The 2018 Winter Olympics are keeping viewers enchanted, if not sleep deprived, as we cheer on our nation’s best athletes on the worldwide stage. News and primetime coverage is crafted, just the way we like it: loaded with underdogs, unbelievable feats, and swelling music. But that’s not all. The Olympics has it’s fair share of strange news too.
In this ounce of Persuasion fast chat, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson discuss the side stories that showcase when the Olympics get weird. There’s the Russian curling Bronze medalist that’s under investigation for doping, the American skier accused of cheating the system to compete for Hungary, and the Tongan who competed in cross country skiing after 12 weeks of training. These stories tell us a different side of the Olympics, one that has a hint of humor and a load of realism. Listen to some of the weird stories, and then continue the conversation on Twitter @PersuasionCAPC or in the CAPC members-only community on Facebook.
Links from the Show:
Olympic Curling Rocked by Russian Doping Case, NY Times
Meet Elizabeth Swaney, the American skier who scammed her way to the Olympics, CBS Sports
Winter Olympics 2018: The incredible story of Elizabeth Swaney, the worst skier in Pyeongchang, The Independent
Tonga’s shirtless Rio 2016 flag-bearer qualifies for Winter Olympics, The Guardian
Theme music by Maiden Name.