MADRID – 8 April 2019 – The legacy of German weightlifter Matthias Steiner, whose emotional gold medal win in 2008 inspired a career of promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, is featured in an all new episode of the Olympic Channel original series Legends Live On. Steiner’s inspiring story premieres on Monday, 8 April on olympicchannel.com, its mobile apps and on select connected TV devices, and at 20:15 on Eurosport.
Beyond the spotlight of the Olympic Games where legends are made, the legacy of Olympians live on. In Legends Live On, Olympic heroes show how they are translating their success into careers and inspiring future generations.
Steiner is best known for his emotional gold medal win at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 which came as a bittersweet victory following the tragic death of his wife just one year earlier. Digging deep within to deliver on a promise he had made to his late wife that he would one day win an Olympic medal, Steiner had just one try left to attempt his heaviest lift ever at 258kg.
"There was nothing else in life, nothing more important. I was a free man right there and then - the happiest man in the world, especially then," said Steiner upon reflecting on his winning lift in Beijing.
Following his retirement from competitive weightlifting in 2013, Steiner, who was diagnosed with diabetes at age 18, realised that living at a bodyweight of 150kg was not sustainable and embarked on a weight loss journey where he lost 45kg.
Today, Steiner is an author, motivational speaker and advocate for diabetes education and a healthy lifestyle helping others to lead happier and healthy lives.
"I'm in my 30s, and in great shape! I'm a fitness and nutrition coach, a singer and, quite simply, a happy dad."
In addition to Steiner, Olympic legends featured in the current season of Legends Live On include gold medallist Edgar Grospiron, the French freestyle skier turned motivational speaker; alpine skier Tina Maze (SLO), a double gold medallist who is also a pop culture icon in her home country; fencer Valentina Vezzali (ITA), a six time gold medallist and politician; and artistic gymnast Svetlana Khorkina (RUS), one of Russia’s most successful gymnasts of all time who is now a driving force at a sports club in Moscow.
The premiere season of Legends Live On, also available at olympicchannel.com, features Olympic heroes such as Manuela Di Centa (ITA), Nadia Comaneci (ROU), Ian Thorpe (AUS), Shaun White (USA) and Katarina Witt (GER).
Olympic Channel Programming Schedule: Legends Live On (Season 2)
25 Feb. 2019
Episode 1 – Legends Live On: Edgar Grospiron (FRA)
12 Mar. 2019
Episode 2 – Legends Live On: Peter Van den Hoogenband (NED)
12 Mar. 2019
Episode 3 – Legends Live On: Tina Maze (SLO)
8 Apr. 2019
Episode 4 – Legends Live On: Matthias Steiner (GER)
7 May 2019
Episode 5 – Legends Live On: Svetlana Korkhina (RUS)
17 June 2019
Episode 6 – Legends Live On: Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR)
15 July 2019
Episode 7 – Legends Live On: Valentina Vezzali (ITA)
12 Aug. 2019
Episode 8 – Legends Live On: Ninas de Oro (ESP)
16 Sept. 2019
Episode 9 – Legends Live On: Didier Dinart (FRA)
21 Oct. 2019
Episode 10 – Legends Live On: Uschi Disl (GER)
*Schedule Subject to Change
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The Olympic Channel is a multi-platform global media destination where fans can discover, engage and share in the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round. Offering original programming, news, live sports events and highlights, the Olympic Channel provides additional exposure for sports and athletes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in 11 languages. The Olympic Channel was launched in August 2016 in support of the IOC’s goal, set out in Olympic Agenda 2020, of providing a new way to engage younger generations, fans and new audiences with the Olympic Movement. Founding Partners supporting the Olympic Channel are Worldwide TOP Partners Bridgestone, Toyota and Alibaba. The Olympic Channel is available worldwide at olympicchannel.com, its mobile apps and on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and the Roku platform.
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Editor’s Note
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