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Heartbeat takes you inside the world of the unique Olympic sport of biathlon - a sport that combines the heart-pumping aerobics of cross country skiing combined with the precision element of marksmanship. The US Biathlon podcast brings you close to the athletes to dissect one of the most popularity of Olympic Winter Games sports.
S4 Ep10 - Elias - Emily
Tom Kelly: [00:00:00] Welcome to Heartbeat. And today, we're going to take you to the other side of the globe, to Estonia. We are on the eve of the youth and the Junior World Championships with me today, Emily Campbell, and Elias Sully. Uh, welcome. Thanks for you guys taking some time to join. Join me this evening.
Emily Campbell: [00:00:17] Yeah, thanks for having us.
Tom Kelly: [00:00:19] I'm doing great here. So, Elias, why don't you kick it off tell folks where you are. And by the way, we're recording this literally the day or two before the start of the championship. So, Elias, uh, where are you guys tonight?
Elias Soule: [00:00:34] So, uh, yeah, we're in Otepaa, Estonia, actually, which is about two hours, um, away from the capital. And, uh, yeah, we just got here a couple days ago, and we've had a couple training days, and, um. Yeah, the venue is awesome. The snow is solid. Yeah. I'm excited to get cooking here on Friday.
Tom Kelly: [00:00:53] Cool. Emily, how about you? How's your introduction to Estonia?
Emily Campbell: [00:00:57] Yeah, it's been awesome. I mean, everyone's been super friendly, and I love the course. It's definitely going to be a hard course, but I'm really excited for it. And the weather's been good. Knock on wood. Hopefully it stays that way. But yeah, everything's been awesome so far.
Tom Kelly: [00:01:11] Let's start out and talk a little bit about this event coming up, the youth and the Junior World Championships, an event that was actually held at Soldier Hollow in the USA short time ago. Uh, Emily, why don't you kick it off and talk about the significance of this event for you and your teammates?
Emily Campbell: [00:01:27] Yeah. So I think that this is definitely a huge event to have the opportunity to go to. And only four people in our age group qualify for men and women. So it's really awesome to get to be here, especially this year at trials, we had definitely the most competitive trials I'd say that I've been to, and so that was really exciting to see just how many more people are getting involved in the US and how the sport's growing.
Tom Kelly: [00:01:54] Elias, what about this event for you? What's the significance and what do you hope to take away from it?
Elias Soule: [00:01:59] Yeah, right. So this is the world champs, the junior world champs. So, um, yeah, you're competing against the best of the best in the world. Um, some of the top athletes in our field. And it's just awesome to, like, see what you got, you know, compare yourself against against the best of the best and see where you stack up.
Tom Kelly: [00:02:17] Emily, what do you hope to take away from this event yourself?
Emily Campbell: [00:02:22] For me, I think kind of like what Elias said. It's really cool to see how you stack up against the best and the best in the world, but I also think it's just a really cool experience to get to meet people from other countries and get to have this opportunity to, you know, be in a new country and ski in a new place. And so, for me, I just hope to learn something from the races and take something away from that experience, but also to meet new people and have that kind of aspect of it.
Tom Kelly: [00:02:50] I want to have each of you talk a little bit about your own background. Emily, you come from my hometown here in Park City, long distance from here today. But, Emily, why don't you start it out and give us a little bit of background on how you got into sport and how you eventually made your pathway into biathlon.
Emily Campbell: [00:03:07] Yeah. So I actually think that it's kind of a funny story because my parents are from Texas and Kentucky, so they didn't really grow up skiing or anything, but then, um, they moved to Utah. So both me and my brother grew up like being on snow from a really early age. Alpine skiing, I think we started at like two and then we got into Nordic. I think just because, like my mom, Google searched good sports for tall kids to try, and then Nordic skiing popped up. So we kind of gave it a shot and loved it. It was definitely harder than alpine skiing, but my brother, who also does it, we were both pretty athletic kids and we enjoyed challenges. We were both runners before that, so it was really fun to have kind of a more challenging aspect of skiing. And then I got into biathlon. I tried this Girls and Guns event down at Soldier Hollow, just saw something about it and thought I'd give it a try. I think I was like ten at the time, and I thought it was so much fun. And the first time I hit a target, I was just so excited about it. I was like, oh my gosh, I love this. And it was really cool because at that point in time, the Soldier Hollow program was really starting to grow and have more development opportunities for younger kids like me. And so I really got to kind of grow with the program, and they've supported me through my entire journey, and it's been really awesome. I think for me to see the program grow and also for them to see me grow, kind of with their support.
Tom Kelly: [00:04:40] Elias, how about you? You come from Alaska and certainly a big sports state and a big Nordic sports state. But what was your pathway to make it into biathlon?
Elias Soule: [00:04:50] Yeah. So, um, my dad is from Colorado, my mom's from Cincinnati, and, uh, my mom's a doctor, actually, and she got her residency, um, up in, uh, up in the great white North. And it was supposed to just be, like, a three-year deal, just residency, and then go move, move out. But once they got there, they realized, like, this place is amazing and kind of dug their heels in and like, you know, let's stick around. And so that's how I ended up there. And so I just kind of my they got involved in the Alaska community with like skiing and alpine skiing and just being like the the winter vibe you got up there and uh, so I yeah, I grew up doing it from a young age, but actually my how I started out originally I was in taekwondo, and I started that like when I was like two or something and, uh, yeah, I did taekwondo became a second-degree black belt, worked my way up through that. I actually was I actually ended up placing like third at Youth Olympics or Junior Olympics for that when I was younger.
Elias Soule: [00:05:44] Um, but yeah, so I kind of like did, uh, skiing alongside that the whole way up, like with, like youth programs and stuff like that. And then, um, I actually when I was in like fourth grade, this, uh, this girl I had a crush on had a, uh, was a part of the, uh, the, uh, like a competitive team called Alaska Winter stars up there. So I figured I'd give it a try, you know, just to. Hang out there a little bit more, but, um, um, yeah. So I joined it. I ended up really falling in love with the sport of Nordic skiing and, uh. And, uh, yeah. And so I worked my way up through that, and eventually, I tried biathlon with the program. And it started out as a small program, and I kind of ended up growing with it. And, uh, as it, as we, as it grew, I just kept working at it. Made through different, um. Uh, different competitions like nationals and stuff like that. And now here we are, junior world champs.
Tom Kelly: [00:06:39] Let's talk about the culture of your respective towns. And both of you grew up in in regions that have a great winter sports culture. Uh, Elias, I'll have you kick it off, but how important is that winter sport culture that you have up in Alaska?
Elias Soule: [00:06:56] Well, yeah, it's part of, uh, it's part of, like, the core aspect. I'd say like, um, you know, we're we're a hardy folk up there. You know, it gets pretty cold, pretty dark. And, uh, you gotta enjoy those long winter months somehow. So, yeah, like hockey, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, pretty much all of the above. It's a really, really big deal. And, um, pretty much. Yeah, across the board. Um, you just got you get involved with it as a young age and you kind of, you kind of grow with it and uh, you kind of pick your lane usually, and then eventually, yeah, you end up where you are, which is where we are now.
Tom Kelly: [00:07:34] Emily, you grew up in literally an Olympic Village in Park City, site of the 2002 Winter Games and hopefully the 2034 games coming up. Uh, you have the you had the opportunity to try a lot of different winter sports. How important was that culture for you in growing up as a young girl in the city of Park City?
Emily Campbell: [00:07:53] I definitely think that's shaped a lot of who I've become today in my personality and everything, because really growing up just surrounded by constant Olympians and constant opportunities like growing up, I tried ski jumping, Nordic skiing, alpine skiing. I mean, I tried basic ice skating. I think at one point I tried a lot of the winter sports just because we have the facilities there, which is really cool. I think, like, I don't know, it's also really nice with like just the community really supports being athletic and supports healthy competition. And I think that's been a really fun community to grow up in with people that kind of value the same things and think that they just love the winter sports and have a love for being athletic and everything.
Tom Kelly: [00:08:42] Were you able to take part in some of the Youth Sports Alliance programs, like Get Out and Play to to sample some of the other sports?
Emily Campbell: [00:08:52] Yeah, it was. I think get out and Play is one of the first times maybe I tried cross country skiing, and then I did kickers and gliders with the Park City Ski and Snowboard program and I think, yeah, I mean, I don't totally remember all the get out and plays I did, but I definitely remember it being a part of my elementary school experience and it just being so much fun. I mean, also like when I was at preschool, the preschool I went to had a section of the day where they would just take us alpine skiing. I think that's not something that many kids have the opportunity to do. So I think it's a really special town to grow up in.
Tom Kelly: [00:09:29] Yeah, it really is. And I just I just love it here. With all of the sports enthusiasm that you have here. Elias, you've committed now to go to Harvard. Uh uh, why don't you give us a little bit of a rundown on what your plans are there, and I'm curious, when you go there, are you planning to ski for Harvard?
Elias Soule: [00:09:46] Yeah. So, um, Harvard actually is a D1 ski program, and it's part of the IHSa circuit, which is the the Eastern Cup. And, uh, yeah, I'm planning for planning to, uh, join and be a part of the The Harvard Crimson and, um, get that team up and rolling. Um, but, uh, yeah. And so I also plan on continuing my biathlon career there as well. There's a pretty established biathlon team like Cambridge, Boston area, which we actually have two athletes from that program here with us today at Junior World Program. So I can I hope to, um, pursue my skiing career as well as my biathlon career and, uh, maybe, maybe take a couple shots at some of these bigger, um, non-junior competitions coming up.
Tom Kelly: [00:10:32] Yeah, it's pretty cool right now to see the diversity that we're getting between cross-country and biathlon. We had, uh, Margie Freed and also Grace Castonguay on the podcast earlier this season. Uh, how do you strike the balance? Uh, and I know that you have yet to figure this out, I'm sure, but how do you plan on striking the balance between the two? Uh, are you able to look at a schedule selectively and find pods where you're able to do some biathlon and then others where you're going to be on the carnival Carnival circuit?
Elias Soule: [00:11:03] Well, luckily, these sports go pretty well hand in hand. So you can you can train skiing and still be getting faster at biathlon at the same time. And honestly, all it takes, once you have a good base of shooting, it takes just um, like every, every like couple of weeks or, or maybe like once a week, hopefully to like get out to the range and just get lay hands on your rifle, get some shots down range and, uh, just try and keep the shooting, um, the shooting skills up and try and focus more on the pursuit of, like, building a better athletic base and, um, getting faster on the skis so I can try and compete with some of these faster guys at the higher level.
Tom Kelly: [00:11:44] Yeah. So that'll be a pretty big move for you from Anchorage to Cambridge. Uh, are you fired up about that and moving to a different city?
Elias Soule: [00:11:52] Yeah, it's about as far as you can go. Right. Furthest, uh furthest, uh, out, out. Um, out west and all the way out, out all the way to the East coast. And, um. Yeah, a little bit less snow, too, from what I've heard.
Speaker4: [00:12:05] So a little, a little bit.
Tom Kelly: [00:12:08] Less, but still a good winter culture there. Um, yeah. For sure. So you guys are in Estonia right now, but just a short time ago, earlier in the season, in January, you were in Korea at Gangwon for the Youth Olympic Games. An amazing experience, I'm sure, for both of you. Elias, why don't you kick it off and talk about the experience that you had going to the Youth Olympic Games?
Elias Soule: [00:12:32] Yes it was. It was an amazing experience. Like one of one for a lifetime, for sure. Um, just all the sports, all the different countries. You were just surrounded by so much athletic ability, so much talent. Um, so much like cultural diversity. Even. You had people from Brazil, Colombia, up in Scandinavia, like Lithuania, even people from from Latvia. And, uh, yeah, it was just amazing just being able to experience that cultural and that athletic diversity from all around the world and just meet these amazing people, compete against the best of the best, you know? And, um, yeah, on pretty much the biggest stage you can be on as a youth, the Youth Olympic Games. You know.
Tom Kelly: [00:13:12] Emily, how was your experience in Korea?
Emily Campbell: [00:13:16] Oh, it was amazing. I mean, from the second we got there, you could just feel the Olympic vibes and everyone was just so excited to be there and celebrating sports and just having fun. It was a really great experience.
Tom Kelly: [00:13:32] As international athletes, you've had an opportunity to travel the world and go to interesting new places. And I think particularly given the age that you are both at, many of these experiences are new. It's the first time you've been to some of these places. Emily, why don't you start it out and just talk about how what's the cultural significance for you, not just as an athlete, but as an individual, to be able to go to places like South Korea and see the culture there? And then a few weeks later, find yourself in Estonia. Emily, you kick it off.
Emily Campbell: [00:14:07] Yeah for sure. So both of us have gone to some crazy places. I mean, last year for Junior Worlds, we were both in Kazakhstan, which is a country I don't even know if I had ever heard of, besides maybe an AP geography before, but it's not a country I've ever like thought of, and I think that just having the opportunity to go to places that many Americans and many people just don't think to go is really cool, because the people there get so excited that they get to share their culture and their ideas with you, which I think is so special. And if you really like, take the time to embrace that. I think you can learn a lot about these countries and just like, see how much fun it is really. And yeah, it's really an amazing opportunity that many people our age won't have and like, don't have. And I think that taking advantage of that and really getting to experience all the cultural stuff and, you know, seeing what kind of foods different countries like, and just like little things like that, or taking the time to maybe learn a few words in the language. I think that's really special and it's a really great experience.
Tom Kelly: [00:15:17] Elias, how about you? The cultural experience of going to all of these different places like South Korea?
Elias Soule: [00:15:24] Yeah. Like, uh, like Emily touched on being able to, like, travel the world and experience these, these different countries and different cultures at like a young age is pretty rare. And I'm beyond grateful for the sport for opening up those doors for me. And. Yeah. Like just going, like, we, uh, we went out into the community and, uh, just met met like, the locals. And everyone was just so excited to just, like, show us Korea while we were there. And we, uh, we got traditional foods. And, um, there were people in, like, traditional dresses at the at the temples and stuff. It was just it was just absolutely amazing.
Tom Kelly: [00:16:01] Did you guys have time to, uh, did you spend any time in Seoul or were you out at, uh, Gangwon most of the time?
Elias Soule: [00:16:08] Um, so me, the Alaskans actually, we got there. We got there a day early and we left a day later than everyone else. And so we got to spend the day in Seoul both those days, actually, and we got to experience pretty much all of Seoul. We we were in the rich district. Um, the wealthy district will, when we first arrived and got to experience a little bit more touristy side of, of Seoul. And then on our on the day on like the the tailing day when we were when we were leaving after everyone else had left, we kind of experienced like more Seoul proper and got to like really. Really see what the city had to offer. It's an amazing city with like. Incredible skyscrapers and just old architecture and new. It's just kind of like an amazing blend of of like culture over the years and like what you get to see.
Tom Kelly: [00:16:56] Did you have any fried chicken?
Elias Soule: [00:16:59] I did. I did have the fried chicken. It was, it was it was pretty dang good.
Tom Kelly: [00:17:04] It really was. Emily, how about you?
Emily Campbell: [00:17:07] I actually did get a try it. I unfortunately did not get to go to Seoul for the day because of the way my flights worked out, but my parents were able to go, and so they took me out to dinner one night and I was able to try it. It was. It was good.
Tom Kelly: [00:17:21] Yeah, it really is a pretty fun place. I had a great time at the Olympics in 2018, in Pyeongchang. Uh, and anyway, I think as, as both of you have alluded to the spirit of the people and how welcoming everyone is, that really does unite the world of sport, doesn't it?
Emily Campbell: [00:17:40] For sure.
Elias Soule: [00:17:41] Yes. For sure. Yeah, definitely 100%.
Tom Kelly: [00:17:44] Uh, I want each of you to talk a little bit about where what are the next steps for you. And I know that you've got a great future ahead of you. Uh, Emily, I'll have you kick it off, but what are the next steps for you? What are your goals in the sport over the next few years?
Emily Campbell: [00:17:59] Yeah. So right now, I'm definitely still trying to figure a lot of that out and come up with some more solid goals. But I definitely love the sport so much and I just have so much fun competing. Like, genuinely. I just get so excited for these races and I just have a blast doing them. I mean, obviously it's a painful sport, but when you enjoy it so much, it's just fun. And so for me, I want to just figure out the best opportunities for me to grow as an athlete and continue to train hard and get to experience more parts of the world, hopefully, and continue to grow and travel with the sport.
Tom Kelly: [00:18:36] Emily, you're in the age range where the 2034 Olympics in your hometown is a distinct possibility. Is that something that kind of stands out on the horizon as a goal for you?
Emily Campbell: [00:18:48] Oh, for sure. That's definitely a huge goal for me. I think kind of as I mentioned before, my brother also does the sport and has had huge success in it. He just got back from uh, Junior worlds for Nordic skiing. But anyway, um, I think it would be a really, really cool opportunity if we were able to compete in it together kind of at our hometown as siblings. I think that would be something really special, but that's definitely a goal of mine for sure.
Tom Kelly: [00:19:18] Alas, we talked about how you're heading to Harvard and spending some time there, but as you look out over the next five years or so, where do you see your biathlon career taking you?
Elias Soule: [00:19:30] Yeah. So I plan on really, really focusing on bringing up the ski speed. As I mentioned before, I just I'm this summer specifically and um, into the fall session, I'm going to and specifically over these next couple of years, I'm going to put in massive training blocks, hopefully in order to really like elevate that, elevate that athletic base, because that's really what separates the top athletes is, is their, um, ski ability. And so I hope to bring that level up a little bit and bring the shooting along with it, hopefully. And, and, uh, maybe even get on some of these, uh, these pro cups, like maybe the IBU and Junior Cup and stuff like that and maybe even make a shot in a couple of years at the World Cup.
Tom Kelly: [00:20:18] Cool. Well, we wish both of you all the best. We're going to wrap things up here on heartbeat with our final segment that we call on target. Just a few fun final questions for you. And the first one is one I ask a lot of athletes and you guys are in the early part of your international careers, but you've still been quite a few places. But I'd like each of you to share what's been your favorite biathlon venue? Emily, why don't you kick it off?
Emily Campbell: [00:20:44] Um, like out of internationally or just.
Tom Kelly: [00:20:48] Ever anywhere, anywhere. And you could say Soldier Hollow if you want.
Emily Campbell: [00:20:53] I was personally going to say Soldier Hollow. There's nothing like home. And I love racing there, and I love the hills, and I'm just like, I'm emotionally attached to that course. I just think it's so fun. Each of The Hills has like, its own little special name in my mind, and I just I love Soldier Hollow a lot for sure.
Tom Kelly: [00:21:14] Alas.
Elias Soule: [00:21:16] Last year. Um, in Kazakhstan. Junior worlds. Honestly, I love that course. The, uh, I don't know, the trees, just I love that those those kind of like Eurasian pine trees. I don't know what they're called, but they, they just they spoke to me then, but, uh, yeah. The they had really wide open trails, honestly, you could land a plane on them, but yeah, it was a little bit windy, I will say that. But man, I love those ski trails.
Tom Kelly: [00:21:43] Let's take it back now to South Korea, the Youth Olympic Games in January. Can each of you tell me an experience you had there that was memorable for you, that had nothing to do with biathlon or skiing? Elias.
Elias Soule: [00:21:59] Hmm'hmm an experience. Oh, actually, what was it? Was pretty cool. Um, while I was coming in, I was bringing my my my gun back because you have to keep your guns in the, um. Like kind of in a locked vault while you're at the venue. But as I was coming in, uh, this volunteer asked to, uh, ask to take a selfie with me, and, I don't know, I thought that was really cool. He ended up posting it on his Instagram, which I just thought was beautiful. Just kind of, you know, you get that little, like, kind of like micro celebrity moment, you know, it makes you, uh, I don't know, a little bit of a confidence boost, but yeah.
Tom Kelly: [00:22:32] I love that. Um, Emily, how about you? Yeah. So.
Emily Campbell: [00:22:36] So for me, it's another volunteer story. Um, before your race, you do this thing called rifle check, and you check your rifle and everything. But they also gave us, like, a little bag so that we could put all of our warm up stuff and water packs and, like, have all of our stuff at the start, and they write your bib number on it and on. This was the first race and the volunteer was writing my bib number, and then she was like, I'll add a little special heart for you. And I don't know, it just made me so happy and I felt so special. And then I had one of like the best races of my life. So I was really, I think it was very lucky. But yeah, that made me really happy.
Tom Kelly: [00:23:13] To all the volunteers listening to heartbeat. Just know that little things like that, they really do make a difference. Um, two more questions for each of you. Um, this one, you might have to dig deep, but you've traveled internationally. You've been to some far off strange places. You're both adventurous. What's the craziest food item you've ever had on the road? Oh, I.
Emily Campbell: [00:23:41] Have a good answer for this.
Tom Kelly: [00:23:42] Okay, Emily. Emily, go for it. You get to.
Speaker4: [00:23:44] Start.
Elias Soule: [00:23:45] You're going to steal my answer in Kazakhstan.
Emily Campbell: [00:23:49] Yeah, I bet it's the same. But yeah, in Kazakhstan. I don't know if Elias tried it, but I know one day they had tongue and I tried that, and the texture was really weird. And then I ended up spitting it out, but I tried it, so.
Speaker4: [00:24:04] Elias.
Tom Kelly: [00:24:04] Is that your experience?
Elias Soule: [00:24:06] Um, actually, mine was a little bit different while I was in Kazakhstan. I got to try try some horse milk, which was. Which was very interesting, to say the least. Not my not my cup of tea personally, but I did try it so I can say that I.
Tom Kelly: [00:24:22] Love the spirit of adventure.
Speaker4: [00:24:23] Though.
Tom Kelly: [00:24:24] Okay, we'll bring it back home. Last question in just one word. Just one word. What does biathlon mean to you, Elias?
Elias Soule: [00:24:33] Just one word. That's hard.
Speaker4: [00:24:36] Yes, it.
Elias Soule: [00:24:37] Means a lot to me, but, um, I would put it in just one word, I would say. Um. Travel. That's probably the biggest thing is just seeing the world, I guess. But if I can encapsulate into just one word, it would be travel.
Tom Kelly: [00:24:54] I love that, and you know, I love the spirit that both of you bring to this and in really enjoying the places that you go. Um, Emily, one word. What does biathlon mean to you?
Emily Campbell: [00:25:08] That's a really tough question. The only word I can really think of, though, is like fun. Like, I just have so much fun doing it and like, really, I just enjoy like skiing. I enjoy like I enjoy the training process. I enjoy the traveling, I enjoy the racing. Like it's just all really fun.
Speaker4: [00:25:27] Well, fun.
Tom Kelly: [00:25:28] Is the most important thing. I tell people that if you're not having fun, why are you doing it? Emily Campbell. Elias sewell. Thank you guys so much for taking time from the Youth and Junior World Championships to join us here on Heartbeat.
Elias Soule: [00:25:41] Thank you so much, Tom.
Emily Campbell: [00:25:42] Thanks for having us.