Off The Podium - An Olympics Podcast

For a podcast that has been talking about the Olympics for close to a decade, we haven't had much of a chance to find out what it's like at the very top of the Olympic movement. Well today that is about to change, as we sit down with the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Director of the International Olympic Committee, Christian Klaue, to learn a little bit more about the IOC and gain some unique insight from the organisation that puts together the event we love so much! We find out from Christian just what his role is at the IOC and why it is so important when it comes to the Olympics. We also gain a great understanding of the logistical efforts involved in not only putting an Olympic Games together, but just how much work is constantly happening behind the scenes at any given time. Added to this we find out a bit more about how Brisbane is tracking six years out from the Games, how the recovery is going after what we just saw in Italy, and how the future is shaping up for potential Olympic cities in the years to come. It's an amazing insight into the Olympics that you simply won't want to miss!

For someone still under 30, Riley Fitzsimmons has already achieved plenty in sprint kayaking. A triple Olympian, he’s risen rapidly through the ranks, culminating in a famous silver medal at the Paris Olympics as part of Australia’s K4 500m team, finishing just 0.04 seconds behind the great German crew. But for Riley, those achievements are only the beginning. With the hunger and drive to make it to a fourth Games in LA, his dream of standing atop the Olympic podium and winning gold for Australia burns brighter than ever. In this fun, engaging and inspiring chat, Riley opens up about his journey, from the deep lows after Rio and Tokyo to the pure joy of finally claiming an Olympic medal in 2024. Don’t miss this one, it’s a fantastic insight into the mindset of a true Olympian!

There is no doubting that swimming is the biggest Olympic sport in Australia, and one of its brightest stars over the last three Olympics has been Brianna Throssell. The triple Olympian first caught the world’s attention with her seven-medal haul at the 2014 Youth Olympics, and just two years later she was representing Australia at her first Olympics in Rio. She would go on to compete in Tokyo and Paris, retiring from the sport with four Olympic medals, including two golds. In this open and fun chat, Brianna reflects on her epic rise through the sport, talking about the high-intensity pressure of being on the Australian Swimming Team, how she maintained consistency over all those years, and which races stand out to her across her amazing Olympic journey. It’s honest, reflective, and an incredible insight into one of Australia’s biggest swimming stars, and one chat you won’t want to miss!

It's been a few months since we brought you a classic Games review episode, and what a way to come back! In this episode, we go over the history of the “forgotten” 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, as we uncover just what these Games were about, why they happened, and why they’ve turned out to be so influential on the modern Olympic Games. We also meet the stars of these Games, including Canadian marathon runners and walkers, American track stars, and a Greek weightlifter with arms that truly need to be talked about. Plus, we explore why a certain figure from Olympic history is to blame for these not being considered a “real” Olympics, and why perhaps that needs to change. It's one episode for all the history buffs to sink your teeth into, so get listening and don’t miss it!

We always love covering a sport we’ve never explored on the show before, and today is one of those days. For the very first time, we dive into table tennis with two-time Australian Olympian Heming Hu, who takes us through his incredible career and Olympic experiences. Heming opens up about how he got involved in the sport, why more people should give table tennis a go, and just how demanding it is both physically and mentally. He also shares how he overcame key mental demons to remain at the top of the sport in Australia. On top of that, Heming explains how he’s remained a viral sensation in his post-Olympic career and delivers some unbelievable impersonations that you truly have to hear to believe. It’s an incredibly raw, open, and honest chat and one you won’t want to miss.