When former Olympian Melissa Marlowe talks about the 1988 Olympic controversy and the bronze medal being taken away, she doesn’t just revisit a headline; she relives what it felt like to stand on the edge of history and have it quietly rewritten overnight. How does someone keep competing after that? What carries an athlete through when the spotlight fades but the memory doesn’t?
As she joins John Corella in this episode, Melissa reflects on the discipline, artistry, and strength that defined her career, from the power in her legs and feet to the mindset that helped her face pressure and perfectionism. She shares how her coaches’ mix of kindness and toughness shaped her longevity in a sport built on precision and risk, and how she’s come to measure success in ways that last longer than medals.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Welcome to Dance Dad and Guest Intro
01:47 Early Ballet Roots and Natural Flexibility
05:05 Signature Lines: The Power of Legs and Feet
06:35 Beating Nerves with Sports Psychology
21:39 The Reality of Olympic Pressure: Was It Worth It
23:40 1988 Olympic Controversy: Bronze Medal Being Taken Away
45:22 Competing in the Cold War: USA vs USSR
51:09 Hard but Kind Coaching and Athlete Longevity
59:12 Scholarships, Overtraining, and Choosing Longevity
01:00:42 Life After the Olympics: Movement, Motherhood, Meaning
Connect with Melissa Marlowe:
Connect with Melissa on Instagram
Connect with John Corella:
Follow Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram
Join Dance Dad with John Corella on Patreon
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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