The best episodes from the Olympic Channel Podcast 2018
From Simone Biles to Yuzuru Hanyu, here's a list of the most popular interviews from 2018.
These were a few of the year's most popular episodes of the Olympic Channel Podcast.
Each and every Wednesday, we find the best in the world and discuss the biggest Olympic talking points.
Here’s a guide to 2018’s best...
Simone Biles
It started with an unexpected trip in the middle of the night to a hospital in Doha to treat a kidney stone.
But nothing could put Simone Biles off her stride at the 2018 World Championships in Doha.
She was dominant.
Four more world titles, making her the all-time most decorated gymnast at the worlds.
Away from the mat, the 21-year-old has also found her voice on social media.
She was outspoken on several big issues throughout the year – from reacting to USA Gymnastics Interim Chief Mary Bono’s tweet to supporting the shut down of the Karolyi Ranch.
“I think in those specific moments you need to use your voice in a positive manner as long as it doesn’t draw negative attention,” she said to the Olympic Channel Podcast.
"It is scary in that way because I choose what I do wisely and I know that it is going to have a very big impact."
READ: Exclusive Q&A: Simone Biles on food cravings, her boyfriend and late-night hospital trips
PODCAST: Simone Biles exclusive: "There is still a lot to work on."
WATCH: Simone Biles speaks exclusively to Olympic Channel in Doha
John Orozco
He became known not just for his gymnastics, but also because he wasn’t afraid to cry in front of millions.
Both times John Orozco made the Olympic team – in 2012 and 2016 – he shed a tear on national television.
After a disappointing London 2012, he suffered three potentially career-ending injuries – and came back from all of them.
And despite the death of his mother in 2015, he managed to make the USA Olympic team for a second time.
But three weeks before the start of Rio 2016, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee for the second time. This time his career was over.
"It was a living nightmare."
"I can say because it's over but, at the time, I was just feeling like, 'Am I a bad person?' I feel like I am being punished.”
READ: The Bronx gymnast who refuses to be defined by Olympic disappointment
PODCAST: Creating hope after tragedy with US gymnast John Orozco
Anthony Ervin
It seems like a dream come true for most teenagers.
But becoming Olympic 50m freestyle champion aged 19 at Sydney 2000 didn’t map out so smoothly for American swimmer Anthony Ervin.
The highs were followed by lows: a suicide attempt, heavy drinking and, eventually, a break from swimming.
After the tough times were over, Ervin vowed to dedicate himself the service of others and share his story with those tempted by the trappings of success.
“Winning can be a terrible thing that happens to you. It can completely intoxicate you. It can derail you and you may distort your values and principles,” he said to the Olympic Channel Podcast.
"Winning is a test… it’s not a goal in and of itself. Winning is its own challenge."
READ: Swimmer Anthony Ervin: 'Winning can be a terrible thing'
PODCAST: Triple Olympic champ Anthony Ervin says winning can be 'terrible'
Brian Orser
He is the man behind some of the world’s very best figure skaters.
Coach Brian Orser is using his experience as a double Olympic silver medallist to build an incredible cast of skaters in Canada.
He led both Yuna Kim and Yuzuru Hanyu to their Olympic titles – as well as guiding Javier Fernandez to his bronze medal at PyeongChang 2018.
He says the thing driving Hanyu on now is his chance to write his name in history.
“He wants to be the first person to do a quad axel.
“That’s a huge task. But if anybody can do it - it will be him.”
READ: Figure skating coach Brian Orser requests ‘patience’ with Evgenia Medvedeva
PODCAST: Brian Orser - The man behind the world’s greatest figure skaters
Yuzuru Hanyu
A rare opportunity presented itself at PyeongChang 2018 for the Olympic Channel Podcast: an interview in English with Yuzuru Hanyu.
The Japanese figure skater had just retained his Olympic title despite carrying an ankle injury.
A packed but silent studio listened in as he spoke about his feelings about figure skating, his fans and, of course, Winnie the Pooh.
“That is my dream – (I want) to go to the forest (to eat honey) with Pooh.“
READ: What does the future hold for Yuzuru Hanyu?
WATCH: Yuzuru Hanyu happy to say nothing at all!
RELIVE: Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) - Gold Medal | Men's Free Skating
Yuzuru HANYU
Each week the Olympic Channel Podcast finds the biggest athletes and speakers to talk about the Olympics.