that really great finish where 100 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: you know in the exact plate whether you've won or 101 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: not because you're all racing at the same time for 102 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 1: the same finish line. 103 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 3: If you're a fast year and you're like fifteenth, but 104 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 3: you can like gain all that time and like go 105 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 3: really fast, then you can like be in first. That's 106 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 3: what makes it so exciting because you don't know what 107 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 3: the results are going to be until the end of 108 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 3: the cross country race. 109 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: That's sort of like a triathlon where somebody could be 110 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: laying weight like, oh, they don't even know I'm great 111 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: at the bike or whatever it is, which is your 112 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: better event? 113 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 3: Ooh, I feel like that's always changing. Like what Nordica 114 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 3: mine is is trying to master two completely different Nordic disciplines. 115 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 3: So obviously it's amazing if you can like really balance 116 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 3: and be good at both jumping well and having the 117 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 3: good endurance to ski fast. But that's what makes it 118 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 3: so hard, because some athletes are better at skiing and 119 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 3: some are jumping. But I mean, right now, I'm really equal, 120 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 3: like I'm jumping well and I'm feeling really good on 121 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 3: the race course. And that's honestly, like that is what 122 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 3: Nordica mine is is mastering the both. 123 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 2: How did you get interested in trying it? 124 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 3: Okay, So this is actually a really interesting story because 125 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 3: when you do ski jumping, you usually start like five, six, 126 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 3: seven years old because as a kid, you don't really 127 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 3: have any fear, you know, not any kind of like 128 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 3: logic going through your head being like, oh, this is 129 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 3: kind of like this could be risky. You can get injured. 130 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 3: So I grew up like you said, and Steve moat 131 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 3: Springs Colorado and fortunately there we have ski jumps and 132 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 3: like going one hundred years back, we had a guy 133 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 3: named Carl Housen come to our cowboy town and he 134 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 3: brought like ski jumping in cross country skiing and that 135 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 3: culture to our town and that's kind of what like 136 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,679 Speaker 3: started at all. And so my brother he actually started 137 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 3: Nordica and mine when he was seven years old, and 138 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 3: he kind of like fell in love with that and 139 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 3: that's that's what he was doing. But me, on the 140 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 3: other hand, I started doing gymnastics at a pretty high 141 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 3: level in Finland. I had a Hungarian Olympic coach. Like 142 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 3: I was in the gym day and night, and that 143 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 3: is what I loved. Like I didn't have a social life. 144 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:57,359 Speaker 3: I barely had them to do school. That was what 145 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 3: I was like driving my life almost like just pushing 146 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 3: yourself to like limits and just like pushing and pushing 147 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 3: and pushing. And I finally broke like at sixteen. I 148 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 3: had a lot of injuries, shoulder dislocations, sprained ankles, and 149 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 3: you know, like me and my brother, we grew up 150 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 3: doing every sport in the book. So I wasn't ready 151 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 3: to give up sport, but I had to give up gymnastics. 152 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 3: So long story short, I went to go watch Nicholas 153 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 3: compete in twenty seventeen. He was fourteen at the time, 154 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 3: and he was, you know, jumping really well, almost like 155 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 3: beating the older kids. And I mean, this is like 156 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 3: fourth of July, so the whole town comes and cheers 157 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 3: and it's such a cool event. And I don't know 158 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 3: what was going through my head, but I was like, 159 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 3: I was very sad to have lost like gymnastics and 160 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 3: just kind of almost like a purpose in my life. 161 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 3: And so when I saw him compete and he was 162 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 3: like jumping really well, it just like it inspired me 163 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 3: to want to try. And so a couple days later, 164 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 3: I hiked up the forty meters ski jump with zero 165 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 3: ski jumping experience and I sent it and I've never 166 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 3: been so scared in my life, Like I had tunnel 167 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 3: vision because ski jumping, like when your skis are in 168 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 3: the track, there's no pizza, Like you are going off 169 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:21,239 Speaker 3: and flying off that thing. And at that time, forty 170 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 3: meters was the smallest in steamboat. 171 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 2: Pizza means no breaks. No pizza equals no breaks. 172 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: At no point can you change your mind and try 173 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: to slow yourself down you're just set. 174 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,839 Speaker 3: No, no, you're you're sending it. So after that first jump, 175 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 3: like that adrenaline rush and like having done something that 176 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 3: was so scary and like I feared but I did it, 177 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 3: it was like the rest is history, and I was like, 178 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 3: I kind of want to do this, And I grew 179 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 3: up Nordic skiing, so I was like, okay, like. 180 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 2: How hard can it be? 181 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm just gonna follow in my brother's footsteps. 182 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: Well, and your brother's working towards the ultimate goal, just 183 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 1: like anyone who plays a sport, they see the very 184 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: highest level. Did you know early on that they're wasn't 185 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 1: a women's competition and did you just imagine eventually that 186 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: there would be by the time you came around to 187 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: wanting to be in it. 188 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean that's a good question because now if 189 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 3: I'm trying to put myself in my sixteen year old self, like, 190 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 3: I don't think that I ever thought that I'd get 191 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 3: to this level in Nordica combined, Like I think that 192 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 3: I was honestly just really lost in my life, like 193 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 3: I was. I had lost gymnastics and I had all 194 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 3: this time on my hands, and I just didn't know 195 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 3: what to do with it. And then I saw ski 196 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 3: jumping and it's cool and let's do this, and it 197 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 3: had never been like accessible for women. I mean, imagine 198 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 3: like Nordica. Mine has been since the first ever Olympics 199 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 3: in nineteen twenty four, and we're talking over one hundred 200 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 3: years later and it's still not an Olympic event for women. 201 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 3: And so I mean even in twenty seventeen, like it 202 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 3: wasn't in like it wasn't an opt there was nothing 203 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 3: for us. And so when I started, it was like 204 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 3: the rise of women's sort of mine and trying to 205 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 3: push it to be a thing for women. And I 206 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 3: think that's what's so cool about my story is like 207 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 3: I honestly I grew with the sport, like I've seen 208 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 3: the progress, and honestly, I think it needs to be 209 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 3: studied because I've never seen a sport go from almost 210 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 3: zero and having like no women do it or have 211 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 3: no future for women to like being at the level 212 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 3: we are is absolutely insane. 213 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: Well let's talk about that, because outside of the Olympics, 214 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: what does gender equity look like in the sport? Is 215 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: you know, when it's an event like the World Championships 216 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: or World Cup circuit, how many events, the prize money, 217 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: the distance is raised. Is a lot of that equal 218 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: across the sport other than the Olympics, or is everywhere 219 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: trying to catch up? 220 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it's a bit hard because even when 221 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 3: you're looking at ski jumping or skiing, like, it's not 222 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 3: equal with prize money. So that's still something that like, 223 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 3: I think a lot of women are fighting for. We 224 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 3: do have almost as many competitions as the men, but 225 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 3: not quite and not as much prize money. And I 226 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 3: think that that's something that FISTS really wants to work on. 227 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 2: International Ski Federation. 228 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, FIST com mind specifically has been very 229 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 3: like open to wanting that equality for men and women. 230 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 3: So in the sidelines, like in the back, you know, 231 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 3: there are a lot of things that need to be 232 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 3: worked on, but it's definitely every year, I feel like 233 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 3: it's getting better and better, and it's you know, now 234 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 3: we just kind of need to get the IOC to 235 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 3: wake up and want to add the women for an 236 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 3: ordic of mind. 237 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 2: We got to take a break more with Onica. 238 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 1: Right after this, your brother's gonna be competing in these 239 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 1: Winter Games, your brother who you got inspired to try 240 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 1: the sport because of who you grew up watching. What's 241 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: it been like watching his journey to qualify for his 242 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 1: first games. 243 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been it's been amazing. Like Nicholas, I live 244 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 3: a home life with him, I grew up with him, 245 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 3: and you know, he is one of the most deserving 246 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 3: people to be at the Olympics. I see every day 247 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 3: how many hours and quality training he puts in, and 248 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 3: you know, I've loved seeing like this seven year old 249 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 3: boy that wanted to pursue in order combined and then 250 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 3: you know, finally going to the Olympics. It's it's amazing, 251 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 3: And as a sister, it's it's just like it's a 252 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 3: different kind of feeling because you just know how much 253 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 3: that person has dreamed of this and worked for it. 254 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 3: So I honestly couldn't be more proud. 255 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 1: But the same goes for him because he's been there 256 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: alongside watching you put in the work, the time, the effort, 257 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: the care and not be able to pursue this dream 258 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: that he's about to achieve competing at the Olympics. Four 259 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: years ago, June twenty fourth, twenty twenty two, the IOC 260 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: announced that women's Nordic combined would not be included for 261 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: these Olympic Games. That news broke on the same day 262 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: that the US Supreme Court announced it was overturning Roe v. 263 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 2: Wade. 264 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: So just a great day for women in general. Pretty shitty. 265 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 1: Can you take us back to the moment you found 266 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 1: out that news that you would not be able to 267 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 1: spend the next four years training to try to compete 268 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: in Italy. 269 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 3: To be honest, that was one of the worst days 270 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 3: of my whole entire life. Like I feel like everything 271 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 3: that I had put in which has it's a lot. 272 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 3: Like granted, you know Nicholas and I it says a lot. 273 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 3: I think it's an amazing story to put out there 274 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 3: because me and my brother, we do the same sport, 275 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: We jump the same jumps, we ski the same courses. 276 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 3: Everything is the same, except I'm a woman. And that's 277 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 3: like to say that in twenty twenty six, it's just 278 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 3: like mind boggling. I don't Sometimes I'm like, you know, 279 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 3: I babysit when I'm back home. Some of my neighbors 280 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 3: and those kids can't even understand, and I'm just like, 281 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 3: you know what, I don't even know either. So yeah, 282 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 3: it's it's it's hard, and there's been a countless sleepless nights, 283 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 3: lots of crying, and I know that I've I've known 284 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 3: this decision for the four years, but now that we're 285 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 3: like here and my whole FO you page is like 286 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 3: opening my Olympic kid Olympic village? What am I eating 287 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 3: at the Olympic Village? And it it really hurts because 288 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 3: I sacrifice so much for this sport, Like I live 289 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 3: in a country I didn't grow up. Just to be 290 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 3: the best that I can be. I put in countless 291 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 3: hours and it's somehow not recognized and that's kind of 292 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 3: like a slap in the face. And I was actually 293 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 3: traveling from Slovenia a training camp to the US when 294 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 3: this decision was made, and in my head, like the 295 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 3: IOC had given us a checklist of things that we 296 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 3: needed to get done, and we checked it off, like everything. 297 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 3: So there was no doubt in any of the girls' 298 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 3: heads that we weren't going to be put into twenty six. 299 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 3: It was like one of those moments where it's like, Wow, 300 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 3: we're writing history right now. And then when it was 301 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 3: like completely gone in the wrong direction, I sat in 302 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 3: that airplane for eight hours crying my eyes out, and 303 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 3: I landed in Denver with like the most swollen eyes, 304 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 3: and that eight hours was like the hardest like critical 305 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 3: thinking of my life of like what am I doing? 306 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 3: Like someone just took away my Like I've worked so 307 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 3: hard for this. What do I do? Do I quit? 308 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 3: Do I go to ski jumping? Like just the world 309 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 3: had ended in my in my head and then you know, 310 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 3: like picking up the pieces, I realize, you know, we 311 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 3: have everything. We have Youth Olympics, we have a World 312 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 3: Cup circuit, we have World Championships, we have every single 313 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 3: competition that every other athlete has except for one competition 314 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 3: every four years. Unfortunately, it's the Olympics, and the Olympics 315 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 3: drives growth and so you know, the IOC wants to 316 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 3: see our sports grow, but they are the ones that's 317 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 3: denying that opportunity. 318 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, bit of a catch twenty two there. 319 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: It is a great way to pivot in your brain 320 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: to say, if this is something I love, here's all 321 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: the other opportunities that I have. 322 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 2: But it might not. 323 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: Even be the case that you have all those opportunities 324 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: in the future if they don't allow it to be 325 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: competed at the Olympics. 326 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 2: And here's why we do. 327 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: Have a lot of examples of women having to fight 328 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 1: to be included in spaces and sports open only to men. 329 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: We have seen this store before, but the difference this 330 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: time is that the men could be kept from competing 331 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: in the Olympics. In addition to keeping women out of 332 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: Nordic Combined, the IOC has also said that the men's 333 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: Nordic Combined events could be eliminated as early as twenty thirty. 334 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: The decision is set to be made after this games. 335 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: How has that impacted your fight for women's inclusion knowing 336 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:25,359 Speaker 1: that the foothold of the entire sport men included is tenuous? 337 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:28,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, first off, we're talking about a original 338 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 3: Olympic sport, Like why why would the IOC want to 339 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 3: erase history? And you're right, there is no way that 340 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 3: we are going to twenty thirty without women again, So 341 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 3: in the IOC's head, like for them to solve the 342 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 3: quality is just by wiping the sport. And that's like 343 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 3: where I come in because I'm like, there's no way, 344 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 3: like the way that the IOC made me feel so 345 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 3: belittled when they made that decision, and how like there's 346 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 3: no quality to add the women. It was it was 347 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 3: just one of those feelings where I'm just like it 348 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 3: really lit the fire in me, and I'm like, there 349 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 3: is no way that the IOC, the Olympics is making 350 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 3: that decision again and like taking away my dreams in 351 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 3: a snap of a finger. So I've made it my 352 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 3: mission to scream it from every single rooftop because at 353 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 3: the end of the day, like there are so many 354 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 3: people that just don't know what Nordic mind is like 355 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 3: other niche sports, like people just are a little bit clueless, 356 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,479 Speaker 3: especially being an American athlete. Like we have a handful 357 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 3: of ski jumps in the US, so you know, like 358 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,239 Speaker 3: people just don't know what Nordic mind and ski jumping is. 359 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 3: So if I can like show them how badass of 360 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 3: a sport this is and the fact that it's not 361 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:46,119 Speaker 3: equal and that the IOC wants to take the sport away, 362 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 3: I'm like, no, no. 363 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: No, You're doing a great job. You're getting a lot 364 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 1: of attention in the lead up to the games, You're 365 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: doing a lot of interviews. It's so important that you 366 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: get the story out there. But it also feels like 367 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: you're fighting against u sort of an enemy that you 368 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 1: don't understand, right, have they made it clear why after 369 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: nearly one hundred years of men's Nordic they want to 370 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: get rid of it outside of the you know, criticism 371 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: they'll get for it not being equal between men and 372 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: women at the Games. Are they trying to pare down 373 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: the number of events in general? Are they trying to 374 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: figure out whether competition across the globe, even on the 375 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: men's side, foster's a really great competitive environment because we've 376 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: seen sports like. 377 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 2: Softball come and go. 378 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: You know, this isn't the first sport that they might 379 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: try to remove from the Olympic slate. But what excuse 380 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 1: are they giving for why the sport is at risk? 381 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a really good point. And I mean this 382 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 3: year only two men from each country are going, whereas 383 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 3: four years ago it was four. So that's like cutting 384 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 3: the field by half. So actually, we had an amazing 385 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 3: opportunity at the end of the season in twenty twenty three, 386 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 3: we got to sit down with Kim McConnell. It was 387 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 3: like thirty plus World Cup girls sitting in a room 388 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 3: and him on skype Q tell Usuias connell. He sits 389 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,679 Speaker 3: on the board of the IOC. So we kind of 390 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 3: got to discuss and ask questions and you know, how 391 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 3: to get our sport to twenty thirty. And that was 392 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 3: a really hard meeting for me to sit through because 393 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 3: that's when I realized that this doesn't affect him in 394 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 3: any way. He does not give a shit about Nordica mind. 395 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 3: And that was like very hard for me to understand that. 396 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 3: Like I was fighting so hard over here to like 397 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 3: get them to recognize how much quality the women can 398 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 3: bring and how much we progress the sport, and at 399 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 3: the end of the day, it just doesn't matter for him. 400 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 3: And so they did give us a couple of reasonings 401 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 3: which are all just don't really make sense. I think 402 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 3: it's just kind of to cover because I really do 403 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 3: think that the agenda is to take away a Nordica mind, 404 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 3: and the first step is not adding the women. So 405 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 3: number one, they said, you know, we don't have enough 406 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 3: nations women competing, But then if you look at other 407 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 3: niche sports slope style, big air, bob sled, any sliding sport, 408 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 3: any niche sport, we have almost the same exact numbers 409 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 3: as they do. We have eleven nations competing. We've had 410 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 3: eight different nations on the podium since our first World 411 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 3: Cup in twenty twenty, and so that was another one 412 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 3: of their facts. They say, we don't have enough like 413 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 3: diversity on the podium, but we've We've clearly had USA, Slovenia, 414 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 3: We've had very strong countries and like even kind of 415 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 3: the ones that are smaller on the podium, whereas the 416 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 3: men have only had seven. So actually the women have 417 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 3: had more diversity on the podium than the men. 418 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: So it's a moving goalpost in terms of the expectations. 419 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: But they're also prohibiting or making it harder for you 420 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 1: to change participation because of their own messaging. Right as 421 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,199 Speaker 1: long as the IOC is essentially saying this isn't that 422 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 1: important and we might take it away, it's going to 423 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 1: make it harder for countries to want to invest in 424 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 1: something that might not have a future. So again they're 425 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:59,439 Speaker 1: sort of creating a problem. Then they're pointing to you know, 426 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 1: when other sports been on the chopping block, we've seen 427 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,479 Speaker 1: them have to make changes wrestling and field hockey, we're 428 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:05,919 Speaker 1: at risk. About a decade ago, they made the sports 429 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,120 Speaker 1: more TV friendly, they adapted some of the rules. 430 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 2: Has Nordic combined. 431 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: Tried to do anything outside of the metrics that they 432 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: keep telling you that you need to meet that you 433 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 1: then meet and aren't good enough. 434 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, so face Nordic Mind. We've actually like we now 435 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 3: have three different styles of doing Nordic mind. So the 436 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 3: normal Gundersen is the just normal way of doing ski 437 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 3: jumping or Nordic and mind. And then we have the Compact, 438 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 3: which is you know, like less time in between starters 439 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 3: on the cross country course. So you know, if you're 440 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 3: starting like a minute behind, the Compact make it shorter 441 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:46,360 Speaker 3: so now you're only about fifteen seconds behind. And then 442 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 3: we do mass Star, which we actually ski first as 443 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 3: a like mass so we all start at the same 444 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 3: time and then jump later. So we have changed a 445 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:56,320 Speaker 3: lot of our format to try to make it a 446 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 3: little bit more interesting and engaging, because that was one 447 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 3: of the biggest things the IOC saw is that they 448 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 3: didn't see a profit. They didn't profit off of men's 449 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 3: art com mind in Beijing, and mind you, they do 450 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 3: put us in pretty horrible TV slots times and whatnot, 451 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 3: so that's a huge factor. We don't have a lot 452 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 3: of viewership in Asia, so you know, at the end 453 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 3: of the day, I've really realized that it is politics. 454 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 3: If they don't feel like they can make money off 455 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 3: of you, then they just want to cut your sport. 456 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 3: So that's really sad because as a little girl that's 457 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 3: always wanted to go to the Olympics, I've always looked 458 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 3: at it as like the journey, the grit, the hard 459 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 3: work to be at the best. And then through this 460 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 3: whole process, I've learned just how corrupt it is and 461 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 3: slimy and money and profiting, and. 462 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: It's always complicated because it's like, yes, the Olympics stands 463 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: for something so much greater than profit. It's supposed to 464 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: be about the spirit of the games, of bringing the 465 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: world together, and yet we also understand that, like, how 466 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: do things get paid for if not profit? Right, So 467 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: you understand the give and take of what the intention 468 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,239 Speaker 1: of the games are and what the reality of them are. 469 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: But to your point, putting out these metrics that have 470 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: to be met and then still rejecting it and or 471 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:15,159 Speaker 1: putting out this messaging that hurts the sport while simultaneously 472 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: demanding that it increased its investment in popularity makes it 473 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: really difficult. You just by virtue of all the interviews 474 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 1: you've done, the success that you've had have really made 475 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,679 Speaker 1: an impact on people understanding and being aware of the 476 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 1: fact that women aren't competing. So now you're sort of 477 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: carrying the weight of trying to add women to the 478 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,679 Speaker 1: sport and also make the sport compelling and interesting and 479 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: known enough on the men's and women's side that it 480 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 1: might stay popular enough to stick in the Olympics. Have 481 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: you been getting support from anywhere that's surprising, whether people 482 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: are outlets, or is there any outlet that you think 483 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: could elevate your story and your brother's story in a 484 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: way that might help drive even more interest. 485 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 3: I mean, like the response I've gotten, I've kind of 486 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 3: figured out the algorithm now, because when I'm really talking 487 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 3: about the inequality of this, that's what blows up, That's 488 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 3: what gets people fuming and infuriated. So I've kind of 489 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 3: used that to show like what Nordic of mine is 490 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 3: and how it's still like not equal in the Olympics, 491 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 3: and to be honest, like I mean, I've gotten so 492 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:20,679 Speaker 3: much support from strangers, from friends, Like it's been really 493 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,160 Speaker 3: incredible to see how many people just like really want 494 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 3: to fight for this. And that's been because it started 495 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 3: from me feeling like very alone trying to push this 496 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 3: and trying to go up against a humongous corporation that 497 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,880 Speaker 3: I feel like just doesn't even know who I am 498 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 3: to Like now, having millions of views on my videos, 499 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:43,200 Speaker 3: so much love, so much support, how do we help petitions? 500 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 2: You know? 501 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,640 Speaker 3: Everything like this that's been super incredible. I had an 502 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:50,880 Speaker 3: interview with the People magazine that really gave a lot 503 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 3: of viewership. It was a cool interview to do and 504 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 3: just like you know, that's a huge magazine. But I 505 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 3: have been a bit disappointed and like the lack of 506 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 3: big female athletes wanting to help, Like I'm talking the 507 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 3: big ones with millions of followers that really stand for 508 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 3: like equality and female and just feminism. 509 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, what about international competitors of yours? Do you find 510 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: that other women in the sport, specifically of Nordic combined 511 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 1: have wanted to be outspoken the way you have? No? 512 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 3: And that's the problem Nordica and mine, Like men and women, 513 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 3: we're very humble people, Like we don't have a huge 514 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 3: personality person like you know Alona Maher or Lindsay Vaughn. Right, 515 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 3: so we don't have that person well, and that's why 516 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:44,640 Speaker 3: I'm like, well, I feel like I have to do 517 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 3: something because I am comfortable posting on social media and 518 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 3: talking about it and showing my face, whereas like the 519 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 3: others are are a little bit more like behind closed doors, 520 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 3: and that can also be very like, I'm like girls, 521 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 3: like guys, this is about our sport. It's not even 522 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 3: about women anymore. Like the men have to be speaking 523 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 3: on this or else they will not be in twenty 524 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 3: thirty either. 525 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:08,879 Speaker 1: Well, I wanted to ask you that as well, because 526 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of times the allyship of male 527 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: athletes is sometimes what puts over the line this demand 528 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:16,360 Speaker 1: for equality. Right, if your brother and other men athletes 529 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:18,439 Speaker 1: are saying the women should be doing this too, that 530 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 1: can help a ton. But in this case, do you 531 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,920 Speaker 1: ever feel like your advocacy for women to be able 532 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,880 Speaker 1: to compete at the Olympic level might in fact harm 533 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 1: the sport overall because the Olympic committee will get frustrated 534 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 1: by that criticism to the point where they say it's 535 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:33,159 Speaker 1: easier to get rid of all of it. 536 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:37,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, and you know that's a good point. There's no 537 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 3: way that I want to be, you know, making them 538 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 3: mad about anything or feeling threatened, because at the end 539 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 3: of the day, like I just want to be included 540 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 3: I don't want to have to sit here, and you know, 541 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 3: I'm also fighting for that younger generation so that they 542 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 3: don't have to wonder if their dreams matter, you know, 543 00:26:56,119 --> 00:27:00,080 Speaker 3: And because that day on the airplane was like I 544 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:03,400 Speaker 3: never want any younger girl to ever feel the way 545 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 3: that I did. So it's a fine line, like I 546 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,199 Speaker 3: want to be able to like fight for this and 547 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 3: show people what Nordica Mine is to build interest. And 548 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 3: it's actually interesting because a lot of the men that 549 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 3: ended up posting about women not being going to the 550 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 3: Olympics and Nordica and Mine were the men that had 551 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:25,400 Speaker 3: sisters that were in Nordica mind. Like my brother made 552 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 3: a post Matteo Baud made a post his sister does 553 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 3: Nordica Mine. Like It's interesting how they will be the 554 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 3: one standing up because they live that home life. They 555 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 3: know that we do the same thing. 556 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,920 Speaker 1: It's just well, and you're right, your anger is righteous. 557 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,119 Speaker 1: And if women are to blame or get blamed for 558 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: the men's version getting removed from the Olympics, the uproar 559 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 1: would be terrible. So I think the IOC better taken 560 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: to account whether they get even more criticism for the 561 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:56,400 Speaker 1: idea that they might pin the blame on the women's 562 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 1: fight for equality. Since we couldn't have a quality, we 563 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:02,160 Speaker 1: will have nothing. But I can also see some potentially 564 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 1: under educated or uninformed men in the sport lashing out 565 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:09,240 Speaker 1: at you or others and saying, stop bringing attention to 566 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 1: the inequality. It will only further their decision to get 567 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 1: rid of what we're doing. Altogether, what a complicated situation 568 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:19,360 Speaker 1: on it go. I'm so frustrated on your behalf, and 569 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 1: I do understand the financial situation for the IOC, but 570 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:27,359 Speaker 1: it does feel like one hundred plus years into the 571 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:29,479 Speaker 1: men having this sport, this should have been solved a 572 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: long long time ago. And in fact, as with many 573 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 1: other sports, what might happen to the sport and interest 574 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 1: in it if you do allow the women to compete 575 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 1: at the highest state. How might that drive storylines and 576 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 1: interest and more people to get involved at every single 577 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: level if they see that it's something for everyone and 578 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:47,880 Speaker 1: not just something you've limited to the men for a 579 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:51,160 Speaker 1: fond century. We're so grateful for your voice, We're so 580 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 1: grateful for the time. We wish we were watching you 581 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: out in Italy as well. But keep up the good fight. 582 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, thank you, so much, and you guys are important 583 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 3: part of the story as well. So thank you for 584 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 3: telling our story and hopefully in twenty thirty it's a 585 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 3: different story. 586 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:10,360 Speaker 1: Thanks again to Onaga for taking the time to chat 587 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 1: with us. After speaking to our on Monday, we reach 588 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:16,479 Speaker 1: out to the International Olympic Committee the IOC for comment 589 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 1: on her description and her takeaways from the meeting, with 590 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 1: IOC board member Kit McConnell in an email. The IOC's 591 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 1: press team didn't specifically address that twenty twenty three meeting 592 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: that Malasinski referenced, but did say quote, the IOC acknowledges 593 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 1: the challenges currently faced by the discipline of Nordic Combined 594 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 1: for both men and women. For this reason, the discipline 595 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: will undergo a full evaluation following the Olympic Winter Games 596 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 1: Milano Cortina, twenty twenty six end quote. Their statement continued 597 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: to say they'll be gathering comprehensive data during the twenty 598 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: twenty six Games, and they'll then use that data to 599 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 1: determine if Nordic Combined will be included in the twenty 600 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 1: thirty Games for men and women. 601 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 2: In addition to the data from the. 602 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: Twenty twenty six Games, the IOC said it will also 603 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: take into consideration how the sports participation and audience changes 604 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 1: outside of the Olympics. They're looking for, quote an increase 605 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 1: in the number of athletes competing in the World Cup 606 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 1: circuit and at the World Championships, an increase in the 607 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,120 Speaker 1: universality of the event, and an increase in the overall 608 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: popularity of the sport across broadcast, digital, general public interest 609 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: and press end quote. Here's the thought after my conversation 610 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 1: with Anika. One thing that would incentivize more athletes to 611 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 1: compete in Nordic combined would be to make it an 612 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: Olympic sport for women as well. One thing that would 613 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: increase the universality of the event would be to make 614 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 1: it an Olympic sport for women as well. And one 615 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:35,560 Speaker 1: thing that would increase overall popularity in general interest is 616 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 1: I bet you know what I'm going to say, Slice 617 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:39,960 Speaker 1: is making it an Olympic sport for women as well. 618 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:43,160 Speaker 2: I don't know, just an idea, all right, we got 619 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:43,960 Speaker 2: to take another break. 620 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:46,520 Speaker 1: When we come back, finally, an athlete we can relate 621 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 1: to in an Olympic promo, Welcome back, Slices. It's time 622 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 1: for good eggs presented by Vital Farms. 623 00:30:58,640 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 2: You know that black carton and. 624 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,480 Speaker 1: The it's got the good eggs inside, the only eggs 625 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 1: I buy for real places. They're the only eggs I buy. 626 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 1: And today we want to tell you about a pair 627 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 1: of good Eggs competing in Italy next month. Our first 628 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 1: good egg is Bob's Letter. Alta Myers Taylor, who in 629 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 1: addition to being a five time Olympic medalist, a nine 630 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:20,800 Speaker 1: time World Championship medalist, and the most decorated black athlete 631 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 1: in the history of the Winter Olympics, is also a 632 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:26,720 Speaker 1: mom to two sons with disabilities. Myers Taylor's two sons, 633 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 1: Nico and Noah, were both born deaf, and Nico also 634 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:33,000 Speaker 1: has Down syndrome. After the birth of her sons, Myers 635 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 1: Taylor decided to become a disability advocate. In addition to 636 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 1: being a longtime advocate for athlete and women's rights and 637 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 1: a former president of the Women's Sports Foundation. In twenty 638 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 1: twenty two, she joined the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, 639 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:49,440 Speaker 1: and she's worked with several non profits, including Classroom Champions, 640 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:53,720 Speaker 1: Right to Play, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, and Gigi's Playhouse. 641 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,560 Speaker 1: Milan Courtina will be Myers Taylor's fifth Games and likely 642 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 1: her last shot to win the one prize that's eluded her, 643 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 1: an Olympic gold medal. Our second good egg is figure 644 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: skater Amber Glenn, who won her third straight US figure 645 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,560 Speaker 1: skating title and has a good shot at becoming the 646 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,240 Speaker 1: first American woman in twenty years to win an Olympic 647 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 1: figure skating medal. Glenn is more than just a figure 648 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 1: skating role model, though she's also the first openly queer 649 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 1: woman to make the US Olympic figure skating team. The 650 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 1: pan sexual star said seeing pride flags in the crowd 651 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 1: at competitions after she came out made her emotional and 652 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:29,240 Speaker 1: made her feel free, said Glenn in twenty twenty one 653 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:31,479 Speaker 1: quote for me, the message I hope to share as 654 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 1: an out athlete is that you can accomplish anything in 655 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 1: life and in sport, no matter your sexuality or what 656 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 1: gender you identify with. 657 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 2: End quote. 658 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:42,680 Speaker 1: After narrowly missing the twenty twenty two Olympic team, Glenn 659 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 1: is set to make her Olympic debut at Italy, and 660 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 1: when she does, she'll be the oldest US Olympic Women's 661 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 1: singles skater in nearly a century, so she's not just 662 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: a role model when it comes to being your authentic self. 663 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 1: She's also changing expectations for her sport, redefining what longevity 664 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:00,400 Speaker 1: can look like, and shining at an age when many 665 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,719 Speaker 1: of her figure skating peers have retired. We're rooting for 666 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:06,240 Speaker 1: all of our Team USA athletes, but we got a 667 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:09,360 Speaker 1: little extra love for these two good eggs. And next 668 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:11,760 Speaker 1: time you're in the store, look for the black carton 669 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 1: in the agile and visit vitylfarms dot com to learn more. 670 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 1: Vital Farms Good Eggs, no shortcuts. We love that you're listening, 671 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 1: but we want you to get in the game every 672 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,200 Speaker 1: day too, So here's our good game play of the day, 673 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,360 Speaker 1: super easy follow on aica on social media. We'll link 674 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 1: to our Instagram handle in the show notes. And we 675 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: always love to hear from you, so hit us up 676 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 1: on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave 677 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:36,080 Speaker 1: us a voicemail at eight seven two two oh four 678 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:40,480 Speaker 1: fifty seventy, and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review slices. 679 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 2: It's easy. 680 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 1: Watch last week's Winter Olympics sports sketch on Saturday Night Live, 681 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:49,600 Speaker 1: rating five out of five, just for I honestly think 682 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 1: a corpse that's my same shape could win review. During 683 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:57,160 Speaker 1: the last SNL episode hosted by Alexander Scarsgard, there was 684 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 1: a sketch about competitors in the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics, 685 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 1: with Marcelo Hernandez as a snowboarder, Chloe Fyneman as a 686 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:08,440 Speaker 1: figure skater, and Jane Wickline as a loser who absolutely 687 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 1: hates doing the luge. Scars Guard plays Wicklines coach who 688 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:15,480 Speaker 1: sometimes has to shove her down the track, saying the 689 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:18,480 Speaker 1: sport needs her. She's a one of a kind shape. 690 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 1: It's so good we'll link to it in the show notes, 691 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:24,840 Speaker 1: along with another classic SNL Olympics sketch that alex reminded 692 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: us of the US Men's Heterosexual Figure Skating Championship, which 693 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:30,720 Speaker 1: aired back in twenty fourteen. 694 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:35,720 Speaker 2: Speaking of SNL, time for yet another heated rivalry update. 695 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: Connor Story aka Elia Rosanov will be the host for 696 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:44,520 Speaker 1: SNL's first show post Olympics on February twenty eighth. We 697 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:48,680 Speaker 1: are seated Now it's your turn, y'all, rate and review, 698 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, See you tomorrow. 699 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:51,399 Speaker 2: Good game. 700 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 1: Anika Good Game Nicholas Few to the Sisterless Brothers who 701 00:34:55,520 --> 00:35:02,560 Speaker 1: aren't speaking up about Nordic Combined Good Game with Sarah 702 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:05,400 Speaker 1: Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with 703 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,000 Speaker 1: Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on 704 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:11,719 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 705 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:14,719 Speaker 1: Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are. 706 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 2: Alex Azzi and Bianca Hillier. Our executive producers are Christina. 707 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:21,720 Speaker 1: Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Our editors 708 00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:24,760 Speaker 1: are Emily Rutter, Lucy Jones, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer. 709 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:28,320 Speaker 1: Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah 710 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 1: Spain