The LGBT Sport Podcast

It's very hard to describe Claire Purdy without using the word 'legend' - because genuinely, that's what she is. At the end of last month, she made her 250th appearance for Wasps Ladies - and as if that mammoth achievement wasn't enough, she was part of the England side that lifted the World Cup in 2014. Few people have done more to be a servant to the game - and it's an absolute pleasure to have...

"We're here to play hockey, win games and drink beers..." That's the ethos of the Southern Lights Ice Hockey Club in Melbourne, Australia - and, in almost every way, they're just like all the other sides they end up playing. But in one regard, the Lights are entirely unique - as they were set up last year to be the country's first-ever inclusive hockey team. The team's creation came at the same ti...

It's the end of the year - and we thought we'd round off 2019 with a special episode, looking back at some of the Olympians and Paralympians who have joined us during the past year. There's a whole array of brilliant athletes and officials over the course of the next half-an-hour, as we hear from: - Paralympic gold medallist Megan Giglia - Olympic gold medallist Susannah Townsend - Two-time Paraly...

We cover lots of different sports on the BBC’s LGBT Sport Podcast – and this week, we’ve got another one to add to the list. eSports - otherwise known as professional video gaming - is enjoyed by millions around the world – and right at the centre of it all is a man from Cardiff. James O’Leary is a commentator followed by thousands of people on social media - and on this fascinating episode, he gi...

It’s fair to say Nicola Adams has helped to define this sporting decade. A double Olympic gold medallist, she's been one of the biggest sporting personalities in the country ever since she burst onto the national scene as one of the faces of London 2012. Add to that her achievements as a Commonwealth, World and European champion - as well as success when she turned pro - and it's no wonder she's i...

She’s one of the country’s leading wheelchair racers – with dreams of making it to the Paralympics before her career is over. But Lizzie Williams’ sporting career has been far from straightforward, with difficulties on and off the track that would have caused many other athletes to quit entirely. From fighting to get the funding she needs to continue competing to coming to terms with her own sexua...

Craig Maxwell-Keys had barely stopped playing due to injury when he took charge of his first game of rugby. That was at a youth festival – and since then, his career has been on an upward trajectory. He’s refereed Premiership, Challenge Cup and international games – and was the man in the middle when 80-thousand people packed out Twickenham to watch the Army take on the Navy. Of course, if you’re...

We'll put this out there straight away - we love Michael Gunning. The Jamaican international swimmer is one of the loveliest people we've had on the podcast - and we've got absolutely loads to chat about with him on this second 'Rainbow Laces' episode. On the show today - how Michael got into swimming; the importance of BAME representation; coming out on reality television; aiming for the Olympics...

It's fair to say that Conor Shaw lives and breathes football. As the Digital Content Manager at Wycombe Wanderers, he's one of the people responsible for engaging more and more fans with the successes that the League One club is having - and with the club flying high at the moment, it's a pretty good gig to have. He's also fairly private about his personal life - which is why we're particularly gr...

They're often the people who come in for the most abuse in football - mocked when they get decisions wrong and hardly recognised when they get the tough calls right. In fact, most referees would probably do anything to have a quiet life - so why, two years ago, did Ryan Atkin make the decision to become one of the few people in the men's game to open up about being gay? He's been speaking frankly...

It’s the biggest amateur rugby competition in the world – and in the next couple of years, it could be coming to the UK. But that’s only part of the story of the Bingham Cup - an event held in the memory of a rugby-loving man who gave his life trying to save other during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Luke Fenton is the chairman of the Caledonian Thebans – the inclusive team looking to bring the tour...

He's one of the strongest men on the island of Ireland - but Chris McNaghten says he's not always had the inner-strength to match his outer muscle. The reason was simple. In a part of the UK that has lagged behind the rest of the nation in terms of LGBTQ rights, Chris knew he was gay - and was absolutely terrified about what that could mean. So why is he so open about his sexuality now - and what...

Her career spans more than fifteen years - and has taken her to some of the grandest stages in football. A highly-respected England international, Anita Asante was also an ever-present for the Team GB side at the London Olympics in 2012. Domestically, Anita has won the FA Cup, the UEFA Cup, the National Premier League, the League Cup, the Swedish Super Cup ... in fact, in a career that's taken her...

As a child, Sammy Walker loved playing football - and was blinking good at it as well. Scouted by Wycombe Wanderers and part of the academy at Watford FC as a teenager, the game was Sammy's life - but then, there were eight years in the wilderness, where getting back onto the pitch as a player was almost unimaginable to her. Why? Well, Sammy is transgender - and didn't think there'd be a place for...

It's no exaggeration to say Jess Fishlock is a footballing legend. She's Wales' most-capped ever player; she's played around the world, winning the Champions League twice; and in 2018, she was made an MBE for her services to football and the LGBTQ+ community. Jess is rehabbing in the United States at the moment, after suffering an injury to her ACL while playing with her club Reign FC - and it's f...

Megan Giglia's journey in elite sport began in the most traumatic way possible - when she walked into hospital with a headache like she'd never experienced before. What happened next changed her life and started her on a remarkable journey that turned her into an international cycling star - a world champion and world record-holder who won Britain's first gold medal at the Paralympics in Rio in 20...

For Huw Ware, getting involved in darts was a case of being in the right place at the right time -- and watching a match that got him hooked! From there, he went on to play at an international level -- but officiating was the path he ultimately ended up following. Then, he ended up forging a path of his own - when he came out and as the first openly gay man in the sport. We've wanted to have Huw o...

On September 25th 2018, we launched the BBC's LGBT Sport Podcast. We would never - EVER - have imagined that twelve months later, we'd still be going strong. The fact we are is entirely down to you - for listening; for sharing on social media and, in the case of our guests, for coming on-air to tell their story to the world. Your support means sporting stories from the LGBTQ+ community are now sha...

If you encountered homophobia on the terraces, would you turn round and tackle it? That's the type of question that - sadly - is all too common for LGBTQ+ football fans, and one that Tom Carr is familiar with. The journalist set up the Argyle Pride supporters group for LGBTQ+ fans of Plymouth Argyle, and has been speaking to us for a brand-new episode of the podcast. On the agenda - reconciling hi...

It's fair to say the Kings Cross Steelers have been on quite a journey over the past twenty-five years. Last month, they were named Men's Team of the Year at the National Rugby Awards - but when they were founded back in 1995, they sometimes struggled to find opponents to play against. Why? Well, the Kings Cross Steelers were the world's first-ever gay rugby team - and have been on quite a journey...

Sometimes, we speak with guests who have such a passion for their sport that they find it hard to contain. It literally spills out of them - and fires up everyone around them as well! Luke Tuffs is one of those people - the manager of Knaphill FC, and a man who has loved football for as long as he can remember. He's someone we've wanted to have on the podcast for a long time - and he doesn't disap...

We'll say this right now - Beth Allen is a lot of fun to chat with. She's an All-American golfer and the 2016 LET Order of Merit winner - who found out she was a match as a kidney donor to her brother while waiting to play her first round at the Australian Open. When she's not on the course, she's encouraging others to get involved in the game, doing her own podcast -- and playing VERY competitive...

She describes herself as 'an average pool swimmer' at best - but it's probably fair to say that Vicki Carter is selling herself short. She's competed at numerous Gay Games - and last month, she became the latest person to conquer the English Channel. Why? Well, partly to prove something to herself - but also to raise the money necessary to host the UK's first awards shows celebrating LGBTQ+ people...

For one episode, we've decided to do something different. To focus not on the training schedules and achievements of one amazing LGBTQ+ sportsperson – but on the reality of what it's like to experience homophobia and transphobia in sport. After all, at a time when Kick It Out is reporting increased discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in football, and where reported transgender hate c...

Imagine having the final say on whether someone wins a gold medal -- or goes home with absolutely nothing? That's the sort of pressure that falls on Alan Baser's shoulders as one of the most respected judges in the world of sailing. It's a vocation that's taken him across the globe, from World Championships to Olympic Games -- and it all began with a bit of messing around on a river in Plymouth. H...