Join Paralympian Emelia Perry, skier Andrew Weibrecht, and bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor as they share their thrilling Olympic experiences. Emelia talks about her journey to the paratriathlon in Paris, revealing the emotional and physical challenges she faced. Andrew dives into the balance between Olympic glory and everyday life, while Elana reflects on the significance of medals, not just as awards, but as symbols of hard work. Together, they inspire young athletes to chase their dreams and embrace the joy of competition!
Olympic medals represent years of hard work and personal achievement, with their true value lying in the memories they symbolize.
Paralympian Emelia Perry's journey highlights the importance of community support and enjoying the training process in sports competition.
Deep dives
The Significance of Olympic Medals
Olympic medals symbolize much more than just a victory; they represent years of dedication, hard work, and personal achievement. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are named for the metals they resemble, but a gold medal is primarily made of silver with a thin layer of real gold on top. For athletes like Andrew Wiebrecht, who has won both bronze and silver medals, the design and weight of these medals often surprise those who pick them up, reaching about a pound each. Although the medals have a monetary value, athletes emphasize that their true worth lies in the accomplishments and memories each medal represents.
Path to the Paralympics
The Paralympics provide a vital platform for athletes with disabilities, including Emmy, a member of the U.S. Paralympic Triathlon team. After suffering a spinal cord injury, Emmy transitioned from running to wheelchair racing, discovering a new passion and a supportive community that helped her thrive. Competing in the Paralympics demands rigorous qualification criteria, and despite initial doubts about her ability, Emmy was inspired by fellow athletes and set her sights on making the Olympic team. Through her experience, she learned the importance of enjoying the process of training and competition, rather than solely focusing on the end result.
The Dream of Competitiveness
Many kids dream of becoming professional athletes, and Olympians encourage this aspiration by sharing their personal journeys. Leah Davison, a mountain biker, emphasizes that the Olympic experience is a dream come true, filled with incredible memories and the thrill of representing one’s country. This drive and passion for sports require an immense commitment, as most Olympic athletes juggle training with other jobs to support themselves. The message is clear: with hard work and dedication, young dreamers can break barriers and achieve their goals in sports, even when faced with challenges.
We’re celebrating the Olympics and Olympic athletes with an episode chock full of the interviews we’ve done with Olympians. Plus we answer some of the Olympic-themed questions you’ve sent us, starting with: what’s all the hype about winning a big piece of metal? And are those medals really made out of gold, silver and bronze? And we speak with Paralympian Emelia Perry, who’s competing in the paratriathlon in Paris! (Other athletes we hear from: skier Andrew Weibrecht, bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, and mountain biker Lea Davison.)