ISSA SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER!!!

Uhhhh ok is anyone else so excited but also straight up OVERWHELMED with the Olympics right now?! This is my first time watching the Olympics with my big girl 9-5 job, and I have to say:

YOUR GIRL NEED’S A GOD DAMN SECOND!!!!! In between patients, DURING appointments (if you’re my boss reading this, then no not during appointments!!!), after work - I’m trying to catch up on the news from the Olympic highlights (which is also why this newsletter is going out on a Thursday morning instead of a Wednesday afternoon)

In honor of this special time, this week’s newsletter is recapping 5 unique Olympic themed news stories for you to share as small talk at work! You’ll be able to talk to anyone about anything with these stories.

Anyways let’s get into your small talk of the week!

1. The Paris 2024 Mascot

Ok so this is news to me, apparently every time since 1932 the Olympics has had a mascot! This year’s Olympic mascot is something called a “Phryges” (pronounced: Free-jes) - a little red cap known for symbolizing the French Liberation.

The Olympic committee reports “for French people, it’s a very well known object that is a symbol for freedom” as well as the revolution.

Ok so the teaaaa is that in 1789 when French revolutionaries began what we know as the French Revolution, they stormed the Bastille prison wearing these red caps. Honestly, kinda chic.

These caps were also worn during big historical moments such as the construction of the Eiffel Tower and the 1924 Olympic games. Today you can find this symbol in every town hall, on stamps, and on coins.

Full article here!

2. Flavor Flav becomes a sponsor and “official hype man” of USA Water Polo

Why do I feel like Flavor Flav is just looking for random ways to spend his money lol.

Just a few weeks ago we reported how Flavor Flav was getting his own menu combo at Red Lobster to support the business from going bankrupt. This week, the rapper is sharing his 5 year sponsorship with USA Water Polo.

Apparently he is:

• giving an undisclosed amount of money to the teams

• is scheduled to make multiple appearances at USA Water Polo events every year

• is using his social media presence to help the sport reach new audiences.

He states “by sponsoring a water polo team and helping these girls out, this is bigger than me winning a Grammy” (me: A GRAMMY?!)

Apparently in May, one of the team members, Maggie Steffens posted on social media about how if you’re not one of the prime time favorite events, most Olympians need multiple jobs to support the pursuit of their dreams in their sport, especially since the sport of Water Polo is not as popular as others.

Flavor Flav states: “as a girl dad and supporter of all women’s sports, imma personally sponsor you my girl,,,whatever you need” (honestly, iconic).

Apparently we’re pretty good also, we’ve won gold in women’s water polo for the last 3 Olympics!

Full article here!

3. Simone Biles vs. MyKayla Skinner feud

BUCKLE UP CAUSE THIS ONE’S JUICY!!

So MyKayla Skinner, a former US gymnast that got a silver medal in the Tokyo games, made this video when the 2024 Women’s Gymnastics roster was announced and said “beside’s Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t like what it used to be, the girl’s just don’t have the work ethic” (the video has since been removed but a moment on the lips forever on the internet)

Now I have no idea where she got this perception from, but CAN YOU SAY SHOT’S FIRED???

So as the 2024 US Women’s Gymnastics team (which nicknamed themselves The Golden Girls & secret nickname: FAFO (fuck around and find out)) - did as they promised, they won GOLD as a team and MyKayla found out.

But the fun just begins there, Simone Biles posted an IG with a caption eluding to MyKayla’s loser energy video: “lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions”

Next thing you know:

• MyKayla blocks Simone on IG

• McKayla Maroney (another iconic former gold medalist) add’s some sauce, commenting “it doesn’t get more iconic than this… feels like I need to apologize just to redeem my first name”

• and this just in, Suni Lee comments “put a finger down if simone biles just ended you”

All around, I am love love loving the tea and living for this triumphant moment for the US Women’s Gymnastics team. Full article here!

4. A Star is Born: Stephen Nedoroscik

I’m so excited that the internet’s newest favorite meme happens to be a Massachusetts native!

Stephen is a Penn State alum with a degree in electrical engineering, and he earned a spot on the olympic team for his one and only special event: the Pommel horse, which apparently is the event the US Men’s team has struggled in throughout the years.

He also happens to wear glasses and not look like the typical gymnastics bro, whipping the lenses off when he goes to perform. Leading to the newest nickname the Internet has given him: the Clark Kent of gymnastics.

Thanks to him, the US Men’s Gymnastics team just won it’s FIRST MEDAL IN 16 YEARS!!!!!!!! Idk what’s crazier, that or the fact that the 2008 Olympics, which I remember like it was yesterday, was 16 years ago wtfFFFF

People are loving his nerdy glasses/engineer energy + beast of a routine on the Pommel horse - honestly besides his endearing vibe and skills I’m not exactly sure how he’s blown up so quickly, in my research I didn’t find anything specific.

But hey it’s giving green flags, it’s giving America’s sweet heart, and it’s giving needs to be protected at all costs.

And these are the 4 Olympic themed small talk news stories of the week that I’ve been sharing with patients & coworkers. Read more here!

Be sure to check out this week’s podcast episode: "freak accidents, mistakes, & days you feel like the worst dentist / want to crawl in a hole: 6 voice memos of encouragement” - hear from our community about their advice for getting through those tough days!

Thanks for reading - if you liked what you read please share this with a friend! See you next week,

xoxo, Connie