Beijing 2022 Day 13 Review
It may seem like an unlucky day for some but not if you're Canadian as it's a golden day for Canada and the perfect golden day as we celebrate ice hockey gold on day 13 of Beijing 2022 in another epic daily recap! How are two Australian guys going to recap such an epic win? How are we going to celebrate Ester Ledecka once again being awesome? Is the ski cross something we are excited for or a bit upset about? Is the curling getting too exciting for us to talk about? Is having Marnie Vinall back on also getting too exciting for us to talk about? And how are we feeling about the remaining days of the Olympics? Click and get yourself all the answers you need and feel very Olympic once more!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Please note this is an automated transcript that may contain errors.
BEN WATERWORTH: It is Off The Podium, An Olympics Podcast coming to you once again for a Beijing 2022 Daily Recap. Day 13 is here and pretty much done. We are also on day three of Karen gets angry at Ben. Keep your voice down slightly. Although I'm raising it just a little bit tonight because Karen herself was loud earlier, and this person doesn't ring up reception, he just decides to talk a little bit loudly. But now that we've gotten Ben's little whinge out of the way, we've got an exciting day of Olympic action to talk about from Beijing 2022. It's a big day for Canada. It's a big day for Off The Podium's queen. And it's a big day to welcome the GOAT, the MVP, the Daily Dale winner of Off The Podium, Mr. Jarrod Loobeek. Jarrod, welcome back. What a day it is to be an Olympic fan.
JARROD LOOBEEK: What a day, what a race, what sports. So much happening. Great to be back.
BEN WATERWORTH: Always great to have you. I know Colin this evening so excited. Is he that Canada broke through, they broke the drought, the eight year drought for gold in the women's ice hockey that he's celebrating by sleeping, I think. But yes, hello to Colin. Should he be listening to this? But obviously big, big day for Canada. Gold in the women's ice hockey. If there's one gold they want to win, it's always going to be in ice hockey. Obviously the men, sadly, it went out yesterday. We'll talk about that, no doubt. But the women did it in style today. 3-2 over Team USA. Gotta be honest, that was a bit generous to see that score line at the end. It did not deserve to be 3-2. Canada spanked them. The most dominant final, I think, that's ever been in the women's ice hockey in the Olympic history. But did you watch it, Jarrod? Did you get pumped up? Did you get excited? Or are you still too focused on Slovakia and the men's that you don't really give two shits about the women?
JARROD LOOBEEK: No, I did watch it. It was a good game. It was a valiant fight back. But I felt the same. I felt like Canada deserved to win. So I was glad that with 12 seconds left, the US couldn't find an equaliser.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yes. Well, they got a little bit nervy there right at the end. But when you got a six on four power play, if you don't score, that says probably more about you than if you do. But they got to a three nothing lead there into the second period, which I mean, it came hockey, it's pretty standard. But in a USA Canada women's match, that's pretty unheard of to have a three goal lead in any form of a match. But it was ended up being a great dominant performance. Captain Clutch, Mary-Philippe Poulon became the first hockey player in the Olympics, male or female, to score a goal in four gold medal matches. If you do not mind, she scored a goal in at least every one of the last four gold medal matches, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022. Captain Clutch did it again. And of course this is Canada's fifth gold medal in women's ice hockey since it started in 1998. The other two of course went to the USA. But I mean, I have to say, it's great that it actually got coverage here. And you know, I of course like to take credit for that, that my influence on channel seven has meant that they have shown probably a record amount of ice hockey this time around, because clearly I'm that influential. But it was pretty exciting that they really did pump this up, showed the majority of it. They obviously cut away, because we had Sammy Kennedy going in the ski cross, which, you know, got an Australian with a medal chance. Of course they're going to cut away. But I mean, it's exciting when you do get to see this and really, I think, pump up the ties of what is one of the best rivalries in sport going at the moment between the USA and Canada and women's ice hockey.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, it's just nice to be getting a lot more variety as we get towards the end. I feel like in, you know, like, it's almost like we got it at the start, and then in the middle, they kind of like lost their way. But now we are seeing a bit of everything, which is probably due to a lot less being on and the fact that our Australian results are a little bit in the past so that we don't need to see replays of them again. So good job today, Channel 7.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, just in the men's touch on that, obviously when we left last night, it was Neil Oll in the men's Canada ended up falling to Sweden two-nothing, which look, it kind of was, I don't want to say expected, but obviously when you lose the NHL players, there's not a lot of, I guess, I wouldn't say hope on Canada, but obviously it loses a lot more of its lustre because the European teams become so more powerful and Sweden are just such a great side and one of the big powerhouses. And a fun fact for you, Sweden made it to the semifinals now for the third time in their history, fourth time in the history, sorry, their three previous semifinals in Olympics that they've never lost. So there's a bit of stats for you when they play rock in a day. So they're through, but you don't care about that. You care about your beloved Slovakia. They're going to be playing Finland and that is happening tomorrow. So you want to discount a potential Sweden-Finland gold medal match, a rematch of 2006 traditional Scandinavian rivals, Jarrod, for the hope of a Slovakia-Sweden or a Slovakia-Russia gold medal match. I'm guessing that's what you're hoping for.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I'm just gonna, well, we can still get the rivalry in the bronze medal game. So I'm just hoping for the Slovakia-Russia gold medal match, and then Sweden and Finland can fight it out for the bronze.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, I'm sadly going to disagree and hope that it is a Sweden-Finland gold medal match, somebody with Swedish heritage and somebody who loves the Finns. I think that would be a perfect one. And Rock, you know, like, come on, just, we don't trust those Russians. Sorry, Vladimir, don't invade me. But it's exciting to kind of have some good storylines going there. Obviously a bit sad that Canada are no longer in that. That's the first time they've not made the semifinals in the men's since 2006. That was the last time that it was a Sweden-Finland final as well. So maybe a bit of history tracking on there. But here's a nice little stat for you Canadian ice hockey fans out there who are disappointed about your men's team. The last time you went out in the quarterfinals, you did go on to win the gold at the next Olympics. So there's a fun little stat for you. Did you sat at three o'clock in the morning last night? Jarrod, I'm sure you did. I'm sure you were just riveted watching that last night.
JARROD LOOBEEK: No, you knew me. I'm a big ice hockey convert. So I was definitely up at three in the morning.
BEN WATERWORTH: You were voting for Off The Podium and the Sports Podcast at the same time, weren't you? You were just sitting there going, vote, vote, vote, vote, watch, watch, watch, watch. You just, you're on board with it completely. Another medal for Canada today, Mario Thompson, the silver in the ski cross, which I don't know how Colin's feeling about this, because it's the first time Canada's actually never won the women's ski cross. Goal went to Sandra Naslund of Sweden, who just world champion, world cup champion, dominated the number one going into this bronze, went to Danielle Meyer of Germany. It was a bit disappointing, I think, for Canada, given they had about 400 skiers in the semi-finals, and they ended up with one, but Mario did well. She was coming last pretty much an entire race, and somehow managed to get the silver. Just before we talk about, obviously, Sammy Kennedy Sim in this event, what did you think of the finals? A pretty entertaining final, actually.
JARROD LOOBEEK: It was. I think, I felt like by the halfway point, this really wasn't in doubt of who was gonna win. But the top section was interesting. It was obviously a good mix of nations in there. I did love just jumping ahead to the small final, just like three Canadians, one Australian. Like, it was just so funny to look at. And like the optics of it have just been like, Canada, Canada, Canada, Australia. It was just really fun.
BEN WATERWORTH: It was such an Off The Podium final, wasn't it? And of course, I mean, that would have been a perfect big final. But Sammi did great. Like she got through to the semis again, fantastic. And obviously, unfortunately, same finish as she got four years ago in Pyeongchang. But we love Sammi. Sammi was one of our original guests. I think maybe like our second or third guest we ever had on Off The Podium, all the way back in like 2016, 2017. And such a great athlete, such a great woman. And obviously, everyone was rooting for her. Like just literally everyone at Channel 7 was like glued around the TVs cheering for her because maybe the last chance we'd have for a medal. I mean, Chiara Bria looking good in the training of the two-woman bob. But unless we get the upset of the millennium with our cross-country skiers on Sunday coming up, obviously kind of last real hope there. But I mean, gotta love Sammy. She gave it her all.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, she did. And I just love how she just kind of quietly goes about her business. I feel like today she got a little bit of hype, but like before that, it was really nothing. And it's not like the same level that like all the hype that went into Snowboard Cross. And here we've got like the same result, but just with like a quarter of the hype in the lead up. So I'm really happy for her. I'm happy that she got to go back to back eights. And yeah, just silently went about her business without the over hype. So maybe next time, if she's there, they can hype her up a little bit more.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, go for it. Maybe it could be a possibility for a flag bearer in four years time as she sticks around in Milan. She could be our closing ceremony flag because I mean, everyone that should be doing it are gone. I'm still calling probably Brie for that just because she got the fifth going there. Although, I mean, Greta's third Olympics, she's done okay. So it was Sammy's third Olympics as well. So I haven't really thought much about that, but I mean, it can't be Scotty, he's gone. Can't be Karash, he's gone. Tess, I think is gone as well. And of course, Jackie's gone as well. So none of our medallists are there. So you and I might get the call up at this time, Jarrod, to be the closing ceremony flag bearer. I don't know, have the AOC contacted you at all?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Well, I legally can't comment on that.
BEN WATERWORTH: Oh, oh, exclusive.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I think we might, it might just be a Nigeria situation where we just get a volunteer to carry the flag for us.
BEN WATERWORTH: You know, I'm actually saying that there is one person who deserves it because let's be honest, she has done so well in every event she's competed in. Alyssa Campland, like where is that woman not? Like she is literally at every single event. And if not her, Lydia Lassler. Like Lydia has just been stealing the show. So what do you reckon between our two aerialists, they've done very well in Beijing without competing, right? So Alyssa or Lydia, who should call?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Surely both, right? Dual flag bearers?
BEN WATERWORTH: Exactly. Just, you know, go there, give it to Richo. Richo has been fantastic as well. I don't know if you follow them on social media, but they obviously got a bit of a free run of the ski cross course today. So there's a lovely video of Richo doing a starfish, sliding down the ski cross. Yes, they're having some fun over there in Beijing, it seems. Other Aussie in action today. Yeah, we should talk about Greta, because we obviously want to talk a little bit about the combined, because of what happened in that, before we talk about a certain queen. Greta 13th, great result for her. I believe that's her best result ever in this event at a World Cup or an Olympics. Not Australia's best though. We did have a ninth in that one, back in, I think it was Salt Lake City from memory. But great effort. I mean, yes, half of the field kind of crashed out, but still in 10 years time, when you look at your results list and you see that you got 13th in the Olympics, you're not going to see that 10 people crashed out. You're just going to see that you finished 13th in the Olympics. So great job for Greta there. And she's already also talking about coming back from Milan. So I like saying that.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, that was great to see her. Like I feel like she was a little bit disappointed, but good to get her best result and really happy that she'll be coming back to give it another crack in four years.
BEN WATERWORTH: Jenny Owens in Salt Lake City. Thank you, Ben, for that. But I mean, look, we can't not talk about a certain queen who automatically has gotten the daily. She was getting the daily dial today no matter what, even if she did shit, but she didn't do shit. We'll talk about somebody doing shit again. Hello, Michaela's shit friend. But this was beyond what I honestly believe she could do because, you know, shatting in the downhill, she ended up only point one of a second behind the leader at that point, should have been leading the downhill, but she fucked up, I think, on like the third gate looked like she was about to crash again in the downhill, but somehow pulled like a second and a half out of a butt. And then coming into the slalom, an event that she just doesn't do and is not very good at, somehow managed to do very well in that and ended up fourth. Queen Ester, I mean, just the fact of the matter is at the end of the day, she's walked away from these Olympics as a gold medallist again in the snowboard, you know, not unexpected. She got 27th in the downhill, but let's be honest, she did like a 360 corks, screed and semen in that, and she basically added some extra style points in that, would have been a lot higher in that one had she not fucked up. Fifth in the Super G, the event that she of course was defending and came out and said like, look, you know, I'm actually really happy with that. And ended up getting a fourth in the event that she I think woke up after the Super G and was just like, yeah, bugger, I want to do the combined. I mean, this woman is incredible. This absolutely incredible, not a fluke four years ago. And just imagine what she could do in Alpine skiing if she could actually concentrate on this more so than just having to alternate between the snowboard and everything. She's only 26. She'll be 30 by the time it's Milan. I'm calling it, do all five events, Ester, come Milan. Do the mixed team event just by yourself. And do the figure skating, do the skeleton, do everything. Just become everything. But just incredible. Fourth place for her. Wow, Queen Ester has done it again.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Queen Ester indeed. I feel like this, if anything, is probably huge fuel for Milan. To have come so close to meddling again, it's amazing. It's like you said, it just proves that it wasn't a fluke four years ago. Yeah, I feel like she's going to be really focused come next Olympics. And this event, can we, stupid scoring anyway. She should have got the gold second in the downhill, fifth in the slalom. So if we're taking on averages between the two events, I mean, she wins gold. Who came up with this stupid timing system? What's that all about? So yeah, the gold medallist 12th in the downhill, how does that work? But yeah, great result. I'm super excited to see her again in four years time. I think we're actually, we might even see her in two years time. Wouldn't surprise me if she goes in the Summer Olympics.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, just what do you reckon she would have a crack at in like canoe?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Canoe sprint.
BEN WATERWORTH: Dressage, just make the horse do things. Breakdancing. Breakdancing. Yep. Sport climbing. Just get her involved in all of it. Fencing, the epee, I reckon she'd be pretty good at that. Not the foil though. More of an epee.
JARROD LOOBEEK: On pentathlon. I feel like it's where she'd really shine.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, exactly. And you know, last chance on the horses, because if she had to go on a bike, I don't know, she's one with the horses. Ester. But absolutely incredible. And had a bit of a chat with John O'Brower, and I even said to him, like, you surprised? And he's like, bloody oath, I was surprised. He's shit at slalom. So it's kind of like, there you go. So, but speaking of shit, Michaela Shitfront. Like, I'm sorry to be cruel to this woman, but like, she crashed out again. She made at least past like three gates this time around, but three out of the five events she's crashed out. I don't even think she got a top 10, did she? I think maybe she was ninth in the Super G, but yeah, what the hell is going on here? Talk about like talking someone up, and then they just leave with their tail. I'm not taking away from her achievements outside of these Olympics. She's one of the all-time greats in alpine skiing, and she's achieved a lot. But holy fuckball, she's going from Beijing with just nothing to show for it.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, that Dope title might have to be revoked after these Olympics. Yeah, the hype, the hype, the hype, the hype. And it's even funnier because I'm like the hype in Australia of all places. Imagine the hype over in the US for her. But yeah, to DNF in three out of the five events, just I feel like it's kind of unheard of. Actually, at that point, you're like, okay, I'm just gonna make sure I get down. I don't care where I finish here. Just get down the hill. But couldn't do it. Still off to the side again.
BEN WATERWORTH: She's still waiting. I'm just pointing this out. Eddie the Eagle finished his events. The Jamaican bobsled team maybe didn't quite finish it, but I think they finished at least three of their four runs. So they did better than Mikayla. I've skied for like five seconds in my life and I was shit. But I reckon that if I had trained enough, like as you were saying, I could have just made it down in about 30 minutes, but I still finished. I would have been lapped. I don't think you can get lapped in Alpine skiing, but I probably would have. So yeah, Mikayla. Look, I never thought I'd say this, but I kind of miss Lindsey Vonn. At least Lindsey Vonn could get a bronze. Like her 20th Olympics. But wow, Jesus. Do you think she'll come back? Do you think we'll see her again for Sweet Revenge? And this will be all plastered over the comeback of, you know, the SBs will give like the comeback of all time because she comes on and gets a bronze, pulls a Simone, and like, I don't know, does something sneaky at the end and wins the hearts of America.
JARROD LOOBEEK: She's got it right. You couldn't go out like this. I feel like she's got to be back. And at least I don't know, maybe she needs to cut down the program. Just focus on one event, maybe. And then if she crashes out, then move on to the next and the next and the next and the next. But yeah, I think she'll be back.
BEN WATERWORTH: I think you should change, like do the ski cross, you know, like, I mean, at least if you crash out, that's a bit of style, right? So, you know, why not all, I don't know, like the half pipe, do you think she'd be good at that? I mean, she's good at falling over, so just add a flip to it, right?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I mean, you're onto something with like the ski cross. I feel like there, it's more of like a straight line. She seems to have trouble like turning corners.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, the slalom is meant to be her event, but that's the one that she like fucked up the most. So it's kind of like, well, if that's her event, then Jesus like, okay, good for her. But again, look, I'm sitting in a chair right now in a hotel room, being the armchair critic, I can't ski to save my life. She's at the Olympics. She's achieved more in life than I ever will. But I'm also allowed to call a spade a spade. And I'm sorry, Michaela, you are shit in these Olympics. If we had the Daily Michaela, you probably would have won that probably every single day. So, you know, if we have the Daily Dale of the Olympics, you probably with the Daily Michaela. I'm sorry, I really am. You seem like a nice woman. And I'm sure that you can go home and stroke all your Crystal Globes and other Olympic medals and World Cup wins and go, okay, well, I feel okay about myself. I've achieved a bit in life. That podcast that bagged me out didn't win the Australian podcast. And we probably won't end up winning the Sports Podcast Awards. Vote now via sportspodcastawards.com. So fair enough. But I'm allowed to take this moment to talk shit about an Olympian. And I am, Michaela, you are shit. I'm roasting a champion right now. So you're allowed to bag out athletes. I am saying right now, it is publicly okay. Because when you're not an athlete, you have no idea about it. So anyway, Jarrod, anything to add?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I'm not really, I'm just nervous now that Michaela is gonna go and vote against us on the Sports Podcast Awards. But even a track record here should probably fail at that as well.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, probably, she'll go to keep the flame alive and accidentally click for Off The Podium. So there you go. It's been a while since we've kind of had like an athlete to pile shit in. Mr. Ryan Lochte days and the Lindsay Von days. So prove us wrong, Michaela. Come back in four years, win five out of five, and I'll be the first to sit here and go, Michaela, you are no longer Michaela's shit friend. You are Michaela Goodfront. And go forth and prosper and do well in that. We should mention in the curling, Canada are out of the women's, unfortunately. Jennifer Jones couldn't quite pull through, and I believe they actually go out on a tiebreaker. So they do. They ended up finishing five and four with Japan, but because Japan beat them in the round robin, they are out. So the semi-finals in the women's curling, we will see Switzerland playing Japan, Sweden versus Great Britain. Who's your picks there? Jarrod, just quickly right now off the top of your head.
JARROD LOOBEEK: The Swedes and the Japanese. This was an odd one though, because I think it was a three-way tie. And then they'd all kind of, three-way tie for fourth, and they'd all beat each other.
BEN WATERWORTH: Three-way tie between third and fifth. Yes, you are correct.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Some weird draw stone tie breaker that I don't understand for the life of me, but Canada were the furthest away.
BEN WATERWORTH: Wow, okay. Look at that. I believe they probably just, what do they do? Just go out to a rink and go whoever, just everyone throw a stone down the rink. Is it urine?
JARROD LOOBEEK: They should do it.
BEN WATERWORTH: Do a scream and semen, and crash out like Michaela's shit friend, and then boom, you are into the semifinals. But yeah, sad for Canada there, Jennifer Jones not through, but of course the men are through, and Scotland will play the United States. So the team USA, Duck Dynasty, Mullets. Did you appreciate the Mullets that Colin sent you through last night? Did you like them?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I did appreciate the Mullets. It's a good look for them. Brings attention to the sport of curling.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, it's getting a lot of attention because I don't think you were on the show the other day when we were talking about the fact that Kirsty Alley tweeted out saying that curling is boring and then like Curling USA or like one of the curlers tweeted back and said, yeah, well, your last five movies weren't exactly exciting. But The Rock himself today tweeted out about the curling because they kept referring to rocks. And so he's like, I'm like, oh, I was a bit confused about this, but curling is fucking awesome or something along those lines. So they're all behind it. So Great Britain USA in the first semi. And then we've got Canada versus Outman, the beloved Oscar going for double medals in these Olympics. Got his bronze in the mix. Now, can he go for something better? How are you feeling about this? Because I mean, how can we go against our beautiful Swedish Ericsson? Like, I mean, that man's an Adonis versus our beloved Canada. I don't know which way to cheer.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, this is a tough one. Maybe like a double concussion in the other game. And then this gets advanced to the gold medal match. I'm feeling Canada for this one, though. I reckon that they'll pull through.
BEN WATERWORTH: Like, this is the thing, Jarrod, like they've never not medalled in curling at the Olympics, except for the very first curling when there was only three countries and all three of them obviously won a medal in like 1924. Since it came back in 1998, they've medalled in every single Olympics. So, yeah, they don't. This is their last chance. But I've got to say, it is a pretty good Final Four, because like, again, Sweden, Oskar Eriksson, got a good guy there. Canada, well, we love Canada. USA, reigning champions, the Mullets, everybody loves a bit of this Duck Dynasty. And then you've got the Scots, again, not Great Britain, Scotland, who can we just point out, Great Britain absolutely rubbish these Olympics. Absolutely rubbish. They've only got two more chances. They haven't won a medal yet. New Zealand are going to beat them. Of course, choked in Skelland. At least Michaela Schiffman finished two races. I mean, Britain, what the fuck have they done these Olympics? And of course, it's all up to the Scots. It's always up to the Scots to pull through here. So, I mean, a good final four. You're going to be pretty happy with whoever wins the gold, silver and bronze in this, but I'm going to say Canada USA final. Just going to call it. And I'm going to say that Sweden will beat Britain for the bronze. I don't think Britain are going to win a medal these Olympics. I'm calling it now. Just saying. I think they're going to choke in both the curling. I think they've got one of the freestyle skis might be with a sneaky chance. And I think they can do okay in the bobsleigh, but yeah, this is national inquiry to winter sports in the UK, if they're going to get beaten by New Zealand. And of course New Zealand can still probably win another gold in the men's half pipe. So, geez. I mean, God, what are they saying in Britain? Oh bloody hell, we need more snow. Like, is this a Brexit thing, Jarrod? I don't know.
JARROD LOOBEEK: It could be. I mean, if only we've got Scottish independence and then they wouldn't even have this medal to rely on. So, yeah, it's an interesting one. I reckon they might actually pull out the win in the semi. I reckon that's the thing. It's going to be a Canada, Scotland final.
BEN WATERWORTH: I like your confidence there. I'll take that. Should actually mention, so just with the medal results today, so actually in the women's combined, you know, we're talking about Greta and Queen Esther, but gold went to Switzerland again. Stop winning Alpine skiing medal Switzerland. Just stop it. They got the gold and silver. Michelle Gisen won the gold. Wendy Holden took the silver and Federica Bregoni for Italy took the bronze. And the other medal that has been decided today, the women's 1000 metres. And sadly Irene Wust could not get her 14th medal, but she actually, I will correct myself. She does have one more event. I thought this was her last event. She's got the mass start to go. So one more event for great old Irene, Off The Podium's number one fan. But gold went to Miho Takagi of Japan in an Olympic record, if you don't mind. Jutta Lierdem of the Netherlands, the most followed speed skater on the planet. She's got about two and a half million followers. Clearly, I think for her speed skating. Let's be honest, we're permanent on Oscar Ericsson. Like I follow, I follow Jutta on Instagram. She's the Oscar Ericsson of female speed skating. Very, very worthy of being followed. And Brittany Bowe from the US got through for the bronze there. So there you go. We've got two more events to be decided, which will probably be decided off. I mean, the figure skating, I think, is scheduled to finish at like 4 a.m. In the women's singles. But we know obviously, if our beloved little 15 year old gets the medal, there'll be an asterisk on that. We'll be debating on there. If Camilla walks away, well, that one skates away, I guess. And we've got the Nordic Combined, Saturday today, last day of the Nordic Combined, the team going on today, and shall update you on that. So the medal tally right now. Norway, 13 gold, 70 away. But there's no gold for Norway today. They've got to get one more to equal that record, which I will correct myself. I think yesterday I said that it was Norway and Canada. Germany also got 14 gold back in 2018. So the big mark of trying to get to 15 gold is what we're looking here for Norway. But there are 13 gold, seven silver, eight bronze, 28 in total. Germany, 10 gold, six silver, five bronze. Got a couple more bobsled events to go there, Germany. So they're pretty solid. 21 in total. USA, eight gold, eight silver, five bronze. 21, Sweden, seven gold, four silver, four bronze. 15 in total. China, their best ever Winter Olympics. Seven gold, four silver, two bronze, 13. Canada, even with their fourth gold of the game, still can't crack the top 10. I think I mentioned this yesterday. They're sitting in 11th place. Four gold, five silver, 11 bronze, 20 in total. So they're equal gold with ROC and France, but ROC and France have more silvers. So Canada are able to get that fifth gold. They will move into ninth. Do you think they can do it, Jarrod?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I reckon it's coming in the men's curling.
BEN WATERWORTH: You reckon they've got it? Okay, cool. And Australia, we have dropped down to 17th, one gold, two silver, one bronze. And of course, we're cheering against Nico Porteous winning a medal in the half pipe, unless he gets a bronze, because then they won't move ahead of us. If he gets a gold or a silver, actually no, he's got to get a gold, because even if he gets a silver, Australia remains on top, because we've won more bronze than New Zealand. But I just talk about Britain choking. I don't know how I could feel about losing to New Zealand in the Winter Olympics. I mean, in all honesty, we probably should always lose to New Zealand in the Winter Olympics, because they've actually got some decent mountains and some snow. But yeah, I don't know. How would we feel about losing to New Zealand in the Winter Olympics?
JARROD LOOBEEK: It'd be a tough pill to swallow. I mean, I was cheering against Zoe in the big air, and that was a little bit nerve wracking there. So it's gonna be a tough one to watch, waiting in beta breath. But yeah, hopefully silver or less off the podium would be great as well.
BEN WATERWORTH: It definitely would be going into that. So other results today for the Canadians, because we've gone through all the Australians. I should also mention the actual, the curling semifinals on this evening, if I'm not mistaken, but they do not start for another 15 minutes. So we'll bring you some scores on those when they come in. So in the Alpine combined, we had one Canadian in that, Ronnie Remy. And Ronnie Remy was one of the two skiers who actually didn't finish the downhill. So while there was about 30 hundred people who crashed out the slalom, there were only two who crashed out the downhill. One of them was old dear old Ronnie Remy, but it could have been worse, could have been Naveena Ignacovic of Serbia, who actually got disqualified. I believe that's because she's Serbian, and they were like, oh, no, that Jokovic, no, you're disqualified. Just go away. Sorry, sorry, Naveena, are you vaccinated? Bugger off. So a bit of discrimination there, Jarrah, but you don't like no vaccine, you don't really give a shit, do you? So.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Well, to me.
BEN WATERWORTH: In the freestyle in the half pipe, the qualifying for both the men and the women. So in the women's beloved Eileen Goo, oh, she's come through. She's the number one qualifier. She is through, but we've got three Canadians into the finals. So he's a shot for that gold medal number five. Rachel Kaka, that is Kaka, not Parker, Kaka. Number two, she qualified Cassie Sharp. She was on point six and 83, that was terrible. 11th, going through there. But there's a Brit in there, Zoe Atkin. She was fourth. So there you go for the medals. And our Oscar Erickson of freestyle skiing, Kelly Sidaru of Estonia. She's also through. Two New Zealanders choked, Chloe McMillan and Anya Barrow did not make it. So good news for Australia there, well done. And in the men's, Nico Portis did make it through. He was the second qualifier there. We also got three Canadians through in there, and a Brit. So hey, Britain peaking in the skiing. Brendan McKay, Noah Bowman and Simon Dartos of Canada are all through. And actually two New Zealanders through. Both the Portis brothers are through. Could have a one, two for the Portis's there, Jarred. What's going on?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Scary, scary times.
BEN WATERWORTH: Very, they nearly had three too. Ben Harrington of New Zealand only missed out in qualifying by a point. So there you go. Aaron Blunk of the US is the number one qualifier in that. Yeah, in the Ski Cross, as we said, there was like 38,000 Canadians who made it through. The small final, Brittany Fellin, Courtney Hoffis, and Hannah Schmidt Schmidty went fifth, sixth, and seventh. Sammy Kennedy Sim, of course, went fourth. And as we said, Mariel Thompson got the silver in that one. Did they not have another? Didn't they have like five Canadians this? Or did all four go through? I feel no, they didn't. Well, they did. All four went through. So there wasn't more than four. Too many Canadians. Let's just calm down. I'm like, why are they so good at ski cross? I don't know. It doesn't seem right to me, but yeah, maybe I'm looking at that differently. In the Nordic combined, I can tell you that for Off The Podium perspective, Taylor Fletcher, Team USA qualified seventh through in the ski jumping section, Austria, Norway, Germany, the top three, and breaking news in the Nordic combined, currently Norway are leading in the cross country. They are on track for this 14th gold, Jarrod. They are leading Germany and Japan a third. USA have moved up into sixth. So a decent result there. Taylor, I'm for a top six finish in that one. So we'll keep an eye on that. In the 1000 metres speed skating, Alexa Scott was 12th. For Canada, Madison Pierman was 26th. And Britain had a speed skater. I'm just fascinated these sports. All of a sudden, Britain just popping up on my screen. Ilya Smedding of the UK. I didn't know the Brits knew how to skate fast. She finished in 23rd. So good for you, love you, tried. Breaking news in the figure skating, Madeleine Shizas of Canada is currently sitting in seventh. I know I'm pronouncing her name wrong, Colin, before you yell at me. I know you've talked a lot about her, but yeah, she's in seventh right now. There is about 13 more skaters to go. And currently leading is Ekaterina Kurakova of Poland. Now she was your smokey, I believe, Jarrod. You thought that she might be in with a bit of a chance there.
JARROD LOOBEEK: She was. She had a good run at the European Champs. So not surprised to see her up there.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yes. I'm glad that you got such good predictions on the show. So doing very well there. What did you watch today, Jarrod?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I've caught a lot of sports. I obviously watched the combined and the skiing. I caught the start of the figure skating, the ski cross, the lovely skiing half pipe, which just needs to go, I'm saying.
BEN WATERWORTH: Tell us why.
JARROD LOOBEEK: It's just kind of like the events. The half pipe in skiing is just, the event was a little bit more exciting, but in the women's, it was, I don't know, like three, everyone was doing like, I don't know, three spins and that was it, two and a half spins. Like it just wasn't, they couldn't get enough air and speed and it just wasn't very exciting. I don't know, it was just very, a half pipe to me is just a weird sport in general. It's very side to side, which I suppose is the point of it. But I don't know, it just doesn't work on the skis. It just looks weird.
BEN WATERWORTH: Did you notice that some would have the poles and some didn't? I still question the use of poles in a lot of skiing sports in the Olympics. It just, it's odd. And particularly if you can seemingly choose to use them in the half pipe. Like I want them, like you know, ski ballet, the amazing sport that should be in the Olympics. I want them to combine the two. I want them to get to the top of the half pipe and put down a pole and do like a triple lutz, flip it down into the scream and semen, then land. Like if that's the purpose of a pole, I'm for it. But like, why do they have poles? What is the point?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I feel like it's stupid in an event like this. It's almost like it's there as if you're terrible and you're about to fall, then like that's the only time you use it. So to me, it should just get rid of them.
BEN WATERWORTH: Get rid of them, go. Are you sick of Eileen Goo as well? Are you just, if there's anyone I want to see crash to, I'm sorry, Eileen, you seem like a nice girl, but I'm just sick of hearing a name, I'm sorry. And she just doesn't look really smug to you. She's just one of these people that just, I'm sure she's a nice person around her friends, but like if you met her in the street, she's not giving you two seconds of your time. I don't know. I'm long resigned to the fact we're not getting her on the show. So I feel like I can say what I want, but no, I'm just, I'm in the poo with Eileen Goo. Just not feeling it. I'm sorry, Eileen.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I'm just over like the hype. I think it is what it is. Like if she was just carrying on about her business, it's just all like all the drama and the hype and like, oh, she changed countries, this, that, whatever. It's like, I don't know. I'm just like, that's how we get half of our medallists and athletes. So just kind of get over it. She can compete for who she wants to, you know?
BEN WATERWORTH: What is the bet come along, she might be wearing the stars and stripes. Do you think, I've got a real feeling that this is the only time she'll ever compete for China.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, it's hard to say. I feel like probably, but then there's also a part of it that like, maybe she just wants to like rub it in a little bit more. Rub some salt in that wound. Probably depends on what she's getting paid either way.
BEN WATERWORTH: Either that, or do we turn around and say, do you think Michaela's shit from him will be competing for China come Milan? Team USA about your shit, Michaela, fuck off. And then China comes along and wins a bunch of Alpine skiing medals come Milan. That's, maybe there's a scoop there right now.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I reckon Eileen might even jump ship to Australia. I mean, she's got her bestie bestie in the commentary box.
BEN WATERWORTH: She does, yes.
JARROD LOOBEEK: So, there's the link there. We'd be happy to hand her out a green card or our version thereof. So, yeah, it wouldn't surprise me.
BEN WATERWORTH: The biggest coup since Dale. What do you reckon? The coup with Goo. You would be like, wow, we've got a big coup in Eileen Goo. Like, Jesus, come on Eileen, come to Australia. Gotta use a joke. It's been used 58,000 times in the last two weeks. So, yeah, anyway, but to hello Eileen Goo, if you're listening, big fan, I'm sure. I mean, Irene Voos is a fan. Now that's a person you don't talk down on. That's Irene Voos. When you win 14 medals, Eileen, I'll listen, you got two, good job, well done, good start, you're getting there. You're a seventh of the way through.
JARROD LOOBEEK: She got a chance to go for the set though. So surely she's trying to like not do too well and just get that bronze locked in.
BEN WATERWORTH: Get the bronze, yes. She's pulling a Scotty. She's doing the opposite of Scotty. Scotty went bronze, silver, and we'll get gold and Milan. She's going gold, silver, bronze. You know, she's trying to show up Scotty. So we'll see how that plays out. I watched The Half Pipe. Yeah, look, it's, I think we've talked enough about that this week that just some of these events, it's all blending to each other. Like it's just the big air, the slope style, the Half Pipe, they're kind of the same. You know, like good for them. The kids are into it. Fantastic. Get the kids on board. But like, just bring me back to the days of Nargono when you've just got the parallel giant slalom and the Half Pipe. That'll do me for snowboard. Thank you. Keep the cross. I like the ski cross and the snowboard cross. They're entertaining. But I don't know, keep them to the X Games. Like, you know, surely we can have a couple of extra women's ski jumping events, women's Nordic combined. You know, have some of that rather than 58 events at a climb to the sand. As we've just said, there's freestyle skis. You're just lazy. You're just too lazy. Oh, there's a bit of snow. I can't ski. Well, meanwhile, the Alpine skiers and the ski jumpers and the Nordic combines and the cross countries and the biathletes are, you know, kicking up shit when it's snowing. Oh no, I can't. I'm gonna go eat my Danish on the Finnish line. Like whatever. Obviously watch the ice hockey, the combined and the ski cross. And presently I am seeing, it looks like Brian Kiara's training run in bed going down the hill. They were second in their final training run today. Meanwhile, I think only about seven of the sleds actually went down the hill. I think most of them kind of decided to stay home, but no, it's good. And looking quite good, I'm seeing here Brian Kiara, team OTP in little bed going down the hill. That's happening tomorrow, the first couple of runs of that. Any fails today, Jarrod?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I didn't pick up any. I had the computer was back on in the background on mute. So, difficult to pick up the fails when there's no sound. The montage today, though wasn't as good as usual, you know? It was just a little bit boring, but I suppose nothing's really living up to the hype of that Valentine's Day one. So hopefully they can bring it back and do something special over the next couple of days.
BEN WATERWORTH: Was that the disco one that you saw today? Because there was a cool little disco one that they had going today. I don't know if you saw that one.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Um, it might have been. I had the sound off. Maybe it was OK. Maybe it was better with the sound. But just the images, I was like, it is not impressive. It did have a theme to it that was C. It's just missing a theme. It's just general. I don't know. People breathing heavy after the cross country and stuff. All right.
BEN WATERWORTH: I see. I look again, Channel 7, absolutely spot on today. Perfect. Just never seen Olympic coverage as good as they've ever had there on Channel 7. Fantastic work. And what a team. They're putting their all into it. They're working their butts off. Fantastic effort by everybody involved. What an absolutely superb Olympic network, Channel 7. And seriously, if you didn't know, SAS Australia is starting on Monday. You should watch it. I believe there's some good people in it. There might be some drama, I think. Not too sure. Also, again, it hasn't been advertised very well. So I just feel like I need to plug it. Dancing With The Stars is also coming back on Channel 7. You should watch it. Looking good. Home and Away, weeknights, 7 o'clock. I believe Alf's still in it. Good for Alf. How do you think Alf would go on the ski cross? I think Alf would do pretty well. He's pretty aggressive.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I think Alf's more of a figure skater, don't you? He's got the build for it.
BEN WATERWORTH: True. Yeah, absolutely. Ice dancing. You know, a bit of Harley Quinn going on.
JARROD LOOBEEK: A couple of twizzles for old Alf.
BEN WATERWORTH: He'd be Joker. Irene would be Harley Quinn. Looking good out there on the ice.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Let's help him advertise his circulation thing as well.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, I know.
JARROD LOOBEEK: After a hard day out on the ice, I put my feet up and whatever, whatever.
BEN WATERWORTH: Speaking of ads, Jarrod, do you think that Australia's new national catchphrase should be put a sock in it mountain? I mean, it's kind of one of those ones where it's actually quite a funny little catchphrase. Which is kind of annoying. What is it? But like, I don't know. I feel like put a sock in it mountain should be the new not happy Jan.
JARROD LOOBEEK: It's up there. I feel like we don't. I suppose it's just the way of like free to air TV and like streaming platforms that ads don't really have that same like last lasting and iconicness. But it might be up there. Yeah. Put a sock in it mountain. I do. I do appreciate the ad.
BEN WATERWORTH: Put a sock in it mountain. The ones that confuse me, they've got ads for... Is it... So they've got an Amazon ad for like free delivery. I think there's two. There's an eBay one, which is kind of funny where it's like, oh, a latte party. It's like, what's a latte? Like, it's kind of funny, but they're kind of very similar. But then you've also got... Is it the TikTok ad where it's got like Martha Stewart on it or something? And it's like, I love that guy in the factory. He's like, you're freaking me out, Terry, or something like that. But like, my biggest gripe with the ads in these Olympics, honestly, and this is not just me saying this to suck up to Channel 7, I don't think they're quite as annoying as what we had last time around with The Voice. I'm still having trauma over the fact that The Voice... They've got ads for The Voice this time around, but they're very limited, so good job. But there's so many ads on right now that I just don't know what they're advertising. Matt Damon is advertising crypto, I think. It's so obscure. And there's that one with the little animated black and white guy where he's like, we've got a seat at the table, and ESX, and Wall Street. I think it's for stock market. When you don't know what they're advertising, you've got a problem. I don't know if this is just me, that I'm dumb, but at least put a sock in it, Mountain. It's for insurance. Great. Dancing with the stars. We get it. Grant Denny is short. SAS. What's the face collapses? Good on you, Melissa Wu. I hope you're okay. But I don't know. Do you know these ads I'm talking about and what the fuck they're advertising?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I do, and I feel the same way. I think it's just... I think part of it is bad ad, but then part of it is probably just me having zero interest in what's being advertised. So I'm just like, oh, crypto, oh, stocks, oh, finances, oh, switch off, you know?
BEN WATERWORTH: I actually got to say, and I'm guessing this is more of a Melbourne thing, they've got a lot of ads advertising, like obviously trying to tour within Australia, which is great. So there's a Melbourne ad, which is quite clever, and I'm glad to hear taxi ride gets set. It's been way too long since we've heard some taxi ride on Australian media, so they're quite clever. There's an ad for like Adelaide, like visit South Australia, great. There's the very casual Western Australia one, where it's just this guy who's like, yeah, I'll be working nine, five, and I just couldn't relax. So I moved to Western Australia. It's like, did you mate? The borders are closed. Good luck there. And then of course, you've got show Offs Queensland. You know, wish there would be days like this. And it's just like, oh, beautiful. Haven't seen any ads for New South Wales or Tasmania though. So how do you sell people to New South Wales? Because I just assumed it's just like, hey, we've got a Harbour Bridge come to New South Wales. I mean, does anyone even sell the rest of New South Wales outside of Sydney?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I feel like the rest of New South Wales doesn't get a look in. Maybe like the Hunter, like the wine region, maybe every now and then they'll probably do like a rural thing. But that was probably more when Cladis was in. Just put a little bit of money out there. But yeah, I just feel like it's always the, it's very predictable when it's a visit to New South Wales ad. So I'm hoping we get something original at some point, you know.
BEN WATERWORTH: Speaking just actually really quickly, before we get into our Daily Dale and or we've already Daily Dale's Esther, we know that we don't need to talk about that. But our Athlete Celebration Days, we mentioned the Commonwealth Games a week ago that Tasmania had officially put their hat into the ring. It's been basically all but confirmed a couple of days ago that the Commonwealth Games Federation is exclusively talking to Victoria, not the city I used to live in in Canada in the 1994 Commonwealth Games, the state of Victoria. Basically a regional bid, places like Bendigo Geelong will sort of have the focus here. And basically this will happen, I think. So I want to say two things on this. One, I think Tasmania basically were like, hey, we're regional, give us like the lawn bowls, which doesn't look like it's going to work. And two, I do love that the Tasmania media goes, we've been snubbed by the mainland again. It's like, OK, you announced your bid on Friday, and then it was put through on Wednesday. Basically every other capital city in Australia had put their hands up for the Commonwealth Games. And I think Melbourne, Victoria was always going to get it. And also subtle brag, at least the Hobart Olympic bid lasted longer than five days. Just saying. You should have given me a call. Good help there. What do you think of Victoria? Not Melbourne, Victoria hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I think it's an interesting one. It's a little bit different. Obviously, would have loved to see Tasmania. I was fully behind that, but I'm just too late to the party. You know, I've got to get ahead of the curve, you know. I mean, it'll be interesting to see what venues they use and where stuff is held. But I think with Commonwealth, it's obviously a lot more achievable. But yeah, I did see the lovely little bit of complaining by Tasmania about, give us the, what do they want? They wanted like the rowing and the cycling.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, it's look, it's very Tasmanian, if I'm being completely honest anyway. I mean, in all seriousness, we've got like Barrington, it's a great rowing venue. But I think it was a long shot. Look, if I'm being completely, and this is obviously probably more of a discussion, we'll do one or two episodes on the Commonwealth Games later this year. But I, as an Australian, I hate saying this, but I'm sick of Australia hosting them. Like this is, you know, I realise that less people want the Commonwealth Games than they want the Olympics now. So it's hard. But like, I feel this is just something that should be shared around a lot more. And I mean, again, I look at Canada and New Zealand, like they haven't, like New Zealand hasn't hosted since 1990, Canada since 94. Canada, I think, are eschewing to get 2030 for the 100th anniversary of the first Commonwealth Games in Hamilton in Ontario. But it's just, it was great in 2006 when we all remember Melbourne, the hype around that, that was pretty cool. And then obviously the Gold Coast was a great event and fantastic, but this is now going to be like within eight years of last hosting it. It's just, it's losing its spice. Oh, another Commonwealth Games. Like this should be something exciting. And then it's also a case of, do you really get excited for a Commonwealth Games six years out from hosting the Olympics again? Like, you know, they've obviously got the Women's World Cup for soccer next year as well. So, I mean, it's great that we're getting these big events, but I love the Commonwealth Games. I've always loved the Commonwealth Games, but I just, they're losing their appeal so much. And particularly if it's just like, oh, we're always going to host the bloody things. I mean, 2034, I think EMU Plains was assuming to host it basically, but I don't know. I guess we can talk about that later in the year, but I mean, the UC of Australia hosting them, I don't know.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, it does feel too soon. And it would be nice to get a bit more variety there. And I think as much as it's not Melbourne and it's regional, like it's still Victoria as well, which probably kind of adds to it a little bit. But you know, they're on, someone's hosting them. So I suppose that's the main thing. I just can't give them away at the moment. Hopefully moving forward, there's a little bit more variety.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yes, it will be nice. But congratulations. It hasn't been formally announced yet, but they've got it. I mean, unless all of a sudden there's a late bid from like Christchurch or something like that, which I'd say I'd be team Christchurch, give them to New Zealand. Like, come on, they deserve it. So our daily celebration, so Collins Canada Day, Katrina Lee May Dionne of Canada, funnily enough. So she is a speed skater, was, well, she's still alive. She, as in was, as in retired. She competed in Lillehammer, Nagano and Salt Lake City. She won a total of three medals. She got a bronze in the 1000 metres and a gold in the 500 metres in Nagano. And four years later in Salt Lake City, she became the first ever Canadian athlete to defend an Olympic gold medal. I don't know if that's for winter and summer or just winter only, but she won the 500 metres in Salt Lake. And she is now the chef de mission for Team Canada. She's the one. I don't know if you've seen any of the social media for Canada, but they've got a bit of a thing going on now where at each of the venues, they go to and they've got like a Canadian drum. So they're banging a drum and it's Katrina who's doing that. They're chef de mission. So she's rep... I mean, Alyssa is the deputy chef de mission and she's probably more visible without a drum. But there you go. That is it's Katrina Lee May Dion Day. So thank you Katrina for being a speed skater. And for Australia, we've also got skaters of some variety. It is Nancy Hallam and Gwen Maloney Day. Now, Jarrod, I'm sure you may have read the post today, but tell us what you know about the esteemed Nancy Hallam and Gwen Maloney. Do you know anything about them at all?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Well, not having seen the post, I can't say I know much about them. I don't know, pioneers of the old women ice dance.
BEN WATERWORTH: You're actually not far off the money there, Jarrod. They are definitely pioneers. They are Australia's first ever female Winter Olympians. In 1952, they competed in the women's figure skating, the singles, and they finished 14th and 21st. So Nancy was 14th and 21st for Gwen. Bing-Gwen-Gwen, can we call that? But yeah, they're pioneers for Australian winter sports, our first ever female Winter Olympians. So well done to Nancy Hellam and Gwen Maloney icons of the sport, of winter sports in Australia. So there you go. In all seriousness, yes, it is Daily Esther. That's a new thing. The Daily Dale is, I mean, look, I feel like I'm not going to ask you to question it because clearly I think we've all solidified this is going to happen. But I mean, did you have any other honourable possible mentions anyway that you wanted to mention potentially, or were you just so set on Esther that you didn't think about anyone else today?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I mean, completely set on Esther. The only other honourable mentions I had would obviously be Cullen in the ice hockey, those goals in the gold medal matches, and then also Sandra in Iceland in the ski cross, just breaking that Canada streak, you know?
BEN WATERWORTH: Yep, yep, indeed. Well, just on Esther, just to go through the trend here, I've got a few more Ester Ledecka facts for people, because these went off yesterday. I mean, this is all the internet was talking about yesterday. I mean, I actually heard a rumour that you had people banging your door down last night going, Jarrod, we want more. We want more Ester facts. Just want more. So let's go through some of these. If paper beats rock, rock beats scissors, and scissors beats paper, what beats all three at the same time? Ester Ledecka. Ester Ledecka can dribble a bowling ball. Well done. If you want a list of Ester Ledecka's enemies, just check the extinct species list. Solid, solid fact. Some kids pee their name in the snow. Ester Ledecka can pee his name into concrete. Her name into concrete. That's a good one. Ester Ledecka's calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd because no one fools Ester Ledecka. Ester Ledecka can speak braille. That's pretty clever. Champions are the breakfast of Ester Ledecka. Yep. The dark is afraid of Ester Ledecka. Yep. Yeah, these are pretty good. When Ester Ledecka enters a room, she doesn't turn the lights on. She turns the dark off. Yep. I can't find it. One of my favourite ones of these, it's like Ester Ledecka's daughter lost her virginity, and Ester Ledecka went and got her back or something like that, or Ester Ledecka drove her mum home from the hospital after she was born. So here we go. This is appropriate to China. The Great Wall of China was originally created to keep Ester Ledecka out. It didn't work, clearly not. She's kicking ass in Beijing. So there you go. We might have some more of those tomorrow. I think that's a good trend. Speaking of more, we have got another great little clip right now for you, speaking with our favourite researcher from Channel 7, not me, who cares about me, Marnie Vinall. Last time we were going to chat to her during these Olympics and getting her thoughts on all things to do with Beijing. So let's hear a little chat we had with Marnie right now.
BEN WATERWORTH: We are so excited to be able to welcome back our favourite guest during the Beijing Olympics, researcher at Channel 7, and I just found out loves smoothies for breakfast. Marnie Vinall is back. You didn't think I was going to bring that up, did you?
MARNIE VINALL: Well, I sound like the most riveting person that you have ever met. What's your friend Marnie like? Well, she likes smoothies, has them for breakfast. So I'm sure everyone's super excited to have me back, especially with that intro.
BEN WATERWORTH: I do my sound check before I come on air with Colin and Jarrod, and the sound check I learnt in Canada is you ask people what they had for breakfast. So I legitimately learn from guests every day what they have for breakfast. And I'm telling you now, smoothie is not the most boring breakfast I've ever heard. So there are Olympians who have worse breakfast than you. So...
MARNIE VINALL: Yeah. That doesn't surprise me at all, actually. And I can't go into detail, if you like.
BEN WATERWORTH: Sure. Well, I mean, we're on the topic. Give us your favourite, your go-to smoothie.
MARNIE VINALL: Well, while I'm in the Winter Olympics and I'm basically just sleeping and working, I actually Uber eats about four smoothies and then just put them in my fridge one morning so that I would just be able to take them out, which feels so bougie and so luxe. But usually banana, spinach, blueberries, coconut yoghurt, bit of hemp seeds, coconut water, and we are laughing.
BEN WATERWORTH: You lost me at spinach. That seems like an odd combination with everything that you just mentioned there.
MARNIE VINALL: Spinach, actually, because people are like, oh, these look gross. You need to put a mammoth amount of spinach in with all these other flavours to actually taste it. So you're just getting your nutrients. Um, yep.
BEN WATERWORTH: Wow, I think now the time with me having no taste is probably when I should be trying these. So it wouldn't really bother me. But wow, interesting. Um, welcome back. It's great to be here to talk about smoothies. The number one topic of the Olympics. But we've only got a couple of days to go now, Marnie. How are you feeling at the end of another, your second Olympics that you've worked on for Channel 7?
MARNIE VINALL: So sad. I can't believe it's Thursday. It keeps feeling, it feels like Friday, but it is Thursday. So there's only a few days left, which is really, really upsetting. I feel like maybe earlier in the week, it's getting to the point where you're like kind of counting down the days a little bit. You're keeping an eye on, oh, there's only, you know, less than a week to go. But then you get to the tail end of that week and you're like, oh, no, there's only a few days to go. So yeah, a little sad.
BEN WATERWORTH: A little sad, a little sad. You then will suffer what I like to call SALS, Severe Olympic Withdrawal Syndrome, which will hit you on Monday, last for a couple of days. But that's when if you've got your 7 Plus app ready to watch some of the replays. And I was digging up some old tapes from past Olympics. I was watching Turin last night. So, you know, things like that, that keeps you going. It helps, trust me, from a therapy perspective.
MARNIE VINALL: OK, from a therapy, yeah. I will treat you as my therapist next week. You might just get a few calls being like, what do you recommend? Maybe we should stop there.
BEN WATERWORTH: When you're calling somebody who probably needs therapy to give you therapy, then something's struggling there. I know I've asked you this sort of in separate ways, the two times I've had you on, but what's something unique that you've learnt during these games covering it? Maybe not necessarily from an Olympics perspective, but you obviously do a lot of other work with different sports, but is there something that stood out to you in terms of talking to people about the Winter Olympics versus, say, other sports that you do cover?
MARNIE VINALL: Yeah, it's been really interesting, because living in Melbourne, which is hard AFL territory, you come in on a Monday morning to an office, and the vibe is all over the place, because people's teams have done well, people's teams have done bad. You've got a mismatch of feelings and emotions, but with the Winter Olympics, you're always coming in kind of knowing what the vibe is going to be. So, like, you come in on a Sunday morning after Jacqueline Naracot gets the silver that feels like gold. You come in, and you can just walk in straight away being like, how good was last night? We're like, I can't do that if Essendon beat Carlton, because there no doubt will be a Carlton person in that office.
BEN WATERWORTH: Smart people.
MARNIE VINALL: The Essendon? You're in Essendon colours, man.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, hey, these are team Canada colours, excuse me, Marnie. Thank you very much. Don't offend me.
MARNIE VINALL: I just assume all of Canada goes to Essendon.
BEN WATERWORTH: Canadians are smart, so none of them go. Although you do have a Canadian in place for you, so I guess there is that.
MARNIE VINALL: Oh, I love McGraw. Yeah, so, and the same with, like, the flatness, right? Like, Laura Peele did an amazing job, and we are so proud of her, but it was a disappointing ending, I think, to her Olympic campaign for this year. And so you come in after she was expected, and she was really hyped up by us, I will say, to get the gold.
BEN WATERWORTH: I don't know what you're talking about.
MARNIE VINALL: Yeah, oh my god. And so to come in after, you know, she didn't land her final jump, and you can just come in and be like, oh, yeah, last night I was a bit flat, wasn't it? And everyone's like, yeah, it was, which is just so different to the usual sporting climate, sporting fan climate of this city where everyone is a range of different emotions, even with something like the tennis, like we can all get behind, you know, Rafa.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, I was the one who got yelled at the next day when I said I don't like it. You were going for him? He sucks, boo, Rafa's awesome. Like, okay, I'll just go stand over there then.
MARNIE VINALL: I mean, they were correct in giving you that feedback. But, you know, with all these internationals coming and playing in Melbourne, because we are the sporting capital, put it on record, sporting capital of the world, Melbourne, you know, you have all these internationals coming in. So even when it is things where you can barrack for Australia, obviously everyone's going to go for Ash Barty, but in tournaments like the tennis where you don't have an Australian in the final, there still is that mismatch of emotions and vibes. Not the Olympics, we are all hard Australian fans.
BEN WATERWORTH: He says, well, you say sitting next to a guy in a Team Canada jersey, that's a bit awkward. But you know, I notice that like when I come out for the Formula One. Obviously, everyone's hardened out Daniel Ricciardo fan. Of course you are. But I mean, I'm wearing Ferrari colours. Somebody else is going to be wearing red bull, and you can still go for, you know, and have that kind of support. One thing I want to ask you about is you got to have lunch yesterday with Stephen Frick and Bradbury on Stephen Frick and Bradbury Day. Tell us about that experience. Did you ever think in your wildest dreams that you would be doing a job where you got to go and celebrate lunch with Stephen Bradbury 20 years to the day when he won our first ever gold medal?
MARNIE VINALL: Will you grant me a question to you beforehand?
BEN WATERWORTH: Absolutely.
MARNIE VINALL: And that is, when you were just talking, I want to... this might be a really easy question for you to answer. If Australia made it to... in the ice hockey... qualified for the ice hockey and Australia vs Canada, who would you be supporting?
BEN WATERWORTH: Look, are we completely honest with you and say that I probably still would support Canada, but I would like... This is a similar thing happened to me at the World Cup in soccer. I'm a massive Germany fan. So back in 2010, Australia played Germany in the first group stage game. Germany beat Australia 4-0. I was cheering for Germany still. And I got blasted on social media, because I'm going like, yeah, 3-0, 4-0, like, what the fuck are you doing? So I would probably be the same, because it's kind of one of those things where...
MARNIE VINALL: That was me, by the way. The, what the fuck are you doing?
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, another... Tasmania, you get an AFL team. I'm always going to go for Carlton, always. But of course, I'll still go for Carl... for Tassie. But if Tassie played Carlton in the Grand Final, ooh, that's tricky. Does that answer your question?
MARNIE VINALL: Yes, it does. Yes, it does. I just wanted to know, but if Australia v Canada were playing at the time that we are both in that researcher slash commentators lounge and it is on the TV, are you game enough to be outwardly cheering for Canada when you were surrounded about eight people who are all sports fans?
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, I would say yes, because I'm used to having two sporting like in NHL and NBA, I have two teams. So like if they play each other, I've got one that I probably would go for more like as a Raptors and a Bulls fan. I'm probably the Raptors more flames and the Ducks. I'm probably going to go for the flames a little bit more, but I'm loyal to my team's money. So in the fact that like, yeah, it'd be great if Australia made the Olympics, of course, but like again, I'm a calm sport.
MARNIE VINALL: I'm loyal to my country.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, I'm loyal to my country. I'm biased, bleed Australia, greed and gold, but like when it comes to say like the soccer, I've always gone for Germany and ice hockey, I've always gone for Canada. And a lot of that comes from the fact that Australia, just growing up, the soccer has never made the World Cup. So that's why I kind of had to have a team. And now that we do, it's complex, Quail. I'm a complex fan. But anyway, Bradbury, Bradbury, tell me about Bradbury.
MARNIE VINALL: Yay, okay. Sorry to dilute that.
BEN WATERWORTH: That's how you should be. This is a very serious podcast. We always stay on topic. We never go off topic. What are you talking about?
MARNIE VINALL: I am... And also, to be handballed a question about Stephen Bradbury and to handball something else back is pretty gutsy of me, to be honest.
BEN WATERWORTH: You fell over into it, let's be honest. Hey. Thank you, thank you. I'm here till Sunday when the Olympics end.
MARNIE VINALL: Stephen Bradbury Day is a day that all of Australia can celebrate. It is baked into our national history. It is one of the proudest moments of our time. I think even a lot of my friends who aren't sporting friends, like my sister is one who is just, she's just not a sporting person. She knows who Stephen Bradbury is. She thinks he's an absolute icon as he is. So it was very exciting. It was also very exciting that I got a photo having a beer with Stephen Bradbury on Stephen Bradbury Day. And that I could just put that on my socials.
BEN WATERWORTH: I was very jealous.
MARNIE VINALL: Yeah, I bet.
BEN WATERWORTH: I haven't got a photo. I've only met him the once. I haven't got a photo with him yet. So I'm hoping today is that day. Before I let you go, Marnie, I will say thank you for joining us. It's been fun. Obviously, we couldn't get you to do this as much as you could because, you know, corona. Great. But we will get you on in a full capacity. We'll learn a little bit more about you. And I want to learn more about just your Olympic, I guess, experiences in life outside of working on them and how it came to be and all that sort of stuff.
MARNIE VINALL: I've got a really good story actually from Sydney 2000.
BEN WATERWORTH: Okay.
MARNIE VINALL: Yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: I'm listening. Before I let you go, you've got a bobsled joke. Well, your dad has a bobsled joke.
MARNIE VINALL: For a second there, I was going to tell my terrible who wrote the Winter Olympics book again.
BEN WATERWORTH: Do it again. This is from your dad, but this is hilarious. I like this.
MARNIE VINALL: Did you hear the US bobsled team put Donald Trump's picture on the front of the sled? Apparently, no one else can make America go downhill faster.
BEN WATERWORTH: Brilliant. That's a perfect way to end it. Thank you so much for joining us. It's been a pleasure. And go Team Canada to nothing right now and the women's at the time of recording this. So let's maintain it.
MARNIE VINALL: The Australian ice hockey team have won in my heart. Thank you so much.
BEN WATERWORTH: And it was great to be able to chat with Marnie, and we'll get her on at some point in a much bigger capacity to learn a little bit more about what it's like to work at an Olympics and how you get involved and all that sort of stuff. Are you tempted to get involved in research now, Jarrod, that you're hearing these stories or you're just too focused on this side of the Olympics and just talking shit about Michaela Schifrin?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I suppose the only turn off is not being able to bag out Channel 7, which, why would you? They're perfect.
BEN WATERWORTH: They're brilliant. Never would do that.
JARROD LOOBEEK: But it seems exciting. I think the appeal of getting to meet all these past Olympians is definitely up there.
BEN WATERWORTH: I had the opportunity today to have a bit more of a chat with Mr. Bradbury, which was quite an honour, quite a very great man, Stephen, on many levels. He's such a laid back, cool guy. And I shared a photo of my social media. I got my photo with Stephen, but of course in the background, the great Scott McGrory just happened to be photo bombing it. So it's not a bad effort when you get a photo with an Olympic gold medallist being bombed by an Olympic gold medallist. So pretty fun times there. But I've shared out, they're very aware of the show. We're gonna try and get some of these former Olympians. They all seem keen. So keep an eye out and you'll see some of those hopefully coming soon with that. Breaking news in the Nordic combined. We'll say Taylor Fletcher, six for Team USA. Good job there. In the bronze medal position, a Japan. In the silver medal position, Germany. And the gold medal has gone to Norway. They've gotten their 14th gold. Get on board. The Norwegians, Jarrod, you reckon they weren't going to do this, but they're one away right now. How are you feeling now about your prediction?
JARROD LOOBEEK: You know, I've got to stand by it. So something's going to happen drastic in the remainder of the cross-country scheme. But you know, strange things have happened.
BEN WATERWORTH: They might go the wrong way on a course or something like that.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Sure, they've got a history of doing that.
BEN WATERWORTH: They do, yes. Breaking news in the figure skating, Ekaterina Kurikova-Poland still leading that one at the moment. And breaking news in the curling, the semi-finals have begun. And presently, both matches are, well at least on my screen, are still nothing, nothing. I feel like we should have a score, at least one of them now, but perhaps I am warmed up and try. And that it is nothing. Both of those are, yes, that the curling, so we shall have the results of those ones for you tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, we do have a total of four medals, not many tomorrow, but we've obviously got Bree and Kiara going down in the two-woman bobsled. We've got Scott Gow back in the biathlon, the mass start, and also in the figure skating, Eric Radford will be going in the pairs, that is in terms of Off The Podium guests, what they're up to tomorrow. But the medal results tomorrow, the men's mass start, as I just said, in the biathlon, the men's ski cross in the freestyle skiing, the women's half-pipe in the freestyle skiing, and the men's 1,000 metres in the speed skating. What tickles your fancy tomorrow, Jarrod, amongst those ones, and maybe some of the non-medal events, like curling, bobsleigh, those sort of events?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Well, obviously, my eyes will be on the ice hockey.
BEN WATERWORTH: Oh, yes, of course. What am I talking about here?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Watching Slovakia take down Finland. But then other than that, I am a big fan of the ski cross. So I'm looking forward to being able to watch that again and watch the men duke it out.
BEN WATERWORTH: I am actually considering Canada aren't in the semifinals. I generally kind of tune off the hockey once Canada are out. But look, it's a grudge match between you and I, because I'm very much team Finland. I really, really am. I just really want them to crack through for that gold medal. But having said that, if Slovakia go through, the Germany of 2022, but I'm team Sweden all the way against ROG. Sorry, ROG. But just I'm going for the Swedes there. But we'll see how we play out with all of that for another exciting day of action. Day 14. Can you believe it that we are here for that? Anything else, Jarrod, you want to say? You got everything off the chest. You're satisfied. You're getting an early night tonight for once. Sort of early night by our standards recently to get ready for Slovakia. So how are you feeling about your boys?
JARROD LOOBEEK: You know, I'm quietly confident. I feel like they put up a good fight against the US. And if we see that again, then I think it's possible they could get through.
BEN WATERWORTH: Is this going to translate to Eurovision in a couple of months? Are you going to be like Team Slovakia, like come Eurovision?
JARROD LOOBEEK: You know, maybe, maybe not. Depends if they're competing or not.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah. Okay. We probably should have checked that first before I asked that question, shouldn't I? Good job.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I feel like they don't. I feel like it's Slovenia in the Eurovision.
BEN WATERWORTH: Not Slovakia. They just don't bother showing up. They're too good to concentrate on hockey.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I think it's because the Czech Republic's there. They're like, well, close enough.
BEN WATERWORTH: Poor Slovakia. Georgie Parker thinks they're the same place, so it's all good. We'll be back tomorrow. In the meantime, of course, remember, do all the great things on social media like follow Instagram, Twitter, and what's the other one? Facebook. That's one Ben. Good job. Live Journal, Deviantart. Go for it. All available. And also sportspodcastawards.com. Still number one. We're up there till we do a Michaela shit friend. So just while we're on top, keep voting for us, Jarrod. About 87 times today, I believe.
JARROD LOOBEEK: We're going like the Auntie Bradbury route. I've just... leaving from the start and continuing that through.
BEN WATERWORTH: Absolutely. We're a Swedish ski crosser. We just... we just dominate. Just absolutely plough it through. But vote on there as best as you can. As best as you can. Please try voting. I'm sure you can do it. And yeah, I don't know if Colin will be with us tomorrow night. Like, I mean, Canada wins gold. We can just talk without him. You know, what do we need him for? Put a sock in it, Colin. See, he's not here to tell you what we're talking about. Jarrod, thank you. It's always a pleasure.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Thank you. It's been fun.
BEN WATERWORTH: And we will be back tomorrow, as always. Shout out to Jason Momoa. We'll be back tomorrow. I keep saying that. Put a sock in it, Ben.
Comments