Flame Bearers Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals

This episode is co-hosted by Michelle's son, Cody. As Michelle shares, "If you want to know who I am, Cody has been with me through it all." According to Cody, growing up, "my classmates and teachers would pull me aside and say, 'we know who your Mom is,' but for me, she was just my Mom." Michelle was born 6 years before Title IX, and never got to watch women compete growing up. Her hero was Super Bowl champ, Mean Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle. She didn't have a professional predecessor, so she became the Mean Joe Green – and more – of women’s soccer. Legendary USA coach Tony DiCicco described her as “the best woman that has ever played.” She played on the first USWNT (the 1985 team!), won the first Women's World Cup and Golden Boot (‘91), was the first women's player to gain global fame, the first player to sign a shoe deal, and was named FIFA Player of the Century ('00). Throughout it all, Michelle's journey has been characterized by her unbridled love of the game, an unwillingness to deal with BS (she always keeps it real and calls a spade a spade), and a prioritization of her family and teammates. In fact, this ENTIRE 1985 series was her idea, as she wanted to give credit to her teammates for the foundational role they have played in the USWNT. In Michelle's story she shares about her ups and downs, her battles with U.S. Soccer, and her life today with son Cody on the farm. We hear from Anson Dorrance (Women's Soccer Coach, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill & Former Coach, USWNT), Jill Ellis (President, San Diego Wave & Former Coach, USWNT), Lesle Gallimore (GM, Seattle Reign FC & Michelle's Former USWNT Pool Teammate), and Heather O'Reilly (USWNT and TST teammates). To write a letter thanking Michelle or anyone on the original USWNT, please send it to marissap@flamebearers.com Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

It’s been a few months since the World Cup, but we committed to telling the stories of the entire first USWNT, so we tracked down one of the two outstanding players. Here she is! Tara Buckley O'Sullivan, grew up doing everything with her twin sister, Moira. The duo would go to their older brother's soccer games, and then their younger brother's games. When Tara and Moira were watching younger brother, Danny play, his coach asked Mrs. Buckley, "why don't you dress your girls up like cheerleaders and they can cheer for their younger brother?" Tara's response? "Heck no! We wanna play!" So Mrs. Buckley stepped up and became their coach. She didn't really know soccer, but she knew playing was important to the girls, so she made sure they could. Fast forward and Tara became UConn’s first 4x All-American in women's soccer. Throughout it all, she describes her teams as "in it for the love of the game," a love she imparted to her children in whatever sports they chose to pursue be it lacrosse, taekwondo, or more recently golf. Since retiring from soccer, Tara credits her family as being her rock... and the feeling is mutual as we hear from husband Mike, son Timothy, and daughter, Caitlin. Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

Yes, it’s been a few months since the World Cup, but we committed to telling the stories of the entire first USWNT, so we tracked down one of the two outstanding players. Here she is! Sharon was the first woman to be named U.S. Soccer Player of the Year and according to Michelle Akers, she's the ultimate badass. "You showed up at the game on a motorcycle and picture me, I'm just sitting on the ground, just happy to be there and totally intimidated, but you, Sharon show up on this motorcycle, and you're Joan Jett...In my mind, when you were on that US team, there was no one better." How Sharon got there isn't a traditional story either (not that there even was a path to the USWNT because it didn't exist). Sharon was first introduced to soccer because "Mom wanted me out of the house" once she picked up a habit of doing things with her feet. Sharon had just watched a TV program on a woman born without arms; the woman was sitting on a stool threading a needle with her toes, and given that Sharon always wanted to be prepared, she immediately started learning how to do things with her feet. "Stuff happens to people" and I "wanted to be prepared if I were to lose my arms." To her Mom's chagrin, Sharon started using her feet to open doorknobs and doing all housework. Her Mom soon thereafter decided Sharon's feet would be better used playing soccer. Since playing, Sharon has had jobs ranging from carpenter to travel agent and coach, and she just completed illustrating a brand new children's book: The Other Side Of Nowhere: A Jack and Sabrina Adventure (link to purchase below). When asked why it's important people know the stories of the 1985 USWNT she shares, "you always have to have try and to push the limits because there's always going to be somebody somewhere that's going to try to keep you from doing what you want to do. If you want to, you want a better place in the world, you got to do a little bit more. Aim high and go." TO PURCHASE SHARON'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTLBLKH9?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_GG624XWC56EBY7A7P9VB&language=en_US -------- Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

Kim Crabbe was the first African-American to roster on the USWNT. She was on the 1986 team, but given that we've been telling the stories of the original USWNT trailblazers, Kim needed to be celebrated. According to longtime friend and soccer leader, Samuel Okpodu, Kim is the "Cinderella of soccer...Today everybody's enjoying it, but nobody remembers how it all started. Kim started it all" at a time when black girls didn't really play soccer. According to sister, Kacey, while their Mom originally wanted them to play more "girly girl sports," soccer was what the siblings were into, so "Kim led the way" and Mom was incredibly supportive. And while Kim tore it up on the field (first for George Mason University and then the USWNT), she's never hung up her cleats because for her, the game is a means to serve. As the Outreach Program Director, Wilmington Hammerheads Youth Football Club and more recently Founder and CEO of her nonprofit, Outreach of Cape Fear, Kim has used soccer to support thousands of youth. Her nonprofit bridges the gap for disadvantaged and at-risk youth in Southeastern North Carolina through soccer and mentorship. As Kim shares, "Soccer has been my tool for reaching people and my overarching calling is service." This rings true to sister, Kacey, who shares, "our mother raised us with great integrity in finding your sense of purpose, and then passing that on to others." Kim was inducted into the Virginia-DC Hall of Fame (2016), received the Black Soccer Coaches Advocacy Group Award of Excellence (2018), Centennial NAACP Youth Services Award (2019), and the Youth Coach of the Year Award (2021). Most recently in 2022, U.S. Soccer established an award in her name: The Kim Crabbe Game Changers Award celebrating diversity, inclusion, and belonging within the soccer community. Contributing guests include Kacey Crabbe Jefferson (Kim's sister), Laurie Curry (Kim's best friend), Richard White (Kim's Coach growing up), Logan Martinez (Coach Kim's soccer player), Jazmine Crabbe-Harris (Kim's daughter), Samuel Okpodu (longtime friend and soccer leader), Sully Hamid (longtime friend), and Lisa Pittaro (George Mason and USWNT teammate). Learn more about Kim's nonprofit here: http://outreachofcapefear.org/ Join the Outreach of Cape Fear Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/902619116834747 Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

Denise was a swimmer, diver, gymnast, and track and field athlete before becoming a soccer player at 14. That said, Washington had strong support for women's soccer at the time, so once she was hooked, she was all in on soccer. Hilariously, Denise and Michelle have a moment where they both share how they felt playing against each other. Hint: they were both intimidated. As Denise offers, Michelle and others were her "idols back then...I tried to get my game up to be able to handle them." Michelle replies, "you and your team were so good. I might've not looked like I was intimidated, but inside I was like, 'holy shit.'" Flash forward to 1985, and Denise became one of the captains of the first USWNT, not surprising as leadership was and still is a trait Denise is known for. We hear from former teammate, Jan (who speaks with us live from the Women's World Cup) who describes Denise as "very intense and focused" with "exceptional leadership" and "loads of fun." And Denise's dedication to the sport didn't end with her professional retirement. She became a commissioner because she wanted to "promote competitive play for younger people" In this episode, Denise shares about Walking Soccer. Learn more here: https://www.whatcomadultsoccer.com/walk-soccer

Pam was working in the credit department of JCPenney when she got a call from The Washington Post asking her about making the first U.S. Women's National Team -- she hadn't heard from U.S. Soccer yet, so she wasn't sure what was happening. The Post had the scoop -- she was on the team. The first USWNT. Flash forward and though she's no longer a professional player, she's held onto her competitive spirit. Over the years, she's hiked the Appalachian Trail. 3 TIMES. She jumped into coaching young girls, always emphasizing "playing for the love of the game." She adventures in a camper van and runs competitively in road races, a love that her son, Nick shares (he's an ultra marathoner). Despite all of the incredible accolades and adventures Pam has wracked up, she cites her marriage with husband, Glenn (her #1 fan) and their two sons as what she's most proud of. "That's what I lead with," she says, often not sharing the USWNT part of her life with newer friends. Fear not -- Glenn makes sure everyone knows... And he's been with Pam every step of the way. Glenn recalls hearing Pam's name being read off every morning in school assembly because "she was so good at every sport." They finally met in P.E. class and the rest is history. When asked why the world needs to hear Pam and her teammates' stories, Glenn offers, "It's so important to always think back about the people that were the first." Pam was one of those pioneers. Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

*Content Warning: This episode includes stories of sexual abuse. This production contains material of a highly sensitive nature including stories of sexual grooming and manipulation that may be triggering. Resources provided below.* Cindy remembers going to her brothers' soccer games to watch. "They didn't have girls soccer then, and I was dying to play... I remember standing on the sidelines thinking, 'Oh, well, maybe somebody will get hurt and they won't have enough players and the coach will look over and say, you. Girl. You look like you could play. Do you want to join?'" That never happened. But Title IX did, and then there was a girls team. Cindy immediately signed up. And from the start, soccer was clearly Cindy's game, as sister, Valerie describes Cindy as the "sporty tomboy." While Cindy went on to break countless records and play on the first USWNT, her story isn't only one of success. Her story is also one of suffering, warning, and solidarity. Cindy's youth soccer coach sexually abused her. When asked if she's comfortable sharing, she thoughtfully replies, "Of course it's uncomfortable, but I feel it's really important to share because I think that's another epidemic: sexual abuse of female athletes." In this episode, Cindy shares what she wants the world to hear. Contributing experts include Amy Carnell (Cindy''s friend and survivor, sexual abuse) and Valerie (Cindy's sister). RESOURCES ON SEXUAL GROOMING: -Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)'s Warning Signs of Sexual Grooming: https://www.rainn.org/news/grooming-know-warning-signs -RAINN'S 24/7 sexual assault hotline: https://www.rainn.org/resources -Overview from the American Bar Association on Understanding Sexual Grooming in Child Abuse Cases: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_interest/child_law/resources/child_law_practiceonline/child_law_practice/vol-34/november-2015/understanding-sexual-grooming-in-child-abuse-cases/ -Victim Support: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/you-co/types-crime/sex-crimes/grooming/ Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

While Kathy (or Ridgey as she was called) had older sisters, she grew up playing with the boys, and doing so in what SHE wanted to wear. Just as Kathy started public elementary school, the rules changed to allow girls to wear pants (Kathy's older sisters had been required to wear dresses or skirts). As Kathy shares, Mom "tried to get me in dresses on picture day, and I would sneak out my brother's hand me downs." Michelle can relate... By fourth grade, Kathy was faster than all of the kids in her school. She "always had speed on her side." She cites the "old man on the bicycle" as one of the most influential people on her game sharing, "He was just this old soccer guy and because there was no soccer anywhere, and the kids were playing, he gave me a couple of pointers on how to do one on ones." And that changed everything. To the "old man," wherever you are, thank you for coaching and inspiring one of the legends of the first USWNT. We hear from soccer teammate Diana Inch, who played with Kathy for years and against Michelle, so was along for the "rollercoaster of soccer." Flash forward to today, and Kathy is the Assistant Director, Innovation and Performance in the Washington State Office of the Governor. She explains what that means but essentially, she holds state agencies accountable for "moving towards equitable solutions." Takeaway: Kathy hasn't only broken barriers in soccer, but also in the statehouse. Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

Nobody in Ann's family played soccer, so at 12, she went to the town firehouse to sign herself up -- she strategically jotted down "goalie" because she thought it increased her odds of making the team. Flash forward to UVA, and Ann is playing field hockey to help with the costs, yet she returned home on weekends without games to play soccer. UVA didn't have a women's soccer team at the time. After making the first USWNT in 1985, Ann became an engineer, partially because of the work-life balance, so she could spend evenings playing soccer and coaching. By now, she's coached the game at every level possible and her players and daughters have the stories to prove it. We hear from her former player, Anna, daughters, Kim and Kelly, and friends Helen and Matt, all who share their love for Ann...and a few funny stories about her climbing trees, be it to get a better view of a soccer match or just waiting for a daughter after practice. Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

Kim Wyant is used to being the first. She recorded the first USWNT goalkeeper win, the first shutout, the first anterior ACL injury (was the first goalie to be replaced by a field player, shoutout Lori Henry), was one of the first female BMX riders, and as of eight years ago (in 2015) became the only female head coach of an NCAA men’s soccer team (things have changed as we'll hear...) Needless to say, Kim is a Flame Bearer in so many ways. Today we sit down with Kim to discuss her journey, and Michelle reflects on joining Kim at the University of Central Florida. "Kim, seeing you as a player was the first time I saw a female flying and getting into the upper 90s," Michelle shares. Kim reflects on how the game has changed, "Women's soccer back then was literally a soccer desert." Daughters, Danielle and Alex share what their Mom's career means to them. Contributing experts include Kim's daughters, Danielle and Alex. Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

When asked to recall her first soccer memory, Lori shares her team’s post-game tradition: whether they won or lost, 6-year old Lori and team would go to the nearby hamburger establishment and chow down on free french fries. And while the teams have changed over the years, Lori’s love for the game has only kept growing. Flash forward to 1985, and Lori had "no clue what to expect" when it came to the national team. According to her she was "so happy, surprised and excited to be a part of it." Funnily enough, it wasn’t until after the game started and others started “recognizing us that I was like, wow, this is pretty amazing.” As the youngest of 8 kids, Lori shares that "family is big for me," so she raised her family with her soccer-loving husband, with a ball at their feet. According to daughter, Megan, “soccer is in our DNA” as Mom and Dad built a soccer field in the backyard and Sundays “we don't go to church, we wake up and watch the EPL.” When we asked Lori about her hopes for the future of women's soccer, she replied, for girls "to play with no restrictions, financial or social stigmas. If she has it in her heart and she has the inner drive and desire, that she should be able to play wherever and however works for her."

Emily grew up as #7 of 8 kids so she always had someone to play with...and she played every sport possible, particularly enjoying team sports. Older sister, Aimee describes Emily's "quiet strength" and "natural leadership" at a young age. Coach Mike Ryan called Emily a "maverick" because she tucked in her shirt sleeves, and wore her soccer socks down. "Mike was considering not taking us because he considered us mavericks" she shares, speaking of herself and co-host Michelle Akers for the 1985 Cupa Mundialito. In the end, it's a good thing that Coach Ryan did, as Emily scored and assisted the first two goals for the team. When Emily talks about her career, she says, "we just wanted to play and I was pretty darn focused." Flash forward to today and shares how the winning culture and record has helped the USWNT be able to successfully push for wins off the field: "Winning begets winning." In this episode, Emily plugs Marshall Harner's (her son) musical talent. Check out his work on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/37x37LhcgsJOagPnHZjhyZ?si=2mPFUjAWTEaX0qkROwSohQ Contributing experts include Coach Anson Dorrance, Lisa Gmitter-Pittaro (Emily's friend and teammate,), Steve Harner (Emily's Husband), Aimee Gazelle (Emily's sister) and Avery Harner (Emily's daughter) Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

Margaret (or as she goes by in soccer, Tucka) grew up in Palo Alto, California, where there were three teams for players ages 10-16. Tucka made the All Star team as a 10 year old, and she didn't stop there... She shares about her time at Cal (currently tied with Alex Morgan at #3 for most goals scored), moving abroad to Germany and getting a job at a shoe heeling company, and the realities of pro life: "numbers were spray painted on the hotel doors." But according to Tucka, they "loved it all." And Tucka's trailblazing didn't stop there. She went on to be employee #81 at Google, becoming one of the first ad salespeople and subsequently a key member of the YouTube and Google Fiber teams. Contributing expert, Jair Fory, Tucka's coach is interviewed in this episode. Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

When Lori Henry talks about her six year run on the USWNT, she talks about the "little moments along the way," the moments she says that changed her life. She describes making the first team, being the last name called and not hearing it, but having her teammates jump on her in a pig pile. Even the way Lori introduced herself to us was full of humility, "Lori Henry, defender on the '85 original team and made it to the World Cup in '91. Oh, and the captain." Getting there was quite the run as well. Hilariously enough, after decades of facing off against each other growing up, when Lori and Michelle Akers both made the first USWNT in 1985, co-host Akers says she was so relieved to finally being on the same team after growing up having to face off against Lori: "I got so tired of you killing us every time. I never won a high school game against her." The feeling was mutual with Lori responding, "My reaction was 'Thank god' as she had been beating the shit out of me on all these other teams. I was so happy when we had games as the USA because I got to watch her beat the shit out of other people besides me." After soccer, Lori became a coach and then inspired by her own high school P.E. teacher, became a P.E. teacher herself. And so many of her colleagues wanted to talk to us, so we obviously included them all. They describe Lori as a "confidant", "work wife" and the "humblest person I've ever known." Contributing experts include Lori's school colleagues, Nancy, Bill and Mindy. Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

Linda Gancitano was the first girl on her high school boy's soccer team, so she got to play alongside her younger brother, Nick. According to Nick, even at an early age, Linda "never took any guff from anyone" and would slide tackle the biggest male forwards. Flash forward to University of Central Florida (UCF) and Linda was a veteran on the team when Michelle Akers joined -- ironically, the entire time, Michelle thought she was going to get cut. Linda shares that the team had an attitude of "do something or get out of here. Basically, you got to pull your own weight." And that she did, and more... In this episode Linda shares about her time on the USWNT, and we hear from one of her students, Kayla, as Linda became a Happiness Studies teacher and educator as well as Founder, How Low Can You Go Challenge (initiative empowering youth to reduce their school's carbon footprint through reduced energy, water & food waste). When asked what she wants to say to her teammates, Linda gushes, "I am so proud of us and of every single team from then on...whether we won or we didn't...it's just that the tradition of the United States Women's National Team is absolutely incredible." Contributing experts including Linda's brother, Nick, as well as student and mentee Kayla. Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

Stacey Enos is one of the three original University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels to blaze the trail to the USWNT. Stacey was actually the FIRST Tar Heel to earn a cap for the USWNT, but Stacey was used to being the first, or the only one doing something. "I had to play with the boys. I couldn't be afraid. When you got knocked down, I had to pick myself back up," she says. Stacey was the '85er responsible for the recent reunion of the 1985 team, the first reunion since the team played together 38 years ago. As Stacey shares, she wanted to honor her teammates who until this point have largely been unrecognized. No more. As Stacey shares, "the history of US Women's Soccer started with us." And Stacey's fearless trailblazing didn't stop there even though she admits that after college she "felt a little lost" as "there wasn't really a pathway" to get back onto the national team after graduation. So, she became a coach (an infamous one beloved by all), a real estate agent, and most recently partial owner and coach of Asheville City Soccer Club. According to Stacey, she wants her players to be "treated with equity and fairness...put out a quality product in and give these players a chance to succeed." She concludes, that she wants them "to know what respect looks like" even if she didn't have it herself. This episode is cohosted with Michelle Akers. Contributing experts include Stacey's wife, Annie, and son, Gabrielle. Thank you to Stacey and the Asheville City Soccer Club for all of their incredible support in Asheville and since! Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

"What a gritty bunch, you know?" was Ruth Harker's response when asked about her team, the original USWNT. Ruth grew up with her Mom and older brother Steven (who she calls the Harker 'golden boy') who would put peanut butter on her face and hold her down while their dog licked it off. She was a tough cookie who once allowed to play sports, whole heartedly threw herself into them all. She started in goal because she started playing at 14, and "didn't have any foot skills" and the rest is history. Flash forward to today, and things are a bit different. Ruth talks about retiring from soccer because of the need to get paid, the power of pressure, and her hopes for women's soccer moving forward. This episode is cohosted with Michelle Akers. Contributing experts include Ruth's brother, Steven, son, Max, and mentee, Preson. Media used in this production: -38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,

Sofia grew up wanting to do everything her older brother, Tommaso did, so when he took to the slopes, she begged her Mom to let her join. At 6, she forecasted her future: she wanted to be a famous ski racer who would win World Cups. Flash forward to today, and she's crowned the 'queen of speed' with 3x World Cup Downhill title wins and 2x Olympic medals including the first for Italy in her discipline (downhill). That said, Sofia wants her episode to focus on her comebacks, and how she's responded to countless injuries including what she describes as the most challenging time of her life: the 23 days between her debilitating crash in Cortina and taking home silver in Beijing 2022. You read that right... She could barely walk, yet she won silver in the Olympic downhill, the fastest event on skis. When asked about what moment (skiing or not) she's most proud of, she cites two moments: her Olympic gold, and her continuous growth; "The thing that makes me most proud of myself is when I see that I'm becoming a better person." Her goal is to leave a mark on everything she does and everyone with whom she interacts. "I want to make a difference, and it's not only skiing but everything I do. It is good to leave a piece of you in everyone you meet." She cites her incredible support team including her sponsor, Red Bull, as well as friend and mentor, Lindsey Vonn (see quote in podcast graphic) for helping her get to where she is today. As Sofia looks to the future, she's eager to rewrite history in the Cortina 2026 Games. Contributing Expert: Pete Sharland (Digital Editor, Eurosport) Thank you to Dino Cattaneo for making this episode possible. Media clips from the following sources were used: -'Happy Sofia Goggia makes successful comeback in downhill practice: "I was not afraid at all"', Alessandro Poggi, February 12, 2022, Olympics.com -Goggia wins historic Women's Downhill Gold for Italy | Alpine Skiing, Olympics.com -NBC Sports' YouTube Channel, 'Goggia crashes to end streak, Gut-Behrami takes title in Zauchensee', January 15, 2022. - @NBCOlympics Tweet, February 17, 2022. - NBC Sports' YouTube Channel, 'Sofia Goggia completes Lake Louise World Cup sweep with super-G win,' December 5, 2021. - NBC Sports' YouTube Channel, 'Goggia wins World Cup downhill; Johnson second | NBC Sports, December 20, 2021. - FIS Alpine's YouTube Channel, '🏆 Sofia GOGGIA | DH World Cup Champion | "This means a lot to me" | FIS Alpine,' March 4, 2023. - Olympics' YouTube Channel, 'Sofia Goggia's Alpine Skiing Highlights | PyeongChang 2018', March 8, 2018. - The New York Time's YouTube Channel, 'The Sounds of the Downhill', February 15, 2015. - NBC Sports' YouTube Channel, 'Goggia crashes to end streak, Gut-Behrami takes title in Zauchensee,' January 15, 2022.

Yip Pin Xiu is a "born and bred city girl', having grown up in Singapore with her close-knit family flying kites, playing in the sand pool, and at five, getting in the with her brothers. Swimming started as a family activity. Fast forward to 2008, and Pin Xiu became Singapore's first ever Paralympic gold medalist. She now has 5 Paralympic golds and 5 World Championships. She was the first para athlete inducted into Singapore’s Sports Hall of Fame (2015) and a proud inductee of the Women’s Hall of Fame (2014). And while Pin Xiu changed the face of sport in Singapore, her impact hasn't been limited to the pool. Yes, Pin Xiu has all of the honors and titles one can dream of, but she talks more of her commitment to inclusion for all than the medals around her neck. Having grown up in a time when there wasn't a lot of representation for people with disabilities, Pin Xiu is determined to be a voice people hear and a body people see. According to Pin Xiu, "being disabled does not mean unable. Being disabled does not disqualify me" and she hopes to be a voice not for" just the disabled community, but also the sporting community, women, everyone." Contributing expert: Theresa Goh (Singaporean Paralympic Swimmer and Pin Xiu's Teammate) Media Clips from the Following Sources Were Used In Order of Use: -Paralympic Games' YouTube Page, 'A second Gold Medal for Pin Xiu Yip! 🥇 | Women's 50m Backstroke - S2 Final | Swimming | Tokyo 2020' -Entertainment - Mediacorp YouTube Page, 'R U OK? S2 EP 7 Yip Pin Xiu Growing Up Disabled, Staring at Gawkers and Embracing her Noisy Self' -CNA YouTube Page, 'Yip Pin Xiu receives President's Award for Inspiring Achievement' -CMT Research Foundation, The 2021 CMT Global Research Convention, 'What is Happening to My Body' by Dr. Keith Fargo

Sam Mewis grew up flipping over rocks in the woods of Massachusetts hunting for salamanders, while Lynn Williams grew up on a pecan farm with her "huge family of non-farmers" in Clovis, California. Flash forward and the two are inseparable. According to Sam & Lynn, they're in a "very serious platonic friendship." As former roomies who dominated the field together, gone through injuries and covid together, and yes, even podcasted together, they've seen each other through it all. As huge fans and supporters of their podcast, SNACKS, we thought it would be fun to have the duo onto Flame Bearers together. So this episode is a bit different than our normal ones, but we're going with it! This week, soccer superstars Sam & Lynn talk about their upbringings, time in and after Tokyo and getting in front of the mic. Media clips from the following sources were used in this podcast: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMSR7ZmoQDQ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6L38gSYbVs - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trailer/id1563105123?i=1000517171294 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJClOqKTrIQ - CNN Sports, Women’s World Cup: The match that changed women’s football, https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/31/football/usa-1999-womens-world-cup-victory-brandi-chastain-mia-hamm-wwc-spt-intl/index.html - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0olbpl6490 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2L-8-rUM7s - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6NpXLHdwcI - CBC Sports, American women players settle equal-pay lawsuit vs. U.S. Soccer for $24M, https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/soccer-american-women-equal-pay-1.6359918