All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: The Latest From the Paris Olympics (Review/Preview)
Date: August 5, 2024
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Producer Luke Green
Theme: Exploring the major stories, moments, and personalities from the Paris 2024 Olympics at the halfway point—highlights, drama, and cultural impact.

Episode Overview

This episode takes listeners on an energetic tour through the first week of the Paris Olympic Games. Host Alison Stewart and producer Luke Green break down the standout sports action, major storylines, and unforgettable personalities. The conversation gives equal weight to triumphs, surprises, and the human stories making these Games unforgettable, serving both as a review and a preview of what’s next.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Immersed in Olympic Mania

• Viewing Experience:
  • Luke shares how he's been “watching so much Olympic action,” sometimes even using multi-screen views:
    • "There was a moment this weekend where I was watching like the multi screen view on Peacock ... my eyes started to hurt and I was like, I think I need to go outside." (01:19–01:41)

Track and Field: 100 Meter Drama

• Men’s 100 Meter Final:

  • Extraordinary finish: Commentator initially calls it for Jamaica, but Noah Lyles (USA) wins gold with a dramatic final lean—US's first gold in this event since 2004.
    • "Thompson... looks like he crosses the finish line first ahead of the USA's favorite, Noah Lyles. But after a minute of confusion, Lyles starts celebrating ... right at the finish line, leans forward just a little bit... It was insane." – Luke (02:21–03:00)

• Women’s 100 Meter Final:

  • Julian Alfred (Saint Lucia) claims gold, earning her country's first Olympic medal ever, a powerful underdog story.
    • "Imagine how much of a legend Julian ... Alfred is, just 23 years old, coming back to her country with the first medal, the gold medal of the hundred meter race no less. It was very moving." – Luke (03:25–04:02)

Gymnastics: Simone Biles’ Triumphant Return

• Simone Biles:

  • Back after “the twisties” in Tokyo and two years prioritizing mental health, Biles is once more flawless and winning gold.
    • "She's just flawless and it's just great to see her, as you said, coming back from Tokyo ... She took two years off working on her mental health, and now here she is, triumphant again." – Luke (04:19–04:57)

• Gen Z Olympians on TikTok:

  • Olympic athletes connect with fans in new ways.
    • "This is sort of the first Olympic Games where Gen Z is kind of the main source of athletes ... and a lot of them are on TikTok, communicating with fans, really taking advantage of their stardom." – Luke (05:01–05:20)

• Men’s Gymnastics & The 'Pommel Horse Guy':

  • USA earns bronze; Steven Nederozyk, dubbed the “Clark Kent” of gymnastics, becomes an unlikely star.
    • "He's the reason they won bronze in the team event. He wins bronze himself in the pommel horse event. And it turns out that everyone is now in love with, with this guy with glasses. They call him Clark Kent." – Luke (05:35–06:17)
  • Nederozyk’s Story:
    • Struggled with depth perception and self-esteem, but turned “nerdiness” into Olympic magic.
    • Quote:
      "I kind of just wanted to be that guy who might be a little bit nerdy, but also really good at sports." – Steven Nederozyk (06:50–07:10)

Swimming Showdowns: USA vs. Australia

• Rivalry Reignites:

  • After Australia outpaced the US last year, the clash in Paris is fierce—USA edges ahead in the final event, breaking the medal tie.
    • "Australia beat the US in medal count in the World Championships last year ... but it was tied on the gold medal count until Yesterday when the US's final event, they won gold and they had more golds than the Australians this time." – Luke (07:20–08:07)

• France’s Leon Marchand:

  • The new “French Michael Phelps” wows locals, wins multiple golds, and electrifies even President Macron.
    • "He has basically been the French Michael Phelps this Olympics. ... two [gold medals] in one night ... If you can get the leader of your country to do that, that is a very legend performance." – Luke (08:12–08:47)

Soccer and Basketball: Team USA in the Spotlight

• Women’s Soccer:

  • Team USA advances to semifinals over Japan with a dramatic extra-time winner by Trinity Rodman (daughter of Dennis Rodman).
    • "The goal was scored by Trinity Rodman ... 22 years old, scored the winner in extra time ... a certified banger." – Luke (09:00–09:29)

• Basketball:

  • Women’s team is dominant; Brittney Griner’s return celebrated.
    • "It's been good. The women have been dominant. I expect them to win ... great to see Brittney Griner play as well." – Luke (09:54–10:03)
  • Men’s “Dream Team” (Curry, LeBron) aiming for gold, but must get past France and Canada in quarters.
    • "It's probably the best dream team we've had since that famous team in '92." – Luke (10:03–10:19)

Looking Ahead: Key Events to Watch

Luke’s “Three to Watch”:

1. Basketball: USA quarterfinals
2. Men’s 200 meters ("Lyles's favorite event")
3. Women’s Volleyball (quarterfinals coming up)

• "I cannot wait for the women's volleyball game." – Luke (10:37–10:50)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Olympic viewing immersion:
  • "This is the closest I get to being an Olympic athlete, I will take it." – Luke (01:13)
• On the drama of the 100 meters:
  • “I think there's nothing more dramatic than the hundred meter race in all of sports because you see these incredible athletes standing there ... four years of their life for 10 seconds.” – Luke (03:25–03:36)
• On Simone Biles:
  • “She took two years off working on her mental health, and now here she is, triumphant again, once again returning and coming back with a whole lot of gold medals and a whole lot of tiktoks.” – Co-host & Luke (04:58–05:09)
• On Steven Nederozyk, the “Pommel Horse Guy”:
  • “Who doesn't love like a nerdy athlete?” – Luke (06:40)
  • “I kind of just wanted to be that guy who might be a little bit nerdy, but also really good at sports.” – Steven Nederozyk (06:50–07:10)
• On the US vs. Australia swimming rivalry:
  • “That left a lot of material, you can say, for an intense rivalry this time around.” – Luke (07:32–07:45)
• On Trinity Rodman’s winning goal:
  • “I call the goal a certified banger. That's what we call those kinds of goals. Upper 90.” – Luke (09:05–09:18)

Episode Tone and Style

Friendly, energetic, conversational, with affection for the Games and the athletes; a blend of pop culture sensibility and genuine sports enthusiasm.

Conclusion

This episode offers a spirited, informative recap of the Paris Olympics so far, mixing humor, awe, and thoughtful appreciation for athletes’ distinct paths to the podium. Listeners come away with both a sense of the big winners and a deeper appreciation for the culture, rivalries, and personalities that make the Olympics unforgettable.