Beijing 2022 Preview Episode
ANOTHER OLYMPICS ARE HERE! Yes that's right, it's time to get PUMPED as we move into our second Olympics in less than a year and this time get to the REAL Olympics by pumping up the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics with our MASSIVE preview episode to get you fully into the winter zone! We go over all the medal hopes for both Australia and Canada and talk up just why these games look set to be so exciting for both countries. We also go over some other big names and events to keep a close eye on during the games, talk up our love for the mascots of the Olympics, give our hopes for the Opening Ceremony and talk up TEAM OTP and why the curse may finally go in the purse for good when it comes to medal hopes for our former guests! Added to that all the other regular fun of every episode we do as well as some extra Ester Ledecka love for good measure, and this is the one episode you simply can't miss ahead of the Beijing Olympics! So strap yourselves in for one hell of an entertaining ride and BRING ON THE OLYMPICS!
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 for the most exciting episode you're ever going to listen to, ever, anything, literally anything you will ever listen to. It is the Beijing 2022 preview episode. The Olympics are finally here. We have been so busy on this show bringing you episodes galore. And this is the one that counts because we can finally talk about the big dance, the Olympics, the real Olympics, bugger Tokyo, no one cared about those. They were crap. This is the real one. This is the one we want. And we are here to go over everything to look forward to and more as we get set to talk Olympics for the next 16 or so days. My name is Ben and joining me is a man who loves snow more than life itself. It's Jarrod Lubig. Hello, Jarrod. Welcome back. It's another Olympics. Are you pumped?
COLIN HILDING: He's thinking about it.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Sorry, Pump, sorry to comment on the snow, ready to critique the snow, it'll be good.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yes, I agree. Speaking of snow, it's the only one of us on this episode to go look out his window right now, and probably be covered in snow, because I think there's a blizzard happening in Winnipeg right now. Colin Hildy, I'm choking on my own introduction. I'm emotional, it's the Olympics this year. Colin, welcome back.
COLIN HILDING: Get emotional at blizzards.
BEN WATERWORTH: I love them. I mean, they're my favourite weather pattern. I love them to be.
COLIN HILDING: And your favourite snack from Dairy Queen.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yes, and one of my favourite Bob's Letters, who is an alternate. But yes, we'll get to that. How are we feeling, boys? I'll start with you, Colin. Again, you can see snow. I mean, this is Canada's time to shine. This is it. This isn't those laughable summers. This is the real deal. This is the one that Canada cares about. How are you and Canada feeling right now as we approach the opening ceremony?
COLIN HILDING: You know, I mean, I'm excited because I love to watch all these sports. But I actually thought the other day, I'm like, I'm kind of worried considering how well Canada did in the summer games. Well, two summer games in a row. If we don't have great results, are we now going to become the summer Olympic nation and not the winter Olympic nation? Like, this could be really bad. So I started to overthink things in my head. I'm like, no, no, no, wait, wait, we might not win a medal in this. And then the country may revolt. I mean, this could be a real problem for us. So I'm crossing my fingers that there's no huge embarrassments for Canada, because expectations are high here.
BEN WATERWORTH: No losing to Germany in hockey in the semis again, where we're just avoiding that happening once more.
COLIN HILDING: I mean, well, we'll lose to Trinidad before we lose to Germany.
BEN WATERWORTH: Hey, the great ice hockey nation of Trinidad as we listen to the Oz Network. What a show that is. Jarrod, what about you? How are you feeling? I mean, this is a pretty interesting time for Australia. This is again, as we always say, how Canada usually feels in the summers. But as we now know Canada, probably a summer nation. So we've got to catch up and show Canadians that we can do well at the opposite Olympics as well.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah. I'm feeling optimistic. I feel like the gold drought, I mean, I'm putting the muckers on it right now, but I feel like the gold drought is going to end. I just have a good feeling about this Olympics.
BEN WATERWORTH: I am with you. I am calling it that the gold drought is over. It's been 12 long years for Australia since we've won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. And it's going to happen this year. If New Zealand are going to win gold at these Olympics, we'll talk about that, then we bloody well better win gold because that's a whole other thing going into it. From both perspectives, it's interesting looking at the athletes that are going and obviously the size of the teams. For Canada, 215 athletes are going. Australia, 43 athletes. Was 44, but sadly, we've had one athlete injure themselves and no longer making it. Madison Hoffman in the Alpine skiing is sadly not making it.
COLIN HILDING: Did you interview her?
BEN WATERWORTH: No, I didn't. It's all good. Don't worry. We haven't had Maddie on. So it's fine. We nearly lost Tali. We thought Tali was out already with COVID, but it's all good. She's fine. At least at the time of recording this. So we didn't, thankfully. But for both Canada and Australia, our third largest teams ever going into it. When it comes to Canada, Colin, and 215 athletes, that's a pretty stock, pretty heavy team. I don't think Australia's probably had 215 athletes in the history of the Winter Olympics. So good job. I mean, is this something that, obviously when Australia sends a summer team, there's so many people to talk about that people sort of get left out. Is this kind of the case? What happens when it comes to the winters in Canada? I mean, do you have some random, I don't know, lugers that just aren't getting any mentions at all? Something like that that people don't give a shit about?
COLIN HILDING: I mean, I'm sure there are, but I'm finding that we're not really limiting ourselves to just putting cereal boxes for the biggest stars now, although we do have cereal boxes for the biggest stars, including Conor McDavid, who's no longer Olympian. But I'm going to the grocery store yesterday, and I'm seeing a bunch of athletes that I haven't even heard of on the sides of like, here's a box that's holding a bunch of chip bags. And I'm looking, I'm like, oh, wait, that's an Olympian. I don't know who that is. Are they on chip bags? I'm like, no, it's not the bags. It's just the display board. And here's one for baby food and toilet paper. Basically, we've got Olympians' faces everywhere, and there are people that I haven't even heard of. So I think that there's a big push to make sure that we know who all these people are, although I already don't know who all of them are.
BEN WATERWORTH: I would love for you, by the end of Beijing, to be able to have named all 215. Like, every day, you can just feel like, and in the skeleton, it's Jenny A from Quebec. Go, Jenny. She can do it. Whereas for Jarrod and I, we've only got 43 to go through, which I guess, Jarrod, it is unique because I feel you get a little bit more personally connected because you get to know their stories a little bit more. You get to know a little bit more about them. And ultimately, for Australian winter athletes, it's their only time there ever in the spotlight really in this country. So it is a big time. Do you sort of look at this team and outside of the obvious ones, are there any that you've sort of looked at or seen that kind of tickle your fancy, kind of followed any on social media that you've sort of got a bit of an interest in at all?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I think I'm just really 100% behind the curling team. I feel like that's the story of a sport that, yeah, I've watched in the past, but it feels like that's going to be one where I'm really going to want to watch every match that I played. I feel like I was behind them throughout like the whole qualification. So now just looking forward to them and also Jackie Narakot as well. I feel like she got a really good like build up in the lead up. So yeah, lots of stories to look forward to.
BEN WATERWORTH: I mean, it really is exciting, I think, for what we're seeing. Because I mean, look, every Winter Olympics Australia goes in with like, yeah, we've got the most medal chances we've ever had in every Olympics. And, you know, generally it doesn't ever play out that way. But I mean, this really is such a stacked team of legitimate medal chances that even if the favourites don't do what we think they're going to do, we've got enough backups you think that would potentially sneak through for a couple. But I'm glad you said the curling, because obviously at the time of this being released, we've seen Dean and Tali have had two matches. So what great wins for both of them. Like fantastic. They've gotten off to a great start.
COLIN HILDING: We can't tell the difference.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, in all fairness, they're playing America and China, two winnable games. So, I mean, yay, Tali and Dean. But it is actually fascinating to see just how much interest this has gotten, because it's not often that Australia will qualify in sports at a winter games that we haven't competed. I mean, there's only two going into these Olympics that we've never competed in, curling and ski jumping. And I don't think we're going to have a ski jumper anytime soon. So besides the fact that my dream of being Australia's first ever curler is gone, thanks Dean and Tali, we obviously are very excited because I don't know if you saw Jarrod, there's been like media like Australia's cool runnings and things like that. And I mean, I'm in Melbourne at the moment. I'm metres away from the ice house where Dean's from and already they're organising viewing parties and all this kind of stuff that's going on there. And this has the potential to really boost this. And Colin, obviously Curling's like, you turn on TV right now, you've probably got five channels dedicated to the damn sport, but this is massive. This is really, really big for Dean and Tali. So yeah, I mean, are you just kind of on Dean and Tali? Watch Jarrod like his in like, obviously, we had them on the show a couple of months back, but like, have you been just following their adventures and learning more about them? And just like, have you gotten your pom-poms out and your photos and your mask and just teeth, just Dean and Tali crazy like the rest of Australia?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, absolutely. I think it was just the lead up, right? It was the fact that it came down to the final qualification tournament, the fact that they were, you know, undefeated in the pool matches and it was like, it feels like such a typical Australian thing for it to go wrong at the end. And the fact that it didn't, and we're there is just so exciting. And it's just going to be fun to watch. So I feel like everybody else, there's these big expectations with them. Like it was like qualifying that was the big thing. So now anything else is just a bonus moving forward.
BEN WATERWORTH: And it's also the case that Tali tested positive for COVID on Monday. And basically the AOC released a media race. Oh, a team member has, but for privacy reasons, we will not, you know, release their names. And it was kind of known, there was I think only like four Australian men. I think it was just the Bobsled girls and Dean and Tali were arriving on that day. So you're like, fuck, like this isn't good either way. And then ultimately Tali's thankfully tested negative twice since then. So yeah, it was it was that close to kind of coming undone. But I think also too, is you actually got to keep an eye on them because they finished fourth at the World Champs in 2019. So, I mean, look, it's a stacked field. And Colin, I'll talk to you about Team Canada going into this in a moment. But it's a pretty stacked field, but you never know. Like, I mean, again, fourth at a World Championships for curling. I don't think any Australians realise that we've gotten fourth at a World Championships for curling before, and they ultimately didn't go in 2021 because of COVID. But I mean, I've noticed, is this one of these ones where you're kind of thinking like, yeah, by the time they're releasing this, they've won a couple of games that they could be in with a sniff, because top five, and they've got a chance of going through to the medal rounds.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I feel like if they built up the momentum, I feel like that was like with that qualifying event, it's just that they built up momentum throughout the week. So I think you're right. I think the early games are important. If they get a couple of wins, then anything's possible there.
BEN WATERWORTH: Now Colin, while we're on curling, John Morris, legend of the sport, two-time gold medallist, teaming up with Rachel Homan, who I believe was meant to be his teammate back in 2018, but she ended up being on the women's team instead. So didn't quite there, but bit controversial that these two have been chosen. The curling championships got cancelled, so it was kind of came down to a point system. But how is Canada defending champions? So I mean, is Canada hopeful that John and Rachel can bring home and defend the gold, or is there a little bit more to this?
COLIN HILDING: I mean, they're getting a lot of attention here. And the thing is, even though there is some controversy, the controversy seems to be more on the side of, you know, people who follow the sport and the other curlers themselves. I mean, Canada is just excited because you have two... This is like the All-Star team. This is like the Avengers curling for us, the ultimate team up. But at the same time, it kind of makes me wonder, like, how much can we rely on experience? Is this going to be a situation? You take, for example, Dean and Talley, who have a lot of experience, and then you have countries like Canada. I'm sure there's other countries out there that basically threw together a team at the last minute who really doesn't have a lot of playing time and doesn't have as much experience and hasn't been on the circuit. And it's sort of a wild card now. Like, you don't know we could be great. We could be garbage. You know, Dean and Talley could be one of the best teams in the world, and now they could end up being beaten or possibly beating an all-star team. Like, it really makes it interesting in a way that I think I should be more upset about the fact that, you know, there's a lot of teams that are in there who aren't necessarily full-time teams. But it makes it unpredictable. I think anytime where you can't call the results, it makes it exciting. But I will say, as much as I love John Morris and, you know, Rachel Homan, I mean, they're fantastic. I'm probably pulling for Dean and Talley in this tournament. Because, A, they had a fantastic interview and because Dean's an honorary Winnipeger. I mean, he should be here in the blizzard with me.
BEN WATERWORTH: So, home team. His dad will be actually commentating for Channel 7. So he will be in the box commentating during that year. You know, technically when Australia was, of course, curling in 92 in Albaville. And it's interesting, I think. I was reading about how Canada doesn't like to use. So John or Rachel can't compete like in the men's or women's, whereas some of the other countries obviously are having, you know, either their man or their woman competitor in the mix competing in the teams. Why is that? Is Canada just like, oh, we're so good at curling. We don't, you know, want everybody to stretch. We've got so much talent, we can just spread it out. Or is it like, we're Canadians, we don't be greedy. You can't win multiple medals in a sport.
COLIN HILDING: You know, the funny thing is I didn't realise that wasn't a rule for everybody. I thought that was just you have to be able to compete in one or the other. I mean, the Mixed Doubles has basically become the consolation prize for curling in Canada. Because it was last time.
BEN WATERWORTH: You call things.
COLIN HILDING: Well, but really last time, what it came down to is Jennifer Jones, I mean, her crew who had had the only undefeated Olympics ever in Sochi, they were expected to come back, I think, as you mentioned, in Pyeongchang, and they didn't make it. Rachel Hama made it instead. So Caitlin Law is one of Jennifer Jones' crew was subbed in with John Morris, and then they end up winning gold. But yeah, I just assumed that that was the way that it had to be for everybody. So I'm kind of surprised. Are we going to be seeing people who are meddling in both mixed doubles and?
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, yeah, there's a couple of the teams. I think one of the Italian curlers is on either the men's or women's team. There's a couple. So yeah, there's a few that will be kind of backing up. I don't think there's like a team where both are going into like the men's and women's, but there are definitely a few. And from what I was reading, it was saying that Canada doesn't like to, you know, spread them out. So yeah, I can firmly say Dean or Tali will not be competing in either the men's or the women's curling, just to say that, just to, you know, cross any...
COLIN HILDING: Unless they're on the Italian team we're talking about.
BEN WATERWORTH: Or maybe it's like the Youth Olympics, and there's like a mixed NOC team or something like that, you know, that is the Oceania team, like Ask New Zealand and like Fiji, like all in like a curling team or something like that. But you've got the silver and the bronze medallists from Pyeongchang, Switzerland and Norway, both pairs, Jenny Pereira, Martin Reyes of Switzerland, and Kristen Skolsten and Magsen Nedgrotten. That's very Scottish of me to say that, are back. But speaking of Scottish, I will say, probably the only Great Britain team that I will gladly see win gold, because they are both Scottish, of course, being curlers. And there's a World Champions coming in, so there's a chance. And mark it in your calendar that when it comes to Australia versus Canada, the new great curling rivalry, which will be happening during these Olympics, that is happening on Sunday. So how's that going to go? Australia versus Canada in curling. Again, this untapped rivalry, which I feel that we didn't know should be happening. I mean, Jarrod, is this our time to shine? This will be like the new great sporting moment in Australian history, when Dean and Tarly knock off Canada in curling. I mean, this would be like if, you know, Penny beat any... Well, she beat a couple of Australians. You know, not in Tokyo, back in...
COLIN HILDING: This is Keely-Kiley around too.
BEN WATERWORTH: Exactly, exactly. But, you know, probably a bit more of a gap there, I feel, Jarrod. Maybe.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I just hope it's dramatic. I hope stones are thrown. I hope the sweeping is manic, and I wouldn't mind if there was a bit of a fight on the ice.
COLIN HILDING: Oh, yeah, just bring it.
BEN WATERWORTH: Just absolutely, like, hockey style, you know, and the refs can't do anything until... Has it ever, Colin, like, I mean, curling just seems like such a nice sport, but has, like, there legitimately ever been a fight in curling that you know of?
COLIN HILDING: Not that I know of, but, I mean, I loved... Who was it when we interviewed Mike Harris last year when he was talking about, you know, hey, back in Nagano, we didn't have to be in good shape or anything. We'd just be a bunch of drunks on the ice. I can imagine that maybe in the 70s or 80s, where it was literally just a bunch of drunks on the ice, that there was some angry drunken brawls with some rocks beaten to the head.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which hopefully will happen again. And Dean and Tali would win. Come on, we're Australian. We get drunk easy, and they look very aggressive, I think, when they get there. But I'm looking for all the friends quotes, of course, from Dean and Tali when they go through that. Just before we go through some of the other sports, I just want to add, Canada, you're competing in 14 of the 15 Olympic sports there, Colin. And sadly, we know the one that you're not competing in, Nordic combined, of course. We obviously know that from previous guests, but 10 out of the 15 for Australia, Jarrod, not bad. That's pretty good. We obviously don't have any in Nordic combined, sadly, ski jumping, speed skating, biathlon and ice hockey, of course. What's the other one? All right, ice hockey. Yeah, we kind of don't have anybody in that. So do you have any in ice hockey, Colin? I would assume Canada, maybe. I don't know.
COLIN HILDING: I've heard rumours that we might, you know, pull something together at the last minute.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yep, yep. Actually, just while we're on that, obviously, no NHL players. I don't think we've had a chance to discuss that. I mean, what's the talk around Canada's team? You've obviously got someone like Eric Stahl who, I mean, that's a nice little loophole that they've managed to pull him in. But is there much talk and hope around the hockey team? Because that's generally the main one, I think, all of you. I mean, the women, obviously, we know are going to be in the gold medal match no matter what and hopefully get revenge. But for the men, is there much talk around the team?
COLIN HILDING: Well, I mean, when we were going to Pyeongchang, I remember mentioning that the fact that the NHL players weren't there kind of put more attention on the women's hockey than they've ever been before. I think it's a lot more evened out now. And maybe it's because there is that expectation of, well, I guess some of the players we have were there last time in Pyeongchang. We had, I guess, enough notice to expect this. And a lot of people didn't honestly believe the NHL players were going to show up anyways. So, yeah, right now, there is a lot of attention on the men's hockey, which I'm glad about because we're kind of getting to know the team. I mean, Eric Stahl obviously has a huge part to play with that. And I love that he basically planned this. This was a massive plan that he had for the last couple of months. Thinking in the back of his head, he's like, Oh, you know what, I might be able to go to the Olympics if NHL players don't end up there.
BEN WATERWORTH: Try out with like a freaking B team basically. I have a try out with them. And that was enough of them to select him. Has he been named the captain because they believe he's going to be the captain?
COLIN HILDING: I mean, he would have to be. I mean, there's so much attention on him right now. The more, I guess, dramatic thing is that our coach is out all of a sudden. I don't know if you heard about that. I just read this yesterday that we have a coaching replacement. And now we're like less than a week away from the games. But for a team that was put together three weeks before the games is not bad. I actually, as I mentioned, I've got a box of Conor McGregor O's upstairs.
BEN WATERWORTH: And Jarrod's finally got his Penny Alexi O's. Can we just mention he finally arrived? So, yes.
COLIN HILDING: Maybe I'll send you the... I said, did I call him Conor McGregor O's? I'm Conor McDavid O's.
BEN WATERWORTH: I didn't say Conor McGregor.
COLIN HILDING: He means Team Canada, too. It's weird still that there's merchandise for that. But I was excited because Tim Hortons has Team Canada hockey cards. And I was about to be like, okay, well, I've got a bunch of players who aren't on the on-air. But they have some players of the past. Joe Sackick here. Wayne Gretzky. I've got a Wayne Gretzky card. And they even mixed the women in this time. Sarah Nurse, one of our female hockey players.
BEN WATERWORTH: Could get a Sammy Joe small one, hopefully, and get off the podium certified. That'd be nice.
COLIN HILDING: I'm sure. Yeah, Wayne Gretzky. There we go.
BEN WATERWORTH: They even jarred her to him.
COLIN HILDING: I think that maybe in anticipation of, hey, we might not have NHL players this time around, let's mix up our Tim Hortons hockey packs, put some of the women in there, put some of the old guys in there from Olympics past, then we don't look like complete fools when none of these people show up for the games.
BEN WATERWORTH: Is it something, Jarrod, that you get more and more excited? Like, I don't know sort of if you pay attention to hockey at all between Olympics. But I mean, is it something that you kind of always look forward to at the Olympics? Or is it something that maybe it's more of, oh, it's on. I will watch it. And I'm doing this with the Canadians, so I probably should pay attention to it.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I feel like I tend to pay a bit more attention, I suppose, later in the tournament. I kind of don't really pay attention to the group stages. Then when we get to the knockouts, then focus a bit on that. But it's just, I suppose, it's the honorary Canadian sport. It's just that you have to cheer for them and they always do good in it. So it's a nice one to keep in the back of the mind.
BEN WATERWORTH: No pressure, of course, Colin. The men haven't not medalled since 98. So you're on a good streak. 2006, sorry, actually. Apologies. You didn't medal in 2006, of course.
COLIN HILDING: We don't talk about that.
BEN WATERWORTH: Sorry, sorry. Sorry, Canada. Sorry. But I mean, again, as we know, you finally broke that bronze curse in Pyeongchang. So finally, it finally happened for Canada.
COLIN HILDING: We were really waiting for that one.
BEN WATERWORTH: But the women, the women are going to come back. And I mean, you know, the women don't lose in the Olympics. That was that was embarrassing enough. So they've got to get revenge, of course, against America. And I just want to say this right now. Canada don't win the gold. The men, it's Finland's time to shine. Finally, the Finns, legitimate drought for the Finns, never won a gold. So they've won the World Championships a couple of times. So it's time for them to get a gold if Canada don't. I just want to quickly remind everybody the seven new events that we're going to be seeing during these Olympics. We've got the men's and women's big air and the freestyle, the women's monoball, which we'll talk about shortly, the mixed team in the aerials, the ski jumping and the snowball cross, which Colin is just absolutely frothing at the bits for, as well as the mixed team in the short track, which I was reading a little bit about, say, particularly with the snowball cross. And it's not like the swimming or the athletics. Like, this is legitimately... The first one is sort of done timed, and then it's kind of done... The second part is like, I guess, a penalty system. So, you know, I guess if the women go first and, say, Australia finish three seconds behind Canada, then Canada get a three-second head start. I'm pretty sure that's how it works, so that you're not going to get that confusion at the end when it's mixed. Colin, does that make anything with mixed more exciting for you? You mixed grump.
COLIN HILDING: Well, I mean, I think I said this on our last episode. I've seen mixed events outside of Tokyo that almost always work. It's just Tokyo was a mess. The ISL, I'm a huge fan of the ISL, the swimming league, and the way they do mixed events, I think it works. So I'm hopeful that some of the kinks have been worked out from Tokyo and that they're willing to adjust some things to not make it so sloppy.
BEN WATERWORTH: Jarrod, you're with me. We love them. They're great, aren't they? I mean, the one thing that I'm just like, we've got a legitimate Australia's got a legitimate chance in the snowboard cross because Bell and Jared got gold in the World Championships in 2021. But what I'm a bit sad about is we're so good in the aerials, but we've got no male aerial athletes going to Beijing. So we're obviously not going to be in the mixed team aerials. So that's a bit sad. But I mean, you and I are smart. We love these mixed relays and things. They're great.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I'm upset that they aren't putting the men and the women on the course at the same time.
COLIN HILDING: It's a letdown.
JARROD LOOBEEK: No, this timed system and penalties and points. No, chuck them all on the course at the same time.
COLIN HILDING: Put them all.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's a demolition derby. I can put them all out there, crash them into everything.
COLIN HILDING: Just put the speed skaters and the aerials out there at the same time as well.
BEN WATERWORTH: All the mixed events. Just like people are flipping in the air, you got the speed skaters.
COLIN HILDING: Figure skaters.
BEN WATERWORTH: The luge fucking relay, we love that. Like just put the figure skater, everyone. Shove them all and Nordic can buy it. All 15 sports.
COLIN HILDING: Put them in.
BEN WATERWORTH: Ice hockey.
COLIN HILDING: And then the swimmers and the sprinters from Tokyo come and join in too.
BEN WATERWORTH: This is how the IOC saves on money. They don't have a winter and a summer and separate events and venues. You just have like, just like the bird's nest, right? You've got a bit of ice here, a bit of snow, bit of a skeleton track, bit of, you know, here, there, ski, jump. And then you just put them all in. It's like a 12-hour event, starts at 9, finishes at 9. Last man and woman standing, gold medals, done.
COLIN HILDING: This is the new way that we determine who comes out of the standings of the Olympics, is we have a royal rumble of all Olympians.
BEN WATERWORTH: And you know who would win that? The Norwegians still. The bloody Norwegians. You talk about Canada being good in summer now. Don't get us started on Norway. We're scared for them now. They're getting too good at the cold and the warm sports. So we'll talk to Thomas. He's only got a few more years left on his term. And we know his speech is still going from Rio. He'll finish it eventually. But that's a great idea. I love that. Jarrod, you're on to something there. Little problem that some people are sort of noticing flying into Beijing. There's not a lot of snow. I don't know if you've seen some. There's a shot to the Great Wall. It's brown. It's pretty dry. Although I think they've shipped a few bits in there. Jarrod, a bit worrying. Should we be concerned that the Winter Olympics are no snow? Or the Chinese are a smart country. So I think they might be able to fix this by the time we get underway tomorrow.
JARROD LOOBEEK: No, it'll be right. I feel like every year they always complain. And then was it so she had the issue with the the painting of the blue lines and it was slippery, or there wasn't enough snow or something. So it'll be right. Just pop some fake snow on there. Dye some mud white.
BEN WATERWORTH: It'll be simple that way. Colin, Vancouver had these problems, didn't they? And they got it sorted in time. And I think it rained the whole time in Vancouver, didn't it? So I mean, yeah, it's just Vancouver. So it happens. But you're Canadian. You know how this works.
COLIN HILDING: I mean, I think with Vancouver, the biggest problem was the air temperature. It was too warm. So, I mean, they were shipping the snow in and it was creating unsafe conditions. But come on, as viewers, that's what we want. We want to see some out of control people flying off the course. I mean, this could make it fun.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, exactly. I mean, this is hopeful for when obviously Brisbane has the Winter Olympics in 2032. Again, in winter in Australia. So we have our Winter Olympics. So, you know, ski jump finally for Australia. We're going to get some, but building that jump, of course, for Brisbane going forward. But the venues, I don't know if either of you have seen many of them, but they look absolutely spectacular. I mean, just the water cube now being the ice cube. I don't know if either of you saw the transitional video of where they saw it, turning it from the swimming pool into the curling rinks. Looks amazing. The slope style course with like the Great Wall of China being built into it. And just some of it looks amazing. I mean, Jarrod, have you paid much attention? Because I think this is going to be a pretty spectacular looking Olympics.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I have been watching. I did see the water cube to ice cube transformation. And that building is just like ase as it is, but with the curling inside it, it's just even better. It takes it to a whole new level.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which, I mean, this is a unique thing, obviously, with Beijing being the first summer and winter venue, but also very unique that 14 years ago that we had the summer. So we all remember them vividly. We all remember kind of seeing them. So it's kind of like, obviously, with the opening ceremony, we'll talk about that shortly. The Bird's Nest again, such an amazing venue to be able to see what they're going to do with that. Colin, have you had much of a chance to see some of the venues out there?
COLIN HILDING: Yeah, I mean, I'm seeing a lot of the athletes posting as they're getting there and they're getting to do their little trials on the courses and stuff like that. It looks fantastic. What I actually am really amazed by is seeing all these pictures that athletes are posting from either their rooms or the athlete village looks unbelievable. I mean, I think maybe this is partly coming off of Tokyo, where everything was so closed down and no contact. And then, obviously, Rio a couple of years ago, where it was bare bones. This was the president's choice, athletes' village and everything. But I mean, Beijing's going out. This is like the five star. I mean, I don't know about you, Jarrod, but I know, Ben, you've never seen parks and recreation. Jarrod, have you ever seen parks and recreation? In parks and recreation, it's kind of like a Simpsons thing. There's a rivalry between the two towns, and then the other town, Eagleton, it's rich and fancy. Everything is rich and fancy. They have people making crepes at their town hall meetings and stuff like that. That's kind of the way I'm imagining Beijing right now. It's the Eagleton or the... What's the Simpsons neighbouring city? Shelbyville, yeah. It's the Eagleton or the Shelbyville right now, the Olympics. They're really trying to show everybody else out.
BEN WATERWORTH: I love also seeing the swag that I've seen through Canada, Australia, even like the Brits, like some of the stuff they're getting. I mean, winter uniforms look so much better than the summer ones, but I know the Australian athletes are getting a Samsung phone, basically. I think the British athletes were getting a tablet. I don't know what the Canadians are getting.
COLIN HILDING: But they used to get so much more.
BEN WATERWORTH: And they'll just all wash up on a beach someday anyway. It's fine. But it's awesome. I saw Sarah Blizzard's post of her on the bed. She just had the entire kit. And she's an alternate. We'll talk about the bobsleigh. That's all the stuff she's getting.
COLIN HILDING: And it's not cardboard either.
BEN WATERWORTH: No, exactly. It's like, yeah, play the Tokyo one. You can't have sex. Beijing, it's like fucking the bed's made of everything. Fuck away. Have some phones and bloody use your food. And yeah, it's just it's and like obviously still in COVID times. But I think we're still going to have some local fans there. So we're going to have the cowbells. Hopefully we'll be back for the alpine skiing. We're going to have some a bit of an atmosphere.
COLIN HILDING: I was going to ask like, because it was such a last minute decision with Tokyo. But do we officially have like, what's the number? What's the percentage of people? And is it only locals?
BEN WATERWORTH: I pretty sure it's still locals. I know like the athletes aren't allowed to obviously have family that come in. So but I think China still having the cases spike. But also, I think the media are also going to probably overhype it a little bit more going into it. I still pretty sure that the athletes, the locals are allowed to come along. So hopefully we'll have something like some a bit there and kind of so. But I guess the difference with winter sports though is sometimes it's not really as noticeable with the fans like it is. But like, I mean, it's kind of not like some of the summer sports, which is really obvious when there's no fans there.
COLIN HILDING: Whereas like I think alpine skiing, it's not going to make that much of a difference.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, and it's not that hard to add some cowbell sound effects on a TV broadcast versus, you know, 80,000 people in an empty stadium going along that way. When it comes to one thing, just while we're talking about like the marketing, the promotion, we talked about being Duen Duen, Shui Ron Ron, right? Now, I just want to say like Shui Ron Ron. Amazing when we get to the Paralympics. But I'm really falling in love with being Duen Duen because I don't know if either of you are following the Beijing account, but fuck this. Panda is the greatest thing ever. There's this video of like a very large inflatable being Duen Duen trying to get into, I think it was the media centre. Couldn't fit through the door. I'm trying to shove this big Duen Duen in the door. It's hilarious. And then there's like these videos of like a giant being Duen Duen playing with a little being Duen Duen. And then like all the little pictograms that they've put up on their social media, little being Duen Duen on a skeleton, and this being Duen Duen doing ski jumping. I fucking love being Duen Duen. Like I still love saying, should we Ron Ron bring on the Paralympics? But I don't know, Jarrod, being Duen Duen. I mean, sorry, Boorang and Soorang, but it's Duen Duen's time to shine.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I mean, I haven't seen the hype, so I don't know yet. And you know, I'm not a big fan of being Duen Duen.
BEN WATERWORTH: Aww, boo.
JARROD LOOBEEK: But I could still come around, we'll see. Because of his stupid ice outfit.
BEN WATERWORTH: I need to find this picture of him stuck in a door. I couldn't stop laughing at it the other day. I'm just like, oh my god, this is the funniest thing I've ever seen. Colin, are you coming like... Well, that sounds a bit awkward. Are you coming over being Duen Duen?
COLIN HILDING: Well, I mean, I'm seeing a lot of athletes who seem to be getting a kick out of like, you know, the statues and stuff like that everywhere in the merchandise. To me, it's just this bizarre costume still. I mean, it's like a panda peeking out of an egg. I don't know, but I could be won over because ultimately what it comes down to be is, do I want to buy this as a toy for my children? So if they give Big Duen Duen some personality, kind of like you're saying, I might be won over. But still, it's a panda's face on an egg. I don't get it.
BEN WATERWORTH: I'm sending you both in our group channel Facebook, Big Duen Duen, stuck in a door. Just tell me this isn't the funniest thing you will ever see today. And it's just like, it's literally like, how do I get this thing out of a door? Oh my God. Clearly, it's just me. I don't know if that's a fake laugh column, but it's a good one. You're like, oh, I see it now.
COLIN HILDING: No, no, seriously, that's a fantastic picture. But is it intentional?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Why doesn't it have any pupils, though?
COLIN HILDING: Like, what does it do?
BEN WATERWORTH: Because it's stuck in a door. It's been strangled to death. Rest in peace, Big Duen Duen. Too young, too young. Flag bearers. Obviously, again, the day we're releasing this, Australia's flag bearer is being announced on Thursday. Colin, I don't know when Canada's is. But can I just want to I want to say one thing. We'll talk about obviously our athletes that we've had on the show and predictions for us. But I'm calling this now. We've got a possibility of having jewel off the podium flag bearers, because I believe Mr. Hamlin's in with a bit of a shot of carrying the flag. And I'm calling this now. Britt Cox is a shoe in, unless obviously she's competing the next day. So there's that slight issue. But even then, Laura Peele, a big shot as a flag bearer as well, another former guest here on the show. So I mean, I'll talk about Australia's in a second with you, Jarrod. But Colin, is Charles in with a big shot? Macau Kingsbury, also probably another big favourite. I mean, who are the people they're talking about being Canada's flag bearer?
COLIN HILDING: I mean, you name the two big ones there. I think another one would be Kim Booton, who she was our closing ceremony's flag bearer last time. So I feel like she's going to be held off on. Plus, I think with Kingsbury, it's the same problem. I mean, Moguls is, well, he has an extra day, though, because I believe it's the Sunday for the men, women on Saturday. So women Saturday, Sunday for the men. So he has a shot there. But I would think it would have to be Hamlin just because of the amount of Olympics this man has been to. I mean, even Apollo Uno, when we interviewed him, was like, you know, he's like, it's amazing that Charles is still in this sport and still competitive. And if he gets that, then I feel like no matter what the results, Charles Hamlin will decide to retire from the sport after this. He's chasing something right now. It might be another solo medal. It might be a flag bear. But if he walks away completely empty handed from these Olympics, we know we're going to see him back, I don't know, 30 years from now as the oldest Olympian in history.
BEN WATERWORTH: You got him on last time. I want you to get him on again. That was a pretty good get when you got him on. He was one of our first guests we got. We talked about the curse being the purse. No gold. We'll talk about that. But again, double flag bearers. This is a possibility. For Britt, obviously, Scotty James and Britt are both going to be four-time Olympians, but Scotty carried the flag in Pyeongchang, so we know it's going to be Scotty. Britt's the obvious choice. Do you think that given she's competing the next day, and obviously, we know that sort of the moguls, the venue's not too close to Beijing, so obviously, that's a bit of a thing there. But I mean, would we like to see Britt four-time Olympian, you know, still so young as well, like carrying the flag into the bird's nest?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I feel like she's, yeah, she's the obvious choice. It depends what alphabet they're using and how far up the line we are, I reckon.
BEN WATERWORTH: We're third last. Third last, yeah.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I think Britt can stay out late and still put in an effort the next morning, so.
BEN WATERWORTH: She's been on this show twice. She can put up with anything.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I reckon, why not?
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah. Do it for Off The Podium, Britt, come on.
COLIN HILDING: One other thing that's exciting, I think just across the board, this is even talking about our predictions for flag bearers, is that unlike Tokyo, there's not as much strictness on you can only come this many days ahead of your event, and you have to leave. So we can have flag bearers who aren't going to be competing for a week down the road. And same thing, we get to closing ceremonies. We could potentially have somebody who just stuck around for a week after the end of their event. And also, we have to have a male and female thing. I mean, obviously, that's kind of the way it was presented last time, as all of our commentators said. It's optional. Yeah, but I feel like a lot of countries went out of their way to do that last time. I would like to see them just say, you know what, if we do a man, we'll do a woman for the closing ceremonies. I like the one flag bearer thing.
BEN WATERWORTH: I do too. And I mean, a few nations have already decided to do both. So Spain are doing both. Iran, Argentina, I'm looking through the list here, Poland. So a few nations are doing it, even like the Dutch, of course, the Dutch. Why wouldn't the Dutch be doing it? But yeah, obviously, at the time of recording this, a lot of countries haven't announced their flag bearers. Probably by the time this has been released, everyone's got like, we know Brit's a flag bearer. We know Macau's a flag bearer. What are you talking about? But obviously, we're recording this a couple of days away from some of that being announced. But just to play at home, Canada coming out 27th, Colin. And obviously, there's 91 nations. So Australia will be coming out 89th. So already finishing quite late for us. And there we go. And fun little fact for you. Haiti and Saudi Arabia making their debuts at the Olympics. So go team Haiti, go team Saudi Arabia. And we're also seeing the return for the first time in nearly 30 years of American Samoa, about time. Good to see them back. Welcome back. No Tonga? No Tonga, sadly not. Not coming back. Which, I mean, obviously, they've had a pretty big disaster recently. So sadly, can't get some exposure out there for them. But the Virgin Islands and Peru returning for the first time since Sochi. And Trinidad and Tobago are back in bobsled. Not nice hockey, sadly, Colin. So the great rivals of Jamaica and Trinidad in the bobsled will get to see them up against each other. So look forward to that. A couple of just sort of athletes to look out for, and there's a few that we'll talk about. We'll talk about Australia and Canada's medal chances just on the international side of things. When it comes to, we obviously, when we had Chad Hedrick on, we talked a little bit about Sven Kramer, who can create history. If he wins gold in the 5,000 metres, he will be the first ever Winter Olympian to win four consecutive gold medals in the same event. Of course, Chad beat him in 2006, so he was the last person to beat him. So a bit of history there for Sven. And him, Claudia Peschlein and Charlotte Keller can all join the double-digit medal club of the Winter Olympics. So basically, there's only six athletes in the history of the Winter Olympics who have won double-digits worth of medals. Irene Werst, the great Dutch speed skater who's going for more at these games, can add to that. So keep an eye out for that. Charlotte in the cross-country skiing or the biathlon. Let me double-check that bit. I'm doing well with that. She, of course, is a great cross-country ski event from Sweden. We know that. And Claudia in normal speed skating, long-track speed skating, normal speed skating.
COLIN HILDING: The normal and the abnormal disciplines.
BEN WATERWORTH: The non-Bradbury one. She's hit. But speaking of short track, Ariana Fontana can become the greatest short track speed skater of all time by winning one more medal. She's tied with Apollo by winning eight overall. So she can get that record, that elusive one. And of course, the great Victor Ahn in short track as well. I'm not great with the stats. Maybe I should have a job in research. This should be something that, you know.
COLIN HILDING: Pronunciation, as we know, is not your thing. Anybody out there wants Ben to correct some pronunciation of them? Just remember, this is the man who pronounced Ben Dabby as Soorang.
BEN WATERWORTH: Soorang and Boorang. I got Big Dwend Dwen right. I'm doing OK these Olympics so far. Come on now. Medal hopes, the big ones, I guess, for Canada and Australia. And I've got the beloved Grace Notes predictions here. And obviously, we're going to get to our predictions soon. But Colin, is Macau Kingsbury the most certain gold medal? Does Canada just simply already put a gold medal on the medal tally for him already? Because this guy is just untouchable, is he not?
COLIN HILDING: Yeah, this is the closest thing. I would say in any sport, the closest thing that an athlete has had since Michael Phelps. I mean, it's almost impossible. Last season, he was out with an injury for the majority of the season, and he's still finished near the top of the medal standings for the World Cup. I don't want to say anything just because I know how I jinxed the moguls last time with Brittany Cox and Andy Notti.
BEN WATERWORTH: Absolutely lucky Brittany Cox. She will win the gold, absolutely.
COLIN HILDING: But let's just say this man has been on the podium 100 times in something like 120-something World Cup appearances. I mean, I don't know of anybody who could even come close to that. So I'm not going to say anything. I'm shutting up now.
BEN WATERWORTH: Is there any one outside Macau, like I've looked at a few different lists in terms of the ones that Canada are sort of predicting, but are there any others that say us Australians who maybe aren't too familiar with some of the Canadian hopefuls out there? I mean, who are some of the other big name Canadians who are expected to come home with a medal?
COLIN HILDING: I don't want to say anything else. You just don't want to jinx them. I think we have some good shots, let's just say that, in Ski Cross. People can do their own research.
BEN WATERWORTH: I'm going to go through this list then, if you don't want to jinx it. So I'm looking here...
COLIN HILDING: I'm just going to say, I am not a superstitious person, like at all, like in no way. But I have thought about this for like the last week. I'm like, I better not say anything on the preview episode. I know what happened last time.
BEN WATERWORTH: Jarrod, you and I will jinx Canada. Wait till we get the Norwegian list out, then we'll really get into it. So, I mean, Mikhail Kingsbury, they've got here... You've got Marie-Philippe Poulin, your captain of the women's team in ice hockey. Here comes the pronunciation. Laurent Dubrel in long track speed. Did I get that right, Colin? Yep. Kim Boutin, short track speed skater. Mark McMorris in the big air and slope style. Then you've got your curlers, John Morris and Rachel Hoeman. Your long track speed skating team pursuit team. Justin Cripps in the bobsled. Max Parrow in the slope style snowboarding. You've got Cynthia Appiah in the bobsled. Charles Hetloff, I've heard of him. I mean, he's already jinxed. He's been on the show, so we know that. Doesn't matter. Cassie and Darcy Sharp from Comox. No Comox in BC. Anyway, you've got a lot. This is a long bloody list. Bloody Canadians having too many to go through there. Can you give us one, Colin? Is there a Winnipegger that people are keeping an eye on?
COLIN HILDING: Well, we have one on the women's team. But actually, I was wondering if you're going to mention Britney Phelan. Is she on there?
BEN WATERWORTH: Probably. I did close the article. I was too sick of reading through it. So to be honest, too many, too many. It's calmed down Canada.
COLIN HILDING: Yeah, I think Ski Cross is one that we're excited about. Mariel Thompson's another one. Just throwing names out there. All I'm doing is just mentioning names. Nothing else here.
BEN WATERWORTH: Jarrod, I mean, you and I probably don't really give a shit because we jinx anyone anyway. Well, I do. I'm not blaming you, Jarrod. You're good. None of your interviews have lost medals, so I think you're 100%. But I mean, obviously, as I said before, we've got this is probably our most stacked team in terms of genuine chances. I mean, women's aerials, of course, is our sport. Australia is the greatest nation in the Olympics in women's aerials. Laura Peele, reigning world champion, basically just had a dominant season as well. And Daniel Scott as well is absolutely legitimate chance to be in the medal. We could go gold, silver in the aerials based on how that is. I mean, that's the one event, though, that we all watch for. But on the same day as the aerials final, we actually have the monobob final with Bree in it. Fifth in the world coming into the Olympics, genuine medal chance as well. So this could be like the greatest winter Olympic day since Dale Begg Smith won in 2006. So just on those sort of events, I mean, how do you feel about sort of aerials? I mean, it's the winter event that stops the nation. This is the one that we always know we have a genuine chance in.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I feel like the two that stand out to me are aerials and moguls, and I feel like we're getting a medal in both. But I don't want to say gold, but I just feel like we have a really good chance. Like if we're going to get a gold, I kind of feel like that's where it's going to come from. There's other options out there. But I just feel those two events were a lot for some form of medal.
COLIN HILDING: I'll chime in for one second.
BEN WATERWORTH: Please do, Colin. Yes. Hello, Colin.
COLIN HILDING: I was just going to say, without making any predictions, I think that the women's moguls is basically a three-person race, and the order is interchangeable. And Jacare is one of those people. So no prediction.
BEN WATERWORTH: We've actually got an eight. I think we've got the maximum athletes. We've got Canada's problem where you basically just, we've got too many that we're sending. And we know, for example, that Matty Graham has just shattered his collarbone and he's just come back. So, you know, he's obviously coming into it as a reigning silver medallist and still kind of talking him up. But I mean, outside of the aerials, the moguls, of course, with Jacare, a genuine chance. Other events are Australia that, you know, ultimately, I mean, curling again, very slim chance, but I mean, don't completely rule it out. Moguls, as we've said. I mean, even look at someone like Sammy Kennedy Sim in the Ski Cross. She's a veteran now. She's been around for a while, but she can pull out of it. You know, it's a very unpredictable event. Ski Cross, of course, can always happen. You never know with that. Brendan Corey, we've stolen another Canadian. This is Dale Begsmith 2.0. Canadian short track speed skater who I think couldn't make the Canadian team, and he had, I think, Australian parents, so he's come out here. And finished fifth in a World Cup recently and ranked 11th in the world. So we could be, again, the second Dale Begsmith colon. We could have another Canadian winning a medal for us, so you're welcome. Jarrod, you mentioned before Jackie Naracot and the Skeleton recently won a gold medal in a World Cup event. First time Australia's ever won a medal in Skeleton. So absolute chance there for us to get a medal in Skeleton. We've never won a medal in any sliding event, so we've got a bobsled and a Skeleton chance. Sorry to Alex, I'm sure if, you know, Luge, not completely, you know, wipe him out, but, you know, potential there. Snowboard Cross, obviously with Bell Brockhoff, always a genuine chance. And as I said in the Mix Relay, her and Jared Hughes are reigning World Champions in that event, so you never know with that one. Scotty James in the half pipe, of course, always a chance. Just recently won the X Games gold medal, even though I think his two biggest rivals weren't there. But hey, congratulations to Scotty James too. Soon to join Canadian royalty. He's officially engaged to Chloe Stroll, so her father-in-law will be basically the richest man in Canada, and her brother-in-law is a Formula One driver. His brother-in-law. So welcome to the half... You can claim Scotty James as kind of like half Canadian now, Colin. So that works as well. And Tess Cody in the slope style is a big chance, having won the bronze in the World Champs last year as well. So look, there's a potential here if everything goes our way, Jarrah. We could end up with like six medals. But again, not probably there. I'll get to the predictions shortly. Don't give your answer yet, Jarrah. But I mean, six medals, are we wishing too hard there?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I'm optimistic. I kind of feel like it's possible.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, yeah, I like the... You know, when Jarrah says it, it's fine. When Colin and I say it, it's jinxed. So watch this space. Before we get to the predictions, the other ones I just wanted to quickly touch on before we close out with some other things. New Zealand are getting a bit cocky. All right, I just want to point this out because they're medallists from Pyeongchang. Nico Portius and, you know, I'm going to butcher this Zoe Sadowski-Sinott. I think I got that correctly. They're coming into this with very good form. And the New Zealanders think they can come away with two gold medals. Now, New Zealand has never won a gold medal in the Winter Olympics before. I mean, it took them fucking like 16 years to get, 26 years, I should say, to get a couple more from their silver back in Alba Ville. But Jarrod, again, there's this risk that New Zealand could win more gold medals in a Winter Olympics. It's all well and good for them to do well in a Summer Olympics because, you know, sure. But like we can't all of a sudden have New Zealand beating us in fucking Winter Olympics. Now, what's this chance of Zoe and Nico?
JARROD LOOBEEK: No, it's not going to happen.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, I'm going to be watching the bloody half pipe skiing now in the fucking big air. Crash New Zealand, crash. Colin, do you give a shit about New Zealand or you just you don't really care?
COLIN HILDING: I care enough to see Ben worked up when New Zealand wins a gold or two.
BEN WATERWORTH: I would rather New Zealand win two gold than Britain win two gold. I'll say that. I'll say that. And as we learnt from Casey the other day that the Brits have got a chance in Cross-Cross, I don't want the Brits to win medals in Cross-Country skiing. That just feels wrong. That's like Canada winning a medal in cricket. Like it doesn't... I can't also not mention the queen of the Olympics. Not Chloe. She's the queen of the Summer Olympics. Ester, of course, coming in, defending a gold. But she's added another event. Ester, she's doing the downhill. She's actually podiumed a couple of times. Like she can win three gold at these Olympics. She's competing basically, though, on day four, seven, and eleven. So she's got a stacked schedule. I'm calling her for the Czech flag bearer. I tell you now, Czech Republic, you don't give her the flag bearer. I'm invading Prague. I don't know how to do it, but like I'm doing it somehow. And I love... I read an interview with her, and basically she has told everyone around her, they're not allowed to mention the O word. They're not allowed to call it the Olympics. They've called it like the event or something like that.
COLIN HILDING: I thought you were going to say it's gone so much to her head, now she calls it the Ledeckas.
BEN WATERWORTH: Actually, they call it the friendly. That's what they call it. And if anybody says the word Olympics, they have to pay a 10 euro fine. It's like a swear jar. So she's in the zonest. And she's like... She should be a lock in the parallel giant slalom. I think she's like podiumed in like the last 15 events in a row, and like half of them are gold. She's like the McHale Kingsbury of the giant slalom. The parallel giant slalom is snowboarding, but still a shot in the Super G to defend that and downhill again. So I'm calling it three medals for Ester. I've just jinxed her probably with that as well.
COLIN HILDING: I think she might even come in at the last minute on mixed doubles curling. It's just unannounced and somehow come away with a medal.
BEN WATERWORTH: There is a Czech team in there. The Czech Republic are making their curl. So hey, she's available. And look at the hockey. Men and women. She's just like, she everyone gets COVID.
COLIN HILDING: Now we know who's winning our Olympic Royal Rumble at the end of the games too.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's Ester, Ester Republic. That's what it is. The Queen. We already know she's got Athlete of the Games. I'm calling it now. I will throw a chair. I'm on the 16th floor. I can throw shit over the balcony. So I can really get fucking mad if Ester doesn't win the Daily Dale, which can I just say, officially, as we put on our social media the other day, our Athlete of the Day is now called the Daily Dale. I'm not saying in the memorandum, he's not dead, but we don't know if he's dead or not. We don't hear from him. He's probably been dead. The legendary Dale Begsmith, the Canadian Australian.
COLIN HILDING: I saw the graphic for that. I want one of those to hang around my neck.
BEN WATERWORTH: Isn't that the greatest thing ever? Come on, we should get one of them made. And legitimately, we'll get 16 of them made and send them out to everybody. Jarrod, do you think that would be the hottest medal to ever win in Australia or around the world? Basically, having little Dale Begsmith hanging around your neck?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, I feel like that's way more impressive than an Olympic medal. So maybe, I don't know, trade it in. Trade it in for the daily Dale.
BEN WATERWORTH: I just actually want to say right now, Brisbane 2032 Olympic mascot, Dale Begsmith. Just a little Dale. That's all it is. Sitting on a pile of money and an Olympic gold. All the email spam accounts hanging around him. I know he's not from Queensland. Probably never been to Queensland in his life.
COLIN HILDING: His face also coming out of an eggshell. Stuck in a door.
BEN WATERWORTH: We'll get to find him first. I love when you literally Google Dale Begsmith in news, and it comes up with like, the elusive Dale Begsmith may be competing in the Olympics. Oh, he's making a comeback. The articles from Sochi just shows up. How you doing, Doug? Good. Yep, yep, sweet. This guy cannot be found. They found Osama Bin Laden before they found Dale Begsmith. So, just a legend. And this is the thing. This is what I love about his enigma is the fact that, again, ask any Australian who is the most successful winter Olympian of all time. They're never going to guess Dale Begsmith. They don't even know who he is. Like, he's our third ever winter Olympic gold medallist and no one knows. Oh, the Daily Dale. I hope all our winter Olympians, if you're listening, bugger winning gold. Like, you know, McHale Kingsbury didn't win the gold, but I won the Daily Dale. See, it was Ester Ledecka. Oh, I didn't win any gold, but I got the Daily Dale. The Trinidad and Tobago bobsled team. That's all they want. It's the Daily Dale. Little Dale Wigsmith hanging around their neck. Oh, God, what a man. Seriously, just want to hug him. Want to put him in a door. Want to put him in my pocket. And one thing I'm also excited for too, that we're going to do during the games, is each day we're going to have a dedicated day celebrating... I've called them, obviously, I put it out to you, if you want to do a Canadian one as well. I've got the Australian ones ready to go, so you've obviously got a few more Winter Olympians to get through. So, then Australia. But each day, we'll be celebrating an iconic Australian Winter Olympian by calling it a certain day. So, Colin, you're going to get angry, you're going to throw a chair every day as an Australian. Well, I'm warning you now that, you know, one of the days will be Dale Bigg Smith Day, just saying, to spoil the rest.
COLIN HILDING: I love how everything gets mixed up, because the chair throwing was actually a French boxer.
BEN WATERWORTH: Don't change the narrative of what happened, Colin. Jarrod and I remember. All right, we were there. Like, Petty Alexiak, Petty Alexiak, Petty Alexiak. You're still fucking saying you're the Thomas Barber of the show.
COLIN HILDING: Let me give another shout out to Anthony Rocky, who just this past weekend brought that up again and said, I am rarely on your side, but I'm 100% on your side. Thank you, Rocky.
BEN WATERWORTH: He doesn't count. He put Octopussy as his number one favourite. His number one Bond film gives him no credibility. Come on, even Jarrod. I don't know how much you know about the Bond film, Jarrod, but even you know no one puts Octopussy at number one, right?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Surely not.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, like, come on. Like, just stop it. The guy doesn't even have a name that people remember. They call him Rocky. Like, Jesus Christ. He's the New Zealand of the Oz Network podcast host. Like, you kind of feel sorry for the guy.
COLIN HILDING: As a tribute to Anthony Rocky, maybe we should come up with an American athlete today and call it the Daily Rockies.
BEN WATERWORTH: And every single day, I just want you to choose a Daily Rocky of, like, the most random, obscure. Because, like, you know even Rocky, we go, huh? Who? Like, what? What are we doing here? I didn't know I was meant to watch that. What are you talking about? Again, I keep saying, before we get to the predictions, we're, I like how, when I say I like how we, you two have no idea about this, but calling, we've had 25 athletes have been on this show who are competing at these Olympics. Well, 24 in the Olympics and one in the Paralympics. So we're calling it Team OTP, right? Because, like, this is a team in itself. We could be sending this right now. So we'll have our own medal tally and everything. I'm hopeful. I'm saying now, like, the curse in the purse, we had that phrase during Tokyo because of the medals one, but still no gold. We've not had a guest be on this show and go on to win a gold medal. And from my perspective, only had the one bronze medal, and that was in a relay. Does that really count? And still no Australian athletes have won a medal since being on this show. I'm saying it now. It's done. The curse is in the purse. And we'll get to when we get to our prediction. I'm saying we're getting gold, and one of them will be an Australian. So, Colin, how are you feeling in terms of some of our former guests going on to do OK during these? I mean, we know Jack's going to win a Paralympic gold. Sorry, Team Canada, but the Sledge Hockey is going back to USA. But how are you feeling outside of Jack and who else we've got competing for, for Team OTP?
COLIN HILDING: I felt great about it until you had to open your big mouth and draw attention to it. Now we have no chance to put this in the purse.
BEN WATERWORTH: Wow, that's hurtful. I mean, in all fairness, a couple who didn't qualify were obviously still very sad for Ash, who ultimately didn't make the bobsled team.
COLIN HILDING: At this point, we know that Ben somehow can put a curse on his own curse.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, when they don't even qualify.
COLIN HILDING: Yeah, yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Come on. I mean, looking at some of the names, I mean, like Eric, surely get a medal at least in the team if he gets chosen there. I mean, Jason, as well.
COLIN HILDING: A team is the equivalent of a relay.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, I mean, Eric's got a chance, doesn't he, with his new partner in the pairs? He's got a bit of a chance, but Charles, come on. He's wanting to go out there and do that. Going there, I mean, our ski jumping girls, in Canada, their first ever medal. Come on, we've got Taylor out there in the Nordic Combined for Team USA. I mean, we've got some good names here. I haven't even named the proper medal chances. You know, Charles, how are you feeling? I mean, you weren't involved in any of them. You can jinx all you like. It doesn't matter to you, but I mean, we've got 24. I think we had like eight in Tokyo, nine in Tokyo. This is like a stacked field.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Oh, yeah, it's a lock. It's a golden lock, team Off The Podium. I think they're going to be right up there on the metal tally. Top 10 on the metal tally. We'll look out for them.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's not that hard to win to them. Legitimately, like, again, this is literally, let's bookmark this clip and play it in our rap. But like, we've got the frickin, the number one chance of a gold medal, Laura Peele, was on this show. So if she doesn't win, it's our fault. So hello to all our listeners listening in to our rap episode. Glad to you to join us again. But we cost Laura Peele the gold. But I'm saying she's winning the gold. That's my prediction. So Colin's still not saying anything. He's just completely...
COLIN HILDING: I'm not even joking. Like, this isn't even just something for the show. Like, I'm legitimately nervous about what we could do.
BEN WATERWORTH: I will cry. I will cry. Because like the same day this has been released, our Athletes To Watch episode where we play snippets of each of our guests. The couple, obviously, that we didn't play snippets of, Belle, Sammy, Brendan, Charles, and Kalani, obviously all appeared on before Pyeongchang. So we haven't talked to them since Pyeongchang, but they're back. But I mean, again, Belle, legitimate chance. You know, Charles, we know it there. And Sammy, as I said, a bit of a chance they're going into it. But hashtag team OTP, get behind it. We've put the graphic up on social media, celebrating each of them. And actually, fun fact, 13 out of the 15 sports we've had an athlete on from, and we will have athletes competing every single day of these Olympics. So it's not like Tokyo, where we can be like, none of our former guests are competing today. Literally every day of the Olympics, we will have one of our guests competing. So we're busy. We'll be out and jinx them every single fucking day, apparently. So get excited for that. Predictions time. Now, I've actually got a surprise to spring on you both as a tiebreaker, which I'll get to. But this is a part where we each predict where we think, well, what medals we think both Canada and Australia are going to win. Now, if I'm not mistaken, Colin got this column one in Tokyo. Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: I had a pretty wild prediction.
BEN WATERWORTH: Dale of that. So I could be wrong. Jarrod, am I right there? You've got a better memory than I do.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Sounds right to me.
COLIN HILDING: I think I predicted like 30 medals for Australia. So if I got it right, well, but then again, Ben probably predicted 190.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, I mean, they're not Norway, but you know. So I'll just quickly say, because again, I don't know if you've already, you've both done this, and this might change your opinions, but The Grace note their final prediction going into the Olympics. So they're saying that Canada are going to win six gold, six silver, 10 bronze, and 22 in total will finish fifth. You'll actually apparently finish equal with the US on total medals, but they'll win one more gold than you. So sorry, Team Canada. And for Australia, they're now saying that we will win two gold, one silver, one bronze, four in total for finishing 15th on the medal tally. They're saying New Zealand will win two gold and a bronze. Jesus, Grace note, you're doing all right there with the Kiwis. And Czech Republic, two gold and two bronze. So I'm saying the two gold for Ester and a bronze for Ester and somebody else going on there. Jarrod, would you like to go first with Canada? How do you think Canada are going to go during these Olympics?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I think that Canada will win eight gold, eight silver and eight bronze.
BEN WATERWORTH: Simple. You've gone down. You did that with Tokyo, I believe, didn't you, with 777? Was that what you did?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I think so, yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, okay. All right.
JARROD LOOBEEK: The Canadian thing, you know, being polite and keeping things even.
BEN WATERWORTH: Keeping it on the, keeping on that stretch. Okay, I like that. Colin, give me your prediction for Canada.
COLIN HILDING: Well, we were almost at 30 last time, right?
BEN WATERWORTH: You were on the grand total of the medals that include the total number. Oh, I had this open before.
JARROD LOOBEEK: 29, I think. 11 gold, 8 silver, 10 bronze.
BEN WATERWORTH: Thank you, Jarrod.
COLIN HILDING: You do very well. I'm going to go with 26. I'll go with 9 gold. I'll go with 7 silver and 10 bronze.
BEN WATERWORTH: Okay, well, I've gone for 7 gold, 6 silver, and 11 bronze. Jarrod, you and I are both on 24. I think we had the same number for that last time, but different spread there. So I feel you're going to get a very bronzed games, these Olympics, Colin, but 7, 6, 11 for me. Australia, and this is where I feel like we can even name where we think these medals are going to come from. Colin, let's start with you for Australia. Let's go over a quick history lesson, people. 94, one medal, 98, one medal, 2002, two medals, 2006, two medals, 2010, three medals, 2014, three medals, 2018, three medals. So there's a pattern going on here. No gold since 2010, of course. But anyway, Colin, how's Australia going?
COLIN HILDING: I am calling five total, two bronze, two silver, one gold.
BEN WATERWORTH: I like this five number, though. You've splurged for us. Jarrod.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I am going one gold, two silver, and one bronze.
BEN WATERWORTH: So for the four, okay. Nice. All right. I'm going to ask you both. Where's the gold coming from for you, Jarrod?
COLIN HILDING: Ariel's.
JARROD LOOBEEK: It's coming from the Snowboard Cross.
BEN WATERWORTH: Oh, for Bell?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Oh, I'd love to see it. And that would be an Off The Podium gold. So yes. You're saying Ariel's, Colin?
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Okay, well, Jarrod, you and I have got the same number. I've gone for four, but I've gone for two gold, zero silver, and two bronze. I'm saying it will be gold for Laura. I'm saying it will be gold for Jakara. There you go. She's pulling the the the Dale. I'm saying it's going to be a bronze for Jared and Bell in the the relay. And I'm saying bronze for Brit, not Brit, sorry, for Bree in the in the monobob. We're going to get a bronze in the monobob.
COLIN HILDING: I was thinking monobob for one of the medals, too.
BEN WATERWORTH: I like it. I like it. Jarrod, are we feeling monobob on across the board or you're not feeling the monobob love?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I'm not feeling the monobob. I think we're going to get a silver in the aerials and moguls, both in the women's. And then I reckon Scotty James is bringing home another bronze in the half pipe.
BEN WATERWORTH: OK, I'm saying Danny is going to be fourth in the aerials. It's going to be tragedy. Like we're going to get a first and a fourth. It's going to be that close to the double meddling going in that way as well. The tiebreaker. Now, I just want to hold this up to prove to you that I haven't.
COLIN HILDING: Rock, paper, scissors. Three, two, one.
BEN WATERWORTH: No. So the tiebreaker. And again, as I said, I have not done this already. I haven't cheated. I want us to predict Norway's medal tally. Again, I'm not even going to tell you the grace note prediction. I'm not going to tell you what they got last Olympics. Just throw me some numbers right now. How many medals are Norway going to win? I'll even go first if you want me to, because again, I haven't done this.
COLIN HILDING: You go first because I'm Googling their last Olympics.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, you two can cheat. I'll do this off the top of my head. I'm going 14 gold, 17 silver and 32 bronze. I don't even know if that's possible in the Winter Olympics, but fucking Norway just shit it in. I think the last thing I read in Gray's Note was that they predicted this is going to be a record breaker for Norway. So if I had that up, that's probably more medals that exist, because there's only 109 events in the Winter Olympics. They're going to win basically half of them. There's 63 medals here for Norway. I don't think anyone's ever won 63 medals in the Winter Olympics before. Norway is shitting it in. Colin, go for it.
COLIN HILDING: I'll go a little bit more conservative. I'll go 14 gold. I'll go 15 silver. And I will go 16 bronze. 14, 15, 16.
BEN WATERWORTH: So that is 45 off the top of my head in total. All right, Jarrod, we know you love your Norway.
JARROD LOOBEEK: I do, but I feel like it's not going to be a great year for them. So 13 gold, 16 silver, and 10 bronze.
BEN WATERWORTH: So that's 39. All right. So as a grace note, a saying that they will come home with 22 gold. Fuck me. Maybe we're under predicting the fucking hell. Norway. Fuck.
COLIN HILDING: Fuck Norway.
BEN WATERWORTH: Stop winning.
COLIN HILDING: At that rate, we might as well just send all our athletes home.
BEN WATERWORTH: 45 in total. So they're predicting you, Colin. Jesus fucking Christ. Every day, I just want to have Norway watch. Just like, you know, I'm sick of bagging out the French and the British. All that. It's taking it like, but like, no, I'm seriously worried for global safety with Norway. Like, it's just like, they're getting too good. This is just under the radar. It's like, oh, watch out for the China, Chinese, and then watch out for these. Russia's coming back now. They're going to invade Ukraine. And fuck all of them. Norway, like, lock your doors. Sweden and Finland and Denmark, Scandinavia, Iceland. Jesus Christ, you're for the taking. I just, whatever, Norway, cool. Yeah, it's here. It's the Olympics here. I mean, again, time releasing. This is where curling started. We've got the moguls qualifying, I believe, happening the same day as this been dropped. And then we've got some ice hockey games and figure skating. I believe the men's solo begins on opening ceremony day. Opening ceremony. We've said this, like, for the last fucking three of these goddamn preview things. Are we going to have a good one? I mean, it's China. They put on a great opening ceremony. So, I mean, we're Jew. We like, again, like we hated Rio, but then Rio looks fantastic compared to what came in Byungchang and Tokyo. So, and I barely even remember Sochi's opening ceremony. I still think London was the last good one we had. Jarrod, are we having a good opening ceremony? Is this the time to put the curse on the person, the shit opening ceremony?
JARROD LOOBEEK: I think so. Provided, I feel like the big thing, provided they just, like in typical China fashion, just pretend coronavirus doesn't exist, then this will go great. I know people on a treadmill running by themselves. I just want, just, just, it's China. Just stack people in there and get them to do like synchronised choreography and whatever it is. It'll be great.
BEN WATERWORTH: I want the drums back. Seriously, those, like the drummers from the 2008 openings. I mean, that was just one of the greatest things we've ever seen in an opening ceremony. So, like, surely they're not busy. Like, I mean, they just gone on global drumming tours for the last 14. I'm sure we didn't get Psy and Pyeongchang. So, I mean, for fuck's sake, bring back the drummers. Colin, is this what we're happening? Is this finally a good opening ceremony?
COLIN HILDING: Yeah, I would be shocked if it wasn't spectacular. Because this is Beijing, and they are trying to show everybody else up. But what I want is I want a treadmill on there. I want Bing Duan Duan to be stuck on the treadmill somehow. Like Bing Duan Duan's foot gets caught underneath the conveyor belt. I want them to play up on all the bad opening ceremonies. Like, this is going to become the parody of all the opening ceremonies that come beforehand. That's the way that China should do it.
BEN WATERWORTH: And Dale Begg Smith emerges. Any predictions? Any predictions of who will light the cauldron? Of all our great winter Chinese athletes that we all know off the top of our head? Yep.
COLIN HILDING: Them and then there's also that guy.
BEN WATERWORTH: There was that great figure skater. I can't remember their name. I can't remember if it was a male or a female. Legitimately, I could name some Chinese summer athletes. I feel that I couldn't even tell you who is a medallist in Chinese winter. I feel bad. I should have, as a researcher now, I should be looking this up. If I can quickly Google this shit. List of Olympic medallists for China. Here we go. All right, this is going to be a very stacked list of summer Olympians. Yes, it is. I'm just waiting till I see the first winter sport on this list, and there's like none. So, Jesus Christ, this is great podcasting, isn't it? Oh, here we go. The first ever medallist was Yan Li in Albaville in short track speed skating. She got a silver. She will light the cauldron. It's all on you, Yan. You will light the cauldron. You light the shit out of that cauldron. You get that flame and you burn it.
COLIN HILDING: Just stand in the middle of the flame.
BEN WATERWORTH: Light yourself on fire. Just stand there, light yourself on fire. Be like for China. And then everybody will be like, yes, China. That's simple. We will be straight after the opening ceremony, a bit late for Jarrod and I, a bit early for Colin, but we will come on, we will talk about it. We'll give our first daily day, or for day zero, and we'll look ahead and we'll be here every single day doing the rap, literally a rap, we will come in like, yo, yo, yo, it's D4, and get pumped and excited.
COLIN HILDING: Can you go stand in the flame after that?
BEN WATERWORTH: Probably, I probably deserve it after that one. We're not too sure about commentary, if that will be happening. We'll do our best when it comes to it, obviously. That's where it kind of, you know, I mean, we did a bit in Rio, but who can forget Jarrod's mogul mogul mogul mogul call, of course, so maybe we'll have that going for us. So stay tuned, all of course on social media, follow off the podium, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, YouTube as well. You can see some of our great interviews that we've had in the lead up to this and sportspodcastawards.com. You're sick of the ad at the beginning, you're sick of the ad at the end, but at the time of recording this, we're still winning. So get on board. There's like a month left of voting, so we want to win something. Jarrod, how many times have you voted? Come on. Yeah, look at this. That's why we're winning. It's all thanks to Jarrod. Colin, you voted at all. Do you give a shit?
COLIN HILDING: I'm somewhere in between one and three times.
BEN WATERWORTH: That's a good start. There we go. So if you're listening and you want to be like Colin, vote twice and help us out.
COLIN HILDING: And you know what? If nothing else, this will break the curse. I'm calling it. This will break the curse. We will be the first gold medallist.
BEN WATERWORTH: You know what? We probably will be. And then come Paris. Fuck, it's gonna flow. I mean, do we count the Commonwealth Games? You know, we'll see how that goes. But we'll vote for us. Seriously, we would absolutely appreciate that. But we'll be back tomorrow. Opening ceremony review. Bing on, bring duen duen. I was gonna say bring on bing duen duen, but bing on, bing duen duen for the cauldron. Light him on fire. Tuck in a toy. Like, come on, let's sneak it outside the box. Like, the organising committee is like, fuck, we had our mascot. Put him in the fire. Well, Shui Ron Ron's a lantern. So come the Paralympics, they could literally light Shui Ron Ron's. I mean, you're welcome, Beijing organising committee. You can steal all these ideas. Jarrod, thank you very much for joining us. Bring on the winters and bring on bing duen duen. You'll come around eventually.
JARROD LOOBEEK: Yeah, we'll see. It was good fun.
BEN WATERWORTH: Colin, last chance to name some names. This is going to be fun every single day when it's like, hey, tomorrow we've got Insert Athlete here competing for a gold medal for Canada. And you're like, the next day, I called it. I told you that Mikhail will win.
COLIN HILDING: I am getting my list ready of all the top medal hopefuls from Norway. The great nation of Norway. And I will name those names.
BEN WATERWORTH: Oh, you can pronounce them. You will get the Daily Dale. Colin's got Daily Dale coming in now to see him off. Thanks to everyone for joining us. Bring on Beijing. We're pumped. As always, special shout out to Jason Momoa. Until next time, go left. What an episode, you loved every single second of it. It's Ben again, just quickly reminding you once again, if you want to help us win a sports podcast award, sportspodcastawards.com, register to vote, click on Best Olympic and Paralympic Podcast section, listen to the other nominees, and then go, hey, Off The Podium's awesome. They're so good. They put in so much work and so much effort, and we just love them, and they deserve to go on the podium for once. Ben's awesome, Jarrod's awesome, Colin's okay, but he's also kind of awesome. We'd really appreciate it, and particularly if you've actually listened to the rest of this and ended up here, because generally I assume you're well and truly tuned out by now. But seriously, if you're at this point of the podcast, then you're a true listener, and that means that you're a true fan, and you should vote for us. sportspodcastawards.com, do it now. We will thank you forever, literally ever, like every episode moving forward. We will thank you forever. sportspodcastawards.com. All right, thanks for tuning in. We'll speak to you next time on Off The Podium. I'm really gonna go now. Bye.
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