The Real Science of Sport Podcast
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364 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Spotlight: Janik Sinner Banned For Three Months
15 februari 2025 · 24 min
Tennis star Janik Sinner has accepted an immediate three-month suspension for his 2024 clostebol positives. In this emergency Spotlight, Gareth and Ross discuss the agreement between Sinner and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and explain why both parties would have been incentivized to reach a settlement rather than go to arbitration at CAS in mid-April. We offer insights and early thoughts on whether, as claimed by Nick Kyrgios, this is "a bad day for tennis", or whether a three-month ban is justified and appropriate, giving the accepted facts of the case and what could be proven in previous tribunals. Lees meer
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For more conversation and insight, join our Discourse community where fellow listeners, experts and enthusiasts offer thoughts and opinions on this issue, and many more sports science topics. Membership requires that you become a Patron of the site, here, with a small monthly pledge to become part of our VIP community
Show notes:
WADA's full statement on the settlement
BBC article on the settlement, as read in the podcast
YouTube channel Tennis Talk, who we heard from in the podcast
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Spotlight: Protecting Women's Sport - Update on New Developments and Policies From Around the World
12 februari 2025 · 1 uur 27 min
In this Spotlight, we address some noteworthy recent developments in the regulation and protection of women's sport. In the most significant of these, World Athletics have announced proposals, still in consultation, that would compel elite female participants to undergo a screening test that looks for the SRY gene as an eligibility requirement. Ross explains why this step, inevitable and necessary for women's sport to deliver on its purpose, may be the most important one taken by any sport in the last few years. We also discuss other proposals that strengthen World Athletics' protection of women's athletics, as well as an Executive Order on women's sport signed by Donald Trump, the NCAA response to that EO, and what this all means for this ongoing controversial issue. Lees meer
Become a Discourse member and drive the Spotlight
If you enjoy the Spotlights, and want to weigh in on these and other topics, consider becoming a Patron of the show, and get full access to the Discourse community! Here's where you go to make a small pledge and become a Patron, and that'll open up this portal to a world of sports science, performance and health conversations!
Links to topics and articles we discussed on the show
World Athletics page explaining the proposals and the consultation process that includes the pre-clearance (cheek swab) method
The full World Athletics document outlining proposed changes to eligibility
The academic article that a group of us wrote last year, explaining how screening should be implemented to support protection of the female category
Greg Brown's paper comparing boys to girls in running events
Same author, same approach, different sport - here's Greg Brown's analysis of boys and girls in swimming
Marina Hyde's article that describes how issues are bundled rather than assessed on their merits, to the detriment, sometimes, of reality
NCAA update on changes to their eligibility policy, where they take a step towards protecting women's sport, but fail to …
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The Science of Mind Coaching in Sport
11 februari 2025 · 1 uur 25 min
From international cricket to chess, boxing and hockey, Paddy Upton has helped the best sportspeople in the world achieve through his role as a performance coach. The team dig into how Upton has helped create the right performance mindset and explains how the best in the world handle mental pressure. Along the way Upton shares some remarkable success stories, explains how he went from a fitness instructor to a mind coach and whether BMT is really a thing. Lees meer
Upton's approach focuses on four core human aspects of high performance - leadership, culture, teamwork and individual performance - and combines his 30+ years of experience with degrees from four different universities along with an appointment as Professor of Practice at Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia).
Upton has worked with over 350 professional and international level athletes from 21 different sporting codes, including six world champions from six different sports and 25 World Player Of The Year recipients. He has coached in five cricket World Cups and one Olympics (won bronze with the Indian men’s hockey team). He has also helped coach the Indian cricket team to become world test champions for the first time (2009) and win the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time in 28 years. As Performance Director he has also helped coach the South African cricket team to become the first team ever to simultaneously hold the World Number 1 ranking in all three formats of the international game.
He is also the author of the best-selling book, The Barefoot Coach (Life-changing insights from coaching the world’s best cricketers)
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Spotlight: News Roundup / Forgiveness for Dopers? / Carbon Monoxide Banned / Yellow Cards For Head Injuries Only
5 februari 2025 · 1 uur 5 min
We have a news-heavy Spotlight for you this week, with stories from athletics, cycling and Rugby League to discuss. Shelby Houlihan's return from a doping ban has Gareth wondering about second-chances and forgiveness for dopers? Cycling's authorities met at the Cyclocross World Champs in Lievin and agreed to regulate the use of carbon monoxide and to prevent its misuse for performance enhancement. We talk about that decision and its details, and how it's a positive step, despite some recognized limitations. Cycling safety is also under the spotlight, with the tragic deaths of cyclists around the world a reminder of the perils of the sport, particularly during training. Lees meer
Finally, Rugby League is considering a change to how players are sent off for high tackles, with a proposal to give yellow cards only when the player on the receiving end of the illegal tackle fails an off-field test indicating possible concussion. Proposed as a means to "get more consistency", Ross explains that if anything, it introduces a (for now) random, unpredictable outcome variable in the decision that will compromise consistency, and may detract from player welfare and behaviour change initiatives.
But first, we kick off the show with our Discourse-first birthday announcement, a thanks to all our fabulous followers, and then revisit last week's Spotlight on carbohydrate requirements to explain why elites need to fuel at rates the rest of us needn't aspire to emulate.
Join Discourse
If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
Show notes
The paper Ross alluded on the show, that gives an example of relative carb and fat use during exercise
Article on the proposal to give yellow cards only when the ball carrier fails the head injury asses…
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CRICKET SPECIAL: Is The Futue of Test Cricket Under Threat? / The Dying Skill of Fast Bowling / Coaching The Best From School To Elite
31 januari 2025 · 1 uur 25 min
Former South African top-order batsman Gary Kirsten is one of the most respected voices in the modern game. After playing 101 Tests and 185 one-day internationals, Kirsten went on to a successful career as a coach. From 2008 to 2011 he coached India that included their win at the 2011 World Cup. Later in 2011 he was appointed coach of the South African team until August of 2013 and also had a brief stint with Pakistan in 2024, along with numerous coaching appointments in other formats including India's IPL. In this wide-ranging interview, Kirsten delves into some of the biggest issues facing the game: The threats facing the future of Test cricket, why the art of fast bowling is dying, the role of coaches at both school and international level and concerns over a proposed two-tier system in the global game. Lees meer
Note: We are aware of a small technical issue where some sections of the pod skip or "jump". We are looking to sort this out in a future upload/version of the pod. Sorry about that!
Join Discourse
If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
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Spotlight: You Are Not Simon Yates. But You Can Learn From Him
29 januari 2025 · 1 uur 8 min
In this episode, Simon Yates, carbohydrates and the applicability of sports science research to the masses are in our Spotlight. In an interview earlier this week, pro cyclist Simon Yates described a paradigm shift that has changed nutrition and training in the sport. Instead of five hour rides on "two eggs" and "water in the bottles" leaving him feeling exhausted, he talks about 120g/h of carbohydrates in training and racing leading to less fatigue, greater enjoyment, and significantly better performances. That's not new, of course - more carbs has been the name of the game for the elites for some time, as we've discussed in previous shows. Lees meer
Now, Gareth and Ross explore the extent to which elite practice and behaviours should guide what the rest of us 'mortals' do, and whether the pendulum of advice has swung too far? To do so, we use a recent paper by Louise Burke and her team to explain that sports science research, often done on recreational or moderately trained athletes, often fails to add value to elite athletes. Conversely, we discover that what elites do is not necessarily directly applicable to the rest of us, and that while Yates and others demonstrate important principles of nutrition (yes, you need those carbs for harder training), we need to understand context and circumstances in order to understand exactly how to apply their behaviours to our own situations, and to get the specifics right. Ultimately, we may all be bound by the same (physiological) rules, but we're often playing a different game. We explain how to translate and apply research to practice, and vice-versa.
Plus, a brief look back at the Australian Open, how tennis analytics doesn't quite do justice to the 'adversarial' nature of the sport, and why players shouldn't be too fussed with perceived crowd and media hostility.
Show notes
The tennis website Gareth mentioned, full of stats and analytics on performance
Join our Fantasy League for the upcoming Men's Six Nations. Once clicked…
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The Role of the Modern Physio: Lessons from the Royal Marines
17 januari 2025 · 1 uur 39 min
Richard Hales has spent the last 22 years fixing Royal Marines at the Command Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) Lympstone in the UK and is the Clinical Lead within their bespoke Exercise Rehabilitation Centre. So he knows a thing or two about the role of physiotherapy in a pressurised physical environment. The team delve into the role of a physiotherapist in both prevention and recovery; explains how data drives much of the research, why old-school physio techniques are questionable and whether biomechanics make a difference in causing chronic injury. Lees meer
Hales graduated with a Sports Science degree from Liverpool University in 1992 before qualifying as a Chartered Physiotherapist from Bath University in 1996.
Having chosen to specialise in musculoskeletal rehabilitation his roles have included six years as Physio with Exeter Chiefs Rugby Union Club, and clinical co-ordinator for Amputee rehabilitation within ‘Adventure Rehab’, as well as Out-Patient work in both the UK and New Zealand before joining the military.
He has just written a book about his time working with the Royal Marines entitled The NOD Fixer which is due out in Easter 2025.
Join Discourse
If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
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Spotlight: Can We Trust Experts in Fitness and Health?
15 januari 2025 · 58 min
Can we trust "experts" in the fitness and health industry? We put this question under the Spotlight this week, inspired by a combination of Gareth's fell running exploits and virus scare, his quest to replenish carbohydrates after racing, and a fascinating insider Discourse chat about the credibility of the fitness industry. How can fitness, health and sports enthusiasts know who to trust, and can they ever be assured of credible, effective advice from personal trainers and fitness influencers whose intentions may be good, but whose knowledge is not always where it needs to be? Lees meer
Show notes
Join Discourse
If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
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What Will Sport Look Like in 2050?
9 januari 2025 · 1 uur 27 min
A lot has changed since 2000 in sport but not everything predicted at the start of the Millennium has happened by 2025. So what may sport look like in 2050? Hosts Mike Finch and Prof. Ross Tucker - along with the Chief Sports Writer of The Guardian, Sean Ingle - look back at what was predicted in 2000 and what could happen 25 years from now. From age-defying world beaters to astonishing tech and the likely future and popularity of sporting events, sport looks set for some radical changes in the second quarter of this century. Lees meer
SHOW NOTES
Sean’s article looking back at the 2000 predictions
Sean’s article predicting sport in 2050
Another article by Sean in which he discusses the case for an Olympics every two years
The article that predicts that most records will reach a plateau by 2027
Example of how digital twins are being used in sport
Speaking of digital twins, Des Linden has one, as explained in this article
An article on how AI is changing sport.
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Spotlight: Festive feedback
8 januari 2025 · 49 min
Gareth and Ross kick off 2025 with a brief Spotlight episode that looks back on the Festive season's interesting sports science news stories, and our own Christmas and New Year exercise achievements and sports-watching highlights. Discourse hummed along at its usual pace, with stories on doping, low cadence, cycling safety, and exercise challenges, and Gareth and Ross tackle those subjects in this 2025 'ice-breaker'. Lees meer
Show notes
Join Discourse
If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
Articles on topics discussed in this show
Independent scientific experts call China's conclusions on their 23 TMZ swimming cases "intellectually dishonest"
Canadian coach calls for doping reform amid doubts over Women's Marathon WR, including bans for countries with more than 10 doped athletes
Norway's Mountain Running World Champion accepts a doping ban after claiming contamination for a positive test
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The 2024 Sports Year In Review
19 december 2024 · 2 uur 10 min
Who were the superstars, and what were the unforgettable moments of 2024? Who failed to launch, and who exceeded expectations? What are your hopes for sport and sports science in 2025? We draw a spectacular sporting year to a close with a look back at the highlights, lowlights, newsmakers and big stories of 2024. In a somewhat tongue-in-cheek "Sporting Awards" show, Mike, Gareth and Ross pick out their winners and losers, and the achievements that got us talking and debating. Inspired by the contributions and nominations from our Discourse community, we make our selections in categories ranging from the Moment of the Year to the Biggest Anticlimax of the last twelve months, with sports science insights and the big sports science stories covered in between. Lees meer
Join Discourse
If you fancy sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community.
Podcast highlights: Some of the podcasts from 2024 that came up in this show:
Dr Joe Warne on the scientific theme of 2024: Can we trust sports science?
The Skeptics guide to sports science - Dr Nick Tiller joined us to talk about how marketing undermines sports science, with a little help from sports scientists
As Gareth noted on the show, the podcast topic that generated the highest volume of Discourse chat was VO2max, your most important training metric
Prof Louise Burke joined us to talk about why carbohydrates and not fats power most endurance athletes to better performance
Prof Stuart Phillips on weight training - the one that changed Mike's exercise training routines.
The science of hydration - this is the one that led to a really lively Discourse discussion about the scientific 'robustness' of hydration claims made on this show
The Olympic Controversy podcast recorded at the time of the DSD controversy
Ruth Chepngetich smashed the women's World Record, and the debate kicked off. We did a podcast on…
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Elite Sport's Race to the Bottom, and Anti-Doping's Scramble for Higher Ground
16 december 2024 · 1 uur 2 min
In this Spotlight edition, Gareth Davies and Ross Tucker dive ever deeper into the abyss of sport's Talent Identification and Development inefficiencies. With a nod to our most recent podcast on Gout Gout's meteoric rise and anticipated trajectory to sprint dominance, we discuss how elite sport 'farms' talent in a 'race to the bottom' that characterises the ruthless pursuit of champions. We discuss the costs this creates, both financial and human, using talent pathway practices in cycling, football, rugby and tennis to illustrate why lost young athletes and inefficiencies are features of the system, rather than 'bugs'. We also discuss the latest developments in the world of anti-doping, where WADA have announced changes to contamination cases and accidental doping, and where the UCI have moved to ban carbon monoxide use for performance enhancement, but not measurement. Lees meer
SHOW NOTES:
Join Discourse
If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
The article discussing the retirement of junior cyclists and the ruthless efficiency with which they are replaced
A research article exploring how U23 performances predict elite cycling performance, perhaps not surprisingly, as discussed in the show
My 2019 article on the curse of the precocious athlete
The Gout Gout podcast referenced in our Talent discussions
The very interesting Discourse topic in which Gareth and others talk about the changes in professional cycling (Discourse members only)
A news article on WADA's announcement about intended changes to the Anti-Doping Code, including the discussed changes to contaminated product and accidental doping rules
The UCI "bans" carbon monoxide use for performance enhancement, but not for measurement. Quite how is anyone's …
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Exclusive: Is Australia's New Sprint Sensation the Next Usain Bolt?
13 december 2024 · 1 uur 12 min
Gout Gout is a sprint phenom. At only 16, he recently broke the Australian men's 200m record with a stunning 20.04s, second on the all-time list for under-18 sprinters. That followed 10.04 (wind-aided) and 10.17 100m clockings, as the Australian teen continued his meteoric rise to elite adult performances. The manner of his performances, with astonishing finishing speed, has created huge excitement, with anticipation of Bolt-like times and achievements in his future. But, teen prodigies come and go, many falling short of fully delivering on their exceptional promise. In this exclusive interview, his manager and agent James Templeton opens up about Gout's past, present and future, and shares the vision and specific plans he and Gout's coach have for one of the most exciting talents ever seen in the sport. Along the way, we discuss talent identification concepts,and learn lessons from David Rudisha's career about the dangers and traps that can ambush a young athlete, and how they plan to navigate those for Gout. We also discover how Gout Gout is handling new-found fame and being prepared for the hype, with the ultimate goal of taking on the world of sprinting in 2025 and beyond. Lees meer
SHOW NOTES:
Join Discourse
If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
Video of Gout Gout's 200m Australian record of 20.04s
The wind assisted 10.04s that Gout ran, with special emphasis on the final 50m
The paper that shows the relatively low conversion of top 100 ranked U18 and U20 athletes into the top 100 adults, and vice-versa
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What Tennis' Latest Scandal Teaches Us About Doping
5 december 2024 · 58 min
World Number Two tennis player Iga Swiatek's positive test for a little-known product called Trimetazidine raises the issue of whether drug testing is going too far. Should there not be a threshold for the level of prohibited substances found in the body? Is there a performance advantage? What fault lies with the athlete? No matter the final outcome, an athlete remains tainted no matter their potential innocence, which could affect performance and sponsorship agreements. In this Spotlight episode, the team discuss the case, its similarities and differences compared to tennis' other high profile doping case, Janik Sinner, and what it means for anti-doping. Lees meer
SHOW NOTES:
Join Discourse
If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
The ITA decision statement
BBC story on Swiatek's one-month ban
Swiatek's statement on Instagram
The timeline of Swiatek's doping case
Response from the manufacturer of the drug
Article on Jack Burke's KOMs
When Burke broke the Alp d'Huez KOM
Jack Burke's Strava account
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Science of Sport Spotlight 9: To Torque or Not to Torque, energy demands from the Women's Tour, and topical doping debates
28 november 2024 · 1 uur 2 min
In this spotlight episode, Ross and Gareth put some of the interesting discussions from our Discourse community in the spotlight. Gareth, master (and moderator) of Discourse, learned all about high cadence training from the coaches in the Discourse community when he tackled a Zwift cycling programme that had him spinning his legs. We discuss whether high cadence training has merit, or whether we should actually be looking at the other extreme - Torque training, with very low cadence, to develop cycling ability? A fascinating recent paper is the basis for that discussion. We also talk about a paper that documents the remarkable energy costs of cycling in the Tour de France Femmes - an incredible 7500 kCal per day, not met by energy intake in the case study. Finally, we tackle two doping stories. The first is a call by the UCI for WADA to "take a position" on alleged Carbon Monoxide misuse by elite cyclists, and the second is the latest step taken by the Enhanced Games, who, among other things, wish to classify aging as a disease. And they'll pay a cool million to a human who runs a sub-9.58s 100m, powered by any means necessary. Lees meer
Show notes
Join Discourse
If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
The research study that finds that low cadence training enhances performance more than self-selected (high) cadence training during an 8-week polarized training block
The case study of energy demands in an elite woman in the Tour de France
The UCI calls on WADA to take a position on Carbon Monoxide use
The Enhanced Games message to Robert F Kennedy to declare war on aging
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How Far Can You Push the Human Body? Lessons from a Royal Marine Doctor
26 november 2024 · 1 uur 38 min
Pushing the body to its limits can be the difference between life and death for a Royal Marine. So how far can you push recruits and what lessons can sport learn from the training they endure? In this interview with Dr Ross Hemingway, a Sports & Exercise Medicine Doctor at the Commando Training Centre for Royal Marines in the UK, we take a fascinating look at everything from heat illnesses to fatigue and injuries experienced by some of the fittest men and women on the planet. Hemingway explains how Marines are assessed and tells stories of recruits who overcome extreme hardship in their quest to be among the military elite. Lees meer
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Is the Credibility of Sports Science's Most Respected Journal Under Threat?
15 november 2024 · 1 uur 10 min
At the recent British Association of Sports & Exercise Medicine (BAsem) conference, the world's most respected journal in sports science - the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) - openly promoted a presentation done on the trans issue by the author of the controversial book Open Play: The Case For Feminist Sport, Dr Sheree Bekker. In the presentation, Bekker challenges the ideas around transgender sporting advantage despite persuasive scientific evidence to the contrary, raising the question of whether the BJSM has failed in its mandate to support robust scientific content. The team break down what the BJSM's role in sports science should be, analyse some of the outlandish statements made in the presentation and discuss the implications of what happens if credibility is lost. Lees meer
SHOW NOTES:
The tweet by the BJSM on the presentation done by Dr Bekker
The photo claiming to show the TWSA and Feminist Approach to the gender debate
Dr Sheree Bekker's website
A link to the BJSM website
Ross's X thread reacting to the presentation
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Chepng'etich's Marathon World Record Analysis: Too Good To Be True?
18 oktober 2024 · 1 uur 24 min
When Kenyan Ruth Chepng'etich took nearly two minutes off the women's marathon world record, the sporting world was aghast. How did she do it? Shoe tech, nutrition, race tactics? With a doping cloud hanging over Kenyan athletics, it's easy to see why so many are sceptical. Join Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch as they assess every aspect of the run in an effort to explain one of the most astonishing running performances in history. Lees meer
SHOW NOTES
The paper by Mason et al on how the shoes have boosted women’s distance runners more then men.
The Joubert & Jones paper that compares different shoes, including Figure 2 that shows the individual variation between models of the same brand.
Another similar paper on individual variability by Knopp et al.
For analysis of the performances since super shoes were introduced.
A piece by Toni Reavis in defence of Chepngetich’s performance.
The article by Amby Burfoot that Reavis mentions. Amby does not hold back.
The AIU list of Kenyans currently serving doping bans. You can count the drug type to see if the show conversation was accurate.
The CAS Decision on Rhonex Kipruto, in which his doping is described as a “sophisticated doping regime.
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DISCOURSE SPECIAL: Is Elite Cycling Safe Enough? / Rugby's Smart Mouthguards / Is Sinner Guilty of Doping? and Much More
3 oktober 2024 · 1 uur 53 min
After a post-Olympic break the team wrap up all the latest hot topics and news from our Discourse channel. We share details of how the rollout of rugby's smart mouthguards is going, discuss Jakob Ingebritgsen's crazy half marathon debut and how best to use sport science to help a small-budget cycling team. We also explain the ongoing doping saga of tennis world number one Jannik Sinner and ask if the world governing body for cycling, the UCI, is doing enough to ensure the safety of riders after the death of an 18-year-old at the World Championships. Lees meer
SHOW NOTES
Jon Wertheim's excellent piece on the Sinner doping scandal from SI.com
The Guardian's piece on the death of Muriel Furrer
Ingebrigtsen's crazy half marathon debut
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How David Roche Used Science To Dominate One Of The World's Biggest Trail Races
29 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 37 min
American trail star and coach David Roche not only won his first 100-mile trail race at the Leadville 100 this year but also broke a 30-year-old record. In this interview, Roche explains how he adapted to the high altitude using hot baths, trained his body to take in high concentrations of carbohydrates and planned out his race strategy. Roche also talks about how speed over shorter distances is the best predictor of ability of longer distances, why mega training mileage may not be the right strategy for mega-distance races and the impact of super shoes on trail racing. Lees meer
SHOW NOTES:
Follow David on Instagram and Youtube
Follow David and wife Dr Megan Roche's podcast Some Work, All Play on Apple Podcasts.
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Science of Sport Spotlight 8: A Guilty or Innocent Sinner? And Tragedy at the Crossfit Games
22 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 10 min
We are back with a Spotlight show, and in this one, we discuss the case of Janik Sinner, who was cleared earlier this week of a doping violation after a panel agreed that his positive test for clostebol was caused by his physiotherapist's use of a banned substance to treat a finger cut while performing massage treatments on the player. We describe the timeline, the challenge faced by anti-doping authorities, and the controversial speed with which Sinner was able to continue playing after appealing provisional suspensions on two occasions. We also shine a spotlight on risk in sport, after a tragedy at the CrossFit Games in Texas, where a 28 year old participant died during a swim item. The team explain why swimming is where the danger exists, and then discuss the philosophy of risk and the tension between the core values of a sport, and the duty of care of the sports to protect athletes from foreseeable and unnecessary risks. Lees meer
Join Discourse
If you've enjoyed our Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
Show notes
Janik Sinner Spotlight
Summary of the Janik Sinner decision by the ITIA
The Full Decision of the case can be read here
The study showing clostebol positive tests through contamination, cited in the defence
Edmund Willison's article on clostebol positives, primarily in Italy
CrossFit Games Spotlight
Study on deaths in triathlon, showing the high proportion that happen on the swim leg
Paper that proposes Swimming Induced Pulmonary Edema as a cause of swim-related deaths
Lay article that explains SIPE and interviews researchers who study it, including discussion of how risk is mitigated and managed by events
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Does Talent Need Trauma To Succeed? A Sports Psychologist Weighs In
20 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 27 min
Dave Collins is a sports Performance Psychologist who has coached over 90 World or Olympic medallists and professional sports teams and performers. The team delve into the concept of what makes great sporting champions, whether trauma is an essential ingredient and how competition and disappointment play a role in long terms success. Collins is a Professorial Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and Director at Grey Matters Performance Ltd. As an academic, he has over 450 peer review publications and 90 books or chapters. As a practitioner, he has worked with over 90 World or Olympic medallists plus professional teams and performers. Collins has coached to national level in three sports, has a fifth dan in karate, has worked as Director of the Rugby Coaches Association and is a Fellow of the Society of Martial Arts and BASES, Associate Fellow of the BPS and an ex Royal Marine. Lees meer
SHOW NOTES
The Rocky Road paper that introduced the “talent needs trauma” concept
Champions vs Super Champions: Expanding on the concept of challenge to create champions
A lay article on the concept outlined in the Rocky Road paper
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Paris 2024 Recap Bumper Show: Highlights, Lowlights, Stats and Final Insights
14 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 58 min
One last time, we get the band together to bring you our bumper Olympic recap show. Sports editor Mike Finch joins daily hosts Prof. Ross Tucker and Discourse moderator Gareth Davies to look back on the Paris Games. We discuss and debate our highlights, lowlights, winners, losers, surprises and disappointments and offer perspectives on the medal tables and individual performances: Which countries outperform their resources, the great athletes and performances and the big stories. Finally we rate the Games, and take a moment to thank all of you for the fantastic interactions on Discourse, and for listening and enjoying these Olympics with us. Lees meer
Join Discourse
If you've enjoyed our Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 16 - Hassan makes History, Track Triumphs for Kipyegon and Ingebrigtsen
11 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 30 min
The "Zatopek" is complete, and while Sifan Hassan did not perfectly replicate the Czech legend's achievements, she did help close off the Athletics programme of the Paris Olympics in spectacular fashion, winning the women's Marathon gold. We review the race, and explain how once again, the course added great intrigue to create a great race and spectacle. We also look back on the final night of track and field from the stadium, where an historically fast men's 800m produced four of the top 8 times ever, and France got its first athletics medal. Kipyegon did the expected in a fast women's 1500m, and Ingebrigtsen did the obvious in winning a slow men's 5000m. The relays, as always, capped off a great night with a near world record for the USA women, and an epic race between USA and Botswana in the men's race. Lees meer
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 15 - A Magnificent Marathon and a Night of Redemption on the Track
10 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 24 min
Tamirat Tola won the men's Olympic Marathon gold today, but it was the marathon course that we thought was the star of the show, as it threw two severe hills at the athletes, creating a dynamic, unpredictable race full of excitement. We explain how Tola conquered that course in remarkable fashion to break the Olympic Record with aggressive hill running. We also look back on the track action, which included relay medals for some athletes who came so close to individual podiums, as well as a double gold and bronze in the women's 10000m, and an impressively fast women's 400m. Finally, we talk breaking, boxing and the IOC's disgrace, and look ahead to the final night of track action from Paris. Lees meer
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 14 - Tebogo claims the 200m, McLaughlin-Levrone breaks a WR, and Holloway gets his gold
9 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 28 min
The Paris 2024 Olympics were hyped as the Noah Lyles games, with the American's campaign to win four gold medals the anticipated storyline. That storyline was terminated by Botswana's Letsile Tebogo in the men's 200m final last night, and it was subsequently revealed that Lyles had tested positive for Covid on Tuesday. We discuss Tebogo's 19.46s victory, and contrast his approach to the brash approach of Lyles in a rivalry that may continue to produce fast times and good quotes. Another rivalry produced a mismatch, where Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone destroyed both the world record, and a field including Femke Bol, in another remarkable 400m hurdles race. We talk about Bol's all-or-nothing race that ultimately cost her silver. We also discuss the latest salvo in the WADA-USADA dispute, which threatens to undermine the credibility of anti-doping, as the power struggle and allegation game continue. Finally, we look ahead to the second-last night of track finals, and even remember that there's a marathon happening in Paris tomorrow! Lees meer
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Here's that WADA statement that we discuss on the show
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 13 - Men's 400m and Steeplechase golds, and a weight loss controversy
8 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 16 min
The men's 400m Olympic Champion is Quincy Hall, who produced a remarkable final 100m to reel in Matthew Hudson Smith. We discuss the historically fast race, with a focus on Hall's last 100m were a triumph due to survival, rather than a blistering kick. We also analyze the men's 3000m steeplechase, where el-Bakkali defended his gold and Girma's hopes crashed, literally, into the Paris track. A brief look at the team pursuit golds in cycling is followed by a news round-up including a fascinating wrestling weight loss controversy, and some drama around lane draws for Olympic finals, with some implications for tonight's action. Finally, we preview the big track finals tonight, and Ross the Octopus makes his gold medal picks. Lees meer
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Here is the story of the Indian weightlifter, Vinesh Phogat, discussed on the show
A graphic showing the change in lane draw allocations for the track finals - better than listening to Ross try to explain them
Kenny Bednarek's tweet and the resultant discussion that he protested
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Paris Special: The Art and Science of Sport Climbing
7 augustus 2024 · 48 min
Sport Climbing is one of the newest additions to the Olympic sporting menu. In Paris, climbers tackle two distinct disciplines - boulder/lead, and speed climbing. In this special episode, we are joined by Tim Cross, a science writer with The Economist, to reveal the hidden side of sport climbing. We talk about the differences between these disciplines, and how the competitions are scored and won. We also about the physiological demands of the sport, the ideal body types for climbing, and how route design presents new challenges for climbers that means that climbing excellence is both art and science, mental and physical. Lees meer
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The IFSC Policy for RED-S, as discussed on the podcast
For Discourse members only, Discourse Member Julia Littlefair shared some really interesting thoughts on the RED-S issue. This thread also includes links to other interesting material on this issue.
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 12 - How Cole Hocker Became an Olympic 1500m Champion in a Race for the Ages
7 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 11 min
In one of the most hyped, anticipated track races in recent memory, it was Cole Hocker, and not the big favourites Jakob Ingebrigtsen or Josh Kerr, who emerged as the Olympic 1500m champion. The race lived up to its billing - Ingebrigtsen's aggressive pace-setting, Kerr hunting from behind, and Hocker, patient and poised, waiting to unleash what turned out to be the deadliest kick of all. We review the race, offering insights on Ingebrigtsen's pace selection, which truly was all or nothing as he faded to finish fourth. We also discuss the other track finals (women's 200m and 3000m Steeplechase), and explore a track cycling world record deluge in Paris' velodrome. Lees meer
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 11 - Hodgkinson delivers under pressure and 5000m controversy
6 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 4 min
Keely Hodgkinson has her Olympic Gold. The pre-race favourite delivered under pressure with a commanding front-running performance to secure an elusive global title. We discuss the race pattern that delivered the gold with big margins behind, and explain why it suggests a lot more to come from Hodgkinson. Beatrice Chebet outclassed Faith Kipyegon in the women's 5000m, in a race marred by a clash between Kipyegon and another pre-race favourites, Gudaf Tsegay. Mondo DuPlantis did Mondo things, winning relatively comfortably and then ticking off an Olympic record followed by another World Record in the Pole Vault. We dissect those performances, and wrap up the Artistic Gymnastics where falls and drama were the order of the day, as well as Gareth's new found Olympic love, Canoe Slalom Cross. Lees meer
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Bonus Episode: Why test the sex of an athlete? The IOC seem confused. We offer some reasons
5 augustus 2024 · 16 min
In a recent press conference, the IOC were asked why they believed sex eligibility tests done on the now controversial boxers were arbitrary? In response, they said "There's no reason for the test", and appeared to equivocate on what the purpose of testing might be. This is the latest in a series of side-steps in which the IOC are downplaying what those tests actually show - males in women's combat sport - and instead undermining why they were done. But for sport, the ability to assess who is eligible for a category is not arbitrary, it is fundamental to making the category work. Weight classes only work because of weigh-ins, for instance. In this Bonus episode, Ross addresses this, directly addressing the IOC to explain why the category boundary can only be defended if some form of testing is welcomed. He explains how every IOC statement on this issue should be understood as the necessary defence of their choice of inclusion ahead of fairness and safety for females, and offers the solution that would be welcomed if the choice had been made to defend fairness and safety, instead. Lees meer
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 10 - How Noah Lyles became Olympic 100m Champion by 5/1000th of a second
5 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 14 min
It's Noah Lyles. The big 100m showdown in Paris saw the top four separated by 0.03s, wity 5/1000th between gold and silver. Noah Lyles came out on the winning side of that margin, defeating Kishane Thompson, with Fred Kerley taking bronze ahead of SA's Akani Simbine. The winning time, 9.784s may not have been super fast, but the race was historically deep with positions 4 to 8 all running the fastest times ever recorded for those finishing places. We discuss the tension of the 100m, and look at 10m splits and speeds to discover how the race was won by Lyles despite his slow start. We also look back at the women's cycling road race, where Kristen Faulkner delivered a perfectly timed attack to take gold from more fancied rivals. Finally, we wrap up the Olympic swimming action, where the USA delivered two world records to move to the top of the medal table, with a look back on the winners and losers from the pool. Lees meer
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 9 - Julien Alfred: Olympic 100m champion. Plus cycling, swimming & relay analysis
4 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 10 min
A new 100m Olympic Champion was crowned in Paris as Julien Alfred pulled of an upset of sorts (but not entirely!) to win gold in 10.72s, ahead of Sha'Carri Richardson. We assess the race, explaining how Alfred's 2024 season had hinted at this performance, and how Sha'Carri Richardson didn't manage overcome a series of poor starts to add Olympic gold to her World title. We also discuss a majestic 'hunt' relay leg from Femke Bol, to shock the USA in the mixed 4 x 400m relay final. Men's cycling saw another first, with Remco Evenepoel winning the road race, and becoming the first man to win both TT and Road golds in the same Games. We also wrap up a medal rich evening in the pool, and update you on the latest news in the IOC's tragi-comedy handling of the 'Humans whose passports say women and so they're ok for women's boxing' controversy. Lees meer
Show notes
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 8 - Cheptegei wins 10000m gold, and a French 1-2-3
3 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 18 min
Joshua Cheptegei is the Olympic 10,000m champion, after he beat a stellar field in a fast race to open the Track programme in Paris. We discuss that race, and the Ethiopian tactics that set it up perfectly for Cheptegei. We also discuss the BMX racing, where France reach new levels of euphoria with a clean sweep of the men's podium, while Australia dominated the women's race to win gold. BMX racers produce the highest power output recorded in the sport - over 2000W to get the first bend advantage that often decides the race. We explore that and explain the metabolic demands of the race. We then preview the day ahead, where Katie Ledecky aims to cement her legacy, and the women's 100m title will be decided on the track. Will Sha'Carri Richardson do what she did in Budapest, or might the occasion, and some rivals, upset the race favourite? Lees meer
Show notes
Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to our Discourse forum where other listeners share their thoughts and responses to these issues
Sean Ingle's article on the technology boost for track athletes in Paris
Another piece by Sean, this one on the World Record in the 4 x 400 mixed relay
Piece on Cameron McEvoys shift in training
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 7 - Biles soars, Women's boxing controversy and the Track programme begins
2 augustus 2024 · 57 min
Simone Biles established herself as the world's best gymnast in Paris, but it wasn't without a challenge from Brazil's Rebeca Andrade. The first golds were handed out in the track and field programme, won by Ecuador and China in the 20km race-walking events. We talk about how race walking is judged, and whether high tech shoes make a difference to walkers as they do to runners? In the news, athletes aren't happy with the food in the village, tennis legends are out and retiring, and the IOC flexes its plastic muscles in realms of doping control and fair and safe women's sport. Plus, we look ahead to the opening night in the Track programme, where the 10000m gold should be fought out between east African giants from Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya. Lees meer
Show notes
Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to our Discourse forum where other listeners share their thoughts and responses to these issues
The Lanterne Rouge preview of the road cycling
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Science of Sport Bonus Short: Biles beats rivals and "the Twisties". Insights from performance psychology
2 augustus 2024 · 12 min
Simone Biles became the Olympic All Around champion for a second time in Paris yesterday. In doing so, she defeated her rivals, seemingly conquered gravity on some elements, and put to rest certain 'demons' from Tokyo 2021. Back then, she withdrew from competition citing a case of "the twisties". But what are the twisties? Often described as equivalent to the "yips" that affect golfers, the twisties can affect athletes in skill movement sports, effectively costing them the ability to know where their bodies are in space. To explore this phenomenon, and understand how athletes overcome it, we are joined by Prof Dave Collins, a performance psychologist with 40 years' experience in elite sport. Prof Collins has worked with 90 elite athletes, many in sports where the dreaded twisties can strike, such as freestyle skiing, BMX, snowboarding and gymnastics. He explains the differences between the yips and the twisties, and offers insights into they are conquered. Lees meer
Show notes
Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to our Discourse forum where other listeners share their thoughts and responses to these issues
Guest Prof Dave Collins' website
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Paris 2024: Males Are About To Fight in Women's Boxing. How Did We Get Here?
1 augustus 2024 · 47 min
The controversial issue of males in women's sport has reared its head at the Paris Olympics. In this episode, the team discuss the case of two boxers who were disqualified after failing 'gender eligibility tests' by their international federation at last year's World Championships but, despite being biologically male, are competing in Paris. We discuss how this situation has arisen, including an explanation of the governance issues that led to their inclusion, and the biological factors that give rise to the Differences of Sex Development (DSDs) that are thought to be responsible for these two cases. We explain how significant male advantage is in sport, and why boxing, of all the sports, is one that should recognise male biology and its implications. Finally, we offer insight into the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Principles of Fairness and Inclusion, contrasting this with other sports that regulate women's sport and exclude male advantage. Lees meer
Show notes
Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to our Discourse forum where other listeners share their thoughts and responses to these issues
The IOC's Framework on Inclusion with the ten principles discussed in the show, including "Number 1: Inclusion", and "No Presumption of Advantage"
The Scientific Paper that accompanied the IOC Framework above
We (Ross) co-authored a scientific rebuttal to that paper, addressing some of the issues with the science and human rights
Here is the IOC Guidance on language use in Paris, as raised by Gareth on the show
The International Boxing Association Technical and Competition Rules, which include, at 4.2. Eligibility Guidelines for Gender.
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 6 - Marchand Marches on, Triathlon Analysis and the Psychology of the Twisties
1 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 24 min
Leon Marchand gave France even more to celebrate as completed a unique double, winning both butterfly and breaststroke golds in the pool last night. Ross and Gareth discuss those performances, along with a World Record in the pool, and add some insights on how swimmers manage their races. Lees meer
Other highlights in this episode include analysis of the Men's and Women's Triathlon races, discussion about the wildly successful Sevens tournament in Paris, and a men's all round gymnastics competition that went to the very last performance. We also learn about the psychology of the Twisties, and how gymnasts manage their emotions under pressure to deliver technical athletic excellence
Show notes
Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the show
Jump to 1:08:14 for the Twisties psychology conversation with Prof Dave Collins
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Paris 2024: An Insiders Guide to the Track & Field Sprints
31 juli 2024 · 46 min
Get an insiders views on the sprint events at the Paris Olympics with Stu McMillan, one of the world's top sprint coaches. Currently in his 25th year of professional coaching, he has worked with professional and amateur athletes in a variety of sports - with the focus being on power and speed development. He has personally coached over 70 Olympians at 7 Olympic Games; over 30 of whom have won Olympic medals. Since 2013, McMillan has been based in Phoenix, Arizona, at sprint academy ALTIS, where I he is co-owner and CEO. Lees meer
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 5 - E. Coli Training, Rare Swimming Doubles and Dubious Doping Denials
31 juli 2024 · 55 min
Day 4 in Paris was meant to bring us a Triathlon conversation, but that was pushed back, maybe to today, by E.Coli levels in the Seine. We discuss the implications of the delay, and learn about some extreme training approaches (that we don't recommend). The swimming action is building, including a rare double attempt by Leon Marchand in the butterfly and breaststroke, and a stuttering gold medal campaign from the USA. News from Paris includes more dubious doping denials, less than elite accommodation in the Olympic Village, and a fascinating insight into the precision of timing in swimming. Lees meer
Show notes
Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the show
Article on Simone Biles, in which she talks about the struggle to continue after Tokyo, and feeling terrified of the risks
The injury and illness surveillance study mentioned in the podcast, this time back to Rio 2016
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 4 - An Epic MTB Duel as Pidcock is Patient, Powerful and then Punchy to Win Gold
30 juli 2024 · 49 min
Ross and Gareth look back on Day 3 action, which featured one of the great races of the Games - an all-time epic mountain bike duel. We also review the swimming golds, and round up the Paris news, from skateboarding the streets of Paris to surfing the corals of Tahiti. Lees meer
On the decks in this episode:
Tom Pidcock duels Victor Koretzky in a race for the ages. Overcoming a puncture, the defending champion was initially patient, then powerful, and ultimately punchy as he denied France a men-women MTB double. We break down an incredible race, and discuss how Pidcock managed his efforts to return to the front after his puncture
Another finger tip finish in the pool saw David Popovici win 200m freestyle gold by 0.02s
Another teenager, Summer Mcintosh, added 400m Medley gold to her silver in the 400m freestyle, with a dominant win
We talk pacing strategy, tactics and playing to your strengths in the pool, bringing up the swimming pacing paradox
A news roundup that includes skateboarding musings and a dramatic end to the men's team gymnastics competition
The Men's Triathlon is tomorrow. We hope. The swimming remains in jeopardy. We talk about how that plays out in the athlete's minds and preparation
Show notes
Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the show
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 3 - Dominance for France, millisecond defeats for others, and looming DSD controversies
29 juli 2024 · 40 min
Ross and Gareth look back on Day 2 in Paris, which was characterized by dominance for some, despair for others, and defeats by the tiniest of margins - milliseconds and magnifying glasses. We also tackle cupping, tell the truth about lactate and fatigue, and discuss a looming controversy about males in women's sport, thanks to the IOC's leadership. On the deck: Lees meer
Swimming on night 2 produced a French gold and dominant win for Leon Marchand, and gold by the smallest of margins by Nicolo Martinenghi
We correct some errors in understanding of lactate's role in fatigue, as explained by the BBC in Paris two nights ago
The Mountain Biking produced an even more dominant win for France, with Pauline Ferrand Prevot destroying the competition. Crashes and bad luck punctuated the hunt for the medals she left behind
A DSD controversy is growing, where both boxing and football have cases in women's events. The IOC have already acted to create this situation, and won't intervene, leaving the issue to build, to the detriment of women's fairness and safety
We look ahead to Day 3, where the men's MTB should produce a closer battle for gold, and where five golds are on offer in the pool.
Show notes
Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the show
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 2 - Triumphs for France and Australia, Looking Ahead to Day 2
28 juli 2024 · 32 min
France overcame Fiji and the pressure of expectation to win the first team gold of the Paris Games, and much was owed to the influence of Antoine Dupont on the Semi-final and Final. Gareth and Ross talk about Dupont's impact on those games. We also briefly review the Cycling Time-Trials, narrowly won by Remco Evenepoel and dominantly won by Grace Brown, and the opening night of swimming where the 4 x 100m freestyle relays were split between the USA and Australia. Finally, we look ahead to Day 2 action, which includes strong favourites for more home gold in women's MTB, swimming and judo, and the first of the potential Chinese swimmer controversies. Lees meer
Show notes:
Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the show
I got some of the details wrong when we discussed the underwater swimming speeds, but this is the story of the underwater swimmer and the rule change
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Paris 2024 Daily: Day 1 - Swimming Finals, Sevens Gold and a Lesson in Judo
27 juli 2024 · 1 uur
Let the Games Begin! The Paris 2024 Olympics get underway for real today, with the first gold medals being handed out. In this Paris 2024 special, Gareth and Ross look ahead to three of the major medals being contested on Day 1. They are the men's and women's Cycling Time-trials, where Remco Evenepoel attempts to carry Tour form, but not fatigue, into a matchup against Josh Tarling and Filippo Ganna, time-trial specialists who have specifically targeted Paris. Lees meer
Second, we discuss the first night of swimming, which kicks off the USA vs Australia rivalry in the form of 4 x 100m Freestyle relays and a pair of 400m Freestyle finals. The latter will deliver one of the most anticipated matchups of the Games - only five women in history have broken four minutes in the 400m Freestyle, and four of them are expected to battle it out for gold in this race. We also talk pool technology, a shallower than normal pool, and how pacing is at a premium for swimmers at the Games.
Finally, on the medal billing, the men's 7s gold is also up for grabs in front of a packed Stade de France, where a frenetic and occasionally flustered France remain in the hunt in a competition that is wide open after the two pre-event favourites were knocked out in the quarter-finals. It leaves France to play SA, while defending champions Fiji face Australia in what has set the stage for a fabulously supported Olympic Games.
Then we are joined by James Austin, a three-time British Judo champion and 2012 Judo Olympian, who explains some of the fundamentals of Judo to us. We'll learn how the bout is won and lost, what it takes to be a champion, the tension between attack and defence, the Olympic programme, and some of his picks and highlights, all of which we hope enriches your Paris Olympics watching.
Show notes:
Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the show
Here's The Original Judo Podcas…
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Paris 2024: Mountainbike Preview with Swiss star Marcel Guerrini
26 juli 2024 · 23 min
Swiss MTB star, and fifth-place finisher at the 2022 World Championships, Marcel Guerrini offers unique insight into the races and the course ahead of the XCO mountain biking events at the Olympic Games. Guerrini suggests the men's race is more open than most think, that there is one athlete most likely to win the women's race and why tyre choice may make all the difference. The women's XCO event takes place on Sunday, July 28 and the men's on Monday, July 29. Lees meer
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Paris 2024: Kara Goucher On Trusting Performances In An Age of Mistrust
25 juli 2024 · 43 min
On the eve of the Paris Olympics, Kara Goucher joins Ross to put their minds to the fans' dilemma - how do we celebrate the performances we see from the best athletes in the world while we struggle to trust their credibility amidst perverse incentives, suspicious behaviours and an anti-doping system we know is far from effective? Goucher is uniquely positioned to offer insights on this question: an elite athlete who reached the podium in global track and marathon events, she not only saw behind the secretive curtain of doping, but lived it as an athlete in the Nike Oregon Project. She eventually became a whistleblower, before transitioning into a new phase of her sporting life - a commentator for NBC, where she now brings track and field performances to life. But how does she compartmentalise the conflicting emotions of doubt and joy to interpret and promote the best performances ever achieved by athletes? She explains her views, talks candidly about the challenges of being a whistleblower, and how athletes should respond to the mistrust and skepticism directed towards them. Finally, she picks her three best events to watch from Paris, and even offers a potential surprise winner of the men's 1500m gold medal. Lees meer
Show notes:
Become a Discourse member and join the conversation. Sign up with a donation here, at the Patron site, and get access to Discourse
Kara's book, describing her life, career, and the practices at the NOP that led to her becoming a whistleblower
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Paris 2024 Daily: All lights on Paris as the Olympics begin
24 juli 2024 · 36 min
In this episode, Ross & Gareth shine the spotlight on The City of Light, where the Olympic Games begin today, with the Men's Football and Sevens preliminary matches kicking off 19 days of sporting action. After a brief look back at our personal Tour de France highlights and the results of our Discourse Fantasy League, we discuss our plans for a daily Science of Sport Jeux du Jour/Games of the Day show. In this show, we'll offer sports science insights on the medal action from the day/night before, and then preview the expected upcoming highlights of the next day. Gareth also shares his thoughts on the relevance of the Olympic Games. Finally, we invite you to share your expertise on the Olympics sports with our Science of Sport Discourse community, and even showcase just how much we need your input by pretending we know even the first thing about horse training and abuse controversies in the equestrian events! Lees meer
Show notes
Become a Discourse member and join the conversation. Sign up with a donation here, at the Patron site, and get access to Discourse
The equestrian controversy that saw GB's Charlotte Dujardin withdraw from the Olympics after a self-proclaimed "error of judgment"
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Paris 2024: Are The Olympic Games Still Relevant?
23 juli 2024 · 1 uur 3 min
How relevant are the Olympic Games in the modern era and can they stand the test of time? Join Ross and Mike, along with top US sports journalist and author Jon Wertheim, as they look back on the lessons learnt in history, the economics, the legacy and the potential future of the Games. Wertheim is executive editor and senior writer for Sports Illustrated US, focussing on the tennis beat, sports business and social issues, and enterprise journalism. Lees meer
In addition to his work at SI, he is a correspondent for "60 Minutes" and a commentator for The Tennis Channel. He has authored 11 books and has been honoured with two Emmys, numerous writing and investigative journalism awards, and the Eugene Scott Award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Wertheim is a longtime member of the New York Bar Association (retired), the International Tennis Writers Association and the Writers Guild of America. He has a bachelor's in history from Yale University and received a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He resides in New York City.
Show notes
Join our Discourse community by becoming a Patron of the Podcast, and tap into the Olympic fever with like-minded fans. Once signed up, you'll have access to this Discourse page
Jon's book on the Glory days of 1984 can be found here
Here is an excerpt of the book, published in SI
If you're a tennis fan, you can follow Jon's Sports Illustrated Mailbag, here's one example
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Science of Sport Spotlight 6: How Pro Cyclists Use Carbon Monoxide / Pogacar's Superhuman Numbers
17 juli 2024 · 43 min
In a recent article on the Escape Collective, claims were made that Tour de France cyclists are using carbon monoxide to enhance their performance. But is it really that big a deal or is there more to this story? Mike and Ross break down how carbon monoxide is used and potentially abused as cyclists looked for any means to get an advantage. The team also break down some the incredible numbers being pushed out by Tadej Pogacar at Le Tour and ask the question on everyone's lips: Can we believe it? Lees meer
SHOW NOTES:
Carbon monoxide use:
The original Carbon monoxide article
A paper on how Hb Mass is related closely to VO2max
One of the first published studies that describes how breathing CO might unlock performance enhancement. In this study, college student football players also breathed in 1ml per kilogram body weight before all sessions. It drove an increase in EPO, haemoglobin levels and VO2max.
Another study, by Schmidt, where moderately trained subjects inhaled CO five times a day. Haemoglobin mass increased, they made more reticulocytes, and VO2max increased (though not significantly)
Some sources for power output estimates at the Tour de France:
Ammatti on Twitter
The detailed analysis of the Plateau du Beille stage, and comparison against historical performances
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Science of Sport Spotlight 5: The Research Studies That Shaped Sports Science Knowledge
11 juli 2024 · 46 min
The spotlight falls on the most influential sports science research ever published. A recent paper produced a list of the 100 most influential sports science papers of the last 100 years. Gareth and Ross choose a handful of them, discussing what they found, what their authors didn't know at the time (and got wrong), and what it means today. We discover that the arc of sports science knowledge runs through all these studies, connecting people from AV Hill to Noakes, and themes including oxygen debt, lactate, altitude, pacing strategies, fatigue, and even the 2-hour marathon ! Lees meer
Show notes
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Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: The paper that inspired the episode, a collection of 100 influential sports science articles
The AV Hill Paper on muscular exertion, oxygen and 'lactic acid'. The OG of sports science
George Brooks proposes the Lactate Shuttle
Noakes, St Clair Gibson and Lambert explain the concept of complex regulation. This is the summary and conclusion paper. The more detailed papers are:
Why the "catastrophic model for fatigue" fails to explain real-world performance physiology
Evidence for complex systems integration and regulation of muscle activity
How fatigue and performance help control homeostasis during exercise
de Koning and Foster explain how pacing is regulated during exercise, using the RPE and duration remaining
Michael Joyner applies his physiological determinants of the marathon to the sub-2 hour question
Lundby's review questioning the performance benefits of altitude training
A more recent review on altitude training that covers how periodization, managing training, repeat visits and smarter nutrition may help create and increase the effect
A more detailed paper on the role of nutrition when at altitude
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