Experts in Sport

In today’s podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Daniel Read, Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Sport Business at Loughborough University, to discuss the use of painkillers in sport. Painkiller use in sport is more widespread than many people realise. In this episode, we uncover some shocking statistics and explore the reasons why athletes turn to pain relief—sometimes at great personal r...

Today, I’m joined by Professor Josef Fahlén, Professor Paul Downward, and Dr. Mat Dowling to explore how sport functions in different contexts. We often hear about sport and physical activity in Scandinavia—but what can we actually learn from their approach? In this podcast, we compare the Swedish and UK sport systems, discussing a wide range of topics including government funding, sports clubs, s...

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport , Dr Luke Roberts, author of Leading Schools and Sustaining Innovation: How to Think Big and Differently in Complex Systems , joins host Martin Foster to discuss systems change. If you’ve been involved in the sport, physical activity, health, education, business, or any other sector, you’ll likely have heard people talk about systems change. You may have s...

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Serhat Yilmaz and Lerina Bright (Mission 89) join host Martin Foster to discuss Human trafficking in the global sports ecosystem. Loughborough University, in partnership with Mission 89 and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch of the British Parliament, has released the first-ever comprehensive global thematic report on sport traffickin...

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Professor Mark Williams joins host Martin Foster to discuss How Elite Athletes Are Made.  Professor Mark Williams has researched Sports Science for over 30 years, he has published hundreds of academic articles, written, and edited over 20 books and has worked at leading organisations around the world. In this podcast we focus on his book "The Best. H...

In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, Dr Janine Coates (expert in inclusive PE and school sport), Tammy and her mum Lynn (stars from the 'Equal Play' documentary), and Helen Derby (Strategic Lead, Programmes, Activity Alliance) join host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) to discuss how physical education can be improved to make it inclusive for everyone who takes part....

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Steven Bradbury joins host Martin Foster to discuss Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion in Sports Leadership.  Intro 00:00 Equality and equity 1:49  Leading the way: the background 3:19  Levels of representation 6:52  Benefits of a diverse workforce 9:55 Challenges 14:27 Barriers 23:15 Examples of good practice 26:02 Recommendations 34:1...

Physical activity levels of children in England and around the world remain stubbornly low.  Research has shown that Physical Education can inspire children to embrace physical activity and sport, yet the curriculum that is delivered nationwide remains narrow with a heavy focus on skill development for sport.   In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, Professor David Kirk a...

Safeguarding and interpersonal abuse in sport – the development and potential impact of the IOC consensus statement.  Last month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirmed its commitment to safe sport by announcing the release of its third consensus statement on safeguarding and interpersonal violence in sport.  In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, hosted Martin Foster is j...

In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Professor Paul Downward to discuss the UK’s low levels of sport participation.  The podcast includes discussions on government policy and its impact on participation rates, and what needs to change to encourage more people to become active. Intro 00:00 Participation rates 7:10  History of monitoring 12:19  How h...

Axel Dopfer, Professor Duncan Walker, Dr Richard Ferguson, and Josh Cresswell join us to discussHow Loughborough University's world-class sports ecosystem helped alumnus Axel Dopfer break the German hour record. Intros 0:00  University approach 6:55   Training as a Loughborough student 11:20   Memorable moments 14:26   Interdisciplinary aspect 16:37   Heat acclimation 27:5...

Professor Jonathan Folland and Dr Tom Balshaw join host Stuart McErlain-Naylor to break down the anatomy of Strongman Champion Eddie Hall and highlight the key characteristics that enabled him to break world records in the deadlift.  Time Stamps:  00:00 Intros  1:04 An evening with Eddie Hall  5:16 Scope of research  10:13 Why Eddie Hall? 11:55 Preparation  16:50 What...

Professor Vicky Tolfrey chats to host Dan Trussell to discuss the Paralympics in Paris, wheelchair sport and what's to come after the Games.  Intros 0:00 Wheelchair configuration in tennis 0:43  Competitive edge 4:28 Athlete collaboration 5:26 What to expect from wheelchair sport 7:10 Wheelchair basketball at Loughborough 8:11 The future of parasport 9:41 Parasport and society 14:11 Outr...

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster, discusses research within Para sport at Loughborough and its potential across the landscape of sport with guests, Vladyslava Kravchenko, Alasdair Donaldson, and Jennifer Wong, of Loughborough University. Time stamps: 0.00-4.03 - Introduction 4.04- 8.31 - Why Loughborough? 8.32- 10.49 - Development of Para sport at Loughborough 1...

Loughborough University alumna, Paula Radcliffe MBE, joins host, Martin Foster, in this episode of the Experts in Sport Podcast to discuss her experience as a student athlete at Loughborough and her successful career within athletics. Timestamps: 0.00-1.23 - Intro 1.24-7.14 - Experience as a student at Loughborough University 7.14-9.57 - Combining academia and sport 9.58-12.34 - Student life 12.35...

Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, is joined by Professor Liam Heaney, who provides an insight into how athletes are tested on the biggest stage and the work that Loughborough University is carrying out in the area. 

Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, is joined by Professor of Psychology Sophia Jowett to break down coach-athlete relationships and their benefits in athletes having the edge on the biggest stage, seen in the relationship between Mel Marshall and Adam Peaty.

A Loughborough University study found that top sprinters, whilst being generally more muscular, had a very specific pattern to their muscularity, with some muscles far bigger. Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, talks to Professor Jonathan Folland, from the School of Sport Exercise, and Health Sciences, to discuss research findings in the area.

Dr Verity Postlethwaite, from the School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, joins host, Dan Trussell, to discuss Spirit of 2012 and the importance of legacy that exists within major sporting competitions.

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster , is joined by guests, Dr Richard Ferguson and Dr Dave Nichols , to discuss research around elite cycling and performance. Timestamps: 0.00-2.23 - Intro 2.24-8.59 - Competing at an elite level and training 9.00-12.29 - Individual or team sport and hierarchy 12.30-17.14 - Research to understand level of performance 17.15-21.38 - I...

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Donald Barron (Loughborough University), Austin Fuller (Product Director of Football and Rugby business at Hudl, former FA insights and analysis) and Robin Jackson to discuss performance analysis, artificial intelligence, and football penalties. Timestamps: 0.00-2.23 - Intro 2.24-6.40 - Performance analysis and develo...

0.00-2.59 - Intro and performance analysis overview 3.00-8.53 - Constraints-led approach within sport 8.54-15.18 - Tailoring training for elite athletes 15.19-18.57 - Performance analyst, coach, and athlete relationships 18.58-20.57 - Technological advancements informing data collection 20.58-30.29 - Research and metric development 30.30-37.22 - Unexpected findings within research 37.23-46.45 - Re...

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Stuart McErlain-Naylor is joined by guest Judd Kalkhoven , from Western Sydney University, to discuss common misconceptions within the scope of sports injury research. Timestamps: 0.00-4.50 - Intro 4.51-13.34 - Research and inspiration - causal models 13.35-22.53 - Implications for research findings 22.54-26.14 - Exploratory research to show st...

Dr Tom Webb, Associate Professor in the Centre for Business in Society at Coventry University, joins Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor to discuss officiating within sports and the challenges that face referees and other officials across the landscape.  Throughout the episode, conversations around the role and purpose of a sports official are centred, alongside the perception of sports officials as at...

Dr Verity Postlethwaite, a doctoral prize fellow at Loughborough University, Ruth Hollis, and Amy Finch join Experts in Sport host Martin Foster to discuss Spirit of 2012 and the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on UK populations. Timestamps: 0.00-5.04 - Introduction 5.05-8.14 - Formation of Spirit of 2012  8.15-10.43 - Providing opportunities for societal change 10.44-1...