The Greatness with Kareem Maddox

After learning from Olympians past and present about how they made it, it's Kareem's turn in the hot seat. In an intimate conversation with former Olympian and NBC sports commentator Ato Boldon, Kareem reflects on what the Olympic pursuit of the games has taught him about himself. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJessica Grimshaw- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioGretta Cohn- Executive ProducerKareem Maddox- Executive Producer, HostAlex Sujong Laughlin - Senior ProducerMitchell Johnson - ProducerJess Shane - ProducerGreta Weber - ProducerSara Nics- Executive EditorAlex Overington - Sound DesignAJ Hanneld- Key Art Design This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter MediaNPR's Weekend Edition SaturdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2016, the first ever Refugee team competed in the Rio Olympics. But what happens when the stakes of competition are so much higher than a gold medal?Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJessica Grimshaw- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioGretta Cohn- Executive ProducerKareem Maddox- Executive Producer, HostAlex Sujong Laughlin - Senior ProducerMitchell Johnson - ProducerJess Shane - ProducerGreta Weber - ProducerSara Nics- Executive EditorAlex Overington - Sound DesignAJ Hanneld- Key Art Design This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

East German Sylvia Gerasch was a swimming prodigy who shattered world records early in her career. But competing without compromising her political freedom meant making it to the Olympics would be many more years in the making. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJessica Grimshaw- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioGretta Cohn- Executive ProducerKareem Maddox- Executive Producer, HostAlex Sujong Laughlin - Senior ProducerMitchell Johnson - ProducerJess Shane - ProducerGreta Weber - ProducerSara Nics- Executive EditorAlex Overington - Sound DesignAJ Hanneld- Key Art Design NOVA Audio provided by GBH ArchivesThis is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What has a fuzzy blue body, huge red sneakers, and lightning bolt eyebrows? In Atlanta in the 90s, an unusual Olympian came to town and brought a storm of controversy. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJessica Grimshaw- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioGretta Cohn- Executive ProducerKareem Maddox- Executive Producer, HostAlex Sujong Laughlin - Senior ProducerMitchell Johnson - ProducerJess Shane - ProducerGreta Weber - ProducerSara Nics- Executive EditorAlex Overington - Sound DesignAJ Hanneld- Key Art Design This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Khalil Thompson had all the potential of a great Olympic fencer. To get there, he just had to conquer one last opponent: himself. Content warning: This episode features some discussion of suicidal ideation. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJessica Grimshaw- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioGretta Cohn- Executive ProducerKareem Maddox- Executive Producer, HostAlex Sujong Laughlin - Senior ProducerMitchell Johnson - ProducerJess Shane - ProducerSara Nics- Executive EditorAlex Overington - Sound DesignAJ Hanneld- Key Art Design This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharon Jewell's father taught her to “be the first, be the best, do it better, or do it longer than anybody else.” And that's what she did. But what does it mean to be the best in a world that sees you as less?Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJessica Grimshaw- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioGretta Cohn- Executive ProducerKareem Maddox- Executive Producer, HostAlex Sujong Laughlin - Senior ProducerMitchell Johnson - ProducerJess Shane - ProducerSara Nics- Executive EditorAlex Overington - Sound DesignAJ Hanneld- Key Art Design This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Randi Griffin thought her hockey career was over — until the South Korean national team invited her to join their ice hockey team for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJessica Grimshaw- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioGretta Cohn- Executive ProducerKareem Maddox- Executive Producer, HostAlex Sujong Laughlin - Senior ProducerMitchell Johnson - ProducerJess Shane - ProducerSara Nics- Executive EditorAlex Overington - Sound DesignAJ Hanneld- Key Art Design This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Since he was a kid, Billy Mills dreamed of going to the Olympics. But to make it there, he'd have to fight back against centuries of oppression. Content warning: This episode features some discussion of suicidal ideation. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJessica Grimshaw- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioGretta Cohn- Executive ProducerKareem Maddox- Executive Producer, HostAlex Sujong Laughlin - Senior ProducerMitchell Johnson - ProducerJess Shane - ProducerGreta Weber - ProducerSara Nics- Executive EditorAlex Overington - Sound DesignAJ Hanneld- Key Art Design This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kareem Maddox is a professional 3x3 basketball player and a lifelong fan of the Olympics, and he's spent the last year exploring one question: What does it mean to be an Olympian? The Greatness with Kareem Maddox features athletes from different countries, different sports, and different decades. They share their Olympic dreams, what happens off the field, and what the Olympics mean to all of us. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJessica Grimshaw- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioGretta Cohn- Executive ProducerKareem Maddox- Executive Producer, HostAlex Sujong Laughlin - Senior ProducerMitchell Johnson - ProducerJess Shane - ProducerGreta Weber - ProducerSara Nics- Executive EditorAlex Overington - Sound DesignAJ Hanneld- Key Art Design This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.