WGN’s Ryan Burrow hosts “Quest For Gold,” a weekly update on preparations for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in this podcast from Chicago"s Very Own, 720 WGN.
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 […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 56: USA Softball’s Cat...
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 […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 55: Triple jumper Tori...
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 […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 54: USA Volleyball’s Jeff...
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 […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 53: Beach Volleyball’s April...
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 […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 52: Judo’s Nefeli Papadakis...
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 […]
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Quest For Gold – Episode 51: 3-time Olympic Gold...
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 […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 50: Nassar ‘Sister Survivor’...
In this week’s Quest for Gold… Another Japanese leader plants a seed of doubt about the Summer Games The USWNT keeps its unbeaten streak alive. More members of Team USA qualify for Tokyo. And we talk with “Sister Survivor” Trinea Gonczar about growing up training under former USA Gymnastics coach John Geddert and convicted abuser […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 49: Olympic hopefuls open up...
On this week’s Quest for Gold… USA Baseball has a new manager. The White House is shooting down calls to boycott the 2022 Winter Games in Chicago. We get an update on Tiger Woods’ horrific crash. And this week we took part in the three-day long Team USA Media Summit. We caught up with athletes […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 48: Marathoner Jake Riley...
On this week’s Quest for Gold… The torch relay won’t go through Osaka, Japan due because of COVID-19. Another disappointment for US Men’s Soccer. USA Hockey has a new GM. As Olympic trials get underway in Texas, wrestler Robby Smith could use your help following the birth of his son. And we talk with Olympic […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 47: 2016 Olympian Lauren...
On this week’s Quest for Gold… The Olympic Torch is on the move in Japan. It’s official, no international fans at the Summer Games. It’s a huge weekend for the USMNT in its Olympic bid. Megan Rapinoe was at the White House this week. And in our athlete spotlight we chat with USA Rugby star, […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 46: USA Volleyball’s Lauren...
On this week’s Quest for Gold… The U-23 US Men’s Soccer team looks to qualify a bid for Tokyo at Concacaf. April Ross and Alix Klineman grab some big points as they look to qualify a bid for Beach Volleyball. U.S. Senator Mitt Romney weighs in on calls for the U.S. to boycott the upcoming […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 45: Water polo player Matt...
This week on Quest for Gold… IOC leadership remains in place. The USOPC talks about the “elephants in the room” heading into the 2021 and 2022 games. USA Men’s Basketball has named pool of 57 finalists. There are some familiar names, and some new ones on there. You can now vote for the 2026 Milano […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 44: U.S. sailor Maggie Shea...
On this week’s Quest for Gold… Will there be fans in Japan? Where will they come from? Laurie Hernandez is competing! Katie Ladecky is winning! The U.S. Men’s U-23 Soccer team is prepping. And we talk with U.S. Sailor Maggie Shea (who has already qualified for the Summer Games) about what training has been like […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 43: Olympic wrestler Robby...
This week on Quest for Gold… A coach of the 2012 U.S. women’s ‘Fierce Five’ gold medal gymnastics team commits suicide after being indicted on 24 counts of trafficking and abuse related to the Dr. Larry Nassar investigation. Tiger Woods’ Olympic dreams may have come to a halt. Lolo Jones calls out MTV over her […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 42: Tokyo officials are...
This week on Quest for Gold… There’s a new head of the Tokyo Organizing Committee, as Olympic officials push forward for the Tokyo games. They’re hoping revised ‘Playbooks’ will instill confidence in athletes, countries, and the Japanese public. Take a look at the ‘Playbooks’ here: https://www.olympic.org/tokyo-2020-playbooks
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Quest for Gold – Episode 41: ‘Breaking’ is coming to...
On this week’s Quest for Gold… Trouble in Tokyo. More leadership issues, and less support for the games. A U.S. gold medal swimmer is in the hot water over the riot at the U.S. Capitol. A gymnastics legend has died. And we talk with Victor Montalvo of the Red Bull BC One All Stars. This […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 40: USA Karate’s Lingl...
This week on Quest for Gold… We’re one year away from the Winter Games in China…which seems a long ways away. The IOC is moving forward with plans to safely hold the 2021 games in Japan, though the Japanese public doesn’t seem enthused. An Olympic organizer is in hot water over comments made about women. […]
This week on Quest for Gold: IOC President Thomas Bach hopes to put aside rumors that the 2021 Games in Tokyo will be delayed, moved, or even cancelled, saying such reports “hurt athletes.” Meanwhile the USOPC says they expect the games to go forward with a “different look and different feel”. And this week we […]
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Quest for Gold – Episode 38: Djordje Mihailovic says...
The Summer Games in Tokyo are on…at least that’s what Olympic officials are saying. Competitions are restarting, as athletes keep their eyes on qualifying. Swimmers are back in the pool grabbing hardware. The USWNT is back on the field. U.S. Figure Skating stars come out to shine at the National Championships. And we talk with […]