The Real Science of Sport Podcast
World-renowned sports scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch break down the myths, practices and controversies from the world of sport. From athletics to rugby, soccer, cycling and more, the two delve into the most recent research, unearth lessons from the pros and host exclusive interviews with some of the world's leading sporting experts. For those who love sport.
Episodes
800m Plot Twists as History Beckons for Werro & Hodgkinson / Should the IOC Pay Olympic Athletes? / "Your computer screen is too big"
Become a supporter of The Real Science of Sport, and get ad free shows, exclusive Applied Science shows, and access to our Forums and chat rooms. Plus, you can join our growing Zwift racing community and take on Gareth and Ross in a weekly TT! A monthly pledge is all it takes!In this show:Switzerland's Audrey Werro delivered a stunning plot twist in the women's 800m, running the third fastest time
Sleeping Your Way to More EPO / Grand Slam Chaos / The UCI's Expensive Regulatory Defeat and a Weighing Scandal
Join The Real Science of Sport Supporters club for ad-free listening and our exclusive weekly Applied Science show! A monthly donation is all takes!This week's Spotlight opens in Paris, where Roland Garros has delivered one of the most chaotic and compelling Grand Slams in recent memory, and ends on a Las Vegas track with a promise of $10 million unlikely to be fulfilled. Along the way, we explo
Roland Garros' Zombie Heat Apocalypse / The Death of the Diversified Elite Athlete / World Athletics Raises the Performance Bar
Get ad-free listening and exclusive shows by becoming a Supporter of The Real Science of Sport!In our Spotlight this week:The heat wave in Paris is making life very difficult at Roland Garros, with Casper Ruud describing himself as "walking around like a zombie" during his first round match. We explore the physiology of heat regulation in tennis, how safety policies are developed to protect player
Welcome to our PED Talk: Sean Ingle Reflects on The Enhanced Games
Become a member of our Enhanced Real Science of Sport community by becoming a member to get access to exclusive shows, ad-free content and our world class discussion forums. A monthly pledge is all it takes and you'll unlock all those benefitsShow notesThe Enhanced Games came and went in Las Vegas, amidst much hype, a host of personal bests but only a single world record. Was the event a success,
Caution for Contact Sport Athletes and CTE / Women's Rugby Six Nations and Smaller Balls / Worst Sport to be Elite at?
Become a Supporter of The Science of Sport, and as mentioned, get a bonus episode of Applied Science every week, access to our world class forums, and (we hope) ad-free listening soon!Show notesOn the decks today:A new paper raises "substantial concerns" about the tool that is regularly used to diagnose a progressive neurodegenerative disease in contact sport athletes. We discuss the paper, and ho
A Huge Doping Bust in Georgia Rugby / Epic Climbs and Concussions in Cycling / Who is the Greatest Track Athlete of Them All?
Become a Supporter and share your views - a monthly pledge gets you access to the Community, and our endless appreciation!Show notesIn the news this week:Operation Obsidian - A collaborative investigation between WADA and World Rugby produces a big doping bust in Georgian rugby, revealing collusion and corruption, but to what end? We explain how almost 40 years of bans were given out, and what rem
The Rise of Southern African Sprinting / London Marathon Pacing Blunders / Seixas to the Tour / Your Carb Questions Answered
Join Discourse - our Supporters club is awesome, and it's yours for the price of a coffee every month. Or a gel. Become a supporter and get twice the value after the show, and a chance to influence it too!Show notesIn today's Spotlight, a spin around the world of sports news, and some listener questions answered:A look back at the World Relay Championships from Botswana, featuring some of the grea
Can You Trust AI For Health and Training Advice?
How reliable is Artificial Intelligence (AI) when it comes to health, wellness and training advice? Writer, educator and Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, Dr Nick Tiller, recently led a research study entitled "Generative artificial intelligence-driven chatbots and medical misinformation: an accuracy, referencing and readability audit." which focused on the feedback and information gi
The Spotlight On The Sub-2: A Deep Dive Into Sawe's Marathon Masterclass
Support The Real Science of Sport - if you love what we do, and if you want to be part of the community and share views that will add even more insight to sport, a small monthly pledge is all it takes!Show notesSebastian Sawe's astonishing 1:59:30 marathon world record is in the spotlight today, as Gareth and Ross go deep into the physiology, technology and history of running to explore every angl
The Sporting Mind: Overcoming Mental Barriers For Better Performance
English sports psychologist Dr Josie Perry delves into the mental challenges that often hold sportspeople back from success. From the role of our own mental threats to the traits that are present in successful athletes. Perry offers a fascinating insight into the psychology of performance. The team also delve into the prevalence of ADHD in top-performing sportspeople, why mental toughness may not
1:59:30! The Sub Two Hour Marathon Falls To Sabastian Sawe
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe has absolutely obliterated the two hour marathon barrier, winning the London Marathon in 1:59:30. In this emergency podcast, Mike and Ross talk about a truly historic day that saw two men go under two hours, We discuss a performance that is astonishing not only for the final time, but the matter in which it was constructed, with never seen before splits over 5km, 10km and ha
Boston Bonanza - Course Record Analysis / Elite Runners Avoiding Carbs? / Acute Stress Anti-Doping Refusal
Become a Science of Sport Supporter and show your appreciation for the pod, while also having your say and correcting Gareth and Ross' errors! A small monthly donation is all it takes!Show NotesThe Spotlight today is heavily focused on an historically fast Boston Marathon, which saw an incredible 2:01:52 for defending champion John Korir. It obliterated the course record, with the podium all going
Cobbled Coronations in Roubaix / Benji Naesen vs UCI / Marathon Majors and Sawe's Doping Credibility Campaign
Don't spend millions on a podcast, like AI did recently. Rather spend the price of a coffee and become a Supporter of The Real Science of Sport. Click the link, make a monthly pledge, and get access to the conversations that happen before and after the podcasts!Show notesThis week, we kick off in Roubaix, where Wout van Aert and Franziska Koch won the prestigious cobbled Monuments. For van Aert, i
The Norwegian Way: What We Can Learn From Their Success
Norway is one of the most advanced sporting nations in the world, thanks to a unique structure which allows athletes to access the latest science and coaching. The team speak to Oyvind Sandbakk, the Sports Director at the Norwegian School of Elite Sports and a Professor at the School of Sport Science at the UiT The Arctic University of Norway. A former World Cup cross-country skier himself, Oyvind
Why Cobbles Cost Cyclists / Cheap Carbon Shoes Break Records / Doping Confessions and Cons
Become a Science of Sport Supporter by making a small monthly pledge. You'll show your support, help us stay "athletic-greens-free", and get access to our world-class discussion forumsIn this Spotlight, we start on the cobbled roads of Belgium to explore why riding on cobbles is so hard, and how not so good vibrations compromise mechanical power, cost more energy and require more exertion to produ
Cycling, Game Theory and Group 2 Syndrome / Kerr's 222 Attempt / Teenage Phenoms Set up to Fail
Support the Science of Sport - become a supporter, show your support, keep us ad free, and you get access to the best sports science community around!Show NotesIn this Spotlight, we kick off with cycling, and wonder whether we're seeing a tactical evolution in cycling in response to long-range attacks. We also talk about Group 2 syndrome, and why elite cyclists could be a behavioural economist's i
How To Win One of the World's Toughest Mountain Bike Races
The Absa Cape Epic is a 700km, eight-stage, two-man team mountain bike race renowned as one of the toughest and most prestigious in the world. But what does it take to win this event against some of the world's best mountain bikers? We spoke to Mike Posthumus, the Head of Performance for the Specialised Factory Racing Off-road team, about the preparation, recovery, race tactics, and behind-the-sce
REPEAT POD: Female-only Women's Sport: The IOC Announces New Policy On the Protection of Women's Sport
THIS IS A REPUBLICATION OF THE SAME PODCAST AS THURSDAY 26 MARCH ON THE IOC FEMALE SPORT POLICYWith apologies for confusion, after we published our most recent podcast on the IOC's new policy for women's sport, we realized the original file had an issue with the syncing of the two audio streams. That was fixed on the day, but the glitch has continued to affect some listeners, and so we are just re
Female-only Women's Sport: The IOC Announces New Policy On the Protection of Women's Sport
The International Olympic Committee, under its new President Kirsty Coventry, has announced new guidelines for eligibility in women's sport. The central decision is clear: the boundaries around women's sport will be protected, with no males — whether they identify as transgender or are athletes with specified differences of sex development (DSDs) — eligible to compete in the women's category. Wome
Banned But Allowed: Inside the World of Therapeutic Use Exemptions in Sport / Pogacar's Dominance / World Indoor Championships
Become a member, keep us ad free! Plus, you get access to our world-class community chat, and live sport chat groups. Become a supporter for a small monthly pledge at Patreon.Show notesToday the Spotlight falls on Therapeutic Use Exemptions, or TUEs, that are given to athletes when they have a medical condition that requires the use of an otherwise banned substance. Last week, the International Te
How to Beat van der Poel in San Remo / A 2:10 Women's Marathon (again) / Sprinting to Cardiac Arrest
Join our Science of Sport Supporters Club, and get all the perks mentioned on the show, including access to our listener community and their great questions and insights, and also our Live Sport chat, which resume this weekend with the Milan San Remo races. Make a monthly pledge to become a member!In this Spotlight, we run our eye and offer our insights on the world of sport, covering a range of s
Is Rugby's Head Injury Process Working? / Hitting the Wall and Carb Depletion / Can Sexias Match Pogacar? / Should Doped World Records Be Reset?
The conversation continues for our Supporters! These Spotlights offer the first word, and then it's your turn. Become a Supporter of the Real Science of Sport by making a small monthly pledge, and get access to our world-famous, and very stimulating, Discourse community!Show notesThis week's show kicks off in London, where Ross recently attended World Rugby's Annual Shape of the Game meeting. he s
Winter Olympics Review: Winners, Losers and Our Ice-Cold Takes
As mentioned, if you want to be a supporter of the podcast, and enjoy the insight that Gareth and I share with listeners on our world-best sports science forum, you can become a member by clicking this link to make a small monthly donation.Show notesThe Milan Winter Olympics concluded last weekend, and in this wrap show, Gareth and Ross look back at the overachievers, the underachievers, and the b
Winter Olympics: Nutella "Doping" / Malinin's Traumatic Moments / Klaebo and Stolz Dominate / Ski Mo's Flop
Become a Supporter - it's worth it!Enjoying the Real Science of Sport? Show your support with a monthly pledge, become a Member of our Supporters Club, and get way more value from the discussions after the shows, in our world class community chat rooms!Show notesThe Winter Olympics are a weekend from concluding, and so much has happened, it's been hard to keep up. But we try! In this show, we look
Inside the Mind of a Winter Olympian: The Science of Stoke
If you love the podcast, and want to show your support, a monthly pledge on Patreon is the way! We'd be absolutely stoked if you did! Show notesLesley McKenna is a pioneer in the world of action sports. A three-time Olympian (2002, 2006, 2010), she represented Great Britain on the snowboarding World Cup circuit, becoming the first GB snowboarder to win a World Cup event, and led the World Cup sta
No Sports Advantage for Trans Women? / Khelif Defiant but in Denial / Bol's 800m debut
The conversation continues on Discourse, for our Science of Sport Supporters. Join now with a small monthly pledge for access to the best sports science discussion community aroundIn the Spotlight this week, we revisit a recurring theme to explore whether a paper claiming no advantage for males who identify as women has any validity, and we cover some news from the world of sport and health.17:31
Winter Olympic Spotlight: Vonn('s gate) and risk / Cross Country Klaebo / Speed Skating Unfairness / Penis-gate
Become a Science of Sport Supporter, and get access to our Discourse chat community, and to our upcoming Real Science of Sport Live Chats. A small monthly pledge or donation on Patreon is all it takesThe opening five days of the Milan Cortina Winter Games have produced some spectacular performances and notable talking points. The Spotlight reveals some insights on those performances. We ask whethe
WINTER OLYMPIC SPECIAL: Speed Skating 101
Professor Florentina 'Fleur' Hettinga loves speed skating. Not only has she competed as an athlete in the discipline, but she has also researched many elements of the sport, from the physiology of the top athletes to the technical expertise and equipment needed to be among the best. Based in Amsterdam, Hettinga is at the centre of Dutch speed skating excellence, serving as Head of Department of Hu
A VO2max of 101: Fantastical Physiology? / Australian Open Wrap / Contact Sport Dilemmas
Show NotesOn the Spotlight this week, we wrap up the Australian Open where dramatic semi finals saw Alcaraz overcome cramp (to Zverev's dismay), Djokovic overcome Sinner (to Ross' prediction dismay), and then Alcaraz overpower Djokovic to win a career Grand Slam. Elana Rybakina won the women's title, powered by a dominant serve and a few harsh, but helpful words from her coach.Then it's a concussi
WINTER OLYMPIC SPECIAL: An Insiders Guide to Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon
Norwegian Oyvind Sandbakk is a specialist in the brutally tough world of cross-country skiing and biathlon. He is Sports Director at the Norwegian School of Elite Sports and a Professor II at the School of Sport Science at the UiT The Artic University of Norway. A former World Cup cross-country skier himself, Oyvind has worked with many of Norway's top athletes in Nordic sports. We delve into the
WINTER OLYMPIC SPECIAL: The Beauty and Drama of Figure Skating
Figure skating is one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympics as it combines world-class athleticism with dance, choreography and music. Jackie Wong is one of the world's leading experts on figure skating and takes us behind the scenes of what it takes to be among the best in the world. From blade sharpening to music choice (the Back Street Boys will be the most popular band in Milan 202
The Heat is On In Aus, But Whoop Is Gone / Noakes and a Low Carb Theory Full of Holes
On the show, we mention our Supporters Club a lot, and reference discussions of various sports science subjects that inspire and inform our own conversations. You can be part of that, by making a monthly pledge here, which gives you access to the best sports science discussions on the interwebs! This week’s Spotlight opens in Melbourne, where brutal heat nearly derailed Jannik Sinner’s title defen
Alex Hutchinson: The Battle For Credibility
Journalist, author, and speaker Alex Hutchinson is passionate in his search for truth. As the author of three books ('Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?, 2011; 'Endure', 2021 and 'The Explorers Gene', 2025) and writer of the popular Sweat Science blog, the former Physics graduate is at the forefront of modern science journalism. Hutchinson, a former Canadian national team miler, explains his jo
The Rise of the Machines: Can AI Take Over Coaching? / Talent ID's Imprecise Guess
Become a Supporter of the Real Science of Sport podcast - a small monthly donation via Patreon is how you do it, and then you'll get access to our listener community who share insights, advice, and opinions of their own, all of which make up shows like this one!In this Spotlight, Gareth and Ross get philosophical as they cast their eyes over a few topics, starting with Gareth's thoughts on 2026 an
New Year Predictions: The Biggest Stories to Expect in 2026
Join Mike, Ross and the chief sportswriter at The Guardian, Sean Ingle, as we look ahead to the biggest events in 2026. From the Winter Olympics to the World Cup in football, 2026 will be packed with plenty of drama and, no doubt, controversy. The team discusses the inclusion of new events at the Winter Games, how the three-country host format at the World Cup may affect results, whether the Commo
Festive Season Catch-up: What We Missed, Watched and Debated During The Holidays
There's a lot to catch up on today's Spotlight. Four weeks of Festive season sport means a range of topics from technology failures in the Ashes to the "Battle of the Sexes" debacle, thoughts on cyclo-cross dominance and excitement, Biathlon's appeal, Luke Littler's darts revolution, and some Enhanced Games ruminations as more athletes are announced. We also tease a few 2026 sports events, and h
The 2025 Sport & Science Awards Show
As 2025 winds down, Gareth, Mike and Ross reunite to look back on a packed and fascinating year in sport and sports science in a bumper Year-end show!We pick through the highs and lows, heroes and villains, innovations and failures, revisiting the moments and stories that stood out — and those we’d rather forget. Along the way, we debate the best athletes, the greatest achievements, the biggest le
AIU's Brett Clothier: Catching Athletics' Doping Cheats
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is the body established to oversee drug testing and other integrity issues within the sport of athletics and road running around the world.. Established in 2017 in response to the deepening credibility crises within International Amateur Athletic Federation (now World Athletics) doping processes, the AIU is an independent body designed to oversee drug testing amo
Elite Athletes and Weight Worries - GLP-1 Debates and RED-s Warnings
Become a Supporter of The Real Science of Sport by making a small monthly pledge, and you also get access to our world-class community of experts and enthusiasts. Plus you get to explain sports like F1 and Squash to Gareth and Ross!Show notesToday, we focus on three news pieces from last week that reminded us of other stories we covered during 2025. The first two concern weight loss and management
Are You Being Injured By Your Running Shoes? / Mondo Soars Again / Preventing Head Impacts / A $1400 Mattress That Does What?
Join the Real Science of Sport Supporters club, and get access to the sports science community where at least one person (usually many more) knows the answer to every question you can possibly ask! Plus, engage on news, training, diet, and other sports science related topics with fellow listeners! A small monthly pledge makes you a Supporter, and the Science of Sport Community awaits!Show notesT
Mediocre Male Beats Strong Women, But Justice Prevails / Should XC Running Be In The Winter Games? / Concussion Prevention Illusions
Join The Real Science of Sport Supporters Club by making a small monthly pledge at Patreon.com. Think of it as buying us a cup of coffee before you listen to us opine on sports news and science! Plus, get access to the best sports science conversations in the world!07:35 - XC at the Winter Games?17:40 - UK Athletics and the cost of FACT22:35 - Mediocre Male Beats Strong Women29:55 - Do Guardian Ca
US Anti-Doping Chief Travis T. Tygart: Inside The Politics and Fight Against Doping
Support us on DiscourseDiscourse is our "sponsorship", our sole source of income. But it's way more than that - it's a community of experts and enthusiasts who share knowledge on everything sports science related. To become part of that, become a Patron of the site and join the conversationTravis T. Tygart is one of the most outspoken and controversial figures in anti-doping. As the Chief Executiv
A Deeper Insider Look at Fatigue and Pacing / Why High Carbohydrate Intake Works - It's Not Fuel Depletion / A Heat Condundrum
In this Spotlight, we pick out some of the sports science topics that our listeners are sharing in our Discourse community. You can become a Real Science of Sport Supporter here, and a small monthly pledge gets you access to the community that discusses today's, and many other, topics!(00:00) We begin with a look at some of the reaction to our most recent podcast on Endurance, and the Central Gov
Olympic Track and Field Schedule Surprises / Risk of Cardiac Events When Watching Sport / Rugby's Calendar Challenge
Become a member of The Real Science of Sport Supporters Club to show your support and have your say. A perk of membership is Discourse, our community that chats about training, sports science, physiology and news.Show notesA midweek whip around the world of sport, with some sports science and management insights on stories making headlines this week. We cover:The LA 2028 Olympic Track and Field pr
Will the Olympics Finally Protect Women's Sport? / Anti-Doping Antagonism and The Enhanced Games / Bracy-Williams Banned
Support us on DiscourseDiscourse is our "sponsorship", our sole source of income. But it's way more than that - it's a community of experts and enthusiasts who share knowledge on everything sports science related. Oh, and it also inspires these Spotlight shows. To become part of all that, become a Patron of the site and join the conversationIn today's show, we run the Spotlight over news stories f
The Story (and Science) of Endurance
Endurance has been one of the most hotly debated topics in sports science for over three decades. From early research in the 1930s to the ground-breaking 1996 address by Prof. Tim Noakes to the American College of Sports Medicine, understanding the principles of what keeps the body going during prolonged exercise is more complex than you think. In this episode, Mike and Ross take a look back at th
Klecker Hits 175g/h Carbs in NYC / New York Racing Analysis / Ozempic Doping?
Join Discourse! A small monthly pledge gets you access to the best Sports Science community on the interwebs. For opinions, insights on sport, advice on training and diet, Discourse is the place to be.A Spotlight dedicated to the news, as we split the Spotlight show into a news segment and a science segment. Today is the news segment, which covers:3:02 A look back at the New York City Marathon, wo
Is Exercise for Weight Loss a Waste of Time? / Doping Convictions, Conundrums and Coital Contaminations / Heat Stress Hacks
DiscourseSupport the show by becoming a Patron, which means a monthly pledge that is equal to buying us a cup of coffee! That gets you access to our Discourse community, where listeners share views and tips on sports science, health and training, and the chance to become part of the Sports Science conversation!Show notesIn this Spotlight, we kick off with three doping stories in Discourse Digest.
Does Cardio Training Kill The "Gainz"? / Are Tennis Players Playing Too Much? / The True Prevalence of Doping? / Unlocking a New Performance Metric
Join Discourse! No pitch, just a link to sign up and show your support!In this week's show, we tackle intriguing physiological questions raised by listeners, explore whether different types of exercise interfere with one another to undermine training benefits, and run the Spotlight across stories from the sports world.In Digest this week (10:02):One of the great swimmers of the last decade, Ariane
The World's Most Famous Amateur Cyclist on Training and Racing
Forty-year-old lawyer Andrew Feather hit the news headlines recently when he 'beat' Tadej Pogacar in an exhibition handicap uphill cycle race. Even though Feather may not have actually ridden the Pogi challenge faster than the world number 1 (he won by three minutes after getting a six minute head start with the rest of the amateur field), his performance was still staggering given that he is an a
Do You Need Only 10g per Hour of Carbs? Tim Noakes Thinks So / Pacing Implosions: When Regulation Fails
Support us on DiscourseAs Gareth mentioned, Discourse is our "sponsorship", our sole source of income. But it's way more than that - it's a community of experts and enthusiasts who share knowledge on everything sports science related. To become part of that, become a Patron of the site and join the conversationShow notesThis week on Spotlight, we dive DEEP into the world of physiology, pacing, fat
How to Avoid the Traps of Bro Science / Protecting the Brain in Contact Sport / "Athlete Trafficking" and Talent Pathways
DiscourseSupport the show, and get way more fascinating insight than the Bros deliver on the pod! Everything in Spotlight is discussed, dissected and debated on Discourse, and membership is judge a small monthly pledge awayShow notesIt's a Bro-Science discussion today, as listener David inspired debate with a post on his epic Zone 2 indoor ride, and got us thinking - how do we spot Bro Science? Is
Women's World Cup Culmination / Ryder Cup Drama / CAS Dismisses Contaminated Meat Defence
Join Discourse and contribute to the Spotlight, and join the conversation - a small monthly donation gets you membership to our community, and that allows you to drive discussion around these shows, and get even more value and insight from what other listeners are sharing.Show notesIn Spotlight this week, we look back at a packed weekend of sports action and offer insights on the big events. We ki
World Cycling Champs Review: The Greatest Champs This Century? / Is Remco Close To Beating Pog? / Post Race Interviews
The 2025 UCI World Road Cycling Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, delivered plenty of drama and debate, and SOS host Mike Finch was there to witness the action first-hand and ask if this was the best championships of the century. We also have the post-race interviews with the big stars and discuss whether Remco Evenepoel can really upset the two-time World Champion Tadej Pogacar at the upcoming Eur
Pro Preview: Ashleigh Moolman Pasio on Rwanda's World Cycling Champs
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio is one of the most experienced riders in the women's pro peloton and, in 2025, celebrates her 15th appearance at the UCI World Cycling Championships in Kigali, Rwanda. This year the 39-year-old South African lines up as one of the favourites on a course that suits her strengths. But she will be up against the best in the world including powerful French and Dutch outfits led
The Tokyo 2025 Wrap: Winners, Losers and Lasting Memories / Womens' Rugby World Cup Final
Spotlights are our weekly show that wraps up the news and the topics that you, the listener, are discussing in our VIP Discourse community. To become a member, to join the conversation, learn from the best online sports science community, or simply to show your support for the pod, you can make a small monthly pledge at Patreon.Show notesThe Spotlight is back! This week, our Discourse Digest kicks
Tokyo Day 9: Women's 800m Upset / Cole Hocker's Redemption Arc / Botswana Crash the USA Relay Parade
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.On the Track todayTokyo 2025 is a wrap! On the final day, the surprises continued, as Kenya's Lilian Odira beat favourite Keely Hodgkinson to win the 800m title, securing a
Tokyo Day 8: An Historic Men's 800m / Women's 5000m Plays Into Chebet's Hands / Relay Qualification Carnage
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.On the Track todayIn track action today, the middle and long distance titans clashed, as Faith Kipyegon raced Beatrice Chebet over 5000m. A tactically intriguing race with
Tokyo Day 6 and Day 7: SML's Near WR as Two Break 48 / 400m Hurdles / 200m Defence and Doubles
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.On the Track todayHaving missed Day 6 due to travel woes, we take a look back the highlights from Tokyo on Thursday, which included a historically fast women's 400, won by
Tokyo Day 5: A Men’s 1500 Surprise Dissected / A Brutal Women’s’ Steeple How Fast Will Sydney ML Go?
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.On the Track todayThe Race we’d all been waiting for, and it didn’t fail to deliver! It did, however, deliver a major surprise, as Isaac Nader became 1500m world champion.
Tokyo Day 4: Kipyegon Perfection / Tinch seals the 110m Hurdles / Men's 1500m Preview
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.On the Track todayIt was a day for the pre-event favourites to deliver in Tokyo. Faith Kipyegon produced a near- perfect display of front-running to win yet another major 1
Tokyo Day 3: The Greatest Marathon Finish Ever? / Men's Steeplechase Drama / Hocker DQ
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.On the Track todayA remarkable day, with gold and silver split by 0.03s in one of the great marathons, surprise gold medals in the Men's Steeplechase and Women's 100m hurdl
Tokyo Day 2: The Fastest Man and Woman in the World / Men's 10000m Stunners / A marathon sprint
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.On the Track todayThe fastest man and woman in the world were crowned on track in Tokyo today. Could Lyles defend his 100m crown and continue the US dominance of the event,
Tokyo Day 1: Women's 10000m and Mixed 4 x 400m
Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.On the Track todayThe first gold medals were contested on track today, with the women's 10000m and mixed 4 x 400m relays kicking off the gold rush. We dissect those races,
Reflections on Gladwell and Tokyo 2025 gets underway
Become a Discourse memberJoin our community on Discourse - predict, pontificate, ponder and pledge - a small monthly donation gets you into the VIP room for the "best content on the internet!". Your support keeps us going!Show notesIn this (supposed to be) quick Spotlight we look back and forward at the Women’s Rugby World Cup (02:08) and how the lack of competitive matches may be dulling the appe
Tokyo 2025: Preview Show with Sean Ingle
The Tokyo World Athletics Championships kick off on September 13, and while the team are not there in presence, we will be bringing you recaps, insights and analysis through the 8 days of action. In this Preview show, we are joined by Guardian Chief Sports Writer, Sean Ingle, for a look ahead at the week of athletics. We discuss the placement of these World Championships in the calendar, and why i
Inside the Astonishing World of Elite Rowing
Rower Drew Ginn is one of Australia's most decorated athletes with five world championships and three Olympic gold medals to his name. From 1995 to 1998, he was also a member of the famous Oarsome Foursome coxless four, which had dominated the sport for much of the 1990s. In this interview, Ginn explains why his own upbringing was the perfect catalyst for his success, what makes a good rower,
Follow Up: Did Malcolm Gladwell Need To Apologise for Trans Stance?
In episode 20, celebrity author, columnist, and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell apologised for the way he had handled a debate on trans athletes at the 2022 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference with Real Science of Sport podcast co-host Prof. Ross Tucker. His statements ignited a media reaction that suggested Gladwell had done an about-face on the issue. But did he need to apologise and why did he fee
Malcolm Gladwell Talks Sport
Author, speaker, podcaster and columnist Malcolm Gladwell has sold over 25 million books, including titles such as The Tipping Point, What the Dog Saw, Outliers, and Talking to Strangers. Many of the ideas and concepts featured in their pages have influenced everyone from business leaders to sports administrators, while his regular columns in The New Yorker since 1996 have made
Tokyo Teasers, Women's Rugby Risks, and Doping Double Standards
Get with the Discourse, and share thoughts on the subjects we tackle - a small monthly pledge gets you into the VIP room for the "best content on the internet!". Plus, we really value the support!Don't forget you can also watch us on YouTube!Show notesIn this Spotlight, our news roundup begins with a look ahead to the Tokyo World Championships, via a rewind to the Diamond League finals in Zurich.
Should Doping Coaches Be Banned For Life? / Heat and Heart Rate / Tokyo Rivalries In Focus
The conversation begins, continues, but rarely ends, on Discourse! As mentioned, you can become a member of our VIP community by donating a small monthly amount to show your support, and dive into sports science and opinion. We are also on YouTube now, for those who want to watch.Show notesIn today's spotlight, our Discourse Digest looks back at some remarkable track & field performances and h
Zone 2: The Debate Continues / World Records Old and New
Join Discourse Join Kona champions, beer mile WR holders, sports scientists, and sports enthusiasts who will add exponentially to the value of the show! Make a pledge at Patreon, and become a Discourse member to become part of the conversation.We are now also on YouTube - you can watch our Spotlights here!Show notesToday on Spotlight, the Discourse Digest kicks off with two world records: one stil
Why Everything You Know About Zone 2 Training is Probably Wrong
Everyone is talking about Zone 2 training, but few understand the real science behind it. But thanks to a new scientific review, Much Ado About Zone 2: A Narrative Review Assessing The Efficacy of Zone 2 Training for Improving Mitochondrial Capacity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the General Population, the real benefits of Zone 2 training are clear - it's not the regime that many believe is the
Cutting Weight to Win: PFP's Performance Strategy. Or Slippery Slope?
Join DiscourseWeigh in on these and other stories by becoming a Science of Sport Discourse member with a small monthly pledgeShow notesThis week on the Spotlight, we dive into the latest Discourse Digest, unpacking talking points in the news.We begin with the Tour de France Femmes, where Pauline Ferrand-Prévot sealed a dominant win, and then her open discussion about intentional weight loss to imp
Inside The World of Women's Professional Cycling
Multiple African Champion, Commonwealth Games medallist, Olympian, multiple Giro Rosa podium finisher and one of the most experienced riders in the women's World Tour, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio has seen it all. In a pro career that has spanned over 15 years, Moolman Pasio has been a force in virtually every format, from Grand Tours to one-day classics and in e-sports racing, where she was world champ
Fitness, Fatigue and a Tour Without Fire (But Hope From the Women's TDF)
Join DiscourseJoin Daisy and hundreds of others who comment, discuss, or read what has grabbed the interest of our listeners! For a monthly pledge, you can support our show, and get a whole lot more value!Show notesIn this episode of the Real Science of Sport Spotlight, we start with a Discourse Digest that looks back at a men's Tour de France that fizzled out, with tactical inertia exposing the g
What Your Strava Fitness Score Really Means
TSS, Relative Effort, Fitness Score... Confused by all the numbers and what they mean? Mike and Prof. Tucker delve into the details of what defines fitness, how it is measured, the factors that influence fitness and how apps like Strava utilise metrics to provide a fitness score. But what do all the numbers mean, and how can we use them to understand our training better, get fit and peak just at t
Trust Issues: Doping, the Media, and the Athlete’s Dilemma
Join Discourse: you know what to do - small monthly pledge, and the community is yours!This week's Spotlight kicks off on the roads of France with a fast-paced Discourse Digest. Remco Evenepoel’s withdrawal sparks a discussion about whether he's fully healthy, or if affected preparation and fuelling challenges might account for his underperformance. Jonas Vingegaard seems to have narrowed one gap
Hormones, Hype & High Performance: The Menstrual Cycle in Sport
In this episode, we dive into the intersection of the menstrual cycle and athletic performance—a topic often surrounded by strong opinions but surprisingly limited evidence. Joined by Dr Kelly McNulty, researcher and practitioner, and Sarah Massey, experienced coach, we break down the key phases of the cycle, highlight when ovarian hormone levels rise and fall, and explore the popular theory that
🚨 SOS: It WAS Too Good To Be True: Marathon World Record Holder Chepng'etich Provisionally Suspended
Join Discourse - a small monthly pledge gives you access to the best sports science and sports insight community on the interwebs (yes, we are biased). Pledge here and join the conversation!In this emergency bonus episode, Ross reacts to the bombshell news: Kenya's Ruth Chepng’etich, who stunned the world with her record-breaking marathon in Chicago last year, has been provisionally suspended by t
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