The Games Odyssey Podcast

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Discover the incredible stories behind the Olympic and Paralympic Games — from the epic and inspirational — to the bizarre and controversial. Starting with the OG (aka Original Games) Olympics in ancient Greece to today’s sprawling sports spectacle, each

Wordrobe Media


    • Feb 6, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 57m AVG DURATION
    • 43 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Games Odyssey Podcast

    BONUS: A Trip to the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2023 17:33


    Opened in 2021, the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum located in Colorado Springs, Colorado is definitely a sight to see. It's the only place (in the US) where you can see all of the Olympic medals displayed from all of the Games, it is the only place you're going to find the legendary "Miracle on Ice" scoreboard displayed, and it's the only place where you yourself can race the great Jesse Owens. Featuring three special guests...Jonathan's wife Christa, his son Kai, and 3-time Paralympic Alpine Skier Tyler "TC" Carter. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice

    BONUS: The POW Olympics of World War 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2023 66:39


    Despite the cancellation of the 1940 and 1944 Olympic Games due to World War II, after the war, stories emerged of several unofficial Olympic Games being held in the most unlikely of places—German Prisoner of War camps. While few details survive, these “POW Olympics” prove the spirit of Olympism can survive even the darkest of times. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Incredible History: When WWII POWs Held an Olympics in a Nazi Camp POW Games memorabilia is a true reflection of the Olympic spirit The Olympics Held Behind Nazi Barbed Wire - HISTORY Olympics behind barbed wire World War Wednesday

    REPLAY - The Olympic Games of London 1908: Brits to the Rescue (Ad Free)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2023 74:37


    In anticipation of returning to London for the 1948 Summer Olympics in Season 3, we thought it would be fun to first revisit London 1908. Enjoy! What could be worse for the Olympic movement than the disastrous St. Louis Games? How about an actual natural disaster? In 1906, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius disrupted the plans for the 1908 Olympiad to be hosted in Rome. With less than two years to put together a plan, London rides in to rescue the Games as host city – and sets a new standard for the possibilities of the Olympic Games. From flag protests to the addition of figure skating, London 1908 was truly one for the books. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: 1908 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia London 1908 Summer Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results The History Press | London's first Olympics, 1908 Ralph Rose - Wikipedia 100 meter running deer - Wikipedia Olympic dueling - Wikipedia Duelling at the Olympics | Royal Armouries Video: The 1908 London Olympics Archery at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia John Taylor (athlete) - Wikipedia Henry TAYLOR | Olympics.com Dorothy Katherine CHAMBERS | Olympics.com Melvin SHEPPARD | Olympics.com Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    REPLAY - The Winter Olympics of St. Moritz 1928: A New Era Begins (Ad Free)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2023 48:18


    In Season 3, the Olympics will finally return after 12 long years when the Winter Games resurrect at St. Moritz making them the first double-host for the Winter Games. In preparation, this episode is an inter-season replay of our St. Mortiz 1928 episode but ad-free! A new era in Olympic history begins with the first truly standalone Winter Olympics and a new IOC President following Pierre de Coubertin's retirement. The Winter Games head to the resort town of St. Moritz in Switzerland where the Swiss organizers appear to have everything under control…except for the weather. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: St. Moritz 1928 Winter Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results Olympedia – 1928 Winter Olympics Overview 1928 Winter Olympics - Wikipedia HBO Max - Watch "The White Stadium" Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    The Olympic Story of Jesse Owens: Prejudice & Pride

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2022 71:06


    Born into a sharecropping family, Jesse Owens found his footing after moving to Ohio and growing up to become “The Buckeye Bullet.” After shattering records in college, he secures his place on the Olympic team where he will then shatter Nazi ideology at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games, setting a new gold standard for athletics. Despite his successes, he returns to America to face racial prejudice and discrimination far more difficult to break than any world record. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Watch Olympic Pride, American Prejudice Streaming Online | Peacock Jesse Owens - Wikipedia 1936 Berlin Olympics | Jesse Owens Museum 1936 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    The Summer Olympics of Berlin 1936, Part II: Light in the Darkness

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 69:36


    After surviving the threat of an American boycott, Nazi Germany welcomes a record number of athletes to Berlin for the Summer Olympics in 1936. The two weeks of competition (and propaganda) will prove to be one for the history books - literally - with some of the highest sports drama ever recorded. Victories by athletes like Jesse Owens and the University of Washington 8-man rowing crew will provide a ray of light in an otherwise dark chapter of the Olympic story. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Olympedia – 1936 Summer Olympics Overview 1936 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results The 1936 Olympic torch relay was far from Hitler's Aryan dream | Tom McNab | The Guardian Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    The Summer Olympics of Berlin 1936, Part I: Dark Clouds

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 64:30


    When Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party take control of Germany in 1933, they inherit the 1936 Olympic hosting duties, which they decide will provide the perfect opportunity to present Aryan superiority to the world. After “warming up” to their hosting duties during the Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany prepares to have the world's eyes on them during the Summer Games in Berlin. Racial discrimination, rumors of boycotts, and blatant propaganda efforts cast a dark cloud over the Olympic movement in one of the most infamous sporting events of all time. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Olympedia – 1936 Summer Olympics Overview 1936 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results The 1936 Olympic torch relay was far from Hitler's Aryan dream | Tom McNab | The Guardian Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    The Winter Olympics of Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936: A Cold Prelude

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 52:02


    After welcoming Germany back to the Olympics in 1928, the IOC awards the 1936 Olympic hosting duties to Germany in 1931. Two years later, Adolf Hitler comes to power and the Nazis seize control of Germany. The resort town Garmisch-Partenkirchen is then selected to host the Winter Games leading up to the infamous Summer Games in Berlin 1936, injecting their politics into the Olympic movement. The IV Olympiad would feature some old favorites from prior Games, the addition of alpine skiing to the program, and a British conspiracy in the ice hockey tournament. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 Winter Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results 1936 Winter Olympics - Wikipedia Olympedia – 1936 Winter Olympics Overview

    Top Ten(ish) Olympic & Paralympic Mascots

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 69:26


    Love 'em, hate 'em, or indifferent to 'em, there is some interesting history and stories behind the Olympic and Paralympic mascots. In this wildcard episode, we do an overview of the history of Olympic and Paralympic mascot tradition by presenting Sarah's Top Ten (or so) list of mascots and their historical significance to the Olympic/Paralympic movement. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Olympics.com Summer Olympic Mascots Shuey Rhon Rhon - Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Mascot | IPC Winter Olympic Mascots

    The Summer Olympics of Los Angeles 1932: Great Depression and Great Innovation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2022 68:12


    After being told “Wait your turn” back in 1928, Los Angeles gets the chance to host the Summer Olympics for the first time in 1932. But when the Great Depression hits the global economy in 1930, neither the City of Angels nor the Olympic movement are immune from its effects. Despite this, Los Angeles would introduce several innovations that are still a part of the Olympic movement to this day, even if their impact would be somewhat overshadowed by the 1936 Games in Berlin. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Los Angeles 1932 Summer Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results Olympic Games Alpinism Prize Olympedia – 1932 Summer Olympics Overview 1932 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia 1932 Olympic Games Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    The Winter Olympics of Lake Placid 1932: When Less Is More

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 42:39


    The last time the US hosted the Olympics was for the III Olympiad in St. Louis, which was less than amazing, but now the US will become only the second nation to have hosted the Olympic Games twice as the III Winter Olympiad heads to the sleepy winter resort town of Lake Placid, New York. But amid the ravages of the Great Depression, is it possible for these Games to be the beacon of hope the Olympic movement is supposed to embody? Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Lake Placid Winter Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results Olympedia – 1932 Winter Olympics Overview 1932 Winter Olympics - Wikipedia HBO Max - Watch "The White Stadium" Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    The Summer Olympics of Amsterdam 1928: The Olympics Go Dutch

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2022 41:52


    In 1928, the Dutch finally get the chance to host the Olympic Games after years of trying to throw their hat into the ring. The first standalone Summer Games would provide some new opening ceremony traditions and see the addition of even more women who finally get to compete in athletics and gymnastics for the first time. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Amsterdam 1928 Summer Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results 1928 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia Olympedia – 1928 Summer Olympics Overview

    The Winter Olympics of St. Moritz 1928: A New Era Begins

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2022 50:00


    A new era in Olympic history begins with the first truly standalone Winter Olympics and a new IOC President following Pierre de Coubertin's retirement. The Winter Games head to the resort town of St. Moritz in Switzerland where the Swiss organizers appear to have everything under control…except for the weather. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: St. Moritz 1928 Winter Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results Olympedia – 1928 Winter Olympics Overview 1928 Winter Olympics - Wikipedia HBO Max - Watch "The White Stadium" Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    The Summer Olympics of Paris 1924: Coubertin's Swan Song

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 62:01


    Twenty-four years after the confusing disaster of the second Olympic​​ Games in Paris 1900, Baron Pierre de Coubertin is set to oversee his last Olympic Games as President of the IOC. He intends the VIII Olympiad in Paris 1924 to be his swan song to the movement he founded – but will it be everything he hopes it will be? Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Ethical Meat. Exception Taste. Try Moink today! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: 1924 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia Watch The Olympic Games in Paris 1924 - Stream Movies | HBO Max Olympedia – 1924 Summer Olympics Overview Paris 1924 Summer Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results The duelists: When Olympic fencers were swashbuckling badasses - Sports Illustrated

    REPLAY: The Olympic Games of Paris 1900: The What-lympics?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2022 86:59


    Paris became the first city to host the Olympic Games twice, but before we get into the Summer Olympics of Paris 1924, we thought you might want a refresher on the confusing disaster that was the 1900 Olympics where the organizers literally went out of their way to call the event pretty much anything else other than "The Olympic Games." From hot air ballooning to 50-pound bronze horse statues, these Games were, well, unique. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Paris 1900 Summer Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results 1900 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia Stuff You Missed In History Class: The Strangest Games - The 1900 Paris Olympics The 1900 Summer Olympics In Paris Were An International Sensation Paris 1900: Games at the centre of the world - Olympic News Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre obstacle event - Wikipedia Rudolf Bauer (athlete) - Wikipedia Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's underwater swimming - Wikipedia Olympedia – 1900 Summer Olympics Overview 7 Olympic athletes who are current or former first responders George Orton - Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website

    The Winter Olympics of Chamonix 1924: Let the Winter Games Begin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 43:24


    After ice hockey's debut at the 1920 Games in Antwerp and the return of figure skating, there were those who thought there should be a separate Winter Olympic Games. But there were others…who did not. Even though the IOC had not officially sanctioned a separate Winter Olympics, a mixture of miscommunication, assumptions, and Olympic spirit led the French to take it upon themselves to create a winter sports event which is now recognized as the First Winter Olympiad. Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Olympedia – 1924 Winter Olympics Overview Chamonix 1924 Winter Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results 1924 Winter Olympics - Wikipedia Video: Austrian Pair Win Gold in Figure Skating at Chamonix 1924 Video: The Olympic Winter Games are born Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    The Olympic Story of Ethelda Bleibtrey: Queen of the Mermaids

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 37:59


    Sometimes being a trailblazer means being a water-blazer. After contracting polio as a child, Ethelda took up swimming to counteract the effects of the disease - and within a couple years found herself breaking records and making a huge splash at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp. But just as swimming changed her life, her legacy is marked by changing the lives of others through swimming. Saving up to go to the Games? Do it the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better to feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Show Notes: Splash!: Ethelda Bleibtrey Makes Waves of Change (Children's Book) Sources: Ethelda Bleibtrey | American athlete | Britannica ​​Bleibtrey, Ethelda | Encyclopedia.com Meet Ethelda Bleibtrey, America's First Female Swimming Gold Medalist Olympedia – Ethelda Bleibtrey Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    The Olympic Games of Antwerp 1920: The Comeback Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 60:52


    After the devastation of World War I, the Olympic movement finds itself at a crossroads, especially in Europe. While the VI Olympiad was supposed to take place in Berlin, Germany has been banned from participation as politics is interjected into the Olympic Games. Now the IOC must decide where to hold the VII Olympiad, and Antwerp is chosen to play host with less than two years to prepare. To this day, the Antwerp Games of 1920 are the only time the Games have been hosted in Belgium and would be the last single Olympic Games before being split into Winter and Summer editions. Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey On YouTube And on your podcast app of choice Show Notes: Episode 234: Author David Davis on Waterman Duke Kanahamoku American Masters | Waterman – Duke: Ambassador of Aloha | Season 36 | PBS Sources: Olympedia – 1920 Summer Olympics Overview Olympics.com | Antwerp 1920 1920 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia The story of the cash-strapped, post-pandemic 1920 Olympics Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs

    History of Sports, Part 2 (Practice Episode)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 60:36


    Where did sports come from? While that may always remain a bit of a mystery, we take a dive into the history of sports across the world, from ancient Egypt and the ancient Olympics, to the eventual explosion in formalized sports during the 19th century, which helped set the stage for the modern Olympic movement and thriving sports industry. Our second practice episode where we continue discussing the history of sports and how that connects with the Olympic & Paralympic Games. Not quite as much a mess as the first practice, but still kind of a mess. GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK ON SEASON 1 HERE! Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey YouTube Season 1 Wildcards Playlist And on your podcast app of choice Sources: “From Rocks and Spears to Laser Tag” article Sports History Timeline Speed Skating Field Hockey Sledge Hockey Lacrosse info (Worldlacrosse.sport) Volleyball info (rio2016.com) Diving ​​ George Hancock (softball) ​​ “Men Play Baseball, Women Play Softball” by Tal Barak, June 2, 2005.

    History of Sports, Part 1 (Practice Episode)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 85:04


    Where did sports come from? While that may always remain a bit of a mystery, we take a dive into the history of sports across the world, from ancient Egyptian sports, the ancient Olympic Games, and eventually the explosion in formalized sports during the 19th century, which helped set the stage for the modern Olympic and Paralympic movement and the thriving sports industry. This one's a real treat because it was our first practice episode…so you get to hear us fumbling around and trying to figure things out as we talk about the history of sports and its Olympic and Paralympic connections. GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK ON SEASON 1 HERE! Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey YouTube Season 1 Wildcards Playlist And on your podcast app of choice Sources: “From Rocks and Spears to Laser Tag” article Sports History Timeline Equestrianism info Rugby page on Olympics.com Olympic Studies Center tennis article Lacrosse info (Worldlacrosse.sport) Volleyball info (rio2016.com) Pok-a-Tok info BBC Pedestrianism article Bowling info Football at the Summer Olympics Racewalking

    Winter Paralympics of Beijing 2022 Unscripted Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 49:57


    In this unscripted (and barely edited) bonus episode for Season 1, Jonathan and Sarah recap the highlights from the recent Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing 2022 while things were still fresh on their minds. From Austria's Aigner family siblings to Riley the guide dog, from sled hockey history to a powerful showing by Team Ukraine, return to Beijing to remember the highs and lows of the most televised Winter Paralympics yet. GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK ON SEASON 1 HERE! Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page. On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey YouTube Season 1 Wildcards Playlist And on your podcast app of choice

    Winter Olympics of Beijing 2022 Unscripted Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2022 64:34


    In this unscripted (and barely edited) bonus episode, Sarah and Jonathan unpack the highlights from the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, from ice skating drama galore and diplomatic boycotts, to historic victories and the heartwarming women's snowboarding love fest. Relive your favorite (and not so favorite) moments of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics with us! GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK ON SEASON 1 HERE! Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Find us online: gamesodyssey.com On Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice

    The Olympic Story of Jim Thorpe: Running the Bright Path

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 77:16


    Jim Thorpe, born into the Sac and Fox nation, became the first Native American Olympic gold medalist at the Stockholm 1912 Games by dominating in the new events of pentathlon and decathlon. So why was this versatile athlete stripped of his medals and titles one year later? From facing racism, heartbreaking loss, substance abuse, encounters with future Presidents, and playing professional football, baseball, and basketball, Thorpe's story is one of constant struggle and serves as a reminder that even our greatest athletes are still human. GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK ON SEASON 1 HERE! Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Bright Path (new Jim Thorpe movie and petition) Stuff You Missed In History Class Jim Thorpe series Jim THORPE | Olympics.com Olympedia – Jim Thorpe Jim Thorpe - Wikipedia Thorpe Has Cancerous Growth Removed From Lip in Hospital at Philadelphia - The New York Times https://web.archive.org/web/20071114205622/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/olympics/2004/08/08/bc.olympics.athletics.thorpe/ Ferdinand Bie - Wikipedia Hugo Wieslander - Wikipedia

    Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games: The Swedish Masterpiece

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2022 67:16


    Besides their meatballs and their ready-to-assemble furniture, what does Sweden do really well? The Olympic Games. Stockholm 1912, the only time that Sweden has hosted the Olympics, is known as “The Swedish Masterpiece” for being a well-organized event that firmly established the revived Olympics as the pinnacle of international athletic participation From the addition of more women's competition and electronic timing devices, to a marathon runner with a race time of over fifty years, Stockholm's legacy is nothing short of legendary. GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK ON SEASON 1 HERE! Show Notes: Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Stockholm 1912 | Olympic Legacy (VIDEO) Full list available here.

    The Olympic Story of Madge Syers: The First Queen of Figure Skating

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2022 49:59


    Figure skating made its historic debut at the London 1908 Olympic Games and with it, British figure skater Madge Syers broke the ice ceiling by becoming the first in a long line of figure skating royalty. In an era where the sport of figure skating was dominated and controlled by men, Syers redefined athleticism in bold style, urged on by her supportive husband and coach Edgar. Start saving and investing the easy way with the Acorns app. Sleep better and feel better with a Layla mattress and get up to $210 off! Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Madge Syers - Wikipedia Olympedia – Edgar Syers Madge Syers: breaking the ice on women's figure skating - Madge Syers, The Mother Of Figure Skating Skate Guard: Behind Closed Doors: Revisiting The Madge Syers Story Look to the past: Madge Syers, the first woman to compete at a figure skating World Championships

    "Ode To Sport" Olympic Poem by Pierre de Coubertin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2022 6:59


    In this bonus episode, Jonathan presents the Olympic gold medal-winning poem "Ode to Sport," which was anonymously submitted by modern Olympic founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin in the artistic competition in Stockholm 1912. Download Transcript Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey YouTube 1908 Playlist And on your podcast app of choice Sources: “Ode to Sport” poem (source)

    London 1908 Olympic Games: Brits to the Rescue

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2022 74:00


    What could be worse for the Olympic movement than the disastrous St. Louis Games? How about an actual natural disaster? In 1906, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius disrupted the plans for the 1908 Olympiad to be hosted in Rome. With less than two years to put together a plan, London rides in to rescue the Games as host city – and sets a new standard for the possibilities of the Olympic Games. From flag protests to the addition of figure skating, London 1908 was truly one for the books. Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Video: The 1908 London Olympics Franco-British Exhibition - Wikipedia 1908 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia London 1908 Summer Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results The History Press | London's first Olympics, 1908 Ralph Rose - Wikipedia 100 meter running deer - Wikipedia Olympic dueling - Wikipedia Duelling at the Olympics | Royal Armouries Archery at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia Madge Syers - Wikipedia Sailing at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia John Taylor (athlete) - Wikipedia Henry TAYLOR | Olympics.com Henry Taylor (swimmer) - Wikipedia Dorothy Katherine CHAMBERS | Olympics.com Melvin SHEPPARD | Olympics.com

    Athens 1906 Intercalated Olympic Games: The Forgotten Olympics

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2022 55:42


    After the back-to-back disasters of the Paris 1900 and the St. Louis 1904 Olympic Games, the fledgling Olympic movement needed a win. Big time. As the International Olympic Committee turned its eyes to the 1908 Games, Greece would look to repeat the success of the 1896 Games by hosting a half-Olympiad in Athens in 1906 that would not only prove to be the most successful Games yet but would help reignite the faltering Olympic flame. But why have these 1906 Games been forgotten? Or is it more accurate to say they were hidden? Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: 1906 Intercalated Games - Wikipedia 1906, Peter O'Connor and the 1906 Olympics Olympedia – 1906 Intercalated Games Overview Olympedia – Louis Richardet The Legend of Billy Sherring Verner Järvinen - Wikipedia Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games | Britannica Tennis at the 1906 Intercalated Games - Wikipedia Max Decugis - Wikipedia Athletics at the 1906 Intercalated Games - Wikipedia Book: Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs A Rare Medal of the 1906 Intercalated Olympic Games

    The Olympic Story of George Eyser: Immigrant, Gymnast, and Amputee

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2022 26:58


    One of the most incredible stories from the 1904 St. Louis Olympics is that of George Eyser, a German immigrant to the US who competed in the gymnastics program. One of the most successful athletes of the third Olympiad, Eyser won six medals in one day, a record that still stands. This included three golds, all the more impressive considering that his left leg had been amputated and he competed with a prosthetic wooden leg. Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Facebook video of George Eyser horse vault Picture of George Eyser's prosthetic leg Biography: GEORGE EYSER Everything Everywhere episode - “Olympian George Eyser” Gary Arndt George Eyser - Wikipedia How a Guy With a Wooden Leg Won 6 Olympic Medals - The Atlantic George EYSER | Olympics.com Anton Heida - Wikipedia

    St. Louis 1904 Olympic Games: Hot Mess in the US

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 88:41


    The first Olympic Games to be hosted by the United States is memorable for pretty much all the wrong reasons. It's a story rife with American backstabbing, the first case of an athlete using a performance-enhancing substance, and displays of blatant racism. It's a bit of a miracle that the Olympic movement survived this debacle. Find out why the third Olympiad nearly proved to be the nail in the coffin for the fledgling Olympic Games. Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Video (Track): https://olympics.com/en/video/on-the-athletics-track-in-st-louis-in-1904 Video: How A Poisoned Man Won The Olympic Marathon Runner's World: The Unbelievable True Story of the Craziest Olympic Marathon American History Tellers: The Fight For the First US Olympics: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Full List of Sources Available on website

    Best Olympic & Paralympic Movies

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2022 74:12


    When we're not watching the Olympics or Paralympics, you might find us watching a movie about the Olympics or Paralympics. In this wildcard episode, we take a break from the history of the Olympic Games to talk about our favorite Olympic and Paralympic themed movies, from fun nostalgic staples like "Cool Runnings" to the creepy true crime story "Foxcatcher," and from the offbeat mockumentary biopic "I, Tonya" to the Oscar-winning classic "Chariots of Fire." Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey Watch on YouTube with subtitles for the hearing impaired. Show Notes: In order of podcast discussion: Richard Jewell (2019) - IMDb Unbroken (2014) - IMDb Foxcatcher (2014) - IMDb Munich (2005) - IMDb Rising Phoenix (2020) - IMDb Prefontaine (1997) - IMDb Murderball (2005) - IMDb The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar (TV Movie 2018) - IMDb One Day in September (1999) - IMDb Miracle (2004) - IMDb Race (2016) - IMDb Cool Runnings (1993) - IMDb I, Tonya (2017) - IMDb Icarus (2017) - IMDb Chariots of Fire (1981) - IMDb

    The First Women of the Olympics: The Stories of Hélène de Pourtalès & Charlotte Cooper

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 47:40


    One of the silver linings – or rather, golden linings – of the Olympic Games in Paris 1900 was the inclusion of female athletes bringing us our first women Olympians since Kyniska of Sparta broke the marble ceiling in the OG Olympic Games. In this episode, we take a look at the lives of the first two female Olympic gold medalists: Hélène de Pourtalès of Team Switzerland who won as part of a mixed sailing team and Charlotte Cooper of Team GB who would make sports history in more ways than one, including becoming the first individual female gold medalist. Show Notes: Our website: gamesodyssey.com YouTube video with subtitles for hearing impaired. Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Helene de Pourtales Bio page on Olympedia Hélène de Pourtalès - Wikipedia The first female Olympic champion article About Mary Lorillard: Wikipedia Charles Iselin Article: Wikipedia About Hermann Pourtales: Wikipedia Charlotte Cooper Wiki Page: Wikipedia Charlotte Cooper: The original trailblazer of women's tennis | Team GB.

    Paris 1900 Olympic Games: The What-lympics?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 86:59


    How did the modern Olympic movement go from a smash hit in Athens to an underwhelming masterpiece of confusion in Paris four years later? Were the new Olympic Games destined to be a one-hit wonder? Spoiler alert…no. But this is the story of the bizarre and wild Olympic Games of Paris 1900, where the organizers decided to purposefully NOT market the Games and instead feature events like hot air ballooning, motor sports, and life saving. Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Paris 1900 Summer Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results 1900 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia Stuff You Missed In History Class: The Strangest Games - The 1900 Paris Olympics The 1900 Summer Olympics In Paris Were An International Sensation Paris 1900: Games at the centre of the world - Olympic News Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre obstacle event - Wikipedia Rudolf Bauer (athlete) - Wikipedia Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's underwater swimming - Wikipedia Olympedia – 1900 Summer Olympics Overview 7 Olympic athletes who are current or former first responders George Orton - Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website

    The First Marathon Man: The Olympic Story of Spyridon Louis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2022 69:10


    The rags to riches – to prison – story of Spyridon “Spyros” Louis, a Greek peasant and soldier who won the first ever international marathon race at the inaugural 1896 Olympic Games in Athens. Find out how a three hour race transformed a lowly water carrier from a poor village into a national hero and Olympic legend. Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And on your podcast app of choice Sources: Battle of Marathon - Wikipedia Pheidippides - Wikipedia Spyridon Louis | Greek athlete | Britannica The Olympic Marathon Runner Who Drank His Way To A Gold Medal | VinePair Spyridon Louis: The Story Of A Greece Olympic Legend - Greeks Channel Olympic Marathon Athens 1896 I Olympiad ​​Spyridon Louis - Wikipedia I Had the Cup of Spiridon Louis in my Hand, article by Karl Lennartz Spyros Louis - Sports Reference Spyros Louis Olympics Marathon Hero Impresses Girl Spyros Louis' Cup

    Athens 1896 Olympic Games, Pt. 2: Legends & Legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 60:35


    In this second part about the inaugural modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896, we talk about how the events at the first Olympiad felt a bit like the sports version of the Wild West. From starting over the fencing competition after three rounds just because the king showed up to watch, to swimmers literally dropped in the sea and told to swim to shore, to an early Olympics enthusiast signing up his college buddy for the tennis tournament as a surprise, these athletes became legends in their own right and established a legacy of sportsmanship and determination that set the standard for future Olympians and Paralympians. Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey Sources: Panathenaic Stadium Wikipedia article Stuff You Missed in History Class: Coubertin and the Modern Olympics History of the First Olympic Games Events and Winners video 1896 Wikipedia article Launceston Elliott Wikipedia article US at the 1896 Summer Olympics Wikipedia article Alfréd Hajós Wikipedia article John Pius Boland Team GB page

    Athens 1896 Olympic Games, Pt 1: Glory & Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2022 70:56


    The incredible true story - that is, stories - of the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896, including how the USA almost missed out, and the first ever marathon race. In this first part of two episodes about Athens 1896, we talk about the venues for the first modern Games, such as the not-so-modern Panathenaic Stadium, and the stories of athletes like James Connolly who defied his Harvard professors and became the first Olympic champion since 393 AD and Robert Garrett who pulled off an upset win in a sport he had never practiced.

    Olympic Country Profile: Ukraine (Special Episode)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 50:09


    Given the recent events of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing war there, we decided we wanted to dedicate our first ever country profile episode to Ukraine and the brave individuals fighting for their country, including former Olympians, and of course highlighting the history of amazing Ukrainian athletes who have competed at both the Olympics and Paralympics, from the Soviet era up to the current day. Check out Project C.U.R.E, a nonprofit that is assisting Ukraine by sending medical supplies. Our website: gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey Sources: Holodomor - Stuff You Missed in History Class | iHeart Holodomor - Stuff You Missed in History Class | Apple Podcasts Ukraine at the Olympics - Wikipedia Ukraine | History, Flag, Population, President, Map, Language, & Facts | Britannica Tatiana Gutsu - Wikipedia Larisa Latynina - Wikipedia Larisa Latynina - An Orphan Seeking Beauty - Gymnastics, School, Ballet, and Dreamed - JRank Articles Boris Shakhlin - Wikipedia Boris Shakhlin - Sports Reference Boris Shakhlin | The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame Larisa LATYNINA | Olympics.com Leonid Zhabotinsky - Wikipedia Valeriy Borzov - Wikipedia Ludmilla Tourischeva - Wikipedia Yana Klochkova - Wikipedia Ukraine at the Paralympics - Wikipedia Viktor Smyrnov - Wikipedia Russia-Ukraine war: Olympian Stanislav Horuna joins Ukrainian military effort, asks for support amid invasion | Fox News

    Reviving the Olympic Games: Greek Revolution, the Wenlock Games, and Pierre de Coubertin

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2022 73:42


    From Greek revolutionaries to eccentric French barons with epic mustaches, we examine the storied lives that led to the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896 and the birth of the modern Olympic & Paralympic movement. Jonathan and Sarah dive into the story of how the Greek Revolution inspired influential Greeks to revive the Olympic Games, how the Wenlock Olympian Games showed that the Olympics never completely died out, and the fascinating life of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who is credited as the Father of the Modern Olympic Movement and was an early champion of the power of education and sport combined...even if he was a misogynist.

    The OG Olympic Games, Pt. 2: Eternal Glory

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 65:18


    The modern Olympic and Paralympic Games are modeled after the ancient Olympic Games that started a long time ago in a Greece far, far away. If you thought the myths and history of how the Games started were wild, wait until you hear about some of the epic ancient athletes who would've been sponsored by Nike - the Greek goddess, that is, not the sports brand. From wrestlers who were literally dying to win to a clever Spartan woman who discovered a loophole in the rules, these champions are still worth cheering for. Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games OdysseyAnd on your podcast app of choice Check out our YouTube playlist on the OG Games. Show Notes: YOU'RE DEAD TO ME: THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS, March 6, 2020 Olympia and the Olympic Games - Documentary (YouTube playlist) History.com: Olympic Games Penn Museum: Olympic Origins World History.com: Olympic Games World History.org: Olympic Games written by Mark Cartwright, March 13, 2018 Olympics.com: Ancient Olympic Games Wikipedia: Ancient Olympic Games Infoplease.com: The Olympics of Ancient Greece Olympics.com: Ancient Olympic Games, All Time Greats The Conversation.com: Hidden Women of History, Kyniska

    The OG Olympic Games, Pt 1: Ancient Origins

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 71:58


    The modern Olympic and Paralympic Games are modeled after the ancient Olympic Games started a long time ago in a Greece far, far away. So we kick things off by going back 3000 years to relive the glory of the OG Olympic Games at Olympia, from mythological back stories that include a demigod with a prosthetic shoulder to a sacrificial barbecue and foot race that would forever set the standard for later sports traditions. In this first of two parts on the OG Olympic Games, we give an overview of the ancient Olympic Games, who was allowed to compete, and the 20-plus events that took place over its 1200-year run (pun intended), from running to wrestling to chariot racing. Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games OdysseyAnd on your podcast app of choice Check out our YouTube playlist on the OG Games. Show Notes: YOU'RE DEAD TO ME: THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS, March 6, 2020 Olympia and the Olympic Games - Documentary (YouTube playlist) History.com: Olympic Games Wikipedia: Pelops Britannica Online: Pelops Penn Museum: Olympic Origins World History.com: Olympic Games World History.org: Olympic Games written by Mark Cartwright, March 13, 2018 Olympics.com: Ancient Olympic Games Wikipedia: Ancient Olympic Games Infoplease.com: The Olympics of Ancient Greece

    Opening Ceremony: Why We Love the Olympic & Paralympic Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 57:33


    In the inaugural episode of The Games Odyssey Podcast, hosts Jonathan Jordan and Sarah Patton introduce themselves, why they love the Olympics and Paralympics, and lay out the format and expectations for the show. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and learn more about us at gamesodyssey.com Find us on Facebook at The Games Odyssey Podcast page On Twitter Games Odyssey On Instagram Games Odyssey And here, on your podcast app of choice

    The Games Odyssey Podcast: The History of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Athletes (Trailer 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2022 0:52


    If you're a fan of the Olympics and Paralympics, a history fan, or just like true stories in general, then we invite you to check out The Games Odyssey Podcast, where we will bring you the incredibly inspirational, bizarre, epic, and controversial true stories behind the Olympic & Paralympic Games and athletes. Starting February 24th, 2022, join hosts Jonathan Jordan and Sarah Patton for a weekly sprint down history lane, telling stories of glory from Olympia to now. Learn more at gamesodyssey.com.

    The Games Odyssey Podcast: The History of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Athletes (Trailer 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2022 0:49


    If you're a fan of the Olympics and Paralympics, a history fan, or just like true stories in general, then we invite you to check out The Games Odyssey Podcast, where we will bring you the incredibly inspirational, bizarre, epic, and controversial true stories behind the Olympic & Paralympic Games and athletes. Starting February 24th, 2022, join hosts Jonathan Jordan and Sarah Patton for a weekly sprint down history lane, telling stories of glory from Olympia to now. Learn more at gamesodyssey.com.

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