Marco Odermatt gets some rest.
Bruno Rezende has a special moment.
Romane Dicko finds a dance partner.
Daria Bilodid's looking futuristic...
Congrats, Claudio Treviso!
A New Olympic Athlete Documentary Showcases the Olympic Spirit We Dare To Dream (2023) A Quick Film Review Do you need an inspiring movie this holiday season? The aptly-named We Dare to Dream has been thankfully made available on streaming service Peacock, offering a just-intimate-enough look at the premise of the International Olympic Committee's Refugee Team through select featured athletes. Responding to the increasing global refugee crisis, the IOC created the Refugee Team program to debut at Rio 2016 as a pathway to support elite athletes whose careers may have otherwise been thwarted by their stateless status. From a team of 10 at those Rio Games, the program expanded to 29 at Tokyo 2020, with an even larger pool of candidates aiming for Paris 2024. Both the IOC's commitment to the program, and the need for it, are apparent. We Dare to Dream takes a look at four of those Tokyo 2020 Olympians - weightlifter Cyrille Tchachet II, runner Anjelina Nadai Lohalith, canoeist Saied Fazloula, and taekwondo star Kimia Alizadeh. Each has their own unique, dramatic path to how they found themselves as a refugee, with their elite experience - Tchachet a Commonwealth Games competitor, Fazloula an Asian Games medalist, and Alizadeh a Rio 2016 medalist - underscoring the quality of athletes' abilities found on the team and the potential tragedy for their Olympic dreams to not have an outlet were it not for the Refugee Team pathway. Getting to know each backstory is the heart of We Dare to Dream, and powers one's attention as they navigate qualification, the Covid-19-enhanced circumstances of the Tokyo Games, and, ultimately, Olympic competition. For added perspective, we also get to briefly know another taekwondo athlete, Wael Fawaz Al-Farraj, whose dashed hopes for Tokyo 2020 selection exemplify the greater number of refugee athletes not on the final team - but who persevere. "Hope is constant, and dreams must continue", offers Fawaz Al-Farraj as attention eventually turns to Paris 2024. Directing the documentary is Waad Al-Kateab, whose own experiences as a refugee herself likely enhanced the sensitive and empathetic touch the film has with its athletes. As she knows well, "we all deserve to live, dream, and fight in a new way". We Dare to Dream provides a welcome look at Olympic athlete stories too-often neglected amidst the common nationalistic fervor that can accompany the Games - individuals who personify the drive to compete and succeed at their chosen sport, and even despite the luxury and privilege of national system support. Is that not Olympic spirit? Get To Know Olympic Sports Athletes Through Recent News
Runners Faith Kipyegon, Kelvin Kiptum & Tigist Assefa, sprinter Noah Lyles, triple jumper Yulimar Rojas, and pole vaulter Armand Duplantis are the 'Athletes of the Year' for World Athletics in 2023.
(p.s. Noah Lyles has some thoughts...)
Meanwhile, Olympics features Ethiopian-Dutch running star Sifan Hassan, whose 'rollercoaster life' has proven to her to not give up. Team Great Britain's Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis now gets to run UK Athletics. Lena Haecki-Gross answers 'five burning questions' for Biathlon World, and shares 'some special things'. Both Team Netherlands and Team Hungary face a daunting task to defend their respective water polo world championships next year. Olympians Oliver Zeidler, Francesco Fossi, Caryn Davies, Imogen Grant, and Emily Craig lead the 2023 World Rowing Awards. How did Athens 2004 rower Kathy Johnson transition from elite athlete to elite marketer? Figure skating: Who will win the 2024 ISU Skating Awards? Voting is open until January 7th... World Sailing looks at seven stars 'who went on to win big' after youth world championships success. Team France's Ramatou Ouedraogo has a 'big future ahead' in equestrian jumping. The International Weightlifting Federations doubles down on its commitment to refugee athletes. Marta Kropko may be a relative newcomer to elite triathlon, but Paris 2024 may really be on the horizon. South Koreans Seo Sung Jae and An Se Young headlined the badminton 2023 'Player of the Year' awards. "My dream has finally happened." Team Cuba London 2012 taekwondo medalist Robelis Despaigne is now officially a UFC fighter. Injuries finally take their toll on judoka Gemma Howell, retiring double Olympian after a landmark career. "I apologize for what I did". Belgian cyclist Max Van Gils accepts punishment for his road race transgression against rival Georgios Bouglas. Chef de Mission: Tokyo 2020 road cyclist Masomah Ali Zada gets a big Refugee Team role for Paris 2024. A look back: Women's rugby sevens veterans reflect on Dubai experiences in early days vs today. Snowboarder Julie Zogg aims to show she 'still has what it takes to stay at the top' after a multi-front successful prior season. Tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz score a promotional event deal with Netflix in Las Vegas. How did Team Japan score a recent landmark upset win over co-host Team Denmark at the Handball Women's World Championship? Who will be United World Wrestling's 'Wrestlers of the Year' for 2023? Kaysha Love is doing a pretty good job of transferring from push to drive in bobsled this season. "I can't say winning the worlds didn't change my life." Archer Marie Horackova reflects on a historic win. Team Switzerland's Alpine skiing stars Marco Odermatt and Laura Gut-Behrami headlined the winners at the 2023 Swiss Sports Awards.
What Have Olympic Sports' Stars Been Up To On Social?
Nafissatou Niam enjoys a spot in the sun.
Ramla Ali makes a fashion appearance.
Hello, Liudmila Luzan!
Panipak Wongpattanakit gives an umbrella a twirl.
Frank Chamizo has a room with a view.
A Look At Olympic Sports Stars In The News
Eight hopeful Milano Cortina 2026 athletes set to receive Team Ireland scholarships, including cross-counry skier Thomas Maloney Westgaard, luger Elsa Desmond, and Alpine skier Cormac Comerford.
Chris Mazdzer: A Team USA luger says goodbye to his career on the track.
World Aquatics: Get to know potential Paris 2024 water polo players - and siblings - Dylan, Quinn, and Ella Woodhead of Team USA. Beatriz 'Bia' Haddad Maia is GQ Brazil's 'Woman of the Year' for 2023 after her exploits in tennis this year. (in Portuguese)... ...while soccer superstar (and Beijing 2008 champion) Lionel Messi is Time's 'Athlete of the Year'. Biathlete Juni Arnekleiv is in 'rare air for a World Cup rookie'...Biathlon World has 'five burning questions'. Are marathoners Eliud Kipchoge and Kelvin Kiptum headed to a first-ever showdown at Paris 2024? The ISU goes 'face-to-face' with short track speed skating star siblings Shaolin and Shaoang Liu., Gymnast Khoi Young is a certified 'triple threat' for Paris 2024 after his world championship performance. Congrats to Team Chile gymnast Tomas Gonzalez on his recent marriage! (in Soanish) Will Saman Soltani join fellow Iranian Saeid Fazioula as a Refugee Team Olympian in canoeing? Team Germany and Emily Bolk foresee "crazy happiness" with a potential women's world team handball championship podium finish. Akzhol Makhmudov takes his wrestling talent on the road for a clinic in Japan. Olympics: American Daniel Martynov is 'forging his own path' in figure skating at age 17. Olympic swimmer Alex di Giorgio has a new gig...training at Barry's gym in Milan. With Paris 2024 qualification in hand, Team Japan's rugby sevens squads focus on their medal potential. World Triathlon looks back at how this year's World Championship Series' men's competition went. Outsportsâ: Diving legend Greg Louganis gets special recognition last week on World AIDS Day. Who are the most recent golfers to enter the Olympic Golf Rankings as the season winds down. 'Larger than life' snowboarder Nick Baumgartner may be a veteran on the slopes, but he isn't contemplating retirement just yet. Merve Dincel, Cheick Sallah Cisse, and Ruth Gbagbi headline World Taekwondo's annual Gala Awards. |
Above: Athens' Kallimarmaro, the site of the 1896 Summer Olympics
About This BlogAn Olympics fan blog celebrating all things Olympic sport athletesRead about me.
Navigate ItCelebrating Olympic sport athletes with news links, social media peeks, and more, seen through the cheeky lens of this particular, passionate fan.
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Get to know the athletes of Olympic sports through a collection of links to recent news and feature stories Let's Get Social Take a look at what some of your favorite Olympic sport athletes are up to on social media, away from competition. They are the Champions Who made the podium in Olympic sports' world championships? Athletes Worth Watching Who are some emerging Olympic sport athletes worth keeping an eye on for the future? Ramblings and Things I have my own comment and opinions sometimes! A Quick Review Quick thoughts on Olympic sports-related films, art, books, TV, etc. that I've come across . p.s. see my Bookshop! Me at Rio 2016's Barra Olympic Park
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