Saudi Arabias first Olympic Cross Country Skier; Rakan Alireza.

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Countdown to Cortina

Matt C Smith

19 episodes

1 day ago

Countdown to Cortina is a weekly podcast leading up to the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The goal of the podcast is to educate, entertain and inspire people through the stories and values that sports promote; fairness, respect, courage and unity. Hosted & created by internationally acclaimed presenter, entrepreneur and soon to become Milano-Cortina Olympian Matt C Smith. The series features interviews with past and present Olympic & Paralympic legends, cult heroes, and hopefuls.

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All content for Countdown to Cortina is the property of Matt C Smith and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

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Saudi Arabias first Olympic Cross Country Skier; Rakan Alireza.

Countdown to Cortina

1 hour 6 minutes 32 seconds

2 months ago

Saudi Arabias first Olympic Cross Country Skier; Rakan Alireza.

In this episode, Rakan Alireza shares his journey from Jeddah to the TED stage, discussing the challenges of public speaking, transitioning from rowing to cross-country skiing, and the rigorous training required for Olympic qualification. He reflects on the importance of community support, overcoming fears, and the mental aspects of competing. Rakan emphasizes the significance of enjoying the journey and setting future goals, while also highlighting the unique camaraderie within the sports community.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey Begins: From Jeddah to the TED Stage

02:56 Overcoming Challenges: The Art of Public Speaking

05:50 From Rowing to Skiing: A New Adventure

08:44 The Road to the Olympics: Training and Trials

11:43 Finding a Coach: The Search for Guidance

14:22 Racing Against Time: The Qualification Process

17:01 Injuries and Setbacks: Learning from Experience

20:06 The Mental Game: Overcoming Fears and Doubts

23:04 The Importance of Community: Support in Sports

26:02 Looking Ahead: The Olympics and Beyond

29:07 Reflections on the Journey: What It Means to Compete

31:51 The Future: Goals and Aspirations Post-Olympics