{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep. 102: Ella & Julie \u2013 Denmark\u2019s Rising Stars in Women\u2019s Bridge","description":"In this episode, John McAllister sits down with Julie Marina Sigsgaard and Ella Rosth\u00f8j, two young Danish players whose friendship, partnership, and love of bridge have taken them from neighborhood kids to representing Denmark on the world stage. Despite only playing bridge for a handful of years, their dedication and countless hours at the table have already earned them national titles, international medals, and unforgettable experiences around the world. Ella and Julie share how they grew from casual juniors to key members of Denmark\u2019s women\u2019s team, the story of their dramatic run at the Champions Cup, what it\u2019s like balancing bridge with school and gap years, and why having boyfriends who also play bridge is essential! With warmth and humor, they also open up about temper at the table, tears after tough losses, and the joy of winning B finals (again and again).   Key Highlights: \ud83c\udf1f From Neighbors to Teammates: How growing up just 200 meters apart led to a lifelong friendship and eventual bridge partnership. \ud83c\udfc6 Venice Cup Debut: Their first appearance on Denmark\u2019s women\u2019s national team \u2014 finishing 5th in qualification and nearly upsetting China. \ud83c\udf89 Champions Cup Drama: The heartbreak of an 88\u201388 tie decided on a technicality \u2014 and why they\u2019re determined to come back stronger. \u2764\ufe0f Bridge & Boyfriends: Both partners found love through the game and share how bridge shapes their relationships. \ud83d\ude02 Badminton Battles & Bloopers: From live-streamed badminton matches against the Bilde brothers to funny tournament moments. \ud83d\udcf8 Building Junior Bridge DK: How their Instagram page is helping grow the game \u2014 and how they\u2019re planning to secure a Pepsi Max sponsorship.   Resources & Next Steps: \ud83d\udcf2 Follow Ella & Julie\u2019s journey on Junior Bridge DK Instagram \ud83d\udcf0 Learn more about the Venice Cup and international women\u2019s bridge events \ud83c\udfa5 Watch the documentary Double Dummy featuring the USA junior team (with familiar faces from their opponents!) \ud83c\udfa4 Catch up on past episodes featuring Christina Lund Madsen and other Danish stars \ud83c\udfa7 More Stories Like This \u2013 Subscribe to The Setting Trick wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into the world of bridge. \ud83d\udcf1 Follow @thesettingtrick \u2013 Stay connected on Instagram and for episode drops, tournament pics, and more. Episode Breakdown: 0:00 Start 6:33 Representing Denmark at the Venice Cup 7:36 Facing China in the knockout rounds 17:05 Champions Cup run and the controversial ending 21:38 Growing Junior Bridge DK Instagram and chasing sponsorships 23:16 Life as juniors, gap years, and constant bridge practice 31:18 Traveling the world for tournaments (Memphis, Iceland, Prague, Cyprus) 44:17 Denmark\u2019s Bermuda Bowl run and watching at Fox & Hounds bar 57:02 Fun stories: badminton matches and team camaraderie 1:08:22 Balancing relationships, studies, and bridge ambitions 1:22:39 Christina as a mentor and \u201cguardian angel\u201d for Danish juniors 1:26:29 Reflections on their journey and what\u2019s next   ","author_name":"The Setting Trick: Conversations with World Class Bridge Players","author_url":"http:\/\/www.thesettingtrick.com","html":"