Sporting Witness

In 2009, thousands of Iraqis gathered at the National Football Stadium to attend the funeral of the player and coach, Emmanuel Baba Dawud, better known as Ammo Baba. Ammo Baba was a beloved player, whose heading ability was legendary and who scored Iraq's first ever international goal. As a coach, Ammo Baba won many regional trophies for the Iraqi team and stood up to Saddam Hussein's sadistic son...

In 1996, England won the inaugural Home Nations championship in women's rugby. It was a major victory in the English players' fight for official recognition for their sport. Robert Nicholson talks to Gill Burns and Nicky Ponsford about how the women's game overcame entrenched sexism and official indifference. The programme is a Whistledown Production. PHOTO: The England women's team in action in t...

In November 1986, aged just 20, Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight boxing champion of all time. Tyson came from a troubled upbringing in New York and only found a direction in life when he met the legendary trainer, Cus D'Amato. But, after D'Amato's death, Tyson's career was marred by a rape conviction and an ongoing battle with drink and drugs. He talks to the BBC Boxing Correspondent, Mi...

In April 1996, the manager of Galatasaray and former Liverpool star, Graeme Souness, went down in Turkish football history. After winning the Turkish Cup final, Souness celebrated by planting a Galatasaray flag in the middle of arch-rival Fenerbahce’s pitch. The Scottish manager almost sparked a riot, but won the hearts of Galatasaray supporters. Graeme Souness speaks to Cagil Kasapoglu. Photo: Gr...

In November 1973, Chile played an international football game at the National Stadium in Santiago even though it was being used as a torture centre following General Pinochet's coup. Chile were due to face the Soviet Union, but the USSR boycotted the match, which the Chileans ended up playing against no opposition in a virtually empty stadium. Robert Nicholson talks to the Chilean captain, Leonard...

In 2002, Aussie rules footballer, Jason McCartney, was seriously injured in the terrorist attacks in the Indonesian island of Bali. Despite suffering 50% burns, McCartney regained his fitness and made an emotional return to top-level football. His story helped lift Australia's spirits after the worst terrorist attack in its history. He talks to Simon Watts. (Photo: Jason McCartney after his comeba...

At the 1956 Olympics, political tension between Hungary and the Soviet Union boiled over during the water polo semi-final. The confrontation became known as the 'Blood in the Water' match. In 2011, Witness spoke to the late Ervin Zador, the star player on the Hungarian side. (Photo: Ervin Zador. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

In 1995, promising Kenyan runner Henry Wanyoike suffered a stroke and lost his sight. After initially feeling depressed, Henry learnt how to run tethered to a guide and went on to a set a series of long-distance running records for the blind – many of which stand to this day. Henry Wanyoike talks to Alex Last. (Photo: Henry Wanyoike, with his guide, on the way to setting a marathon world record in...

In 1969, the African-American players on the successful University of Wyoming football team were sacked for trying to stage a protest against racism at a rival university. Their dismissals attracted national coverage and ended up in federal court. The incident ruined many of the players' careers and spelled the end of Wyoming's period of sporting success. Robert Nicholson talks to Jay Berry, one o...

In October 1968, two American sprinters, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, staged one of the most iconic protests in sport at the Mexico City Olympics. The two athletes raised their gloved fists in the air at the medal ceremony for the 200 metres as a way of protesting against racism. Simon Watts reports. PHOTO: Tommie Smith, centre, and John Carlos, right, on the Olympic podium (AFP)

Joseph Pilates developed a system of strengthening exercises which are now practised all over the world. He called it "contrology", but it's now better known as just Pilates. We hear from Mary Bowen, one of the Pilates Elders, who studied with Joseph Pilates and his wife Clara in New York in the 1950s. PICTURE: Joseph Pilates (1883 - 1967), exercising at his 8th Avenue studio in New York City, cir...

In the Roaring Twenties, women's swimming was a glamorous sport and the best athletes were household names around the world. In 1928, three British swimmers - Joyce Cooper, Jean McDowell and Cissie Stewart - took the Amsterdam Olympics by storm. They shared their memories with the oral historian, Anita Tedder. The programme is a Whistledown Production. It was first broadcast in 2011. Photo: The Br...

In 1972, war veteran Murlikant Petkar won India's first ever Paralympic gold medal at the Heidelberg Games. Petkar had been shot and paralysed seven years earlier in a battle during the war with Pakistan, but then took up sprint swimming. He talks to Adrian Moorhead. The programme is a Sparklab Production for BBC World Service. (Photo: Murlikant Petkar with his medals)

In 2012, the Rwandan sitting volleyball team became the first Paralympians from their country. The sport began in Rwanda after thousands of people were mutilated during the genocide of 1994, and there were emotional scenes in London when the Rwandan side eventually won a match. Bob Nicholson talks to Rwanda’s captain, Emile Vuningabo, and the side’s Dutch coach, Peter Karreman. The programme is a...

In 1991, Willy T Ribbs became the first African-American driver to take part in the Indianapolis 500 - the biggest motor sport event in the USA. He talks to Jo Parsons about his long battle for sponsorship and the inspiration of Muhammad Ali. (Photo: Willy T Ribbs. Credit: Associated Press)

The Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell, is famous for refusing to run on a Sunday in the Paris Olympics of 1924. But, as depicted in the film Chariots of Fire, he went on to win Gold in a different event - the 400 metres. After the Olympics, Eric Liddell became a Christian missionary in China, where he died in an internment camp during World War Two. Simon Watts tells the extraordinary story of Eric L...

In 1984, the women's marathon was held in the Olympic Games for the first time. But to the horror of the crowd in Los Angeles, one of the runners, Gabriela Andersen-Scheiss of Switzerland, entered the stadium in a state of virtual collapse from heat exhaustion. The 40-year-old ski instructor was not used to the hot Californian climate. She had to hobble her way around the final lap of the race. Th...

In 1952, the Czechoslovak army officer, Emil Zatopek, won three distance-running gold medals at the Helsinki Olympics. As well as achieving a unique feat in athletics, Zatopek charmed the world at the height of the Cold War with his blend of fun, generosity and ability to speak eight languages. Simon Watts introduces archive recordings of Emil Zatopek and talks to Richard Askwith, author of "Today...

In 1976, the 14-year old Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, achieved the first "Perfect 10" at the Olympic Games. Nadia scored six more 10s in Montreal and became an international celebrity. In 2011, she spoke to Madeleine Morris. PHOTO: Nadia Comaneci at the 1976 Olympics (Getty Images)

At the 1996 games in Atlanta, Nigeria became the first African team to take football gold at the Olympics. A side featuring many future legends beat Argentina and Brazil on their way to a victory that brought joy to a nation still under military dictatorship. Alex Last talks to Supereagles midfielder Sunday Oliseh. (Photo: The Nigerian team celebrate. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1976, the Austrian racing driver, Niki Lauda, crashed into an embankment at the notoriously dangerous Nurburgring circuit in Germany. As flames engulfed his car, Lauda had to be rescued by his fellow drivers, but somehow survived despite being given the last rites in hospital. Ashley Byrne talks to ex-Formula 1 driver, Brett Lunger, who helped pull Lauda from the wreckage. The programme is a Ma...

In 2000, four athletes from war-torn East Timor were invited to compete at the Sydney Olympics. One of them was marathon runner, Agueda Amaral, who went from refugee to Olympic finisher in the space of a year. She tells her story to Rebecca Henschke of the BBC Indonesian Service. PHOTO: Agueda Amaral at the Olympic finish line (Getty Images).

In 1975, Arthur Ashe beat the world number one Jimmy Connors to become the first African-American to win Wimbledon. In 2011, Ashe's friend and agent, Donald Dell, told Louise Hidalgo about that memorable match - and about what else Ashe might have achieved if he had not died young. (Photo: Arthur Ashe in action at Wimbledon. Credit: Getty Images)

At the 1976 Olympics, the Japanese gymnast Shun Fujimoto horrified the world by continuing to compete in the team event despite breaking his knee during the floor exercise. Determined not to let down his team-mates, Fujimoto braved almost unbearable pain to achieve good scores on the pommel horse and rings, and help Japan to gold. Shun Fujimoto relives his agony with Ashley Byrne. The programme is...

The Greek weightlifter, Pyrros Dimas, is a three-time Olympic champion and national hero nicknamed the 'Lion of Himara'. In 2004, an ageing Pyrros faced his toughest challenge when the Olympic Games came to Athens and he was forced to compete with a knee injury. Despite the pain, Pyrros battled to a bronze medal, sparking delirious scenes in the weightlifting arena. Pyrros Dimas talks to Adrian Mo...