Maddie Phaneuf is a professional biathlete from Old Forge, NY. She has been racing internationally since 2014 and represented Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Today, she races with the non-profit organization NYSEF in Lake Placid, NY. Maddie combines her love of the outdoors with an ongoing effort to protect it by advocating for environmental sustainability. She is currently working on issues such as climate change and clean air with the non-profit organization Protect Our Winters.

In this episode we discuss:

• What IS biathlon? Watch this video for some beginner info!
• NYSEF (New York Ski Educational Foundation), Maddie’s team
• Protect our Winters (POW), a community of outdoor people advancing non-partisan policies to protect the places and lifestyles they love from climate change
• Wondering how to call your legislators to push for action against climate change? Visit the Common Cause “Find your Representatives” tool!
• Maddie’s blog post on her personal battle with PTSD and seeking professional help for mental health

Follow Maddie:

• Website
• Instagram: @maddie_phaneuf
• Facebook: @maddiebiathlete

Follow Protect our Winters:

• Website
• Instagram: @protectourwinters
• Facebook: @ProtectOurWinters

Follow Social Sport:

• Instagram: @socialsportpod
• Facebook: @socialsportpod
• Twitter: @emmamzimm

Quote: “There’s a huge number of people looking up to these athletes…people want to clear their schedules to hold an Olympic medal so, while they’re doing that, we just nudge them and say, ‘hey, you should really vote for a greener future.’”