This week, we are making history on Duke Loves Rasslin. Join us for an unforgettable, deeply personal conversation with "The Ice Breakers," the legendary pioneers who formed the original USA Women's Bobsled Team.

This isn't just an interview; it’s a family reunion of sports icons who became sisters while breaking barriers on the ice. From the high-speed turns of Lake Placid to the hallowed halls of the International Olympic Committee, these women changed the face of sports forever.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The Power of Pioneers: How two members competed while pregnant, providing the crucial data that shaped how the Olympics and national teams support pregnant athletes today.

• Safety and Sacrifice: A look at the untold stories, fears, and specific concerns each member faced during the early, dangerous days of the program.

• The Journey to Gold: Celebrating the modesty of Liz Parr-Smestad, who remained a pillar of the team from its inception through the historic gold medal wins years later.

• A Call to Action: Duke calls on men everywhere to use their platforms to elevate and amplify the voices of women in sports and beyond.

• Words of Wisdom: The team shares invaluable advice for the next generation of history-makers just starting their own journeys.

  Meet The Ice Breakers (The Original Team)

• Alex Allred aka "One More Time Alex": A USOC Athlete of the Year and prolific author who helped write the first women’s bobsled bylaws.

• Jill Bakken Linder aka "The Baby": The historic pilot who secured the first-ever Olympic gold medal for women’s bobsled in 2002.

• Cristina Dolan aka "Crash": An MIT-educated cybersecurity expert and National Champion in Skeleton.

• Nancy Lang Houghton aka "Linus": A Division I All-American and physical therapist who was the first woman to train full-time at the US Olympic Training Center.

• Laurie Millett aka "the Bullet": Known for her incredible speed and a lifelong career dedicated to Special Olympics and adaptive physical education.

• Liz Parr-Smestad aka "Tootsie": A dedicated educator and pioneer who won silver in the first national push championships while pregnant.

• Michelle Powe aka "Pooh Bear": The first gold medal pilot in the national women’s championships and a lifelong mentor and educator.

• Elena Primerano Wise aka "Lil’Prim": A track standout turned bobsled pilot and America's Cup champion, now a high school choir director.

• Christine Spiezio aka "Pumpkin": A marathoner, triathlete, and record-setting driver at the dangerous Mt. Van Hoevenberg track.

#DukeLovesRasslin #TheIceBreakers #USAWomensBobsled #WomenInSports #SportsPioneers #OlympicLegends #BobsledSisters #TitleIX #WomenEmpowerment #PodcastHistory

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