The Real Science of Sport Podcast

Former Royal Marine, Green Beret and now amateur cyclist Richy Poynter transports us deep into the mindset and training of an elite soldier. From physical fitness to both emotional and mental challenges, Poynter offers a fascinating insight into what it takes to make it through and how some of the lessons he learnt as a soldier have made him a better sportsman. EFrsNTdBnBG44DDBKfnv Hosted on Acast...

From the extremes of cold water swimming to how the body loses heat and hyperthermia. The team takes a deep dive into the fascinating physiological effect of cold on the exercising body, how to deal with it and what you can expect when the temperatures drop Show notes and links: The study that measured how long it took for heart rate, daily activity and sleep to return to normal after Covid-19 inf...

The team take on three different subjects in our new segment called 'Caught My Eye." We tackle the subject of how different rules and regulations in women's soccer can improve the quality of the game to the potential of African riders to start dominating world cycling and the relationship between sleep and concussion in impact sports. Show Notes: Sleep article  https://meridian.allenpress.com...

The team take a critical look at an interview with Simon Lockett, Global Category Director of Running Footwear at adidas. Simon and his team are involved in the overall strategy, product creation, and go-to-market approach for a number of franchises including ADIZERO racing footwear and the Duramo franchise. He works together with a team of expert product managers who...

Excuses for doping are as varied as the drugs available on Amazon (yep, it's that easy!). But what does it take to be a doper? Are authorities winning the war and is American track superstar Shelby Houlihan really guilty of being a doper herself? The team unpack it all in this latest update on the war against performance-enhancing drugs. Show notes: Read more about the topics discussed in this pod...

From top level cyclists to world-class runners and speedskaters, pro training regimes offer a fascinating look into what it takes to count yourself among the world's best. Recent research among top-level athletes is also leading us to question entrenched training methods as sports scientists continue to learn more about the way the body adapts and reacts to exercise. SHOW NOTES: The study of world...

In this cycling special, we take a deep dive into the numbers that helped Mathieu van Poel win the Tour of Flanders, why new research on cadence has challenged decades-old beliefs and how sportspeople with heart problems may still be able to compete at the top level thanks to modern technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transgender athlete Lia Thomas recently won the 500-yard title at the US National College Swimming (NCAA) Championships triggering an uproar and suggesting that her participation may have wide-ranging implications for women's sport. At the recent MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston, Prof. Ross Tucker was invited as a guest to discuss the transgender issue in sport and discusses the iss...

Viewership figures are down, fewer cities want to host them and their integrity is being seriously challenged. What does the future of the Winter and Summer Olympic Games look like? The team talk to the Chief Sports Reporter of the UK's The Guardian, Sean Ingle, and renowned author, journalist and columnist David Epstein to present the facts and the challenges facing the Games and potentially the...

Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch break down the various forms of energy the body uses, how they work, how we fuel them and when to use what. Plus learn to decipher the ingredients in energy supplements, understand why carbs are still king and how best to train your body to become an efficient endurance machine. A must-listen for any endurance athlete. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

What makes world-class ice hockey players, cross-country skiers or biathletes? We ask two experts to help explain the special set of skills needed to compete at the top level, the challenges athletes face and the training they do to compete. If you've never understood anything about the Winter Olympics here's your chance to take a deep dive into three of the most fascinating disciplines. Guest Bio...

Welcome to endurance month! In this episode the team break down the mechanics of endurance, the five challenges that long-distance athletes face, how the body changes the longer we exercise and why humans are more adapted to going long than any other living creature on the planet. We also ask whether excessive exercise is always good for you and look back at the lessons learnt from endurance athle...

Welcome to Season 4 of the Science of Sport Podcast! So what happens to our bodies when the temperatures go up? The team dig into the mechanics of exercising in hot conditions, how to cope with extremes, the differences are between heat stroke and heat exhaustion, when it's too hot to train and why sporting event organisers should all have a heat policy to safeguard participants. Hosted on Acast....

In this bonus episode, Ross shares brief thoughts on the latest, inevitable and increasingly volatile controversy in the transgender athlete debate. Swimmer Lia Thomas has been shattering university records, setting the fastest times in the USA, and is well on the way to becoming the highest profile trans women athlete to date. Her times as Lia are within sight not only of legends of US women's sw...

In this bonus episode, Ross sits down with Dr Emma Hilton, a developmental biologist who has outspokenly defended women's sport and explained the science and physiology of male vs female sporting performance differences. In a candid conversation, she shares insights ranging from political to philosophical, both personal and scientific. Why is the recent IOC Framework such a failure of leadership a...

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced controversial new transgender guidelines which could threaten the future of women's sport. But what does the evidence say and why did the IOC ignore the science? Mike Finch and Prof. Ross Tucker explain all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Responders and non-responders are easily identified but poorly understood. Elite coach and sports scientist John Kiely from the Institute of Coaching & Performance, University of Central Lancashire, discusses why our response to training is about more than just genetics, offers tips on how to change mindset and trust in the process and if neurobiology can unlock training benefits for all. Host...

Coaching development specialist Stuart Armstrong, of Sport England, discusses the role of sport in childhood development with Prof. Ross Tucker. The two answer controversial questions from our Patreon supporters and delve into the murky world of early recruitment and why healthy sport has nothing to do with future champions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lachlan Morton is an Australian cyclist famous for taking on audacious endurance challenges, including his recent solo 5500km Alt. Tour de France. In this interview Morton talks about his philosophy, how he gets through the tough moments and how he and his EF Education-Nippo team come up with his crazy challenges. Funny and inspiring, Morton is a unique voice in the world of professional sport. Ho...

Stuart Armstrong has made a career coaching sport and his role at Sport England is to help coach the coaches and make sport and exercise accessible to all. In this interview, Armstrong talks through the challenges of balancing the thirst for future champions and creating a healthy environment for kids and teenagers to thrive... no matter what their ability. It's a must-listen for parents, coaches...

In the ongoing debate and discussion about the risk of injury in rugby, many people have suggested that cutting the number of substitutes is the easiest and most obvious "fix". The truth, however, is a little more complex than this, because there are grounds to suggest that doing this will backfire and make the situation worse, not better. That's why decision-makers in the sport have to prioritize...

In this follow-up podcast, sleep science specialist Dr Dale Rae returns to answer all your questions from polyphasic sleeping, eating right for your sleep type, finding your optimum sleep time and coping with frustrating 3am insomnia. Follow Sleep Science on Instagram on @sleepscience_ or visit their website on www.sleepscience.co.za You can also support the Science of Sport Podcast on Patreon at...

All Black legend Conrad Smith, from the International Rugby Players body, talks to Prof. Ross Tucker on World Rugby's newly-released guidelines for contact in rugby training, how it will hopefully impact player welfare and why the new guidelines are not as radical as they, at first, seem. The contact load guidelines we discuss can be found at this link : https://www.world.rugby/the-game/player-wel...

The UK Sports Councils have released guidelines on transgender participation in sport, following an exhaustive and comprehensive review process. The two key points made are: 1) to confirm that the current policy that suppresses testosterone for twelve months is not fit for purpose, because advantages are retained even after testosterone is reduced, and 2) that "categorization by sex is lawful" (it...

American Neal Henderson is one of the most celebrated coaches in endurance sports - particularly triathlon and cycling. Having coached pros like cyclists Rohan Dennis and Evelyn Stevens to Hour records (and most recently bronze in the Olympic time trial for Dennis), Henderson has trained all levels from first-time finishers to national and World champions and several Olympians. He most recently tr...