Kamara James was more than an Olympian—she was a scholar, a fighter, and a deeply human spirit. In this heartfelt episode, we explore her rise from humble beginnings to the Olympic stage, her intellectual brilliance, and her quiet battle with mental illness. Her story challenges our definitions of success and reminds us that strength isn’t the absence of struggle—it’s the courage to keep going. Tune in to honor a life of power, complexity, and enduring inspiration.
---------------------------------------------------------
Kamara James (1984–2014) was an American Olympic épée fencer and mental health advocate. Born in Jamaica and raised in New York, she began fencing at age 11 and quickly rose to elite levels, earning a full scholarship to Princeton University and representing the U.S. in the 2004 Athens Olympics. After the Games, she pursued international relations at Harvard but began experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia. Despite these challenges, she became a vocal advocate for mental health awareness and dignity. Kamara passed away at age 29, but her legacy endures as a story of brilliance, bravery, and boundless human potential.
---------------------------------------------------------
Fun fact: In high school, Kamara James scored an exceptionally high 1500 on the SAT (out of 1600 at the time), demonstrating her brilliance not just on the fencing strip but in academics as well. She was offered multiple Ivy League scholarships, ultimately attending Princeton and then Columbia. Her story highlights a rare fusion of athletic excellence and intellectual achievement, making her a role model for young women aiming to defy expectations in every arena.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.