Day 2 of action from Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The mountain got Lindsey Vonn in a bad way, but other Olympians shined.

We've been multi-screening to try to take in as much as possible, and we've also got reports from what we've seen in person today. Jill also went to Korea House and had a fabulous time.

Sports on today's program:

• Alpine Skiing
• Biathlon
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Curling
• Figure Skating
• Ice Hockey
• Luge
• Snowboard
• Speed Skating

Plus, we've discovered what our Milano Cortina-specific segment will be (and it doesn't have anything to do with toilets)!

Keep our Flame Alive! We podcast about the Games all year. If you appreciate the independent voice that we provide, please consider supporting us today. Go to http://flamealivepod.com/support to learn about our one-time and ongoing patronage options (as well as the bonus content for our patrons).

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

It's the first full day of competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics! We already have our first Olympic champions, which means we've seen a medal ceremony and have thoughts!

Jill had a cultural morning, with a visit to Winter House and a walk through the Alfa Romeo/Lancia/Fiat pavilion. She checked out the crowds at the Official Fan Zone and Coke's The Peak, and then got a closer look at the lit cauldron.

Alison watched a lot of sports today, including ice hockey, speed skating and an Italian gold medal in person. Jill went to figure skating and saw the next stages of the team event.

Plus, our Cortina correspondent Doug Hill from The Sports Fan Project reports in with his experiences (good and iffy) with the Olympics on the other side of the region.

Sports on today's program:

• Alpine skiing
• Cross country skiing
• Curling
• Figure skating
• Ice Hockey
• Luge
• Ski jumping
• Snowboard
• Speed skating

Team Keep the Flame Alive starts competition tomorrow! We let you know who to cheer for!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Keep our Flame Alive! We podcast about the Games all year. If you appreciate the independent voice that we provide, please consider supporting us today. Go to http://flamealivepod.com/support to learn about our one-time and ongoing patronage options (as well as the bonus content for our patrons).

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!4

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics are officially open! We look at the competition of day, including our trip to the figure skating arena to see the women's short program part of the Team event.

Then it was time for the big show: The Opening Ceremony. We share what it was like from both the media and fan perspective.

Keep our Flame Alive! We podcast about the Games all year. If you appreciate the independent voice that we provide, please consider supporting us today. Go to http://flamealivepod.com/support to learn about our one-time and ongoing patronage options (as well as the bonus content for our patrons).

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

Jill and Alison try Milano's special cake and take a long walk to get to the women's ice hockey venue for the USA v. Czechia match.

Other action for the day includes more of the mixed doubles curling tournament, and qualifications for men's big air.

Keep our Flame Alive! We podcast about the Games all year. If you appreciate the indepedent voice that we provide, please consider supporting us today. Go to http://flamealivepod.com/support to learn about our one-time and ongoing patronage options (as well as the bonus content for our patrons).

Mentioned in the episode:

• Nick Zaccardi's profile of TKFLASTANI Rory Guilday: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/rory-guildays-long-road-chemotherapy-olympics-rcna257106

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

We have made it to Milano and are ready for Olympic competition to begin! We share our first impressions of the city, the Games organization and some of the interesting experiences we've already had.

Plus, Olympic competition kicked off today with the start of the Mixed Doubles Curling tournament. We've got the results, plus info on Alpine skiing downhill training.

Keep our Flame Alive! We podcast about the Games all year. If you appreciate the indepedent voice that we provide, please consider supporting us today. Go to http://flamealivepod.com/support to learn about our one-time and ongoing patronage options (as well as the bonus content for our patrons).

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

We were recently on The Cutting Edge: A Figure Skating Podcast with the lovely Kim Dunaway, and we had so much fun with Kim that we wanted to share that episode with you!

We talked about figure skating in the run-up to the the 2026 Olympics. Kim is crazy smart and knowledgable about the sport, so if figure skating is your jam, you'll definitely want to listen. Our discussion took place just after European championships, and it covers the entire field. Who is likely to step up and be a contender at Milano Cortina 2026? Listen to find out!

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

One last show before we head to Milano Cortina 2026! We talk with wheelchair curling's Steve Emt and para snowboarders Mike Schultz and Noah Elliot about their sports and prosthetics. Also, snowboarder Jaelin Kauf previews the 2026 Olympic course.

In Milano Cortina 2026 news, Hershey's is debuting chocolate gold medals. Milano Cortina will have fan zones across all venue clusters. And we learn about more Olympic Opening Ceremony performers. Also, the Organizing Committee has released an anniversary poster celebrating the Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics. You can buy it at:

• La Cooperativa di Cortina, Corso Italia 40 – Cortina d'Ampezzo
• Libreria Sovilla, Piazza Silvestro Franceschi 11 – Cortina d'Ampezzo
• Milano Cortina 2026 online store

If you live in Australia's Gold Coast, Dreamworld has become the Australian Olympic Committee's official theme park. They're scheduling a watch party for February 17. Check their site for details.

Plus, we have news from Team Keep the Flame Alive, and we share our Patron bonuses for Milano Cortina 2026.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

Alpine skiing expert Tom Kelly joins us to preview the competition ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. We examine men's and women's downhill, super G, slalom and giant slalom races. We look at the men's and women's courses, why mixed team competition was dropped from this Games, and who could make the podium.

This show would not be possible without listener support. If you appreciate this episode, please consider supporting our Milano Cortina 2026 coverage. We'll be on the ground in Italy to bring you daily coverage of the events and atmosphere. Be a part of it here: https://flamealivepod.com/milano-cortina-fundraiser/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

We're prepping for cross-country skiing and para Nordic at Milano Cortina 2026! At the Team USA Media Summit in October 2026, we talked with cross-country skiers Gus Schumacher and Julia Kern, as well as para Nordic skiers Oksana Masters, Aaron Pike, Sydney Peterson, Kendall Gretsch and Jake Adicoff ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics about the finer details of their sports.

In Milano Cortina 2026 news, the cauldron has been unveiled. We have thoughts! We also have some updates on the Olympics Opening Ceremony, including the shade that was thrown during a recent Opening Ceremony press conference.

We have an update on ticket registrations for LA 2028, and lots of news from Team Keep the Flame Alive - more TKFLASTANIs have puched their tickets to Milano Cortina 2026!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Our Book Club episode of Oksana Masters' The Hard Parts: https://flamealivepod.com/book-club-claire-on-the-hard-parts-by-oksana-masters/
• The Milano Cortina 2026 cauldron: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/the-design-of-the-two-milano-cortina-2026-cauldrons-has-been-unveiled
• Our blog post on how to buy tickets for the LA 2028 Olympics: https://flamealivepod.com/la-2028-olympic-tickets/

TKFLASTANIs mentioned in this episode:

• Josh Williamson: https://flamealivepod.com/episode-4-the-next-olympic-hopeful/
• Frank Del Duca & Elana Meyers Taylor: https://flamealivepod.com/bobsled-elana-meyers-taylor-frank-del-duca-chris-fogt/
• Shannon Galea: https://flamealivepod.com/episode243/
• Bruna Moura: https://flamealivepod.com/bruna-moura-olympic-quest/
• Ryan Shane: https://flamealivepod.com/episode-260-ryan-shane-on-short-track-speed-skating/
• Josh Levin: https://flamealivepod.com/episode-74-josh-levin-on-olympic-sport-climbing/
• John Naber: https://flamealivepod.com/episode-52-the-john-naber-swimming-experience/
• Louise Sugden: https://flamealivepod.com/louise-sugden-paris/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

***KEEP OUR FLAME ALIVE:*** Support our fundraiser to bring you the most fun coverage of the Olympics and Paralympics from Milano Cortina 2026. Learn more and give here: https://flamealivepod.com/milano-cortina-fundraiser/

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

New year, a new historical Olympics to explore! Thanks to you, our listeners, in 2026 we'll be exploring the Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympic Games.

In our first episode, Jill looks at Cortina's bidding process, which was the last of its kind. She also examines the sports program and what additions were--and weren't--made. Plus, Cortina had to do a lot of construction in the area to have Olympic-ready venues and spectator-friendly facilities. Did 1956 Italians manage construction projects differently than their 2026 counterparts?

These Games had a number of firsts, including live televised events. We get to some of the other firsts, including what could be the first Olympic appearance of a future VIP. Listen to find out who was there!

For a transcript and complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo credit: Olympics.com

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Games History Moment with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown is released monthly. In 2026, these episodes explore the 7th Winter Olympic Games at Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956. Look for our regular episodes every week, with daily editions during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

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Newsletter: Sign up at https://mailchi.mp/ee507102fbf7/flamealivepod

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Buckle up for biathlon! We're talking with U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program members SPC Sean Doherty (3x Olympian) and SSG Deedra Irwin (2022 Olympian) about the sport, competing at altitude, skiing with a rifle on your back, and how you come back after a tough race.

Plus, Milano Cortina 2026 got the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in good enough shape for a test event. Will the paint be dry? Will there be sandwiches at the bar? Time will tell. Check out journalist Brian Pinelli's series of articles about the event:

https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/iihf-president-luc-tardif-and-olympic-leaders-give-approval-of-santagiulia-venue

https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/players-satisfied-with-future-olympic-ice-surface-on-day-two-of-milan-test-event

https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/first-hand-look-at-milan-s-santagiulia-olympic-hockey-arena-officially-opened-but-far-from-perfect

And Salomon is holding an Olympics-inspired 10K run in Milano during the Games. Find out more here: https://www.salomonnewshapersrun2026.it/

Registration has opened for the LA 2028 Olympics ticket lottery. We have the details. You can sign up here: http://tickets.la28.org

Plus, we have tons of news from TKFLASTAN, including great results, Olympic teams named, and a potential scandal in skeleton.

***KEEP OUR FLAME ALIVE:*** Support our fundraiser to bring you the most fun coverage of the Olympics and Paralympics from Milano Cortina 2026. Learn more and give here: https://flamealivepod.com/milano-cortina-fundraiser/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348