Elana Meyers Taylor on concussion, transphobia and double standards
President of the Women Sports Foundation and top USA bobsleigher gave an in-depth chat about her career, head injuries and women’s issues. We spoke to her just before the World Championships where, despite being one of the favourites to win, she crashed out and suffered her fifth concussion.It’s not clear if she will retire or continue competing but this outspoken interview is evidence of her leadership skills.Also, Elana spoke well about knowing the limits of your own body.“A lot of women have this tendency to try to ‘tough it out’. I think (because) there’s a societal stigma that we are weaker sex... we push through things when we shouldn’t necessarily.”LINKS:Elana Meyers Taylor TwitterEd Knowles TwitterVideo of last week’s Ramla Ali podcast
13 Maalis 201929min
Ramla Ali: The Muslim boxer who kept her triumphs secret from her family
It’s something to tell your mum about – winning a national championship. But Ramla Ali preferred to keep her boxing career secret. She was a refugee from Somalia who discovered boxing in London’s East End.“My mum… in her eyes to be a good Muslim girl you have to be fully covered. But I think just different things work for different people.”We visited her gym in London to talk family secrets and representing Somalia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.LINKS: Ramla Ali Instagram Andrew Binner Twitter Ed Knowles Twitter
6 Maalis 201928min
Battling online harassment, body image and busting stereotypes with Madison de Rozario
Battling online harassment, body image and busting stereotypes with Madison de Rozario
27 Helmi 201924min
Kristina Vogel on being paralysed four months after cycling world title win
Kristina Vogel, one of the world’s very best female track cyclists, won her record-breaking 11th title at the 2018 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.Four months later, she was paralysed and in a wheelchair.A junior Dutch cyclist was practising standing starts when Vogel crashed into him at full speed.The double Olympic champion feels no resentment.“I don’t need to forgive (the person because) I have no anger about him.”She doesn’t know if her family feels the same.“I have never asked them if they have forgiven him… I am scared to question that.”The 28-year-old talked about her life-changing accident, acceptance and forgiveness.LINKS:Kristina Vogel Instagram Mirai Nagasu Tweet Ed Knowles Twitter SUBSCRIBE
20 Helmi 201923min
The tears behind the triple axel triumph with figure skater Mirai Nagasu
After she was passed over for the USA team for Sochi 2014, Mirai Nagasu was done with figure skating.“It wasn’t fun… I used to think, ‘I deserve to sit here in my puddle of tears and cry.’” She vowed to make a comeback and became the first American woman to land a triple axel at the Olympics – and took home Olympic bronze in the team event.Olympic champion Meryl Davis sat down with her to speak about the 2018 Olympics, the sarcasm of her teammate Gracie Gold and how she landed that big jump.LINKS:Mirai Nagasu on Instagram The triple axel 2018 Olympics routine in full Meryl Davis Instagram Ed Knowles on Twitter
13 Helmi 201935min
Paralysed Olympic skier: "If I had the possibility to turn back time... I would stay like this."
Thomas Fogdö was one of the best slalom skiers in the world, but his life took an unexpected turn after he broke his back in a training accident. Despite now being in a wheelchair, the Swede has continued to give back to the sport he loves so much and help other athletes who have suffered similar injuries. Thomas Fogdö on TwitterActive Life FoundationAlessandro Poggi on TwitterAsh Tulloch on TwitterSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
6 Helmi 201926min
Sprinter Bernice Wilson on being manipulated into doping
Great Britain’s Bernice Wilson was a promising young sprinter, but her career took a turn for the worse when she enlisted the services of ex-UK Athletics coach, Dr. George Skafidas.They began dating and he persuaded Wilson to start doping. She was caught, banned for four years, and vowed to come back clean.With her ban nearing completion, she tested positive again. But this time Skafidas had been doping the Briton without her knowledge.Wilson alerted the authorities. Skafidas received a life-time ban from the sport. Three years on she is now a clean competitor and anti-doping campaigner.She told the Olympic Channel podcast how she made mistakes, was manipulated, and how she's trying to make amends.LINKS:Andrew Binner on TwitterBernice Wilson on TwitterUK Anti-DopingSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
30 Tammi 201924min
''I sat down in the gym and my shin snapped...'' - Bobby Clay, diagnosed with Osteoporosis at 18 years of age
Bobby Clay's promising running future was put on hold because she over-trained and under-ate. After winning numerous British titles and earning herself a team GB bib, the young rising star's body broke. ''I got to the point where I sat down in the gym and my shin snapped. It’s something we do every day and I couldn’t even do that without breaking. If I can’t do that, how was I meant to run.'' Now aged 21, Clay is competing in the UK national track cycling championships as part of her recovery but still has Olympic ambitions as a runner. She shares her story as a word of warning to other young athletes. LINKS: #TRAINBRAVE TRAIN BRAVE on Twitter Ash Tulloch on Twitter Bobby Clay on Twitter SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
23 Tammi 201924min
