On Quest for Gold…the last before Tokyo 2020! Competitions are already underway as we await opening ceremonies.  And we’ve already seen athlete protests. One American volleyball player has already been ruled out of the games due to COVID-19. The USWNT is stunned by an old foe. Softball is back. A host city for the 2032 […]

Quest for Gold

Quest for Gold – Episode 65: Blake Pieroni says for USA Swimming ‘Gold is the standard…We wanna win everything’

On this week’s Quest for Gold… A positive COVID test for US Women’s gymnastics. Coco Gauff won’t be able to make the trip. A major sponsor pulls out of the Games. ‘Debunking’ Olympic Village no sex beds rumor. And on this week’s Quest for Gold athlete spotlight we talk with Olympic hurdler David Kendziera.  He’s […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 64: Olympic hurdler David Kendziera knows ‘anything can happen’ if he can get to 400-meter finals

This week on Quest for Gold… The full Team USA roster for the Tokyo Games has been announced, and we know what they’ll be wearing! There are new rules on medal ceremonies. The families of American athletes may still get an Olympic experience. A few big-name athletes won’t be going to Tokyo after all. On […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 63: Tierna Davidson says USWNT feels ‘refreshed’ after pandemic, heading into Tokyo

On this week’s Quest for Gold… The IOC makes a decision on Tokyo fans A member of the Serbian Olympic team has tested positive for COVID-19. USATF responds to the Sha’Carri Richardson suspension. Naomi Osaka speaks out about mental health. And we talk with Stefanie Dolson, center for the Chicago Sky.  She qualified for the […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 62: Stefanie Dolson feeling pressure for USA gold in the first ever 3×3 Olympic event

On this week’s Quest for Gold… Nursing athletes will be allowed to bring their infants to Tokyo. The USA men’s basketball, gymnastics, golf, and tennis rosters are set. Baseball, judo, and water polo teams will be announced soon. And in our athlete spotlight we talk with fencer Eliza Stone.  The Chicago native and Princeton grad […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 61: USA Fencing’s Eliza Stone on 2020 Olympic breakthrough: ‘I stopped thinking about it as a burden’

This week on Quest for Gold… Olympic rosters are being filled on team sports. USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovsky has selected his 18-woman roster for Japan.  There are a lot of familiar names. We’ll know by next week who will be heading to Tokyo in gymnastics. Japan has announced capacity limits. The pandemic may have […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 60: USA Volleyball’s Thomas Jaeschke won bronze in Rio; ‘These games will be different’

On this week’s Quest for Gold… The IOC is out with its new 70-page “Playbook” for athletes.  Check it out here: https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/games/tokyo-2020-playbooks/ The U.S. Women’s Rugby and Men’s Volleyball teams have been announced. The U.S. Swimming trials are wrapping up, the Track and Field Trials are kicking off. Some decisions are being made on the Olympics […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 59: Rhythmic Gymnast Laura Zeng preps for second and final Olympics; first semester of college coming this fall

This week on Quest for Gold… There’s a new lead city to host the 2032 games. USA Basketball has a new partner, and a training camp site. MLB broadcaster Jason Benetti just picked up a second summer job. And this week we talk USA Baseball with manager Mike Scioscia.  He lead Team USA through an […]

Quest for Gold- Episode 58: USA Baseball Manager Mike Scioscia on competing in Tokyo: ‘You can’t stub your toe in these games’

On this week’s Quest for Gold… For the first time ever a USA Basketball team does NOT qualify for the Olympics. USA Baseball must keep winning. The U.S. Olympic Swimming trials get underway in Omaha. 10,000 Japanese volunteers  have backed out of the Olympic games. And in this week’s athlete spotlight we reconnect with Evita […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 57: U.S. Rhythmic Gymnast Evita Griskenas is still ‘fidgeting’ with her Olympic routine; found new ‘gorgeous’ music during quarantine

On this week’s Quest for Gold: The IOC is banking on 70% vaccination of athletes prior to the games. The U.S. is telling people NOT to travel to Japan…for now. One Japanese newspaper wants the country to call off the games. This is a big week for qualifying. in baseball, 3×3 basketball, and swimming. And […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 56: USA Softball’s Cat Osterman admits ‘a little bit of unfinished business’; never wavered on competing in postponed games

On this week’s Quest for Gold: Some familiar names are back on the gymnastics mat for the first time in years. USA Baseball prepares to name a roster ahead of qualification. An Olympic and social justice legend dies. In our athlete spotlight this week we talk with triple jumper Tori Franklin (Chicago, IL).  Tori has […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 55: Triple jumper Tori Franklin talks mental health, athlete protests, and prepping for Tokyo 2020

This week on Quest for Gold: More rumors and doubts about the safety of the upcoming games. The U.S. might have a new Japan ambassador before the opening ceremonies DK Metcalf put on a show last weekend but probably isn’t Tokyo bound. And in our athlete spotlight we talk with Jeff Jendryk (Wheaton, IL).  He’s […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 54: USA Volleyball’s Jeff Jendryk is in a ‘Live or Die’ situation to make Olympic roster

On this week’s Quest for Gold:  Japan needs nurses and medical professionals for the games. USA Baseball has a qualification schedule, but still no roster. Zach LaVine is back on the NBA court after testing positive for COVID-19.  He’s hoping to make Team USA this summer. And in this week’s athlete spotlight, we talk to […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 53: Beach Volleyball’s April Ross talks about losing her mother from breast cancer, prepping for Japan, where she hangs her Olympic medals

This week on Quest for Gold: Japan releases its newest playbook, which provide guidelines for athlete, coach and official testing. The Japanese public still isn’t sold on holding a safe Olympic games. And on this week’s athlete spotlight we talk with USA Judo’s Nefeli Papadakis.  This Illinois 22-year-old is back to competing after an eight-month […]

Quest for Gold – Episode 52: Judo’s Nefeli Papadakis admits she had to knock some rust off after long COVID layoff

On this week’s Quest for Gold: The USWNT gets a tough draw in Tokyo. An arrest has been made after an Olympic hopeful was harassed. Team USA weighs in on the Chauvin trial. The IOC weighs in on athlete protests. And we talk with three-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Ryan Murphy about what the last […]

Quest For Gold – Episode 51: 3-time Olympic Gold Medal swimmer Ryan Murphy talks Tokyo, Cubs, investing, dealing with migraines

WGN’s Ryan Burrow hosts “Quest For Gold,” a weekly update on preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games in this podcast from Chicago's Very Own, 720 WGN.

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Quest for Gold

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