The LGBT Sport Podcast18 Aug 2021

The One with Mel Haslam

It was the fear of failing to pass one of the Royal Navy’s fitness tests that really got Mel Haslam into sport.

She needed to meet that criteria to serve on the frontline in Afghanistan – which she ended up doing – but it also led Mel in directions she could never have dreamed of.

To kick things off from a sporting point of view, there were the European and World powerlifting events that she smashed, picking up titles and setting a world record in the process.

Once that was under her belt, she switched to winter sports – spending half a dozen years competing with the UK Armed Forces Skeleton Team, before switching to bobsleigh and becoming the top brakewoman in the Royal Navy.

She made her international GB Bobsleigh debut in January of last year – and is an absolutely brilliant guest to have on the podcast this week.

We talk about her experience in the military and her motivation to start taking fitness seriously; her powerlifting success and transitioning across to winter sports; why she’s proud to be an out woman in the Royal Navy; her goals for bobsleigh moving forward; and how she manages to switch off!

This is a great conversation with a fantastic guest that we think you’re really going to enjoy. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @mel_haslam23 @The_BBSA @RoyalNavy @RNCompass

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(354)

Ask Nicola

Olympic boxing legend Nicola Adams is the one answering the questions, guests include Sarah Bern, Lauren Rowles and Dame Kelly Holmes. They chat about dancing with a same-sex partner on Strictly, mana...

31 Jul 202516min

Sarah Bern, Rugby Union Player

England's Red Roses Prop Sarah Bern talks to Nicola Adams about body image, coming out and inclusion.Funny, fierce and full or heart, Sarah reflects on growing up in boys’ teams and what it's like to ...

24 Jul 202526min

Charlie Martin, Racing Driver

Trailblazing trans racing driver and LGBTQ+ activist Charlie Martin talks to Nicola Adams about her journey, from childhood to Le Mans.They dive into identity, mental health, motorsport culture and th...

17 Jul 202526min

Ryan Atkin, Football Referee

Ryan Atkin, the first openly gay professional football referee, joins Nicola Adams to talk coming out, toxic masculinity and how football can be better for everyone.Presenter: Nicola Adams. Producer: ...

9 Jul 202525min

Lauren Rowles, Paralympic Rower

Triple Paralympic gold medalist Lauren Rowles shares her powerful story with Nicola Adams. From feeling shame about her disability and identity to being a champion who embraces queer love and motherho...

2 Jul 202529min

Dame Kelly Holmes, Olympic Athlete

Dame Kelly Holmes shares her extraordinary story, from serving in the British Army under a ban on being gay, to becoming a double Olympic champion. Speaking candidly with Nicola Adams, Dame Kelly talk...

25 Jun 202527min

Introducing… the new LGBT Sport Podcast series

Taking a look at LGBTQ+ issues in sport.Double Olympic gold medal winner Nicola Adams is joined by inspirational people from different sporting backgrounds to chat about their careers and their experi...

25 Jun 20251min

The One with Conor McDermott-Mostowy

When it comes to the ice, Conor McDermott-Mostowy is fast – like, really fast!A national speed-skating champion and a member of US Speedskating who has won medals across the world, the American knows ...

27 Mar 202433min