Off The Podium - An Olympics Podcast

An absolutely massive opening ceremony review is coming down your speakers today as we go back to the epic London 2012 opening ceremony to see whether it still holds up as one of the best and lives up to the lofty standards we’ve held it to for all these years! Did the Queen actually want to be there, or was she just sad she didn’t get to hang out with Daniel Craig for longer? Should more opening ceremonies feature Mr Bean? Should more opening ceremonies feature Kenneth Branagh? Should more opening ceremonies feature Shrek? Is this the greatest soun...

THE OLYMPICS ARE BACK! Sort of. At least the Youth Olympic variety! And we're back to give you a full preview of the 2026 Dakar Summer Youth Olympics in true Off The Podium style! How excited are we to see an Olympic event held in Africa for the very first time? What do we make of the sports at these Games that we don't usually see at the Olympics? How confident is Colin that Canada can finally end its Summer Youth Olympics gold medal drought? How is Jarrod feeling about the Games? What fun facts about Dakar can we bring...

Jens Luraas Oftebro was one of the faces of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, securing a record-equalling sweep of the Nordic Combined events in Italy to bring his total Olympic medal count to five, including four gold medals. It was a crowning achievement for the Norwegian, who, at just 25 years old, has gone on to establish himself as one of the greatest athletes the sport of Nordic Combined has ever seen. But how did he get involved in such a unique sport? What does it take to get to the very top of it? And just how does Norway continue...

Earlier this year at the Milano Cortina Olympics, Italian bobsledder Simona de Silvestro became one of the biggest stories of the Games. The accomplished racing driver had already achieved almost everything in motorsport, spending years competing in categories ranging from IndyCar to Supercars in Australia, while also coming tantalisingly close to Formula 1. But one dream had remained unfulfilled: becoming an Olympian. She achieved that goal in 2026, competing in both the monobob and two-woman bobsleigh events at her home Olympics and adding another remarkable chapter to an already stacked resume. We learn from Simona what first sparked her love of...

An absolutely massive interview coming your way today as we chat with one of Canada’s greatest Olympians and the only person in history to win multiple Olympic medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics, the incredible Clara Hughes. Fresh off the release of her latest autobiography, Clara opens up about some of the incredibly raw and personal stories she shares in the book and explains why it was so important for her to put those experiences out into the world. She also reflects on how being so open about the many challenges she has faced helped shape he...

Another special bonus episode coming through your speakers today as we take you right into the heart of Brisbane for the official reveal of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic emblems! We bring you all the excitement, atmosphere, news and behind-the-scenes gossip from a massive night in the future Olympic and Paralympic host city, as well as THREE incredible interviews with some of Australia's biggest Olympic and Paralympic stars! Olympic gold medallist Arisa Trew, Paralympic gold medallist Lucky Patterson and two-time Paralympian Taymon Kenton-Smith join us to share their reactions to the new emblems, their hopes for a home Games...

WE ARE FINALLY AT THE GREATEST OLYMPICS TO EVER BE AN OLYMPICS! Yes, we’re at the 1920 Antwerp Games to celebrate the iconic Games that are the Games that were the Antwerp Games! Why does Ben love these Olympics so much? What do we even know about Antwerp? Why were these Games so historic on so many levels? What exactly is horse vaulting, and why do we need to bring it back? Are we sad to see the end of tug-of-war? Why did the USA and Canada perform so well while Australia struggled? And which famous Hollywood actress and No...

Just like the logo reveal itself, we’re coming to you earlier than expected for this episode as we bring you our immediate reaction to the brand new Brisbane 2032 Olympic & Paralympic logo and work out exactly how we feel about the design that will represent Australia to the world! Ben and special best Brendan Low go over every angle of the new logo, debate whether it’s instantly iconic or one that might take a little time to grow on us, unpack just how damaging that accidental early leak could be for Brisbane 2032 moving forward and, naturally, get themselves far...

It's history on two levels on the show today as we not only speak to our first-ever athlete from Trinidad & Tobago, but also that country's first-ever Alpine skier, Nikhil Alleyne, as we learn about the incredible journey that led him to representing his nation at the Milano Cortina Olympics earlier this year. We hear from Nikhil about how he first got into skiing and the challenges he had to overcome pursuing a winter sport from a country not exactly known for its snow. We also learn about the support he received along the way and how his remarkable journey...

He was our very first SkiMo guest on the show more than a year ago in the lead-up to Milano Cortina, and since then Maximilien Drion has gone on to make history as the first Belgian SkiMo athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics. And while his time in Italy didn't exactly go as he would've hoped, he still helped put the sport on the map with a strong result and an even stronger series of events that made him an unexpected viral hit during the Games. We catch up with Max to hear all about his Olympic experiences...

After the heartbreak of missing the Beijing 2022 Olympics, and overcoming years of serious injuries and being cut from the national squad, Australian aerial skier Abbey Willcox finally fulfilled a lifelong dream by qualifying for the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. It was a moment she described as a “weight off her shoulders”, with the 29-year-old carrying her strong form into the Italian mountains to finish the Games with a fourth and tenth place. Abbey joins us once again to reflect on her Olympic debut, what it meant to finally achieve her dream, and why she believes it is only the beginning as s...

We first talked doubles luge on the show last year with Canadian Kailey Allan, and today we’re joined by her teammate and doubles partner, Beattie Podulsky, to learn more about the discipline as well as her own incredible rise in the sport. We find out how a sign spotted by Beattie’s dad set her on the path to the Olympics, what other sports she could have potentially reached the pinnacle in, and how her luge journey took her all the way to the 2026 Winter Olympics. We also chat about growing the sport in Canada, get her side of T...

We're back with another classic opening ceremony review as we celebrate 50 glorious years since the Montreal 1976 Olympics by revisiting the opening ceremony of the Montreal 1976 Olympics! Does anything actually happen in this ceremony? Why was even the Queen bored? Did we know the Queen could speak French? How exciting is it to see New Zealand discover colour, even if it's a bit awkward to talk about them in this ceremony? Did the TV broadcast know what colour was during this? Why is Canada so obsessed with planes? Who is Dick Quax? What is the deal with ribbons? And seriously...

Excited to welcome another returning guest to the podcast today as we chat with Aussie moguls skier Charlotte Wilson about her incredible Olympic debut at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics! We hear from Charlotte about her epic qualifying run leading into the Games and how it boosted her confidence ahead of her first Olympic appearance. We also dive into what it was like making the final on debut and why she believes it has set her up for future success. Added to that, we learn whether she played any mind games with teammate Emma Bosco before the dual moguls final...

It’s always exciting to talk about the world of freestyle skiing and the discipline of moguls, particularly when we get to chat with one of Australia’s biggest upcoming stars in the sport and Milano Cortina Olympian Emma Bosco! We explore Emma's rise through the sport and her journey to her Olympic debut, from picking up skis at just three years old through to her rapid progression in moguls and making the Australian team at just 16. We also discuss how close she came to making her Olympic debut in Beijing in 2022, and how a significant setback shaped that journ...

To say 2026 has been a rollercoaster of a year for Aussie curlers Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt might be the biggest understatement we can make on this podcast. From the crushing low of missing out on qualification for the 2026 Olympics to the incredible high of claiming Australia’s first-ever curling world championship months later, it has been one hell of a year for the nation’s golden curling pair. But how are they feeling after such a whirlwind of emotional moments since we last spoke to them? Does winning a world title make up for the Olympic disappointment? And how...

Australian ski-mountaineer Lara Hamilton joined us ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics to give incredible insight into her sport, her journey, and the challenges she faced in pursuit of her Olympic dream. Since that chat, that dream has become reality, with Lara making history as the first Australian woman to compete in ski mountaineering at the Olympic Games. But while she reached the Games, the experience came with its own challenges, pushing her to limits she never thought possible. In another fascinating conversation, Lara reflects on how her Olympic campaign unfolded, why it proved even tougher than expected, and whether...

We’re back on the ice today as we chat with dual American short-track Olympian Julie Letai about her incredible career and Olympic experiences! We dive into how her passion for skating began in a completely different discipline, what sparked her switch to short track, and how she handled that transition. We also explore her preference for the relay, and how she prepares both physically and mentally for the gruelling demands it brings. On top of that, we look ahead to what’s next after two Olympics, her close friendship with a fellow OTP guest and learn why Jeff Gold...

It's time to get all Swedish up in here as we bring back another classic GAMES REVIEW by heading back to the year a certain ship sank, a certain cookie was invented and a certain US President was no longer in control as we look at the Stockholm 1912 Olympics! Why were these Games so groundbreaking for the modern Olympics? Are we excited to talk about the icon that is Jim Thorpe? What about super long wrestling matches that are probably still going? How about groundbreaking female swimmers from Australia? Or actual swimmers from Canada who apparently were well ahead...

HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY! Well, at least to us, as we celebrate ten glorious years on air with a very special episode you’ll remember forever! Okay... maybe at least for the next couple of hours, but hey, we’ll take that! Join us for a retrospective trip down memory lane as we look back on how this show began, how we’ve somehow survived ten years, our favourite Olympic memories, our favourite moments from the podcast and plenty more! And to help us celebrate, we’re joined by a very special guest: the first person to ever appear on our show...

We first spoke with Australian bobsledder Sarah Blizzard back in 2021 in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics, an Olympics she narrowly missed, serving as an alternate. Ahead of her second push for the Games in 2026, Sarah rejoined us last year to reflect on her journey and why she believed Italy would finally be her moment. She was right. Alongside Desi Johnson, Sarah qualified for her first Olympic Games and helped create history, with Milano Cortina becoming the first Olympics to feature two Australian women’s sleds in the two-woman event. Now joining us for a third time, Sarah takes us...

It's one of the rare track & field disciplines we've never had the honour of talking to an athlete from, and today that changes as we dive into the epic sport of pole vault with incredible New Zealand Olympian Olivia McTaggart, who joins us for an amazing interview about her, her sport and everything else in between! We find out how a serious injury in a different sport led her to switching to pole vault, and just how she was able to adapt to it so quickly. We also learn about the endless pursuit of that next height in her...

One theme we often hear about on this show through our many athlete interviews is the struggle when it comes to funding, and how Olympians support themselves to pursue their Olympic goals. It's a complicated journey for many to receive the money to help them with their careers, with limited avenues available to them outside the traditional sponsorship route. But one man is trying to change that, with British startup founder Ben Toland founding the online crowdfunding website Fayder, which aims to help support athletes in a way never seen before. But just what is this platform? How does...

With the sports programme for the French Alps 2030 Olympics now announced, we bring you a very special EMERGENCY PODCAST to discuss everything that has been revealed and give our take on the sports, the events and everything else in between. Has Ben managed to calm himself down enough about Nordic Combined to make this episode worth listening to? Why is Colin pumped for one of the new events? Why is another event so obscure that we have no idea what it actually is? What do we think of the other recent announcements, including the logo and venues? Oh yeah...

Ah, 2002. What a year! Especially when it comes to the Salt Lake City Olympics. An Olympics so historic, particularly for Australia, that we often remember it through rose-coloured glasses. But what about the Opening Ceremony? How does it hold up after all these years? Well today, you’re about to find out as we head back to the era of Bush, trains and plenty of bright ski jackets to revisit the first Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony of the new millennium! Does the fact it was held in a school stadium hold it back? What about having trains going down th...

In the lead-up to the Milano Cortina Olympics, we spoke with American ski mountaineer Cameron Smith about his rise in the sport and just how close he was to achieving his Olympic dream. That dream came down to one defining race, where he and teammate Anna Gibson had to beat their Canadian rivals to secure the North American quota spot for SkiMo’s Olympic debut in 2026. Not only did they beat Canada, they claimed gold, delivering the USA’s first-ever SkiMo World Cup victory and locking in their place at the Olympics. In this incredible chat, Cameron takes us insi...

It’s not often you can say a reality TV show helped launch an Olympic career, but for Josh Williamson, that’s exactly what happened. The American, a promising lacrosse player growing up, won Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful in 2017, a breakthrough moment that set him on an extraordinary path into bobsleigh. Now a two-time Olympian, Williamson has just returned from the Milano Cortina Games with a career-best fourth-place finish in the two-man event. We chat with Josh about his unique journey into the sport, the impact of that unlikely opportunity, and where his ambitions lie as he buil...

Excited to head back to the moguls slopes today as we chat with American freestyle skiing star Nick Page about his rapid rise in the sport and his Olympic journey so far! We find out how watching the 2010 Vancouver Olympics helped set him on this path, and how the athlete he once idolised as a fan ended up being his coach. We also dive into his rapid rise through the ranks, making history as the youngest ever NorAm Cup winner, and his two top ten finishes across his Olympic appearances. On top of that, we discuss what it was...

The Milano Cortina Olympics didn’t exactly go to plan for American short track star Corinne Stoddard. Heading into her second Games with high hopes of a medal haul, a disastrous start left her on the back foot, and she also became the target of online abuse that forced her to completely switch off. But despite the setback, Stoddard bounced back in style, claiming her first Olympic medal and ending a drought for the United States in the process, silencing her doubters and securing her place in US Olympic history. In this open and honest chat, Corinne reflects on ho...

The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics saw the long-awaited debut of women’s doubles luge, and Canadian luger Kailey Allan was part of that historic moment when she made her Olympic debut in the event. But just what makes doubles luge so different from singles, and why is it a discipline that is mocked more than it is respected? We find out from Kailey what makes the unique discipline so special, as well as just how much goes into creating a successful pairing. We also learn about her incredible rise in the sport, from why the Olympics were always a dream fo...

We’ve finished being intercalated and can now return to regularly scheduled programming in our Games reviews as we head back to jolly old England for everything related to the 1908 London Summer Olympic Games! How excited are we to talk about British domination for once rather than American dominance, even if it was a little bit rigged? What about Canada’s strong showing and how it cemented their place in Olympic history? And how does Ben feel about Australia competing alongside New Zealand, even if Australia did most of the heavy lifting? We also dive into why figure skating was...

In the lead up to the Milano Cortina Games, we spoke with legendary Australian para-snowboarder Ben Tudhope about his remarkable rise in the sport, which saw him become Australia’s youngest ever Paralympian and a Paralympic silver medallist. Since then, Ben has added to his incredible career at Milano Cortina, bringing home two more Paralympic medals and further cementing his status as one of Australia’s most successful and beloved Paralympians. We catch up with Ben to hear all about his experiences in Italy, why those latest medals carry a little extra weight for him, what it was like meet...

It’s not too often we get to talk about music on this show and connect it back to the Olympics, but today we’ve got a special treat that does exactly that! Scottish singer-songwriter Olivia Rafferty is a mega talent in the music world, and her Olympic-inspired tracks during the Milano Cortina Games caught the attention of sports fans across the globe, racking up tens of thousands of views and even drawing notice from athletes and Olympians. In this fantastic chat, Olivia takes us through the inspiration behind her Olympic-themed music, how she’s been able to draw parall...

On February 12, 2026, Cooper Woods ended a 7302-day wait for Australia by becoming the first Australian male Winter Olympic gold medallist since Dale Begg-Smith in men’s moguls. The victory marked a historic moment on multiple levels, delivering Australia’s first gold of a record-breaking 2026 Games and adding to the nation’s legacy in the discipline. Today on the podcast, we welcome Cooper to reflect on that day, how life has changed since the Olympics, and what it means to join Begg-Smith in the history books. He also shares some lighter moments from life since the Games, including shouting drinks for fe...

Figure skating is a sport we love on this show, and we’re delighted to welcome Canadian superstar Trennt Michaud to talk about his incredible career and recent Olympic experience in Milano Cortina! We hear how not being able to skate while playing ice hockey led him into figure skating, and which iconic Canadian pair inspired his journey to the Games. Trennt also opens up on the heartbreak of missing the 2022 Olympic team and how that fuelled his standout performance in 2026. Beyond the Olympics, we dive into his continued success, his surprising passion for a non-Olympic sport, and how he...

It's been a while since we reviewed a classic opening ceremony, but all good things come to those who wait as today we bring you our take on the incredible 1988 Seoul Olympics opening ceremony! We explore Korean culture in all its colour and symbolism, breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and why this ceremony remains one of the most unique we’ve ever seen. Colin also explains why he believes he would’ve been the true star of the ceremony had he been allowed to attend, and how he’s processed that injustice all these years later. We touch on...

It’s been four years since we last spoke with Australian cross-country skier Seve de Campo, but the now two-time Olympian has certainly kept busy since our last chat. From making his second Olympics in Milano Cortina to becoming something of a social media star along the way, Seve continues to prove why he is one of Australia’s most entertaining Olympians while also punching above his weight on the world stage. We catch up with Seve to learn about what he has been up to since our last chat, what drove him through his record-breaking second Olympic appearance, what...

For a podcast that has been talking about the Olympics for close to a decade, we haven't had much of a chance to find out what it's like at the very top of the Olympic movement. Well today that is about to change, as we sit down with the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Director of the International Olympic Committee, Christian Klaue, to learn a little bit more about the IOC and gain some unique insight from the organisation that puts together the event we love so much! We find out from Christian just what his role is at...

For someone still under 30, Riley Fitzsimmons has already achieved plenty in sprint kayaking. A triple Olympian, he’s risen rapidly through the ranks, culminating in a famous silver medal at the Paris Olympics as part of Australia’s K4 500m team, finishing just 0.04 seconds behind the great German crew. But for Riley, those achievements are only the beginning. With the hunger and drive to make it to a fourth Games in LA, his dream of standing atop the Olympic podium and winning gold for Australia burns brighter than ever. In this fun, engaging and inspiring chat, Riley opens up abou...

There is no doubting that swimming is the biggest Olympic sport in Australia, and one of its brightest stars over the last three Olympics has been Brianna Throssell. The triple Olympian first caught the world’s attention with her seven-medal haul at the 2014 Youth Olympics, and just two years later she was representing Australia at her first Olympics in Rio. She would go on to compete in Tokyo and Paris, retiring from the sport with four Olympic medals, including two golds. In this open and fun chat, Brianna reflects on her epic rise through the sport, talking about the hi...