We first met para powerlifter Bobby Body and the Team USA Media Summit and had so much fun talking with him, that we were really excited to see him compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Jill got to see him compete live–and he had trouble with some no lift calls, which resulted in a 4th place finish:
We discussed this in the mixed zone in the immediate aftermath of the competition, but little did we know that Bobby had had to deal with some huge setbacks in the run-up to Paris that included a severe bout with COVID-19 that took off 16 pounds (not the amount of weight you want to lose as a powerlifter) and a rules clarification that forced Bobby to completely change the way he lifted. Imagine having to change your lifting form a couple of months before the biggest competition in your life!
That said, Bobby didn’t dwell on what could’ve been and dove right in to preparing for his next quad!
We also talked about Bobby’s non-competition experiences at the Paralympics, and one element that may never get old for us: What it’s like to go through Team USA processing to get your Paralympic kit when you have a powerlifter’s body. Let’s just say that Team USA has some amazing tailors on site at the Games. Bobby details how much they had to alter his Opening and Closing Ceremonies uniforms.
Also, since the Games, Bobby’s life has taken an interesting turn. He shares some big news with us about the event that may put his life on the big screen.
Other Games News on this Episode
As always, every episode of the podcast features relevant news from past and upcoming Games.
Paris 2024
Paris 2024’s music will not leave our heads (that’s a good thing), and now you can see it performed live in June 2025.
Milano Cortina 2026
Ticket and hospitality sales for the next Olympics are underway, and after the opening stage, organizers are opening a new special sales window from February 25-27, 2025.
Applications to be a torchbearer in Milano Cortina 2026’s torch relay are open. Learn more and find the application here.
Our Slidingnovela–the drama around the reconstruction of the bobsled/luge/skeleton sliding track–has another update. Will it be ready in time for homogulation?
International Olympic Committee News
The International Olympic Committee has picked a year for the first eSports Games (not this year).
Plus, news from TKFLASTAN and a big update on the show’s future!
Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive.
Photo from Flickr, courtesy of Bobby Body.
TRANSCRIPT
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379-Para Powerlifter Bobby Body on Paris 2024
Jill Jaracz: Hello, and welcome to another episode of Keep the Flame Alive, the podcast for fans of the Olympics and Paralympics. If you love the games, we are the show for you. Each week we share stories from athletes and people behind the scenes to help you have more fun watching the games. I’m your host, Jill Jaracz, joined as always by my lovely co host, Alison Brown.
Alison, hello, how are you?
Alison Brown: Hello. Have you been watching the four nations face off in hockey?
Jill Jaracz: A little bit. I saw, uh, the U. S. spank Finland, really.
Alison Brown: I am so excited for the hockey tournament. The men’s hockey tournament in Milan now. You know, there’s always the concern that the NHL players won’t take it seriously.
Jill Jaracz: Oh, they totally do. They are taking this very seriously.
It’s kind of like with the NBA players and, their love of the Olympics and want to be in the Olympics. And there’s a lot of people who go, Oh, but they’re pros. So why would they want, you know, why would they want this? But it’s being the best of the best in the world at the biggest sporting event in the world.
Come on, who doesn’t want that?
Alison Brown: The real question will be, can the men not beat the Out of each other at the Olympics. We know the women will be well behaved because there’s just not the tradition of fighting in, in the women’s game as there is in the men’s game. So I think we’re in for a rip roaring hockey tournament next year.
Jill Jaracz: Excellent. also rip roaring is our Patreon series for this year.
All year long, we are looking at memoirs from Olympians and seeing if we can learn what it takes to be Olympic in our endeavors as well. Uh, last month we did, Lindsay Vonn. This month we are doing Wyomia Tyus, who is a Tiger Belle. And so far, the book’s really good.
Alison Brown: Very good.
Jill Jaracz: So, uh, if you want to get on that train, check out flame alive pod. com slash support and look for the Patreon link or go directly to patreon. com slash flame alive pod for that. Okay.
Catching up with Para Powerlifter Bobby Body
Jill Jaracz: Today we are catching up with para power lifter, Bobby body. We first spoke to Bobby at the team USA media summit last spring at age 50.
He competed at his first Paralympics finishing fourth in the men’s 107 kilogram weight class, which was. It, that was really tough because I was there and we talked with him. I spent a good chunk of time in the mixed zone with him afterwards. And it was really tough that, uh, his lifts did not qualify near the end.
Uh, so we talked with Bobby on October 15th, 2024, about his experiences in Paris and his plans for the future. Take a listen.
Jill: Bobby body. Thank you so much for coming back on the show. it is great to talk to you again, but you and I talked about your competition in the mix zone, but what we didn’t talk about is that. You got COVID in June and then in July you found out you couldn’t use your prosthetic.
So like bearing the lead, how were both of those events? Cause COVID really seemed to knock you down a bit.
Bobby Body: Yeah, actually, um, the worst part is I got it two days on the second day of arrival in Tbilisi, Georgia. And for that, that two weeks that we were there, I lost 16 pounds in 10 days. and it got to the point where our team doctor wanted me to go to the hospital.
And, but I was like, because my fever was 104. 3 to 104. 5 and it was so high that it would, and it just would not go down. It didn’t, didn’t matter what I did. But I kept saying, I don’t want to go to a hospital in another country. And, and because if they do diagnose me with COVID, then I have to stay there quarantined for two weeks and, and everything.
And then I would have had to change all my flight arrangements and everything. And it would have been tough, and so, so for that, for, for 10 days straight, it was. Just sitting in my room, I, I couldn’t even drink water. I couldn’t keep anything down. I was extremely dehydrated.
and like I said, I, I ended up losing like 16 pounds, during that time. And, and on the day that we were leaving to go home, they said if my temperature can be at least a hundred. or lower than I would be cleared to go home. Otherwise I would have to stay there. And, uh, so at three 30 in the morning, before they were leaving to get on the shuttle, to go to the airport, they took my temperature and it was exactly a hundred and so they said, okay, well we’ll let you go home but it, it was a nightmare, it was a nightmare.
Jill: it’s not fun being sick regardless, but it’s worse being sick somewhere else.
Bobby Body: Yeah. Yeah. It was, it was not fun. And the worst part is also, it was my 50th birthday and I’m stuck in my hotel room and, uh, being all sick on my 50th birthday.
Alison: And you weren’t in Tbilisi on vacation. You were supposed to be getting ready all that time.
So you were losing all that time. Yeah, it was our final World Cup.
Bobby Body: Yep. Yep. It was the final World Cup of the quad and I trained really hard because also just five days before Tbilisi. They told me you were no longer allowed to wear your prosthetic leg. And so, so it was just a shot here and there.
and, I, I did what I could, but, as far as training and then when I got there, I was like, I’m still going to hit a big number. And I was so determined to still hit and get a personal best, but then I got sick.
Alison: So let’s talk about the not being able to use your leg. cause you’ve been using your prosthetic leg on the world cup all along.
So what, what was the reasoning? What were you told? How did you find out?
Bobby Body: Well, cause I actually wore it. Championships even. and then the entire quad, I’ve been able to wear the leg because when I got classified, they said, okay, well, part of the rule says no osteo integration prosthetics allowed it gives the athlete any sort of unfair advantage.
And so they went, the doctors and the classifiers went back and forth as far as, should I be allowed to wear it or shouldn’t I be allowed to wear it? And so the head classifier came up to me and said, does it give you any type of advantage at all? And I said, no, it’s on my leg and we bench with our feet up and it does not give me any advantage at all.
And he says, okay, well then you’re allowed to wear it. And so the International Paralympic Committee, their head classifier, allowed me to wear the leg. And so I wore the whole quad. The World Championships, the World Cups, the Parapan Games, and then, When we were in Acapulco, Mexico, one of the staff from another country went to, the technical officials and said, Hey, I think he has an osteoprosthetic.
And in the rules, it says he’s not allowed to wear it. And so. They’re obligated. The technical officials are obligated to report it to the WPPO whenever there’s a complaint. and then the WPPO said it is true. according to the rules, no osteoprosthetics allowed. And they were even going to take away all of my records and my America’s record, my pair pan record, my legends world record.
They were considering taking all that away, but they decided, but the International Paralympic Committee said we will not take that away from him because he was told he was allowed to wear it. And so we cannot punish him for what the head classifier told him he was allowed to do. so I was allowed to keep all of my records and everything and my ranking and stuff like that.
but it was an interesting road.
Alison: So now with a couple of months to go, I mean, how much does that affect your balance and your technique and what’s happening to you on the bench when that leg is taken away?
Bobby Body: When I got back home from Tbilisi, Georgia, I was still sick for another two weeks.
And for the time frame that I had to prepare for Paris, I only had about six weeks to get ready for Paris. After losing all that weight and strength and everything. And I had to start training with the leg off. I had to change my entire setup. My, my forming technique had to completely change. it was interesting, to say the least it was really tough.
but I managed and at one point I even got to the point where, because I was still trying to get, gain the weight back, I was still trying to gain strength back and trying to train with the leg off. I even told my wife, I said, gosh, man, I don’t, I don’t want to go to Paris and embarrass myself because I can’t, you know, live very much right now.
And, and she just kept saying, you’ll be fine. You’ll be fine. I, I know your work ethic, everyone knows your work ethic. You’ll be okay. And, so then, when I get to, Paris, I still had a good, you know, week and a half of training left. It got to the point where, by the time I got done with my training, I gained, some weight back a lot of my strength back.
And, if I did not get red lighted on my final attempt. It still would have been a personal best. so it was, but I ended up getting two red lights instead of two white lights and, and so I, I was one white light away from coming home with a bronze medal.
Alison: But honestly, just being there.
and performing given, everything that was going on. I mean, give yourself a little bit of credit here. That is, I mean, that honestly is redoing elite level technique in weeks. That’s no joke.
Jill: Right. And we had talked about, you had gone up a weight class anyway. So to not just be on the lower end of a higher weight class, losing all this muscle mass and having to try to put it back.
let’s try to talk through some deals, details to help our listeners understand like, what does that involve? What did you have to do to try to put that weight back on safely?
Bobby Body: Well, the good thing is when I spoke to the U S Olympic and Paralympic committee nutritionists, you know, they said, it’s one thing to put weight back on.
But it’s another to put on functional weight. And so, because I can go to McDonald’s every day and gain 30 pounds in 30 days. but I’m not going to gain any strength or anything. So to try to put on functional weight was, it was really, really tough. And, uh, they designed, uh, these smoothies, uh, for me to drink.
They were a thousand calorie smoothies. And I was doing two of them a day on top of like three cups of rice a day. that’s not including my regular meals. and when I still, when I got to Paris, I was still only. Like 102 kilograms so at least I put some weight back on but to put on that functional weight was, that was really, really difficult.
Jill: Did you just not want to eat after a while? You’re like, Oh my gosh, I have to eat again.
Bobby Body: I did. because even when I got to Paris, Because they were making my smoothies when I was in Paris to make sure that I kept my weight on and such. Because going to a competition, I don’t eat as much as I do when I’m at home.
And so, because you don’t get to snack as much because there’s not as much available, Oh, and
Jill: in Paris, we can, we can vouch for there not being much available for snacks for
Bobby Body: Paris. Yeah, the good thing is the athlete resource center, the art is what they, they call it the arc. at least they had like bags of like pretzels and, peanuts and stuff like that.
And, they kept bread and peanut butter and everything. So we can at least try to make something for ourselves and, but it’s just hard. when I’m used to eating a certain kind of food at home to go there and then just snack on, peanuts and, and peanut butter sandwiches. So, so it was, it was tough.
Jill: Talk also through what in your form had to change to help us understand, like, what were you lifting? Like, and what kind of tweaks did you have to do once you weren’t allowed to use your leg?
Bobby Body: yeah, well, when I wore my leg, I also used a bench strap across my, my thighs and such, and I was able to turn my toes out and really engage my glutes.
When I was told that I couldn’t wear the leg anymore, I had to, you know, so I took the leg off, but I wasn’t the strap, I wasn’t able to make it as tight, because my prosthetic side is so high up that I couldn’t really get it across my thighs at all, and so I stopped using a strap and it was hard for me to engage my glutes, as well.
So I really had to figure out how can I engage everything that I used in the, you know, when I had my leg on. As to now with the leg off and then my setup is completely different as well because I didn’t have the leg and because I wasn’t using the strap. so that six week period I had to figure out like, okay.
My hand placement on the bar, my body placement on the bench, and how do I get my back squeezed tighter, and how do I get a bigger arch, and everything, uh, to where I could still be strong, compared to, when I had the leg. Not that the leg gave me that much of an advantage, it was just so much.
The difference of my, my form and technique, completely had to change in my, the way I laid on the bench was also completely different because my prosthetic side, I would have to take it further out and then try to press it down on the bench because I wasn’t using a strap anymore. And then my right leg, I took it all the way to the edge of the bench.
And I tried to really dig my heel into the bench to try to push my glute and shoulders closer together. And those are things I had to kind of learn how to do as I, during that six week period, because I had gone years of training one specific way, and then it got completely changed.
Jill: Wow. Did you try using a strap again with the no leg?
Bobby Body: I did, but it just wasn’t, I, we couldn’t keep it tight, or tight enough.
Jill: Yeah.
Bobby Body: And so it didn’t really, work. And so, because I couldn’t really drive my hips into it. because if I did, the referees will see that everything is lifting up and that’s when you get red lights. so I had to learn how to keep my hips down, to where it looks like I still have control of everything,
Jill: not stressful at all.
Oh my gosh. Wow. And still, that’s still, that’s, I mean, like Alison said, that’s amazing that you were lifting what you lifted at. At Paris, just impressive. But what do you think about that? It’s been a month or so. What, what do you think about your competition and how it went?
Bobby Body: You know, when I was able to start training again and everything, I worked really, really, really hard I tried to be as dialed in and as focused as I possibly could.
It was really tough emotionally, mentally and emotionally. but I had a lot of support. through the U. S. O. P. C. as well as well as family and stuff like that. Family and friends and, but I also worked with mental health. and we met every week, leading up to Paris and while I was in Paris as well.
you know, and they got to where I actually believed that I could get on that podium. , regardless of everything I went through from can’t wear the leg and then getting sick and only having that short period of time to get ready for Paris. When I finished my last workout, during the time that I was out there, it was, uh, five days before I competed and I was in my room and I was like, gosh, I actually have a shot here because I felt that good about myself.
and like I said, the support around me really helped, as well. so then when I went to weigh ins, I was still feeling good. When I got to the competition, I was still feeling good. And, and especially after I got, After that first attempt went, then I was like, Oh gosh, it’s on. I’m getting on this podium.
but then I got red lighted for my second attempt and then red lighted for my third attempt. And I was like, no, because in the hardest part about the entire thing was it’s like for me, I’m super grateful that I qualified for the games and I’m super grateful for everything that I experienced at the games and everything.
It was just hard because I lost to my biggest rival and I got fourth and he got bronze and I would have out benched him by 14 kilograms. That’s like 30 pounds. but because I got red lighted on that second and third attempt, he ended up going home with the medal instead of me. So that was the hard part.
Alison: Yeah. Fourth place can be the hardest place, right? Depending on if it’s better than you anticipated or you were looking at the podium.
Bobby Body: Right, right.
Alison: So how is that feeling now?
Bobby Body: Well, before I even left to go home, I was already on my laptop in my room. and I was already designing my program for the next class.
And then even after I got home. I took a week off from training, but every day I was on my computer putting in my numbers and seeing if everything’s okay. And then I changed it probably 15, 20 times already, but I was so determined to not lose to him again. and I told our team lead, I said, there’s no way I’m losing to this guy again.
whether it’s a world cup, the pair of pan games, world championships, I will not lose to him again. So, and he also knew it, um, because after every competition that we’ve competed against each other at, he’s always come up to me and, you know, cause I’ve beaten him the last three times. but he’s always come up to me, congratulate, and I go up to him, congratulate him.
And we’re always giving each other hugs and high fives and fist bumps and everything. And when I went in the back after that, I missed that third attempt. and then he just, he didn’t need to take a third attempt. So he scratched his third. He didn’t even come up to me because he knew, he knew how upset I was.
And, you know, and he knew that, that I was actually stronger than him. so that was the hard part of, of my experience in Paris. And, you know, I did shed some tears when I got to my room and, because I knew that I should have been on that podium, you
Jill: That’s tough. Although time helps. does it help to look ahead rather than dwell or how much do you want to analyze the Paris performance?
Bobby Body: Yeah, actually, um, I don’t dwell on what happened. because you can only control what you can control. and I’ve, I’ve moved on from it, you know, and yes, it stung for a minute and everything. And it’s kind of like a breakup, I guess you could say you’re like, Oh, man, but I got to move on.
And, but I’m, I’m good. I don’t dwell on it whatsoever. I do look at my video from the three lifts and I could see where they were coming from as far as it didn’t sit on my chest long enough and I didn’t have as much control. and so those are the things that I’m working on this quad leading up to LA 28.
Is I’m going to make sure that I have full control of that bar all the way down to my chest, make sure that I have a long pause on my chest and then make sure I have full control all the way up. and because those are the things, because I always tell the guys on my team, you always need to work on your weak points you know, whether it’s sticky point on the chest or halfway up or your lockout, you always got to work on your weak points.
Yes, you work on your strengths as well. But you if you work on your weak points that way you make sure everything and then you’re gonna get stronger anyways and better anyway, So I use it as a learning curve. I don’t dwell on it whatsoever. I’m not Because I’m just super grateful that I was even able to go And it was a great experience
Jill: We talked about what’s up with the top two guys in that weight class Because there was kind of a very much of a Silver, gold, and then bronze and fourth, there was a kind of a gap, but what is up with them?
Bobby Body: Yeah, actually the, the guy from Iran, uh, Garib Shahi, he finished with a 252, and, he attempted 260, or a little over 260 and didn’t get it, but he’s strong enough to get it. and then Ekbaryar from Mongolia, , who finished with the 248. If I never got sick in Tbilisi, even with the leg off, I would have been in the 240s.
So, and if I would have never had to change the whole Training with the leg off and I would have been able to leave it on and still use the strap and everything. before that happened. I was up around 250. and that’s why a lot of the articles said that I would be competing for the gold medal.
because, my bench was that high. and then when they said I can no longer wear the leg and I had to change everything, I even posted on our team page, I was still in the two thirties, even after I took the leg off for that week leading up to Tbilisi. And, uh, so I was like, I’m still going to hit at least two thirties in Tbilisi.
And of course, you know, we all know how that went. So, But yeah, those guys are really, really strong. Gareb Shahi from Iran is still young enough. I think he will be in the two sixties, by LA. And, I told my team lead, I will also be up around two 60 myself. because now I’m going to have four years of training with the leg off and my new formants and set up.
My new technique and everything like that. And now I can have a full quad training the same way, just like I did when I had, you know, when I was able to use the prosthetic.
Alison: Well, the good news, Bobby, for you is I don’t think there’s a huge difference between 50 and You know, cause I, I am closer to the 54 and I can tell you, it doesn’t feel that different.
Of course, I’m not trying to lift three times my body weight, but I think you’ve kind of hit that sweet spot.
Bobby Body: Yeah.
Alison: Of age, where it’s going to stay stable for a few years.
Bobby Body: Yeah. Yeah. And that’s why when I had that interview, with NBC, I, and I said, I did the whole 50s to do, 20 and, because I, I don’t feel like I’m even close to having a plateau yet.
now obviously if I try to do. 2032 Brisbane, that might be a different story, but, but as far as LA, I think I’m still going to, my bench is still going to get stronger. and I will still hit a really good number. and that is the fun part too, when, when I’m the old guy out there and hitting numbers like these younger guys,
Jill: We talked a little bit in the mix zone about how competing on the very last day was a challenge because you had to maintain the focus and things.
How was that different from maintaining focus while you’re training? just like you kind of have a competition down the road, but this is like you’re there and you’re waiting, but you still have to be focused.
Bobby Body: Right. That was really, really tough. because. You know, people are like, Oh yeah, I’m going to go sightseeing and, I’m going to go out on the town and everything.
And, and for me, any competition that I’ve ever gone to, I never leave, and I try to stay, I try to stay dialed in and focused. It was tough because we got there on the 25th of August and I didn’t compete until September 8th. but I, I have a, uh, uh, I guess a routine that I do whenever I go to competitions, whether I’m there for four days or whether I’m there for there for 10 days.
And, what I do is I watch certain movies. I listen to certain music. I’ll eat when I need to eat and stuff like that. But I tried to not do too much because we’ll have athletes that they go sit by the pool, you know, which is fine. stuff like that. But for me, I tried to recover as much as possible and I try to, save as much energy as I possibly can.
but the, it was, it was tough because I was there for such a long period of time, but the good thing is I was able to still train the way I train at home. so that never changed or anything like that. So, but as much as I wanted to go sightseeing, that was the tough part because everyone kept talking about, oh, we went to this museum or that church or this, you know, and I was like, ah, yeah.
You know, and it was like, well, I don’t compete. And then even other athletes, Oh, when do you compete? Uh, not till the day of closing ceremonies. And they’re like, Oh my gosh, are you serious?
Jill: So what movies are on Bobby Boddy’s playlist?
Bobby Body: I watched the Rocky movies.
Jill: Oh, that’s a good one though. Like you got a whole series. Yes.
Bobby Body: Yes. Because. All of his movies are about perseverance and overcoming adversity. and that’s what I’ve had to deal with my entire life. And so I relate to, the meaning of each of all of his movies.
Jill: you get to let loose after competition at all?
Bobby Body: not really because as soon as I was done lifting, um, we still had Ashley to lift and she lifted that afternoon and then I had to go back and start packing because we had to leave the next day. And so for closing ceremonies, because we had to leave so early in the morning to the airport, our team lead was like, well, we’re not going to do closing ceremonies.
We’re going to meet at the team USA house. And watch the closing ceremonies from there. That way we can leave whenever we need to leave. And we’re not going to be stuck with all those people and athletes trying to get on the shuttles to get back. So that way we’re not back at, between one and two o’clock in the morning when we have to leave, at six, you know, or five in the morning.
So. when we got to the USA house, we didn’t really have any chance to let loose or anything. And, because everybody wanted to either interview or chat or get a photo op.
So I did a lot of, a lot of photo ops, a lot of chit chatting and, and interviews.
Jill: But you did stay out of the rain. Yes. You know, that’s, we could not get into the closing ceremonies either. And that was one thing we were grateful for was not necessarily being stuck in the rain.
Bobby Body: Yeah. We felt bad because like opening ceremonies, it was nice out, it was warm out and, and everything.
And, and then closing ceremonies, when we were on our way to the USA house, we’re like, Oh. That’s a bummer. These guys are going to be sitting out in the rain. and it wasn’t warm out with the rain. So, was going to be tough for them. So
Jill: how was opening ceremonies then?
Bobby Body: Oh man, opening ceremonies was, oh, it was bigger than what I imagined.
Um, because when we were walking down the street to get to the stadium, All the people on the sides that were just screaming and hollering and cheering, and it didn’t matter what country you were from. They were just like, ah, you know, and, and it was so cool watching the kids get excited.
And I’m sure some of them were I don’t even know what’s going on or who these people are, but this is really cool. And a lot of them just looked at us as if we were professional athletes or something. and then, giving out the, the pins and doing exchanges with the pins and such, Seeing the kids on the sides and then tossing them a pin and they’re just like, Oh my gosh, this is the coolest thing ever.
You know, that was the coolest part.
Jill: So Famously, at Processing, there are tailors on site to tailor your, your uniforms. How much work did they have to do for you to get the stuff around your biceps?
Bobby Body: What I went to put on my opening ceremony blazer.
If I would have straightened my arms, it would have torn in half. And so the lady was like, can you, and the guy kept laughing. He’s like, you’re walking like Frankenstein. I was like, because I can’t put my arms down. So And they said, the lady was like, your shoulders and your chest area is too broad. And she’s like, even though the length is fine, she’s like, you’re too, you’re, she’s like, you’re too big.
So, and she’s like, you have a lot going on in your arms. And so, so she told the guy, she said, I need you to cut it. completely cut and expand it. So that way I can get my arms in and, and, you know, she’s like, the length is fine, but she’s like, there’s no way he can, you know, because this whole top part, I just could not, it was comical and cause I’m standing there forever with like Frankenstein and.
And I am waiting for them to be like, okay, well, let’s, let’s, you know, and then the guy’s just laughing and the lady, she finally comes up and she’s like, oh my gosh, she looks so uncomfortable. And I was like, yeah, I can’t put my arms down. they had to help me take it off because I couldn’t, I couldn’t get,
so, I was able to get into the closing ceremony jacket, you know, so that was great. but yeah that opening ceremonies jacket It was not happening. And when they had to help me take it off, there were people with their cell phones. Cause they were, and they were just laughing because they were like, Oh my gosh, this is great.
so I was like, well, my shoes fit and my socks fit.
And, uh, they’re like, well, we have the sizes for you, but they’re like, yeah, obviously that wasn’t going to work.
Alison: So do you know what they ultimately had to do? To do it sounds like they had to completely take it apart and put it back together
Bobby Body: Yeah, they had to undo all the seams and expand everything so that way I can put it on and and when they when it showed up at my room And I was like, okay, here we go, you know, and so I was like I may not get to go to opening ceremonies if I can’t get this on.
So,
so when it was tailored and everything was good to go, I was able to put it on, but the button down, there’s no way I can wear a t shirt underneath. And because it was the same thing, it was really tight in this area. And then the blazer, I was able to get it on and everything. And, and it was, everything was still kind of tight.
I felt like I was packed in there tight, but they did tailor it to where I can at least get my arms down and stuff like that. And, and so I was like, well, I said, at least all I got to do is get through opening ceremonies with this. So, and, uh, that’s why I wasn’t like
Alison: the Hulk.
Bobby Body: Oh my gosh. I felt, you know, and I was like, I so badly just want to go raw and then just rip it.
Alison: Now that would have gone viral.
Bobby Body: That’s why I was like, if I did this, somebody’s. Cause people were videotaping and I was like, somebody’s going to send that out and it’s going to be all over social media. So,
Alison: Oh man. what other really cool moments did you have in terms of not the competition?
Bobby Body: there’s a couple.
I was asked to speak at the USA house and. I don’t know why, but, but yeah, they, they contacted me and said, Hey, would you be willing to speak at the USA house? Um, because a lot of people have read your story, growing up and, it’s kind of like the rags to riches kind of deal and, where you’ve.
Come from to where you’re at now is very intriguing. So would you like to speak on that a little bit at the USA house? And so, yeah, sure. You know, and, and so I thought that was cool that they asked me to speak, you know, at the USA house and even though that was my first games and I hadn’t really done anything yet, and then another one was, I didn’t realize this until the night of the closing ceremonies, I was in the USA house and our coach comes up to me and he says, did you know, there’s a big, huge poster of you And I said, no.
And so he me. So we, you know, over Got a chance to see the U. S. A. House or any, but over by the green room, right by the doors was a big, huge poster of me on the wall. So, and I was like, Oh my gosh, I had no idea. Cause it was like 10 athletes posters that were, and they were all medalists. And then there was me, so, and I was like, Oh my gosh, that was really cool that they put a big poster of me on the wall at the USA house.
So those were my two big moments.
Jill: What was the atmosphere of competition like? Cause you did have a very cool venue.
Bobby Body: Yeah, it was. Like there wasn’t as many people when we were doing the athlete introductions. but people just kept pouring in and pouring and pouring in. And, and it seemed like after my first attempt, I was like, there’s a lot of people here.
This is really cool. Second attempt, there was even more. And by the time, by the time I got out there for my third attempt, The place was absolutely packed and the people were so loud. It was the coolest, like, I, I got all emotional when I was, when I walked out onto the platform, like, don’t get all emotional because then you’re going to burn all this energy.
So keep your composure, you know, because it was so loud. And then even after I lifted it, once I locked it out and then racked it, And the crowd erupted, I was just like, yeah, you know, cause everyone thought I got it and then they said two red lights and I was like, oh, and you can hear the whole crowd like, oh, you know, but then when you’re walking off the platform, I like how they did the whole, the little ramp that wrapped around.
So that way you can kind of wave to the entire crowd as you’re leaving the platform, I thought that was really cool. And the, the crowd was fantastic. It didn’t matter. What country was on the platform? They were it. It was electric. It was the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of
Jill: And then the women’s competition they were still nuts, you had the unfortunate bit of being like first in the morning But like you said people kept coming in and then the women’s competition was just insane
Bobby Body: And then to watch how much they could lift, the lady from Nigeria that broke that world record, holy cow, how strong, I mean, she’s stronger than most of our guys.
and it was just like, it was so phenomenal to watch. And I was so glad because every competition, Ashley competes on the same day that I compete. and so I never get to watch because it’s usually right after me and I’m always getting drug tested and stuff like that. or she will go first.
Actually, most of them, she would go first and then me, but I can’t watch her because I’m getting ready for it. I think I’ve only watched her compete in one competition the entire quad. And so I was so happy that she was later, much later on to where I can. Be there to watch the whole thing and not have to worry about anything else.
And, but the women’s, they are phenomenal, fantastic, and they are so strong. and it’s only going to get better. cause it’s one of the fastest growing para sports, in the world. So it’s, it’s only going to get better. there’s going to be a lot more, you know, I don’t know how many new people are going to show up, for this quad, but like I said, it’s, it’s only going to get better.
Alison: What has been the response since you came home?
Bobby Body: It’s actually been really kind of cool. because, uh, after we got home, there was one of the nights like, let’s, let’s go to this place called the Mountain Bar and Grill. And that’s where we usually get pizza. so I ordered the pizza and, and, uh, when I walked in, one of the guys was like, Hey, were you on TV recently?
And it was like, well, kind of, I guess. And, and, uh, and he’s like, no, no. He’s like, no, you were, we saw your, you’re that Olympic, uh, or Paralympic guy and we saw you on TV. And I was like, oh, thanks. You know? And, and then a bunch of other people were like, oh yeah, yeah. And then the owner said we had it on the TV.
We had the replay on the TV so everyone could see, because I, I live in such a small town. and then the local news, a newspaper had posted on our Facebook page or the town’s Facebook page that we have a Paralympian that lives in town, that’s competing in Paris on this day and this time and stuff like that.
so the local businesses, ended having it on their TV. So, and then the lady, the waitresses and the owner and stuff, they were all like, yeah, yeah, we all saw you and everything and congratulations. And it’s like, Oh, thanks. So then a few days later, there’s this other place called Shop Makers.
It’s a bar grill. And that’s where I get like burgers and stuff if I want. And so we order and I walk in and, go up to the, take out area and, the lady goes. Hey, you’re that Paralympian. And I was like, Oh yeah, you know, I was in Paris and, you know, said the same thing.
She’s like, yeah, we had you on the TV here on the replay. And I was like, Oh, thanks. And, and then this guy walks up and another guy walks up and they’re like, Hey, we know you. And I was like, I don’t know, you know, I don’t, I don’t know you. No, we saw you on TV. You’re that, and I was like, holy cow, you know?
And so people just kept saying, Hey, I know you, I know you, I know you. And, and, uh, one other incident was, uh, They do a fundraiser here in town called the Backpack Program for Kids in Need. and they raise money and everything, and then they fill these backpacks with food, canned food, and dry foods and stuff like that.
and the fundraiser is always a baseball game, and the people that compete in the game is, they’re 50 and over, guys that, from different areas of the, local towns and stuff like that. and they do it annually. And so, one of our neighbors was competing in it.
And so we’re like, Oh, we’re going to go watch. So we walk in there and, and there’s just a couple hundred people. And, and so we’re just like, Oh, this is really cool. You know, cool fundraiser and stuff like that. And, and then all of a sudden this lady comes up and she goes, Hey, Aren’t you that Paralympian?
You know? And I was like, yeah, I was there. And, and then all of a sudden people were like, oh yeah, you’re the, you know? And I’m like, oh my gosh, everybody knows. And, uh, but then they had the announcer make an announcement. And so then everybody gave me a standing ovation and everything. And they had me go out, you know, and wave to the crowd and stuff.
And, and, uh, so it was, it’s been pretty cool coming, you know, coming home and, and such a small town, but yet at the same time, everybody. Knew who I was. So, it’s been fun.
Jill: Welcome to being a celebrity. However local that is. Stop it, because I did grab a Kleenex because I was laughing so hard I was crying. And now I’m going to cry because it’s so touching.
So, here we go. Here’s
Bobby Body: the coolest part about this entire experience. Is, a couple of weeks ago, uh, well, about a week and a half ago, uh, this guy contacts me and, cause ESPN did a story on me he’s like, yeah, he goes, there’s this guy who wants to meet you. And I said, okay. And he goes, He’s a film producer.
And I was like, okay, you know, and, and I’m thinking like, maybe he wants me to be a part of a commercial or something like that. And, so this guy that’s, uh, a film producer, his name is Richard Moore contacts me. cause Mike was like, can I give them your contact information?
Absolutely. So and then when I spoke to Richard Moore, he was like, yeah, I read your story about what you went through from childhood up till now and for you to where you live and how you live and, you know, making the Paralympic team and going at 50 years old to the games and everything, and he’s like, your life is very intriguing and I was like, Oh, thanks.
And he said, I would like to do a movie about your life. And I was like, you serious? And he said, yeah. And he goes, but it’s not going to be a made for TV movie or one of those Netflix, he goes, this is cool. This is one that I’m hoping will end up in theaters. And I was like. Are you serious? And he’s like, yeah.
and so he’s like, I’ll send you some information and stuff like that. And like, they sent me this contract and like, I was like, you know, and it showed how much money, you know, and then the royalties and stuff like that. And, and then he said, yeah, I was thinking of, uh, contacting David.
Batista to play you. And I’m like, this is not a small name. Also, not a small man, not a small man. And I was like, I said, that’ll work out for me because it’ll make me look like I’m really huge. So, and, um, and I was like, Oh my gosh. And he was like, yeah, this is not going to be some small. Film is like, it’s going to be something that I want in the theaters because he said, I feel like your story is going to, it’s like, it’s not going to be so much about sport.
It’s going to be about your life. And what you went through, all the adversities that you went through leading up to going to the games. and I was like, Oh, wow. And, uh, so, the ESPN guy, you know, my guy from ESPN was like, yeah, he’s like, you need to hire an agent because he’s like, I don’t think Richard Moore will screw you over, but he’s like, but you need to hire an agent to go over these contracts.
So I, you know, contacted a talent firm and, they’ve been going back and forth with, you know, making adjustments to the contract and everything like that. but this guy’s using some big time names. for the film. And, and like I said, he’s, hoping that David Bautista will accept the role to play me.
And, uh, and I’m thinking I called Dwayne Johnson, man. I don’t think they can afford him, but, um, you know, but yeah, it’ll, it would be cool though. but yeah, it’s, once the contract is settled and, and I sign it and everything like that, that’s when they’ll start, they’ll hire the screenwriter.
They already know who they want as the screenwriter and, you know, and then once that’s done, they’ll start, doing all the, obviously they got to get the cast and crew and, uh, stuff like that. But yeah, he said, you know, over the next. He said probably between three and five years is when it’ll happen as far as going into the theaters and stuff like that.
But he said they’re, they are going to raise the money and the funds for it to be a major production instead of just a made for TV. and I was like, holy cow. So that would be cool. You know,
Alison: The Bobby body biopic.
Bobby Body: Oh my gosh.
And the other cool thing is, you know, he said that we’re not going to, he’s like, don’t, we’re not going to sell your life rights to. companies like go the independent route. Yes. It takes a little longer, but then you have say in certain parts of the movie, like, Hey, that didn’t really happen that way. It happened this way.
or you can compromise on like, you know, to make it the movie, cause it’s a movie it’s Hollywood. So they have to, gain the audience’s interest. So, you know, so certain parts of the movie, they’ll be like, But, but I’ll have some say in like, it actually happened this way and which was a lot worse or a lot better, you know, and stuff like that.
Jill: that’s amazing. It is amazing. like the change from before and after just in terms of visibility for not just you, but for the sport and for the movement, like, yeah, it’s incredible.
Bobby Body: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, Especially here in the U. S., para powerlifting, so many people had no idea that the U. S. even had a Paralympic team for powerlifting.
And, our coach, his wife was at, the military games. and so, you know, she mentioned to a lot of the powerlifters, like, hey, you guys should try to make the U. S. team, especially being veterans and stuff, because Through the VA you get a stipend and everything like that a monthly stipend if you’re on a national team And those guys were like they none of them had any idea that was a Paralympic team.
So for powerlifting And in the past, we’ve never really had any interest because we just didn’t have the exposure. but our team lead, she told me, when we were in Paris that we have over a hundred people interested in joining our team, that are in wheelchairs or amputees.
And right now we have a full list of 120 people that are interested. and we’ve never had that in the history of our program. And she wants me to take lead on the first meeting with the new potential athletes and stuff like that. And but we’re now starting to get that exposure and, and, you know, and I’m not saying this to be boastful or anything like that, but.
She was like, it’s because of you is why there’s so much interest because you’re so charismatic when you go on that platform and you’re, you play with the crowd and you get so many, everybody involved and no one is ever bored when you compete because you are, you make it so fun that it starts drawing attention.
And then, the U S you know, whoever’s in charge of like the Instagram stuff, they were posting a lot of my videos. and they made it go viral. And so a lot of people are like, Oh, I want to try this. I want to try this. And so it’s, it’s, it’s this next quad is going to be very interesting,
Jill: but in a great way, I will say in a good
Bobby Body: way.
Yep. Excellent.
Jill: Well, Bobby, thank you so much for coming back on the show and thank you for taking time with us. We really appreciate it and do keep in touch.
, we’ll keep following you on social and stuff like that and, and keep pinging you from time to time. But, uh, yeah, we definitely want to follow you in the next quad and, and keep track of how you’re doing.
Bobby Body: Oh, absolutely. Thanks for having me on. It was fun.
Jill Jaracz: Thank you so much, Bobby. You can find Bobby on Instagram at Bobby underscore body underscore team USA. And on Facebook, he’s B Bobby L body. We’ll have links to those in the show notes.
Paris 2024 News
Alison Brown: la
musique.
Jill Jaracz: Ouais, seeing that we have been talking about Paris 2024, it has been a great couple of weeks for Paris. 2024 composer, Victor Lamont. He won a Grammy for the best metal performance from the Olympics opening ceremony. And then he won a Victoire de la Musique award, which is the French equivalent.
And he will be playing his opening ceremonies music live at the Grand Rex in Paris on June 13th. So if you would like to see that music, and we know a lot of you love the Paris 2024 music. If you want to see it live. Head over to France in June.
Milan-Cortina 2026 News
Jill Jaracz: yes. Uh, ticket sales for Milan Cortina 2026 are ruling along. The organizing committee boasted that they sold 300, 000 tickets in the first six days of sales. And they were so excited about that, that they opened up a new special window from February 25th to 27th.
You have to have an account on the ticketing platform to take part. If sales were so great, why they need to open up another ticket window? It means to me that sales weren’t so great.
Alison Brown: See, I disagree. I think they didn’t have that window open because they didn’t want to not sell tickets and then make it look like, oh, we have extra days.
I think this is like, Oh, we did sell a good amount. I mean, 300, 000, I think is pretty good for that first round of a winter Olympics. So let’s keep momentum.
Jill Jaracz: We will agree to disagree on that. uh, the AP reported that they have 1. 5 million tickets available for the games. They only sold 20 percent in this first round.
So I, I just am like, ah. Not sure if tickets are going On Location has put up hospitality packages for sale They will have hospitality houses in Milano Cortina in Livigno expect fancy space. They will have the traditional Italian aperitivo, an Olympic museum exhibit, among other hospitality experiences.
Milan’s clubhouse will be at the historic Dazzi Milano venue. Packages start at 200 euros. Clubhouse 26 Cortina will be a chalet style lounge at Ristorante Cinque Torri in Cortina, they’re gonna have packages that will have guaranteed access to curling and women’s alpine.
Prices start at 225 euros. Packages for Clubhouse 26, packages for Clubhouse 26 Livigno include tickets to freestyle skiing and snowboard. Those prices will start at 325 euros. All prices exclude that tax. On Location also has a winter essentials package with guaranteed cat seed tickets to ice hockey and other extras like a gift, privileged access to the mega store, snack and drink.
All that kind of fun stuff. Packages will start at 150 euros. All 16 disciplines will have in venue hospitality spaces as well. Chef Carlo Zari will be the culinary director for the hospitality program. He is known for his Piedmont region cuisine and particularly with working with truffles. He’s been a He’s no stranger to the Olympics and Paralympics.
He has been chef for several previous games, most recently Vancouver 2010.
Alison Brown: And if you remember, Milan Cortina has a Prosecco sponsor.
Jill Jaracz: That’s right.
Alison Brown: So I’m wondering if there will be much Prosecco flowing in all these hospitality suites. Would not be surprised.
Jill Jaracz: You’re a presky prosecco.
Alison Brown: Now you’re mixing languages.
Jill Jaracz: Well, hey, there you go. Torch Relay applications have opened. There will be 10, 001 torchbearers for the Olympic Relay and 501 for the Paralympic Relay. They’re taking applications. We’ll have a link for that in the show notes little key facts and figures about the Olympic torch relay. the relay is going to be a 63 day, 12, 000 kilometer journey hitting all Italian regions and all 110.
Provinces of the peninsula, starts on 26th of November, 2025, when they light the flame in Olympia. The flame will travel around Greece for a little bit and comes to Rome on the 4th of December, stays there for a couple of days. Then we start the mega relay. It comes to Cortina on the 26th of January, finishes its journal journey in Milan on the 6th of February, Coke and.
Any are the sponsors. So expect Coca Cola stuff all along the route. for the Paralympic torch relay, the lighting will be in Stoke Mandeville in the UK, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. It will travel 2000 kilometers in 11 days from the February 24th to the 6th of March. and they’re going to do something similar to like what Paris 2024 did and spread it.
You know, the flame goes out in multiple directions and comes back in from February 24th to March 2. There will be five flame festivals in Milan, Turin, Bolzano, Trento, and Trieste. And then there will be a ceremony in Cortina on the 3rd of March to unite all those flames. On March 4th, the flame will go to Venice and Padua.
And then finally to Verona on the 6th for the opening ceremonies. Allianz is the partner for the Paralympic torch relay. That’s so many. I wonder what it’s like to work on the torch really and organize all that stuff.
Alison Brown: Complicated.
Jill Jaracz: We have a little update in our sliding novella. I’m so excited about this.
Alison Brown: You know what I was really shocked at for the ticket sales? They were selling sliding tickets.
Jill Jaracz: Of course, because the venue will be done.
My hope is that if the venue is not done, the tickets they have sold are transferable in a way. Like the, the places that they had put different categories of seating Also transfer in the same numbers of categories for seeding to Lake Placid.
Alison Brown: But if you’re going to Italy, you’re not going to use those sliding tickets.
But yes.
So, so, so are we going to have a venue?
Jill Jaracz: Of course we are going to have a venue. Il Fatto Quotidiano reports that the group Open Olympics 2026 has made complaints about transparency. And they say that less than a year from the games, only 10 percent of construction sites have been completed. In 10 cases, there is no environmental impact assessment.
And a third of the works are supposed to be. to be ready from April 26 to July 2032. I didn’t I didn’t understand that element, to be honest, because it was a Google translate of this article because it’s an Italian newspaper. Simico, the construction manager, issued an angry reply saying, and this is a hat tip to Rich Perlman over at the Sports Examiner for this translation.
Quote, the report released by the activists leads to unacceptable exploitation. The data published online with maximum transparency and therefore available to all citizens say in a clear and incontrovertible way that the Olympic works plan is in line with the schedule. The construction sites of the sport works proceed in full compliance with the established timing, in some cases in advanced.
In some cases, in advance, and all will be completed before the games, to say otherwise is not only false, but absolutely defamatory.
Alison Brown: I think somebody sounds like he needs some Prosecco.
Jill Jaracz: Yes. Well, passionate. Passionate response. You know, passionate, protest. Passionate response to protest.
Alison Brown: And this is kind of like, why are we even talking about this?
Because no kidding, this was going to be a problem.
Jill Jaracz: Right. And of course, uh, the construction manager doesn’t want to be embarrassed.
Alison Brown: What is he going to say? No, we’re not going to be on time. No, the venues aren’t going to be finished when you show up.
Jill Jaracz: Right. And, and granted, other, sources have pointed out that Milan did have the problem of the COVID 19 pandemic, and so they were delayed in a lot of stuff that they could do.
But being delayed because of the pandemic, plus having a culture and history of not getting stuff done very well, those two don’t mesh, so it’s going to be really tough.
Alison Brown: I mean, Italy got hit early and hard. Yes, with COVID. So they, they did, but it sounds like we should pack some, WD 40 and some, uh, duct tape because when, if it moves and it shouldn’t, duct tape, if it doesn’t move and it should, WD 40.
Solves any problem with construction.
Jill Jaracz: Uh, the AP reports that there was a transport strike during the short track test event. So the. Organizing committee is in negotiations to prevent transport strikes during the games, which they desperately do not need transport strikes, especially when they’re trying to get people up in the mountains.
And there have been a lot of stories about how difficult it will be to get around the mountain venues. The AP did note that Italians tend to strike on Fridays. There are three Fridays in an Olympic games.
Alison Brown: Have they been talking to the French?
Jill Jaracz: I hope so.
Alison Brown: But you know what, the French also have a very big reputation for striking and for protests.
And we didn’t have that. So I’m hoping it’s all kind of sound and fury signifying nothing in the run up.
Jill Jaracz: Let’s hope so. Let’s hope so.
Because again, I mean, You want to make a statement on one hand, but, but again, the Paris 2024 workers did get bonuses and over, you know, they got some pay in there. There were, there were negotiations and that worked out for the workers.
So don’t know what’s going to happen in Italy. last little bit of news. We got accredited.
Alison Brown: Hooray for us.
Jill Jaracz: Yes. Hooray for us. Unfortunately. We can’t afford to go right now. That’s flat out, we can’t afford to go. So, we’re going to do what we can to raise some money. And, uh, try, try to get there. I, I kind of at a loss for, , what to say in this situation.
Cause it’s, it’s pretty grim after working on my taxes right now. It’s really bad.
Alison Brown: And, well, we’ll see what happens. We have a year. We have things in the pipeline, we hope, and let’s see how it looks.
Jill Jaracz: Right. So, uh, be on the lookout for fundraisers coming from us. Also, it would help if free stuff that you can do is tell your friends about the show, have other people listen, and we just really need to build our listenership.
And that’s, that’s flat out. has to happen in order to help us reach some goals that we need to set financially. So, uh, hopefully we will go to Italy. It may be Lake Placid. It may be Couch.
We’ll see what happens.
Alison Brown: We’ll see what happens. It’ll be an adventure. It always is.
International Olympic Committee News
Jill Jaracz: And we have a little bit of news from the International Olympic Committee. Our friend Carlos Grohman wrote on Reuters that the IOC has announced that the e sport games that are going to happen in Saudi Arabia, the first one will take place in 2027.
Now they were supposed to take place in 2025.
Alison Brown: And we said when this, when they postponed it, we said, definitely not 26.
Right.
So this is actually the, the best they could have done with that delay.
Jill Jaracz: I think so. And, 2027 will be a year where there is nothing Olympic going on. So why not have, uh, these e sport games?
This is a 12 year deal with Saudi Arabia. So look for them to happen. For a while so far. Next steps for that group is to figure out which games will be in the event So there’s a six person committee working on that now and we’ll keep an eye on that
TKFLASTAN Update
Alison Brown: Welcome to Shookfluston
Jill Jaracz: It is the time of the show where we check in with our team, keep the flame alive. These are past guests and listeners of the show who make up our citizenship of Shuklastan. Lots of news, lots of results.
Alison Brown: Yes. Hannah Roberts won her sixth BMX freestyle world championships.
Jill Jaracz: Taekwondo athlete CJ Nicholas won the 80 kilogram division at the U. S. Open championships.
Alison Brown: Evan Dunfee won the Australian 20 kilometer race walking championships, breaking the 26 year old North American record. Awesome for him.
Jill Jaracz: Bree Walker won back to back golds at the last two IBSF World Cup monobob races of the season in Lillehammer, Norway.
She heads into the world championships in Lake Placid next month, ranked second in the world.
Alison Brown: Katie Moon won the women’s pole vault gold at IBSF. The Millrose Games with another top jump of the year at 4. 82 meters.
Jill Jaracz: Pairs skater Megan Duhamel with former partner Eric Radford were announced as members of the Skate Canada Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Alison Brown: And Rob Snoke and Ollie Hogben were in Vancouver last week announcing the Invictus Games.
Jill Jaracz: Sailor Stephanie Robel has announced her retirement from competitive sailing.
Alison Brown: And Shukvlistan BabyAlert, congratulations to Jason Tertiman and his wife, who welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Jack Edward, into their lives two weeks ago.
And we have happy and sad news from Ness Murby and Ava Fayas. they welcomed a new baby in January, but unfortunately that baby’s twin, died. and delivery. So love and condolences to them.
Jill Jaracz: Yes. And congratulations to our former intern, Annalie, who was accepted into her top choice grad school for museum studies.
Oh, I didn’t see that before. Yay, Annalie! And that will do it for this episode. Let us know what your favorite moments from the Paris 2024 Paralympics are.
Get in Touch!
Alison Brown: We love hearing from you. You can chat with us and other listeners on our Facebook group, keep the flame alive podcast. Email us at Flame Alive pod@gmail.com and the voicemail and text line is always open at 2 0 8 3 5 2 6 3 4 8.
That’s 2 0 8. Flame it and if you need more Olympics and Paralympics in your life and who doesn’t sign up for our newsletter@flamealivepod.com we’ll have a link to that in the show notes.
Coming Next Time
Jill Jaracz: Next week, we will be catching up with sprinter Kenny Bednarek and getting the lowdown on his Paris 2024, including what went down with the men’s four by 100 meter relay.
But we had a great time talking with him. We love Kenny and he had a lot of really cool stuff to say, so you will not want to miss that interview. Thank you so much for listening and until next time, keep the flame alive.