The Perfect 10 Podcast

The Perfect 10 welcomes one of Australia’s most admired Olympians, Mariafe Artacho del Solar. A three-time Olympian and a medallist on the World’s biggest stage, Mariafe takes us inside the unforgettable journey that saw her and Taliqua Clancy claim silver in Tokyo, falling only to what she describes as the “perfect performance” from the United States in the gold medal match. She also reflects on...

Before there were professional pathways, before wheelchair basketball received the recognition it deserved, Liesl Tesch was changing the game. A five-time Paralymian in wheelchair basketball, a three-time Paralympic medallist, and later a two-time Paralympic gold medallist in sailing, Liesl’s sporting résumé is almost impossible to comprehend. She became the first woman in the world to play profes...

Episode #69 of The Perfect 10 features one of the brightest coaching minds in world football — Emily Husband, Assistant Coach of the CommBank Matildas and a woman whose extraordinary journey has taken her from the terraces of Leeds to the biggest stage in international sport. Born in the UK, Emily fell in love with football as a little girl. Her Dad was a passionate Leeds United season ticket hold...

Four-time Olympian. Commonwealth Games medallist. World Championships representative. And now one of the very few athletes on the planet to complete all 7 World Marathon Majors. This week on The Perfect 10, Lisa Weightman joins award-winning host Steve Allan for a fascinating conversation about resilience, longevity and performing at the highest level for more than two decades. Lisa reflects on th...

Born Without Arms. Built Without Limits Kerry-Lee Gockel — known as The Wingless Warrior — is living proof that resilience isn’t a buzzword, it’s a way of life. In this extraordinary episode, Kerry-Lee shares her journey of growing up with congenital amelia and refusing to let it define her. From developing a love of swimming to conquering marathon distances—spending over six hours in open water—h...

From a kid growing up in Tannum Sands, chasing surf and competition with 12-hour round trips, to standing atop the sport as both an athlete and coach—this is the story of Michael King. A champion Ironman in his own right, Michael conquered the Coolangatta Gold and claimed the Ironman Series against one of the strongest fields ever assembled. But it was a pivotal move to Sydney that helped shape th...

Few athletes in surf sports history have dominated like Ali Day. Raised in Kiama, Day chased his surf lifesaving dream north — first to Mooloolaba, and eventually to the powerhouse Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, where he has built one of the most remarkable careers the sport has seen. Day became the undisputed king of the legendary Coolangatta Gold, winning the gruelling endurance classic...

He carried the flag for Australia at the Opening Ceremony in Milano Cortina — and then delivered another unforgettable Olympic campaign. Mogul skier Matt Graham returns to The Perfect 10 Podcast for what might just be a well-earned victory lap. After narrowly missing the podium with a fifth-place finish in the singles event — on a night when teammate Cooper Woods stunned the world with gold — Grah...

At 29, Abbey Willcox is about to live out a lifelong dream — qualifying for her first Winter Olympic Games in Aerial Skiing. But this story is about far more than Olympic qualification. It’s about devastating injuries. Losing funding. Battling fear, depression, and the very real thought of walking away from the sport she once loved. Abbey opens up about the moments when everything felt too hard —...

From the NSW Central Coast — a place better known for surf breaks than snow — Matt Graham has carved out one of the most remarkable careers in winter sport. Now on the brink of becoming a four-time Winter Olympian, Matt reflects on a 16-year journey at the very top of moguls skiing, highlighted by a Crystal Globe title in 2020/21, Olympic silver at PyeongChang, 29 World Cup podiums and five World...

This episode features Pam McClelland — a multiple National and World Boxing Champion whose journey is as inspiring as her results. In the past 12 months alone, Pam has claimed two Australian professional boxing titles across two weight divisions, holding both the Australian Super Featherweight and Australian Lightweight belts. In total, she now boasts six professional titles. What makes her story...

Some athletes explode out of the blocks. Others grow stronger the longer the race goes. Jemma Smith belongs firmly in the second category – and in my opinion, she is one of the most under-rated athletes in Australia. A two-time World Ocean Ski Champion and winner of the iconic Coolangatta Gold, Jemma knows what it takes to endure — physically, mentally, and emotionally. In this episode, she reflec...

At just 22, Allanah Pitcher is already making her mark in one of athletics’ toughest events — the 35km Race Walk. Fresh from a top-20 finish at the World Championships in Tokyo, Allanah is balancing her sporting dreams with an equally demanding pursuit: a Biomedical Engineering degree at Sydney University. In this episode of The Perfect 10, Allanah shares her journey — from serving as an Olympic r...

Live from the World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo, Olympic coach Matthew Horsnell joins the show with a front-row seat to history in the making. We dive into some of the unforgettable moments so far — from Mondo Duplantis’ stunning pole vault world record to Gout Gout’s international debut, and Jess Hull cementing her status as one of Australia’s golden girls of the track. Matt also takes...

Ultramarathon legend Pat Farmer joins me on the podcast for the third time, fresh from one of his most emotional journeys yet — the Kokoda Track. A deeply moving experience that pushed him in ways even he didn’t expect. Pat’s not slowing down just yet. He’s gearing up for the Quicksand Soft Sand Run at Terrigal for the second year in a row — raising vital funds for Surf Life Saving and other impor...

What drives a man to lace up the boots for the 600th time? Troy Luff might just be the most durable figure in Australian Rules. From a teenage standout in Nelson Bay to a fan-favourite at the Sydney Swans. Luffy’s story is one of resilience and a deep, unshakable love of the game. But there’s another side to his story. Troy’s AFL career was cut short by something far tougher than any opponent: dep...

He might just be one of the most underrated players in Rugby League history. With electrifying pace and one of the best sidesteps the game has ever seen, Steve Ella was a phenomenon in the legendary Parramatta Eels backline of the 1980s — winning four Premierships during the club’s golden era. A proud Yuin man, Steve represented New South Wales and was part of the Blues’ first-ever State of Origin...

From teenage surf sensation to dual Olympian and elite sailor, Ky Hurst burst onto the Ironman scene, becoming one of the sport’s all-time greats — a 4-time Australian Open Ironman Champion and a 10-time Surf Race national champion, a record unlikely to be matched. Ky didn’t stop at dominating the surf. He switched to Open Water Swimming, representing Australia in Beijing and London, and claiming...

Is John Strange the most underrated coach in Australian sport? With two NRLW premierships and a Dally M Coach of the Year award to his name, the Sydney Roosters NRLW coach has proven himself as a game-changer in women’s rugby league. In this episode, we dive deep into John’s journey, from this year’s thrilling grand final win over the Sharks to his reflections on the incredible talent within the w...

In this episode of The Perfect 10, we sit down with Scott Sattler, the man immortalised by one of the most iconic tackles in NRL history. That single moment in the 2003 Grand Final didn’t just secure the win; it created a legend. Scott takes us through the lead-up, the split-second decision-making, and the life-changing impact of that tackle, reflecting on how it cemented his legacy and transforme...