The Current

The Current for Aug. 6, 2021

Tackling coronavirus variants around the world; Canada's women's soccer team win Olympic gold; Chris Nikic on being first person with Down Syndrome to complete Ironman triathlon; and episode 4 of CBC podcast Brainwashed
Rosemary Barton is this week's guest host of The Current. (CBC)

Full Episode Transcript

Today on The Current:

How are countries around the world coping with coronavirus variants? Guest host Rosemary Barton talks to Canadian teacher Mark Henshaw in Wuhan, China, where 10 million people are being tested after a handful of cases, including the delta variant, were discovered. And in Lima, Peru, professor of microbiology Dr. Pablo Tsukayama explains his work identifying the lambda variant, first detected in December. 

Plus, Canada's women's soccer team won Olympic gold against Sweden in Tokyo Friday morning. Andrea Neil played hundreds of games for Canada's national team, she tells us what the team might have been feeling, and what the win might mean for the future of the sport in Canada.

Then, Chris Nikic smashed a record, and stigma, as the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman competition last November. He and his father, Nik, talk about his journey so far, and his dreams for the future.

And this summer, we're bringing you a few of the best original CBC podcasts. Today it's Episode 4 of Brainwashed, a disturbing tale of CIA experiments in mind control, what happened at a Montreal hospital, and the lives ruined because of it all.