After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.That’s what this new Best Of series is all about: spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.and many more!You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.In this episode, With a Little Help, Cynthia Appiah (Canada, bobsleigh pilot) shares how her coaches guided her through her toughest season back to the podium. Asia Hogan Rochester (Canada, rugby sevens) reflects on rebuilding team culture, healing from injuries, and rising to Olympic silver. Natoya Ghoul Toppin (Jamaica, 800m) draws strength from her faith to overcome fear and rebuild confidence. Marine Fatoumatta Camara (Mali, boxing) tells of choosing to represent Mali and becoming the country’s first female boxing medalist. Husnah Kukundakwe (Uganda, paraswimming) recalls qualifying through lockdown determination with her mom and coach. Giancarla Trevisan (Italy, 400m) shares how training partners and patience led her from injury to a personal best. Fran Brown (Great Britain, para cycling) describes how friendship and opportunity reignited her path to elite sport. Together, their stories show how belief, mentorship, and community transform self-doubt into collective strength.Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearersFollow us -Instagram - / flamebearersFacebook - / flamebearerspodcastLinkedin - / flame-bearersTiktok - / flame_bearersX - / flame_bearersOur Website - https://flamebearers.com/Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!
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After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.That’s what this new Best Of series is all about: spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.and many more!You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.In this episode, With a Little Help, Cynthia Appiah (Canada, bobsleigh pilot) shares how her coaches guided her through her toughest season back to the podium. Asia Hogan Rochester (Canada, rugby sevens) reflects on rebuilding team culture, healing from injuries, and rising to Olympic silver. Natoya Ghoul Toppin (Jamaica, 800m) draws strength from her faith to overcome fear and rebuild confidence. Marine Fatoumatta Camara (Mali, boxing) tells of choosing to represent Mali and becoming the country’s first female boxing medalist. Husnah Kukundakwe (Uganda, paraswimming) recalls qualifying through lockdown determination with her mom and coach. Giancarla Trevisan (Italy, 400m) shares how training partners and patience led her from injury to a personal best. Fran Brown (Great Britain, para cycling) describes how friendship and opportunity reignited her path to elite sport. Together, their stories show how belief, mentorship, and community transform self-doubt into collective strength.Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearersFollow us -Instagram - / flamebearersFacebook - / flamebearerspodcastLinkedin - / flame-bearersTiktok - / flame_bearersX - / flame_bearersOur Website - https://flamebearers.com/Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!
To watch this episode, tune in on the Flame Bearers YouTube Channel
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“Even if I fail, I’m loved and I have purpose.”
That’s the mindset that carried Team USA wrestler Alexandria Glaudé through two years of injury, three surgeries, and a massive comeback not many saw coming. From losing her father at age seven to being cut from her high school basketball team, Alexandria’s path to wrestling was anything but traditional. “Fine, if I get cut from basketball, I’ll join wrestling,” she joked with friends—never thinking she’d actually be cut. The next day, she was. And the rest? “The choice was made for me,” she laughs.
In this interview, Alexandria takes us behind the scenes of her stunning US Open victory, what it took to get back to competition, and the unshakable faith that fuels her. “Wrestling is just a tool God gave me to connect with people,” she reflects. She shares how her injury became an unexpected gift, helping her grow spiritually and personally: “If I’m going to be in alignment with God’s plan, that doesn’t always mean I’m going to get what I want.”
She also gets real about body image, content creation, and what beauty means on her terms. “I used to think I was too big,” she says. “But once I saw what my body could do, I knew I was made this way on purpose.”
Now balancing elite training and a growing digital platform (without a manager), Alexandria is blazing her own path. “I had a Trader Joe’s application up,” she chuckles, “but I decided to treat social media like a job.”
Her call to action? Simple and powerful: “Go to a women’s wrestling tournament. Show up. Cheer. See what we’re about.”
Photo provided by Alexandria
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Flame Bearers is a multimedia movement, illuminating the unsung stories of elite women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events and have worked with over 270 Olympians and Paralympians from 55 countries and counting.
For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► /@flamebearers
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If you like the content, subscribe to our channel! Flame Bearers is actively looking for partners, so if you'd like to work together, please fill out the contact form at Flamebearers.com
Flame Bearers: UNEDITED
After nearly 400 conversations with Olympians, Paralympians, and trailblazing women athletes from 55 countries, one thing is clear: no two stories are alike. Some athletes train with world-class facilities, others without basic equipment. Some are household names, others are fighting for visibility in sports you’ve never even seen on TV. And yet, across all these differences, certain themes echo again and again.That’s what this new Best Of series is all about: spotlighting both the range of experiences and the threads that connect them. We’ve pulled together the most powerful moments across years of conversations, including:✨ Best Advice to Younger Selves — from “give yourself grace to be a beginner” to “don’t dim your light for anyone.”✨ Best Stories of Resilience — tales of athletes coming back from devastating injuries, near-misses, and moments when the world doubted them most.✨ Best Moments of Role Modelship — athletes lifting the next generation, mentoring teammates, and carrying entire communities with them to the world stage.✨ Best Stories of Identity & Joy — how athletes embrace who they are on and off the field, from glitter on the track to pride in their heritage.and many more!You’ll hear voices as different as the sports they represent, yet together, they reveal what it really takes to rise to the top. This isn’t just one story. It’s hundreds woven together. And this is just the beginning.In this episode, With a Little Help, Cynthia Appiah (Canada, bobsleigh pilot) shares how her coaches guided her through her toughest season back to the podium. Asia Hogan Rochester (Canada, rugby sevens) reflects on rebuilding team culture, healing from injuries, and rising to Olympic silver. Natoya Ghoul Toppin (Jamaica, 800m) draws strength from her faith to overcome fear and rebuild confidence. Marine Fatoumatta Camara (Mali, boxing) tells of choosing to represent Mali and becoming the country’s first female boxing medalist. Husnah Kukundakwe (Uganda, paraswimming) recalls qualifying through lockdown determination with her mom and coach. Giancarla Trevisan (Italy, 400m) shares how training partners and patience led her from injury to a personal best. Fran Brown (Great Britain, para cycling) describes how friendship and opportunity reignited her path to elite sport. Together, their stories show how belief, mentorship, and community transform self-doubt into collective strength.Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, illuminating the unsung stories of exceptional women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events.For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearersFollow us -Instagram - / flamebearersFacebook - / flamebearerspodcastLinkedin - / flame-bearersTiktok - / flame_bearersX - / flame_bearersOur Website - https://flamebearers.com/Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video.If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!
