February 6, 2026 • 27 mins
Since this will be the first Olympic appearance for Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, we're exploring ALL of the Olympic debutantes at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics! Nearly 60 percent of Team USA are first time Olympians and we take a closer look at some of the athletes. There are also new countries and new events to learn about in the latest episode of the Two Guys Five Rings podcast!
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Ring ring, ring ring.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
You know, Bo, it's approaching. I'm getting really excited for
my first time.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
First time is always really special, and I I have
to say, I am, I'm really really nervous, but I'm
also really really ready. What are you talking about the Olympics,
You silly goose, you silly stoked? Oh same, Matt, don't
(00:41):
be lewde Okay, I guess I won't use this as
an opportunity to say I've never kissed the boy. I'm
just kidding. I know that's not true. Anyways, Yes we are.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
We are like it's days away now and we're we're
truly anticipate. I mean, this is not only our first time,
it's so many first times for so many of the athletes.
And on today's episode of Two Guys, Five Rings Us,
Two Guys, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang are going to
be discussing those first timers, the people who are hitting
the block for the very very very first time hoping
(01:19):
to earn some medals. And we're talking about some of
those most promising first timers today.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
It's really interesting. This is sort of the thematic thing
of this Olympics, is that at least on TMUSA. It's
mostly new Olympians, sixty percent, just about of TMUSA, one
hundred and thirty four out of two hundred and thirty
two are brand new to this. But they are true
(01:45):
to this as we say.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I mean, I'm excited. I'm excited for them to make
their debut. You know who else is making their debut
and this actually, this is a very cool and cute
little element of the Games. The mascot of the twenty
twenty six Milan Courtina Olympic and Paralympic Games are named
Tina and Milo. They are brother and sister. They're a
(02:12):
brother and sister act. They are sort of they're like
the Derek and Julianne Huff of the Olympics.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Yeah, and they what would you call them? Are they like,
there's little stoats. I've looked them outas.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
They're like cute little I guess you could call them weasels. Yeah,
they're definitely so. I was gonna say, like some sort
of muskrat.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Vibe. A stoat, also known as the Eurasian ermine of love,
is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the
northern regions of North America. It is really cute, Like
I'm about to paste a real one in the dock.
Isn't that cute? Oh? I love them.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Oh they're exactly what you think. They're very very sweet,
like a sugar glider that doesn't glide and merely runs
and merely runs, but it has a really sweet disposition,
it seems.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Or there might be vicious I don't know, but I
think they wouldn't make that a vicious animal a mascot
of the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Right, I would hope not, even though the competition can
be vicious.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
So Tina is.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
The Olympic mascot, and that is short for Cortina and Melo.
I've said it like Milo, but I'm gonna guess it's
Melo because the Paralympic mascot, Melo is short for Milan.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
So Tina and Milo.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
That pair will be joined by a team of six
snowdrops named the Flow Flo embodying the Olympic spirit.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
At the Games.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And I have to say they're cute as hell as well.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Move over, Henry the Eighth's wives, there's a new six
sum in town, the Flow.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Do you remember when you announced the performance of six
at the Tony Awards that's.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
One of my favor I heard bon Yang facts and appearances.
I think that was a highlight of my life getting
to present at the Tonys. But we're not here to
talk about that.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
That that was my debut exactly your Tony's debut. And
there are so many Olympic debutants. An Olympic debutant is
an athlete competing a debutante.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
No, no debut debuts. I think it's sorry.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Can I say we've been talking about debutante? Debutante is
like a totally different thing and is spelled d E
b U t A n t E.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
You're right, You're right, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
And I'm going to say, like debut and a debut
and one who debuts an Olympic debuting is an athlete
competing in their first ever Olympic Games. Okay, so it
is debutante. Okay, someone is changing it as we're going.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
This is what the episode will be about now is
just how to pronounce this word. And I'm sorry to
these Olympians. We can't talk about anything else. Pronunciation. Yeah,
what what's debutante? Debutante?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Because an Olympic debutant is an athlete competing in their
first ever Olympic Games, representing the culmination of intense training
and dedication. These competitors, regardless of age, are making their
inaugural appearance on the world's biggest sporting stage, marking a
significant milestone in their athletic careers.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Major participants like Canada and the US include dozens of
debutants and several nations. We'll see historic first Winter Olympians.
Let's go through them, shally, I think we should. We've
talked about this young one before.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Ilia Melanims from the Great United States, a figure skater
and one of our faves, because you'll remember he was
the quad god.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I do you remember this? I remember this named because
he landed all six quadru drums in competition. He was
a breakthrough skater of the twenty one to twenty two season,
but he did not compete in the twenty twenty two
Beijing Winter Olympics. He used that to motivate his place
in this Winter Games. He don't break it off.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
It's going to be his motivation to land all those
quads in competition, you know. Mallin and himself says that
being left off Team USA in twenty twenty two helped
mold him into the scater he has become and fueled
him to prove them wrong, quote saying the following, I
definitely remember that.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
I was really bummed out and upset.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Of not being able to get on the team, even
though that Nationals felt like probably the best Nationals I've
ever skated. From there, it was kind of the start
of that laughs. I wouldn't call it revenge, but more like, Okay,
now I going to show them why they made a mistake.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
I love that attitude.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
That was the direct quote. Now I'm going to show
them why they made a mistake.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
And now you you took a liberty and prefer forming
his laugh? Do you because and you.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Sort of did it like big Oka laugh big o'saka laugh.
Do you think that's how Ilia laughs? I am excited
to see. So now one of the things I'm going
to be following the hardest is when he eventually does laugh,
because I'm asuming we're going to see him interviewed a
whole bunch of times, knowing how the media ask questions
(07:24):
and sometimes can be so funny. People in the media
are some of the funniest people. They have great personalities.
That's why they put them on television. Il Yeah, he's
gonna laugh, and we're gonna find out how close I was.
Does he have a big o'saka laugh.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Or does he have a titter like ooh? And that's
really the axis. It goes from titter to big osaka laugh. Yeah,
we learned, We learned where did big oscaca laugh originate from?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Well, we were on vacation in Japan and we were
asking the differences culturally between the city of Kyoto and
this do you have Osaka? And someone said, well, in
Kyoto they laugh like this. In Osaka they have a big,
big osa And we said, what's that like?
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And they go, you know, one of the other differences
among Japanese cities. And I do, I do think this
is an important aside. I have not stopped thinking about this.
Apparently one of the tour guides I was not present
for this, but she said that in Tokyo, a way
to get someone to leave your house, like a guest
to leave your house, is just to be like, well,
(08:33):
I've got work in the morning or I've gotten early morning.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
That seems pretty standard, sort of like New York LA, right,
a little passive aggressive, but I have work in the morning,
so okay, So that's Tokyo, right, and Kyoto they're a
little bit more graceful there, I suppose, and they go,
oh my gosh, I love this watch.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Yeah, look at the time. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
So that when you look down at your watch, which
has been complimented, you realize it's late. Okay, isn't that cheek?
Speaker 1 (09:06):
It's to be seen there, I love this watch. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
But can I tell you something? And this is also
a thing that is not how I communicate, And you
know that I'm a direct communicator. I say I think
it's time, and if that means in Kyoto, I'll be
persona on grata.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
That's fine.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Catch me on Osaka with my big Osaka laugh and
my big American butt. Well one big American butt. We
hope really flourishes is Ilia.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Next step, we have the inspiring, the incredible Maxim Naw.
I'moff twenty four years old, competing in men's singles. He
figure skating, Oh yes, and figure skating has a gorgeous
family legacy, exemplified also by deep personal resilience. He grew
up as the son of Adimo Mouffin. You're getting a
(09:58):
Shuskova who have very recently passed away and Mason has
really used this incredible tragedy as a way to motivate
his placement on the team. I am personally very excited
to see him at his events. Just an incredible story.
(10:19):
He's lost both of his parents and one of his
last conversations with them, we were told, was a forty
five minute conversation on what he had to do in
order to make it onto the team, in order to
perform his best, And that is an incredible narrative going
into the Games.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I think, yeah, they actually if you remember earlier early
in the year last year, it actually is about a
year now that this happened. If you remember the plane
collision that occurred in Washington, DC, that was the incident
they passed in and it took the lives of twenty
six others connected to the figure skated community. And yeah,
(10:54):
I think you can imagine that that would be acknowledged
at the Games. Yes, so we're writing for I am
rooting for him. That is a lot to come back from.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Other first time figure skaters from the US include Amber
Glenn and Isabelle Leavito and women's singles. Amber Glenn's journey
to the Olympics is also one marked in perseverance and persistence.
She won the US junior title track back in twenty fourteen,
with performances that suggested success on the senior level would
be quick to follow. Instead, it's been a very long
journey to the top, and she is an advocate for
(11:27):
the LGBTQ plus community, outspoken about the importance of mental health,
and has been a leader in working to develop a
more communal and supportive culture in figure skating. She says
her superpower is her heart. Well, we love that, Amber,
Thank you, Amber, thank you for being an ally and
an advocate. I think Amber is part of this new
wave of figure skating in terms of the culture of it,
(11:48):
where you know, after we talked to Johnny and Tara,
it seems like they were really celebrating this shift because
I feel like they were coming up at a time
when that was not quite as present. And it's people
like Ambert's starts with people like Amber who have been
doing this for their whole lives essentially to like really
start early, kind of put that forward and actually have
(12:10):
some tangible change take effect in the culture of the sport.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Yeah, that's exciting, it's exciting progression. Speaking of Isabeau, liveto
is here and she has an interesting, interesting angle here.
Her mom is from Milan and Isabo who by the way,
her name is Isabo i sa Baou. So she still
has family living in the city, including her grandmother who
(12:37):
she calls no no Stella no an uncle. She is
leaning into an Olympics in Italy with two Italian themed programs.
Her short program is inspired by Italian actress Sophia Loren
featuring songs from Houseboat in nineteen fifty eight film and
Zoobi Zoobi Zoo associated with the Millionaire S from nineteen
(12:59):
sixty and if you're a fan of television's greatest show
of all time, mad Men.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Disco pare Zubi Zoobie Zoo Zuomi Zoobie Zoo Isabelle. If
you're listening, please consider not for the for this Olympics,
obviously that's locked in cheating my Italiano. Yes, sort of
program anything from the movie nine Well.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Her free skate is to selections from the nineteen eighty
eight film the Italian film Cinema Chin Him.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Paradiso, So she was almost there. This is very she
at eighteen for you to you know, pay homage to
the Sphila Wrens of the world of just Italian culture.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
You're I mean you should. You should do something with
you know, Megan Faihie and White Lotus or Valentina in
season two. I think that'll be very interesting if you're lucky.
(14:06):
Derek Krueger is a freestyle aerials competitor twenty two years old,
making his debut after strong World Cup performances. Krueger is
from Cleveland, Ohio, and has risen through the ranks of
aerial skiing, where athletes launch off steep ramps and perform
multiple flips and twists before landing.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
AKA a nightmare for me, a nightmare for most of
the world, I would say.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Alongside his athletic training, Krueger has balanced academic pursuits as
a student at the University of Utah, a common home
base for winter sport athletes due to its proximity to
premier training facilities and snowy terrain. Those Utah Utah ins
they have an advantage because look at what they're around.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
I must say, it is some of the most beautiful
snowscapes you've ever seen. You love Utah. I do like
Utah a lot, and as someone from Colorado, there is
it's an interesting split between inferiority and superiority complexes among
Colorados who sometimes acknowledge that Utah has better snow and
skiing and snowboarding.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Is there a rivalry there a Utah abso heated rivalry
between Utah and Colorado.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
There's a sheated rivalry between Utah and Colorado, then maybe
maybe that's something to explore. Second season She's second season
Season two. Next up, we have Cooper Ricglade, twenty four
years old from Washington State, an American long track speed
skater from Mount Vernon, Washington, steadily carved out reputation is
one of Tmusa's rising sprint talents. Cloud first stepped onto
(15:35):
skates as a toddler, begetting roller skating before transitioning to
ice at age eight after being inspired by the twenty
ten Winter Olympics. Wow, that was what sixteen years ago?
Truly was eight years old? Oh my goodness, world, I
remember when we were full grown adults watching those games.
We had Actually we were in college, then we were
(15:58):
in college. Then Cooper, we wish you the best. I
hope I didn't butcher. Your last name mcleodd, McLeod, McLeod,
mcled m.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
It's mc Capital l eod could be anything, could be anything.
We're actually going to see speed skating. It's one of
the events that we're going to see Cooper. We can
ask him in person, how you pronounce his last name.
I'll be like what We'll be like, just kidding.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Just kidding.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Unice Lee short track competitor, a twenty one year old
competing after being.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
A backup Cooper. Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Oh. She is an American speed skater short track who's
become one of the United States most promising young competitors
on the ice. She was born in San Diego, California,
and spent part of her early childhood in South Korea.
Grew up then after that in Bellevue, washingtonspin all over
the place where she took up short track speed skating
after originally exploring rhythmic gymnastics and figure skating as a child.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
She did it all.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Lee's talents were recognized early. In twenty twenty, she was
named the US speed Skating short Tracks Development Athlete of
the Year, and at just seventeen, she earned a spot
on the US Olympic team for the twenty twenty two
Winter Olympics in Beijing as a relay squad alternate, making
her the youngest US speed skater at those Games, even
though she did not compete. She's you know, she's been
waiting in the wings.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
She's been waiting in the wings. I love this story
so much. To be born in San Diego and end
up at the Winter Olympics, anything is possible. Do not
let your personal history hold you back. By way of
South Korea and Bellevue, Washington. There you go. Now, next up,
we have Anika Bellshaw, and our producers have put a
(17:37):
photo of a little girl. I can't imagine that a
child is. Can we get a more recent photo? Y'all
just kidding, don't bend over backwards. But I think let's
just flash right here for video. The photo we're seeing
an adorable little girl. Anika is now twenty three years old.
Unless she has some amazing developmental thing where she is.
(18:01):
She's amazing amazing developmental thing where she's stuck.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
As a nine year old. Oh, I see why. It's
because she started ski jumping at nine, and so I
imagine this this, this is what she looked like around
that age. But I'm sure she unless she's like a
Michigo Kaputani where She's like, I don't want any photos
of me out there.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Is that how Michigo is? Yes? Oh I didn't know that,
go you go Michigo. But then I met her recently.
Does she look like what you thought a picture of
her would look now? Not at all? Oh my god.
She's adorable. Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Also adorable, Leila Edwards, and historic because she will be
the first black woman ever to represent the US and
Olympic hockey.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
She says.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
A focus of hers is trying to grow the diversity
of the game respect. What I want to give back,
says Edwards, is growing the culture, changing the culture a
little bit, and being a face people can see and
have more comfort in enjoying the sport because there's always
that fear, like, oh I don't see anyone that looks
like me, I don't want to start it. I think
the biggest reason is fear why people of color don't
(19:05):
try to start hockey, which is understandable. So that's my
goal is to get rid of that fear and welcoming people.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
I love this.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
She has partnered with the USA Hockey Foundation and the
Wisconsin Affiliate Assistance Fund, which provides grand awards to youth
hockey players of color. Edwards is from the same town,
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as Super Bowl champions Jason and Travis Kelcey,
and they went to the same middle school. Travis's voice
support for Edwards and her achievements through messages on X
(19:33):
and on his New Heights podcast with his brother Jason Kelcey.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Well, that is wonderful and to get the Kelsey stand
up approval huge even though they're children of trader Donna Kelcey.
She was a trader. She's a secret trader, the secret trader.
I miss her.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Next up we have Matthew Kuchuk.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
We love the Kachuck.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
We love the Kuchuck's Florida Panthers for on a US
men's team, known for his dynamic offensive skill, physical play
and leadership on the ice. Hailing from Scottsdale, Arizona, another
king who is from a warm place, landing a spot
at the Winter Olympics for the first time ah and
he is the son of the former NHL star Keith Kuchuk.
(20:19):
Matthews drafted six ever up with the Calgary Flames in
the twenty sixteen NHL Draft. He played through a torn
a ductor muscle and a sports hernia injury out of
Panther's twenty twenty five Stanley Cup run. After missing the
final twenty five games of the regular season and then
after surgery in August, he made his twenty five twenty
six debut on January nineteenth. Classmates with NBA champion and
(20:41):
Olympic gold medalist Jason Tatum while growing up in Saint Louis,
and he will be playing alongside his younger brother Brady Kuchuk.
It's all in the family with these guys, all in
the famboo, all in the fam.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
I want to talk about Miss deque Roe Okay giving skeleton,
thirty one years old from Noakesville, Virginia, A twenty twenty
five world champion. The mixed team event is a new
Olympic event this year, and this is when a female
and male slider each put down a run one after
(21:26):
the other. The times are then combined with the lowest
total amount winning. I love this.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
I love it so.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Mss Row was the twenty twenty five world silver medalist
women's and the first US athlete to win a world
medal in skeleton since twenty thirteen. She's a self described introvert.
We'll get ready, because the media is going to be
asking you questions, Miss deep Row, They're gonna want to
hear you laugh. But has grown more comfortable in the
spotlight over the years.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Uh oh, here we go.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
In college, she minored in theater performance and stage combat,
which encouraged her to open up. Okay, so get involved
in theater. Everyone Roe, who is one of eleven siblings.
Now you get the introvertedness. So much of Lass, including
a twin sister, has Black and Korean heritage. Even more diversity.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Love this, Love this.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
If she took classes, No, she minored in stage combat,
pretty huge. She knows how to break a glass over
your head if it's a proper class or if it's
a real one. I bet you she's I don't think.
I don't think means you can just break a glass
over someone's head, that's real. I think it means you
(22:38):
can fake punches. I think if you're minoring in it,
you got to explore all of the nuance of You
gotta feel pain to fake pain.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Amen, you ever think about it like that? I think
about it like that all the time. Let's talk about
some other first time I living in some other countries.
William don Janu Well the six best male short truck
speed skater in Canada. Oh In twenty twenty two, he
missed the five twenty two Olympic team by one spot,
but then since then he has been the best in
(23:14):
the world, winning best men's Overall Crystal Globe given to
the season's best skater. Can't wait to see him on
the ice. Doman and Nika Prayuts from Slovenia both are
twenty twenty five world champions on the large hill. Nika
is actually the reigning world champion on both the normal
hill and the large hill, and she's the two time
reigning overall World Cup champion. And they've both dominated the
(23:36):
season and come to the Games as metal favorites. Then
oh worth noting. If Nika and Doman each earn a
medal of any color in just one event, the Preude
siblings will make histories the first family in the Winter
Olympics with four siblings each earning medals. That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
So get this, We're about to speak about a model.
So this is Lucas Pinero Browden and he is an
alpine skier from Brazil. He could be the first South
American athlete to win a Winter Olympic medal in any sport.
He competed at the twenty twenty two Beijing Winter Games
(24:18):
for Norway, the country in which he was born. But
his mom is Brazilian. And if you think that sounds
like a good mixed genetically, you would be right. He
has model good looks and is actually like In his
time off from ski racing from twenty twenty three to
twenty twenty four, he went on the wild journey of modeling.
(24:38):
He says, I ended up on some runways. I was
doing some modeling. I was doing some design and creative
work for brands and whatnot, and kind of exploring what
other paths I may take. And I'm looking at a
photo of him on the runway and I get it.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yuck. What do you mean yuck? I'm kidding. I'm sicking.
An Olympian who models and paints his nails and wears
color for clothing and DJs. Terrible, so appealing, incredibly appealing
in many ways. We'll see you in the Olympic village,
Lucas A stop at you, you dog. Now let's talk
about countries. Benin and Guinea Bissau making their debut as
(25:13):
countries I'm saying hot countries that they get to come
in and really make a splash at these Winter Olympic Games. Well, Matt,
it doesn't feel right giving gold medal and bronze to
these people. We're just happy for all of them, aren't.
You're right? I think you know what we're gonna have
to gold medal and bronze.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
That is something you do a lot, you say gold
medal and bronze, and I think it's endearing every.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Time a gold medal and bronze, gold, silver and bronze, No,
no silver is one of my favorite medals and I
really hate leaving it off, But I think you're right.
It would be tough, though.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
I will say, let's just give a gold medal flat out,
straight up to I'm just gonna say it, Maxim Nambov,
because I really do want to see him go the
just than in the honor of his parents.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
That is a really tragic and I hope you know,
redemptive story.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
It already is inspiring, But like, I just hope that
he goes the distance, as it were, because that would
be you know, that will be quite a moment.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
So we're rooting for you, Maxim. I mean it's already
embodying the best things about the Olympics, which is the
peak of the human spirit. And for him to turn
grief into something that is getting him to the games
is incredible. We love you, Maxim. Maybe we'll see you
in the village. Well, we'd love to hear your laugh.
We'll wave. We're not to bother these people as we
(26:40):
give a big osaka laugh.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
We want to remind you be sure to follow two
Guys five rings on the iHeartRadio app or your favorite
podcast platform, and watch on the NBC Sports YouTube channel.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Watch and listen to every moment of the Winter Olympics
February sixth through the twenty second on NBC in Peacock
on the iHeartRadio app. Now, now we said, and we
end every episode of We Always Do Bye by blaring
the blaring John Williams
Ring ring, ring ring.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
You know, Bo, it's approaching. I'm getting really excited for
my first time.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
First time is always really special, and I I have
to say, I am, I'm really really nervous, but I'm
also really really ready. What are you talking about the Olympics,
You silly goose, you silly stoked? Oh same, Matt, don't
(00:41):
be lewde Okay, I guess I won't use this as
an opportunity to say I've never kissed the boy. I'm
just kidding. I know that's not true. Anyways, Yes we are.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
We are like it's days away now and we're we're
truly anticipate. I mean, this is not only our first time,
it's so many first times for so many of the athletes.
And on today's episode of Two Guys, Five Rings Us,
Two Guys, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang are going to
be discussing those first timers, the people who are hitting
the block for the very very very first time hoping
(01:19):
to earn some medals. And we're talking about some of
those most promising first timers today.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
It's really interesting. This is sort of the thematic thing
of this Olympics, is that at least on TMUSA. It's
mostly new Olympians, sixty percent, just about of TMUSA, one
hundred and thirty four out of two hundred and thirty
two are brand new to this. But they are true
(01:45):
to this as we say.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I mean, I'm excited. I'm excited for them to make
their debut. You know who else is making their debut
and this actually, this is a very cool and cute
little element of the Games. The mascot of the twenty
twenty six Milan Courtina Olympic and Paralympic Games are named
Tina and Milo. They are brother and sister. They're a
(02:12):
brother and sister act. They are sort of they're like
the Derek and Julianne Huff of the Olympics.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Yeah, and they what would you call them? Are they like,
there's little stoats. I've looked them outas.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
They're like cute little I guess you could call them weasels. Yeah,
they're definitely so. I was gonna say, like some sort
of muskrat.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Vibe. A stoat, also known as the Eurasian ermine of love,
is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the
northern regions of North America. It is really cute, Like
I'm about to paste a real one in the dock.
Isn't that cute? Oh? I love them.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Oh they're exactly what you think. They're very very sweet,
like a sugar glider that doesn't glide and merely runs
and merely runs, but it has a really sweet disposition,
it seems.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Or there might be vicious I don't know, but I
think they wouldn't make that a vicious animal a mascot
of the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Right, I would hope not, even though the competition can
be vicious.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
So Tina is.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
The Olympic mascot, and that is short for Cortina and Melo.
I've said it like Milo, but I'm gonna guess it's
Melo because the Paralympic mascot, Melo is short for Milan.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
So Tina and Milo.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
That pair will be joined by a team of six
snowdrops named the Flow Flo embodying the Olympic spirit.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
At the Games.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And I have to say they're cute as hell as well.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Move over, Henry the Eighth's wives, there's a new six
sum in town, the Flow.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Do you remember when you announced the performance of six
at the Tony Awards that's.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
One of my favor I heard bon Yang facts and appearances.
I think that was a highlight of my life getting
to present at the Tonys. But we're not here to
talk about that.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
That that was my debut exactly your Tony's debut. And
there are so many Olympic debutants. An Olympic debutant is
an athlete competing a debutante.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
No, no debut debuts. I think it's sorry.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Can I say we've been talking about debutante? Debutante is
like a totally different thing and is spelled d E
b U t A n t E.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
You're right, You're right, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
And I'm going to say, like debut and a debut
and one who debuts an Olympic debuting is an athlete
competing in their first ever Olympic Games. Okay, so it
is debutante. Okay, someone is changing it as we're going.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
This is what the episode will be about now is
just how to pronounce this word. And I'm sorry to
these Olympians. We can't talk about anything else. Pronunciation. Yeah,
what what's debutante? Debutante?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Because an Olympic debutant is an athlete competing in their
first ever Olympic Games, representing the culmination of intense training
and dedication. These competitors, regardless of age, are making their
inaugural appearance on the world's biggest sporting stage, marking a
significant milestone in their athletic careers.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Major participants like Canada and the US include dozens of
debutants and several nations. We'll see historic first Winter Olympians.
Let's go through them, shally, I think we should. We've
talked about this young one before.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Ilia Melanims from the Great United States, a figure skater
and one of our faves, because you'll remember he was
the quad god.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I do you remember this? I remember this named because
he landed all six quadru drums in competition. He was
a breakthrough skater of the twenty one to twenty two season,
but he did not compete in the twenty twenty two
Beijing Winter Olympics. He used that to motivate his place
in this Winter Games. He don't break it off.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
It's going to be his motivation to land all those
quads in competition, you know. Mallin and himself says that
being left off Team USA in twenty twenty two helped
mold him into the scater he has become and fueled
him to prove them wrong, quote saying the following, I
definitely remember that.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
I was really bummed out and upset.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Of not being able to get on the team, even
though that Nationals felt like probably the best Nationals I've
ever skated. From there, it was kind of the start
of that laughs. I wouldn't call it revenge, but more like, Okay,
now I going to show them why they made a mistake.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
I love that attitude.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
That was the direct quote. Now I'm going to show
them why they made a mistake.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
And now you you took a liberty and prefer forming
his laugh? Do you because and you.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Sort of did it like big Oka laugh big o'saka laugh.
Do you think that's how Ilia laughs? I am excited
to see. So now one of the things I'm going
to be following the hardest is when he eventually does laugh,
because I'm asuming we're going to see him interviewed a
whole bunch of times, knowing how the media ask questions
(07:24):
and sometimes can be so funny. People in the media
are some of the funniest people. They have great personalities.
That's why they put them on television. Il Yeah, he's
gonna laugh, and we're gonna find out how close I was.
Does he have a big o'saka laugh.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Or does he have a titter like ooh? And that's
really the axis. It goes from titter to big osaka laugh. Yeah,
we learned, We learned where did big oscaca laugh originate from?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Well, we were on vacation in Japan and we were
asking the differences culturally between the city of Kyoto and
this do you have Osaka? And someone said, well, in
Kyoto they laugh like this. In Osaka they have a big,
big osa And we said, what's that like?
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And they go, you know, one of the other differences
among Japanese cities. And I do, I do think this
is an important aside. I have not stopped thinking about this.
Apparently one of the tour guides I was not present
for this, but she said that in Tokyo, a way
to get someone to leave your house, like a guest
to leave your house, is just to be like, well,
(08:33):
I've got work in the morning or I've gotten early morning.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
That seems pretty standard, sort of like New York LA, right,
a little passive aggressive, but I have work in the morning,
so okay, So that's Tokyo, right, and Kyoto they're a
little bit more graceful there, I suppose, and they go,
oh my gosh, I love this watch.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Yeah, look at the time. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
So that when you look down at your watch, which
has been complimented, you realize it's late. Okay, isn't that cheek?
Speaker 1 (09:06):
It's to be seen there, I love this watch. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
But can I tell you something? And this is also
a thing that is not how I communicate, And you
know that I'm a direct communicator. I say I think
it's time, and if that means in Kyoto, I'll be
persona on grata.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
That's fine.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Catch me on Osaka with my big Osaka laugh and
my big American butt. Well one big American butt. We
hope really flourishes is Ilia.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Next step, we have the inspiring, the incredible Maxim Naw.
I'moff twenty four years old, competing in men's singles. He
figure skating, Oh yes, and figure skating has a gorgeous
family legacy, exemplified also by deep personal resilience. He grew
up as the son of Adimo Mouffin. You're getting a
(09:58):
Shuskova who have very recently passed away and Mason has
really used this incredible tragedy as a way to motivate
his placement on the team. I am personally very excited
to see him at his events. Just an incredible story.
(10:19):
He's lost both of his parents and one of his
last conversations with them, we were told, was a forty
five minute conversation on what he had to do in
order to make it onto the team, in order to
perform his best, And that is an incredible narrative going
into the Games.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I think, yeah, they actually if you remember earlier early
in the year last year, it actually is about a
year now that this happened. If you remember the plane
collision that occurred in Washington, DC, that was the incident
they passed in and it took the lives of twenty
six others connected to the figure skated community. And yeah,
(10:54):
I think you can imagine that that would be acknowledged
at the Games. Yes, so we're writing for I am
rooting for him. That is a lot to come back from.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Other first time figure skaters from the US include Amber
Glenn and Isabelle Leavito and women's singles. Amber Glenn's journey
to the Olympics is also one marked in perseverance and persistence.
She won the US junior title track back in twenty fourteen,
with performances that suggested success on the senior level would
be quick to follow. Instead, it's been a very long
journey to the top, and she is an advocate for
(11:27):
the LGBTQ plus community, outspoken about the importance of mental health,
and has been a leader in working to develop a
more communal and supportive culture in figure skating. She says
her superpower is her heart. Well, we love that, Amber,
Thank you, Amber, thank you for being an ally and
an advocate. I think Amber is part of this new
wave of figure skating in terms of the culture of it,
(11:48):
where you know, after we talked to Johnny and Tara,
it seems like they were really celebrating this shift because
I feel like they were coming up at a time
when that was not quite as present. And it's people
like Ambert's starts with people like Amber who have been
doing this for their whole lives essentially to like really
start early, kind of put that forward and actually have
(12:10):
some tangible change take effect in the culture of the sport.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Yeah, that's exciting, it's exciting progression. Speaking of Isabeau, liveto
is here and she has an interesting, interesting angle here.
Her mom is from Milan and Isabo who by the way,
her name is Isabo i sa Baou. So she still
has family living in the city, including her grandmother who
(12:37):
she calls no no Stella no an uncle. She is
leaning into an Olympics in Italy with two Italian themed programs.
Her short program is inspired by Italian actress Sophia Loren
featuring songs from Houseboat in nineteen fifty eight film and
Zoobi Zoobi Zoo associated with the Millionaire S from nineteen
(12:59):
sixty and if you're a fan of television's greatest show
of all time, mad Men.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Disco pare Zubi Zoobie Zoo Zuomi Zoobie Zoo Isabelle. If
you're listening, please consider not for the for this Olympics,
obviously that's locked in cheating my Italiano. Yes, sort of
program anything from the movie nine Well.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Her free skate is to selections from the nineteen eighty
eight film the Italian film Cinema Chin Him.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Paradiso, So she was almost there. This is very she
at eighteen for you to you know, pay homage to
the Sphila Wrens of the world of just Italian culture.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
You're I mean you should. You should do something with
you know, Megan Faihie and White Lotus or Valentina in
season two. I think that'll be very interesting if you're lucky.
(14:06):
Derek Krueger is a freestyle aerials competitor twenty two years old,
making his debut after strong World Cup performances. Krueger is
from Cleveland, Ohio, and has risen through the ranks of
aerial skiing, where athletes launch off steep ramps and perform
multiple flips and twists before landing.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
AKA a nightmare for me, a nightmare for most of
the world, I would say.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Alongside his athletic training, Krueger has balanced academic pursuits as
a student at the University of Utah, a common home
base for winter sport athletes due to its proximity to
premier training facilities and snowy terrain. Those Utah Utah ins
they have an advantage because look at what they're around.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
I must say, it is some of the most beautiful
snowscapes you've ever seen. You love Utah. I do like
Utah a lot, and as someone from Colorado, there is
it's an interesting split between inferiority and superiority complexes among
Colorados who sometimes acknowledge that Utah has better snow and
skiing and snowboarding.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Is there a rivalry there a Utah abso heated rivalry
between Utah and Colorado.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
There's a sheated rivalry between Utah and Colorado, then maybe
maybe that's something to explore. Second season She's second season
Season two. Next up, we have Cooper Ricglade, twenty four
years old from Washington State, an American long track speed
skater from Mount Vernon, Washington, steadily carved out reputation is
one of Tmusa's rising sprint talents. Cloud first stepped onto
(15:35):
skates as a toddler, begetting roller skating before transitioning to
ice at age eight after being inspired by the twenty
ten Winter Olympics. Wow, that was what sixteen years ago?
Truly was eight years old? Oh my goodness, world, I
remember when we were full grown adults watching those games.
We had Actually we were in college, then we were
(15:58):
in college. Then Cooper, we wish you the best. I
hope I didn't butcher. Your last name mcleodd, McLeod, McLeod,
mcled m.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
It's mc Capital l eod could be anything, could be anything.
We're actually going to see speed skating. It's one of
the events that we're going to see Cooper. We can
ask him in person, how you pronounce his last name.
I'll be like what We'll be like, just kidding.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Just kidding.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Unice Lee short track competitor, a twenty one year old
competing after being.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
A backup Cooper. Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Oh. She is an American speed skater short track who's
become one of the United States most promising young competitors
on the ice. She was born in San Diego, California,
and spent part of her early childhood in South Korea.
Grew up then after that in Bellevue, washingtonspin all over
the place where she took up short track speed skating
after originally exploring rhythmic gymnastics and figure skating as a child.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
She did it all.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Lee's talents were recognized early. In twenty twenty, she was
named the US speed Skating short Tracks Development Athlete of
the Year, and at just seventeen, she earned a spot
on the US Olympic team for the twenty twenty two
Winter Olympics in Beijing as a relay squad alternate, making
her the youngest US speed skater at those Games, even
though she did not compete. She's you know, she's been
waiting in the wings.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
She's been waiting in the wings. I love this story
so much. To be born in San Diego and end
up at the Winter Olympics, anything is possible. Do not
let your personal history hold you back. By way of
South Korea and Bellevue, Washington. There you go. Now, next up,
we have Anika Bellshaw, and our producers have put a
(17:37):
photo of a little girl. I can't imagine that a
child is. Can we get a more recent photo? Y'all
just kidding, don't bend over backwards. But I think let's
just flash right here for video. The photo we're seeing
an adorable little girl. Anika is now twenty three years old.
Unless she has some amazing developmental thing where she is.
(18:01):
She's amazing amazing developmental thing where she's stuck.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
As a nine year old. Oh, I see why. It's
because she started ski jumping at nine, and so I
imagine this this, this is what she looked like around
that age. But I'm sure she unless she's like a
Michigo Kaputani where She's like, I don't want any photos
of me out there.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Is that how Michigo is? Yes? Oh I didn't know that,
go you go Michigo. But then I met her recently.
Does she look like what you thought a picture of
her would look now? Not at all? Oh my god.
She's adorable. Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Also adorable, Leila Edwards, and historic because she will be
the first black woman ever to represent the US and
Olympic hockey.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
She says.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
A focus of hers is trying to grow the diversity
of the game respect. What I want to give back,
says Edwards, is growing the culture, changing the culture a
little bit, and being a face people can see and
have more comfort in enjoying the sport because there's always
that fear, like, oh I don't see anyone that looks
like me, I don't want to start it. I think
the biggest reason is fear why people of color don't
(19:05):
try to start hockey, which is understandable. So that's my
goal is to get rid of that fear and welcoming people.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
I love this.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
She has partnered with the USA Hockey Foundation and the
Wisconsin Affiliate Assistance Fund, which provides grand awards to youth
hockey players of color. Edwards is from the same town,
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as Super Bowl champions Jason and Travis Kelcey,
and they went to the same middle school. Travis's voice
support for Edwards and her achievements through messages on X
(19:33):
and on his New Heights podcast with his brother Jason Kelcey.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Well, that is wonderful and to get the Kelsey stand
up approval huge even though they're children of trader Donna Kelcey.
She was a trader. She's a secret trader, the secret trader.
I miss her.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Next up we have Matthew Kuchuk.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
We love the Kachuck.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
We love the Kuchuck's Florida Panthers for on a US
men's team, known for his dynamic offensive skill, physical play
and leadership on the ice. Hailing from Scottsdale, Arizona, another
king who is from a warm place, landing a spot
at the Winter Olympics for the first time ah and
he is the son of the former NHL star Keith Kuchuk.
(20:19):
Matthews drafted six ever up with the Calgary Flames in
the twenty sixteen NHL Draft. He played through a torn
a ductor muscle and a sports hernia injury out of
Panther's twenty twenty five Stanley Cup run. After missing the
final twenty five games of the regular season and then
after surgery in August, he made his twenty five twenty
six debut on January nineteenth. Classmates with NBA champion and
(20:41):
Olympic gold medalist Jason Tatum while growing up in Saint Louis,
and he will be playing alongside his younger brother Brady Kuchuk.
It's all in the family with these guys, all in
the famboo, all in the fam.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
I want to talk about Miss deque Roe Okay giving skeleton,
thirty one years old from Noakesville, Virginia, A twenty twenty
five world champion. The mixed team event is a new
Olympic event this year, and this is when a female
and male slider each put down a run one after
(21:26):
the other. The times are then combined with the lowest
total amount winning. I love this.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
I love it so.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Mss Row was the twenty twenty five world silver medalist
women's and the first US athlete to win a world
medal in skeleton since twenty thirteen. She's a self described introvert.
We'll get ready, because the media is going to be
asking you questions, Miss deep Row, They're gonna want to
hear you laugh. But has grown more comfortable in the
spotlight over the years.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Uh oh, here we go.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
In college, she minored in theater performance and stage combat,
which encouraged her to open up. Okay, so get involved
in theater. Everyone Roe, who is one of eleven siblings.
Now you get the introvertedness. So much of Lass, including
a twin sister, has Black and Korean heritage. Even more diversity.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Love this, Love this.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
If she took classes, No, she minored in stage combat,
pretty huge. She knows how to break a glass over
your head if it's a proper class or if it's
a real one. I bet you she's I don't think.
I don't think means you can just break a glass
over someone's head, that's real. I think it means you
(22:38):
can fake punches. I think if you're minoring in it,
you got to explore all of the nuance of You
gotta feel pain to fake pain.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Amen, you ever think about it like that? I think
about it like that all the time. Let's talk about
some other first time I living in some other countries.
William don Janu Well the six best male short truck
speed skater in Canada. Oh In twenty twenty two, he
missed the five twenty two Olympic team by one spot,
but then since then he has been the best in
(23:14):
the world, winning best men's Overall Crystal Globe given to
the season's best skater. Can't wait to see him on
the ice. Doman and Nika Prayuts from Slovenia both are
twenty twenty five world champions on the large hill. Nika
is actually the reigning world champion on both the normal
hill and the large hill, and she's the two time
reigning overall World Cup champion. And they've both dominated the
(23:36):
season and come to the Games as metal favorites. Then
oh worth noting. If Nika and Doman each earn a
medal of any color in just one event, the Preude
siblings will make histories the first family in the Winter
Olympics with four siblings each earning medals. That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
So get this, We're about to speak about a model.
So this is Lucas Pinero Browden and he is an
alpine skier from Brazil. He could be the first South
American athlete to win a Winter Olympic medal in any sport.
He competed at the twenty twenty two Beijing Winter Games
(24:18):
for Norway, the country in which he was born. But
his mom is Brazilian. And if you think that sounds
like a good mixed genetically, you would be right. He
has model good looks and is actually like In his
time off from ski racing from twenty twenty three to
twenty twenty four, he went on the wild journey of modeling.
(24:38):
He says, I ended up on some runways. I was
doing some modeling. I was doing some design and creative
work for brands and whatnot, and kind of exploring what
other paths I may take. And I'm looking at a
photo of him on the runway and I get it.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yuck. What do you mean yuck? I'm kidding. I'm sicking.
An Olympian who models and paints his nails and wears
color for clothing and DJs. Terrible, so appealing, incredibly appealing
in many ways. We'll see you in the Olympic village,
Lucas A stop at you, you dog. Now let's talk
about countries. Benin and Guinea Bissau making their debut as
(25:13):
countries I'm saying hot countries that they get to come
in and really make a splash at these Winter Olympic Games. Well, Matt,
it doesn't feel right giving gold medal and bronze to
these people. We're just happy for all of them, aren't.
You're right? I think you know what we're gonna have
to gold medal and bronze.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
That is something you do a lot, you say gold
medal and bronze, and I think it's endearing every.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Time a gold medal and bronze, gold, silver and bronze, No,
no silver is one of my favorite medals and I
really hate leaving it off, But I think you're right.
It would be tough, though.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
I will say, let's just give a gold medal flat out,
straight up to I'm just gonna say it, Maxim Nambov,
because I really do want to see him go the
just than in the honor of his parents.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
That is a really tragic and I hope you know,
redemptive story.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
It already is inspiring, But like, I just hope that
he goes the distance, as it were, because that would
be you know, that will be quite a moment.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
So we're rooting for you, Maxim. I mean it's already
embodying the best things about the Olympics, which is the
peak of the human spirit. And for him to turn
grief into something that is getting him to the games
is incredible. We love you, Maxim. Maybe we'll see you
in the village. Well, we'd love to hear your laugh.
We'll wave. We're not to bother these people as we
(26:40):
give a big osaka laugh.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
We want to remind you be sure to follow two
Guys five rings on the iHeartRadio app or your favorite
podcast platform, and watch on the NBC Sports YouTube channel.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Watch and listen to every moment of the Winter Olympics
February sixth through the twenty second on NBC in Peacock
on the iHeartRadio app. Now, now we said, and we
end every episode of We Always Do Bye by blaring
the blaring John Williams
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