पडकास्ट
BBC World Service
५७८ एपिसोड · en
Inspirational stories from around the world. Interviews with people defying the odds. Discover Not by the Playbook - the podcast which seeks out the most incredible stories from sportspeople and athletes. We bring you interviews with the sporting heroes who have achieved success in the face of seemingly impossible challenges. Hear from some of the most famous names in sport on subjects you've never heard them discuss before. You don't have to be an Olympic champion to have an extraordinary story – we also scour the globe for inspiring individuals who make a difference through sport. Whether you’re a football or soccer fan, tennis lover, golf aficionado or cricket addict, or even if you're not a sports fan at all, you’ll find inspiration in the stories of resilience, determination, and discipline. Expect insightful, honest, and thought-provoking conversations from people who live and breathe sport. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
२०२६ जुन २६ · ४९ मिनेट
With around 15 tattoos across her arms neck and throat and a habit of wearing temporary tattoos on her face when playing, it's fair to say Oleksandra Oliynykova has a distinctive look. But she also has a fearsome will to win, and is knocking on the door of the top 50, in women's tennis. Born in Ukraine, when war broke out in 2014, she escaped to Croatia. It was there that her tennis career flourished. Now aged 25 she is back living and training in Ukraine, making her the only professional tennis player doing so. Oleksandra has been telling us she believes many more of her fellow players should be more vocal on the subject or the Ukraine war. The Klitschko brothers Wladimir and Vitali, dominated the heavyweight boxing division during a period known simply as "the Klitschko era" When Vitali hung up his gloves in 2012 he entered another bruising profession - politics. In 2014, Vitali was elected the Mayor of Kiev, a position he has held ever since. He has become a symbol of resistance and explained the daily struggles the people of the city of Kiev face Karate has only ever been an Olympic discipline once. Perhaps unsurprisingly in Tokyo at the Games a few years ago. So to win an Olympic medal in the sport is an extremely rare event. So imagine working your whole life to win that and then to give it away! Well that is exactly what Stanislav Horuna did. A Bronze medallist in the "Kumite" 75 kg category within weeks he had auctioned it off to raise for finances to help Ukraine's war effort. Spring forward to 2026 and much to Stan's surprise he has been given his medal back. He's been explaining how. When Shakhtar Donetsk won the Uefa Cup in 2009, it was meant to be the start of a new chapter for independent Ukraine. However, when war broke out in 2014, the team's ambitions were put on hold. The club captain, Darijo Srna, has been explaining how he and his family coped in the aftermath (Photo: Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine competes in the Billie Jean King Cup, 11 April, 2026. Credit: Marcin Golba/Getty Images)
२०२६ जुन १९ · ५९ मिनेट
"Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soul." So said US actress Jamie Lyn Beatty. So this week we fill your soul with fantastical adventures and adventurers. Belgium Tom de Dorlodot soars through the air like an eagle, exploring places untouched by humans. He does it all by harnessing the power of the wind and his spirit of adventure. Tom is a record breaking paraglider who has crossed some of the most challenging terrains on earth Jono Ridler, is an ultra-marathon swimmer and environmental advocate from New Zealand best known for breaking world endurance records to protect the ocean. In 2026, he completed his most ambitious challenge yet, swimming the length of the North Island of New Zealand from North Cape to Wellington - a 1,400 km swim that took 90 days to complete. It was the longest, unassisted staged swim in history. Called Swim4TheOcean, it called on political leaders to end the fishing practice of bottom trawling in New Zealand. Back in 1988 Australia's Kay Cottee became the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the world. Not by the Playbook's Simon Watts hears her memories of nearly 200 days at sea. Being adventurous is often a solo task, but in the case of Luciano Wernicke it's a family affair. Luciano is best known in his native Argentina as a prolific author and sports historian. It's a passion that has taken him and his family all over the world. His latest book is called '501 World Cup Moments'. We didn't have time to go through them all so instead we picked out those from previous tournaments in Mexico and the USA. PHOTO: Tom de Dorlodot of Belgium soars over the cliffs in front of Tre Cime di Lavaredo (CREDIT: Adam Pretty/Getty Images for LUMIX)
२०२६ जुन १२ · ४९ मिनेट
"Some people think football is a matter of life and death... I can assure them it is much more serious than that." So said legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly. And whilst the World Cup is on, it can certainly feel like that, but whether you're a fanatic, glued to every last moment of action, or doing whatever you can to avoid being subjected to it, what you can't deny is the impact of soccer. So this week stories four World Cup stories that about so much more than soccer with a tale from Mexico, Canada and the USA To Mexico where, as well as the competition's opening match in Mexico City, there will be games in both Monterrey and Guadalajara. Buoyed on by their passionate fans, Mexico will also have supporters a in a small enclave of the British Isles. Because deep in the South West of the UK is the county of Cornwall where over one hundred a fifty years ago a group of miners packed their picks and shovels and headed to Mexico to dig for silver, and in doing so introduced the sport of soccer. There will be a total of 13 matches hosted by Canada at this World Cup... They have some experience because back in 2015 Canada hosted the Women's Soccer World Cup. It was also the year that Harry Manson a soccer player, became the inaugural First Nations athlete to be inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Harry's is a story of inspiration and recognition for a community often disadvantaged, but his is also a sad one, a life tragically cut short. Harry Manson's story is also a microcosm of what life was like for Canada’s indigenous population in the late 19th century and for subsequent generations. Through the eyes of his family, including grandson Gary Manson, and historian Robert Jennings, we tell that story In 1994 the USA hosted the FIFA Men's World Cup for the first time. The choice of host nation was a controversial one because, at that time, the US didn't have an active professional football league. Alan Rothenberg was the man in charge of organising the competition. He decided to book Motown legend, Diana Ross, to headline the opening ceremony in Chicago.. Something that turned out to become an iconic moment in World Cup history. Alan has been sharing his memories of the tournament And last but not least the most important part of any sport.The fans! Or at least you'd hope so, but with things like high ticket prices it can often seem more like a money grab. Andy Milne has seen the way the World Cup has changed having travelled to the Men's competition since 1982. He's in North America in the hopes that his beloved England will fulfil a nation's dream and win the competition again! But for Andy the game is only a small part of the World Cup experience. For Andy it's the friendships he makes on the way that mean the most. PHOTO: FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed (CREDIT: Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
२०२६ जुन ५ · ५९ मिनेट
This week we take a tour of England highlighting the stories and legends from every part of "This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England." to borrow a quote from William Shakespeare! We start in the deep South West and the port city of Plymouth, birthplace of Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth diving champion Tom Daley. The poster boy of the London 2012 games; his debut came four years earlier in Beijing aged just fourteen. Now retired he lives in Los Angeles - very handy to watch the next games - with his husband and two children. Since hanging up his trunks Tom has become famous for knitting. In fact once he starts talking about it, it's rather difficult to get him talking about anything else! To the Midlands, represented by former Premier League footballer Dion Dublin. Aside from playing for Manchester United, Coventry City and Aston Villa, Dion also represented England in both defence and attack! Yet for a younger generation he's better known as host of the BBC Television show "Homes Under the Hammer"about buying, renovating and then selling properties purchased at auction. So before talking about the upcoming World Cup, does Dion fell he is more famous for football or for flogging houses on the telly?! We head to Liverpool in the north of England to meet double World Heptathlon Champion Katrina Johnson Thompson. Heptathletes are a different breed, competing over two days in 7 different events, unsurprisingly it can take a toll on the body and Katrina, or KJT as she's known has had more than her fair share of setbacks. After competing at four Olympics her only medal was a silver in Paris two years ago. So how does she balance the need to push herself to the limit, without taking it too far and causing her body to fail? it's one of the most iconic achievements in sporting history. In 1954, the late Sir Roger Bannister - a doctor living Oxford - became the first athlete to run a mile in less than four minutes. At the time this was one of the greatest prizes in athletics. Photo: Tom Daley of Team Great Britain knitting before the Men's 10m Platform Final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (CREDIT: Clive Rose/Getty Images)
२०२६ मे २९ · ५५ मिनेट
Four pioneers from four different sports all of whom trod a path where no path had previously existed. Along the way their determination not only made them legends, but gave all those who came after them the chance to see what success could look like and have something to emulate. Women's professional sport has, for most, only been a very recent thing. Take women's rugby, the professional era which is just for the very elite in the game only started in 2019 It's meant that for many it has been quite common to juggle an elite sporting career with something a little more regular. Unless you are Shaunagh Brown, because whatever Shaunagh does, she does it with style and swagger... so we suspect our chat about her life on and off the field would have been fun even if she'd been in data entry or a tax consultant! Her career straddled the pro era and she hung up her cleats in 2023 which means she's got the chance to add to an already long and interesting CV Women's boxing has only been in the Olympics since 2012... And Sweden's Anna Laurell Nash was there! For many years women boxing was at best frowned upon by many parts of society which added a whole level of pressure to those trying to make it succeed. What makes Anna's story so unusual that she was also pursuing a parallel career in academia. In fact now that she has hung up her gloves she holds a senior role at the Stockholm School of Economics, from where she spoke to us about where he love of pugilism started Hannah Cox is where a pioneering spirit meets running, and exploring, and good old fashioned adventuring! Here's the facts, she recently ran 100 marathons in 100 days in India, a remarkable feet for any athlete, perhaps even more so if they only started running 18 months ago! But for Hannah this is not just a story about physical endurance and mental resilience. It's also about completing a route no one had taken before in modern times and in doing so connecting her present day life with a past she knew very little about The world of ten pin bowling is not just a popular past time, but has a deeply competitive professional league... Before Kelly Kulick no woman had ever played on the professional tour. PHOTO: Shaunagh Brown of England is all smiles during an England Red Roses Training Session 2022 (CREDIT: Catherine Ivill - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)
२०२६ मे २२ · ५८ मिनेट
Winning is great, but hard work. Never loosing is much rarer and almost impossible. This week four elite sport stars who didn't just win, they dominated. But how, and what sets them apart, what got them to the top and what made them stay there! We've had some big numbers on this show when it comes to medals, but no one comes remotely close to Jessica Long. The American swimmer has won an astonishing EIGHTY-FIVE medals at World Championships and Paralympics. FIFTY- FOUR of them gold! Jessica's story is one that has seen her overcome some of the most difficult physical and mental challenges anyone could face, but through them all she continued to dominate her sport. From being the youngest ever Paralympic gold medallist aged just 12, to a potential farewell at her home games in Los Angeles. But now a defining moment away from the pool. She's about to become a mother for the very first time! American professor of Linguistics Deborah Tannen once wrote "The effect of dominance is not always the result of an intention to dominate" and that's true of our first guest. Canada's Camryn Rogers is the reigning Olympic and World Hammer throw champion and in a few months time she will defend her Commonwealth title. Her dominance in the sport is in stark contrast to her life growing up with her mother in Canada where times were hard. Really hard. Including a year where they lived in a car. Talking to us from her home in Texas, Camyrn talked about all her successes, and the struggles to get there. Hamish Kerr is a man who has jumped to the top of the podium and has hung around. But I guess that's the whole point of the high jump. To get as high as possible and hang there long enough to clear the bar. At 6 foot 5 inches tall Hamish could have played basketball but instead focussed on track and field and boy how it's paid off. He is the current Olympic, World and Commonwealth Champion. And there are some indoor titles in there too just for good measure. Chatting from his home in New Zealand he told us about the impact his dominance of the sport is having on his life, and it's goes way beyond the track. Eddy Merckx dominated cycling. Back in the 1960's and 70's the Belgium won FIVE Tours de France, FIVE Giros d'Italia, and even a Vuelta a España, so it was going to take something quite remarkable to break that dominance. Out of nowhere, that's exactly what happened when he was punched in the face by a spectator during a mountain stage of the Tour De France. The incident marked the start of the decline of a rider so dominant he was nicknamed "The Cannibal". British cyclist Barry Hoban, who passed away in 2025 was riding alongside Merckx and reflected on the day PHOTO: Jessica Long of the United States competes at the London 2012 Paralympic Games (CREDIT: Clive Rose/Getty Images)
२०२६ मे १५ · ५२ मिनेट
We start in the Arctic Circle, via the Welsh valleys, where Cath Pendleton has always loved swimming. Born from a childhood playing in the rivers of her home town of Merthyr, all through her life, her time in the water has been a sanctuary from the strain of daily life. But what makes Cath's story so remarkable is the type of open water swimming she loves the most is in the coldest waters you can find known as "ice swimming". But not content with simply finding cold rivers in Wales, Cath stepped it up a notch and journeyed to Antarctica, where she made history, almost by accident when she became the first person to swim an ice mile inside the Antarctic Circle! There are some things that seem just too difficult for humans to achieve, but there's probably nowhere quite like the Paralympics to leave you slack jawed in amazement at people not just doing, but excelling at things you thought impossible. To that end I urge you to seek out footage of snowboarder Noah Elliot and remember he is an above the knee amputee. From his home in Colorado we chatted about life on the slopes and so it seemed only right to start by talking about winning gold in Milan Cortina in March. There are few professions as seemingly cold as the world of corporate law. Rose Harvey's escape from the daily pressures of this high stakes career was to go running. That sliding doors moment in 2020 certainly raised the temperature taking her into the heat of Olympic competition. It's probably the most infamous story in Winter Olympic history and in this case one of the protagonists must have had ice running through her veins... In 1994, ice skater Nancy Kerrigan, was clubbed in the knee shortly after a training session. The attack put the Olympic hopes of the American golden girl in jeopardy. To everyone's shock the plot was traced back to one of the support staff of Kerrigan's rivals. Mary Scotvold was Kerrigan's coach. Photo: Gold medallist Noah Elliott of Team United States poses for a photo with his medal on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Para Snowboard Men's Banked Slalom SB-LL1 on day seven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games (CREDIT: Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
२०२६ मे ८ · ५४ मिनेट
Do you ever find yourself thinking back to the good old days, whenever they were, and thinking about someone you've not seen for a while and wondering "What ever happened to" Well this week we hear from four former elite sport stars who are now enjoying a very different career to the one you knew them for! First up a chat with an Australian about cricket, not that unusual you might think but this has nothing to do with wickets and wides. Zach Schubert grew up rural Southern Australia with a burning ambition, fuelled in part by seeing his cousin represent Australia playing hockey at the Olympics... But Zach had no idea just how arduous and tortuous his journey to get there would be! But get there he did, when in 2024 in Paris right in front of the Eiffel Tower he stepped on to the sand with team mate Tom Hodges to take part in the Beach volleyball. He tells us about that and now having retired about the cricket and cockroach farm he created. Growing up Joe Balnton only had one goal, to make it to Baseball's big league. And he did, being drafted in 2003 to the Oakland A's. It started a life long love of California that is still a massive influence in his life, but before he could retire he had World Series to win! And he did that playing for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. He made history too because after pitching well in Game 4, it's what he did with the bat that he's be forever remembered. For the first time in his MLB career he hit a home run! It was the first home run scored by a pitcher in the World Series since 1974 and no one has repeated the feet since! Joe continued to play at the highest level picking up a second World Series ring with Kansas City in 2015. Eventually though time was called on his career on the mound but Joe knew exactly what his next adventure would be! That's because he'd been honing his skills ahead of his next career pretty much from the moment he arrived in California over 20 years before... Speaking to us from his vineyard in the Napa Valley, he told us all about winning it all back then and how he's now crafting rather lovely Cabernet Sauvignon. Josh Navidi is the rugby union player who despite having hung up his cleats, is still playing in front of a packed stadium on match day!? Born in Wales Josh lived his formative years in New Zealand before returning to the UK and eventually pulling on the red shirt of Wales. Despite a very pregnant pause between his first call up and his second cap, Josh had a hugely successful career, winning almost everything that the game has to offer. So how, despite having retired through injury can you still see him perform on matchdays. In fact when he spoke to us he was right outside the nation stadium preparing to wow the crowd again this time with his ability to get the party going with his DJing skills! Faramarz Assef was one of Iran's most famous pop singers during the time of the Shah, but what most of his fans don't know is that he used to be an international athlete. Photo: Wales player Josh Navidi faces the media during Wales Media access ahead of their match against the Australian Wallabies at the Hensol Castle on November 9, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (CREDIT: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
२०२६ मे १ · ५५ मिनेट
Author Dagny Scott Barrios, once wrote “Every run is a work of art, a drawing on each day's canvas. Some runs are shouts and some runs are whispers. Some runs are eulogies and others celebrations. When you're angry, a run can be a sharp slap in the face. When happy, a run is your song". This week we go running towards hope and motivation whatever your level of fitness with inspirational runners from all over the world Now I know you're busy, I know there are hundred and one things you have to do! Even if you wanted to go out for a run, you're just too busy! The thing is though, I'm not sure you're not as busy as Beatie Deutsch. If nothing else she's a mum of five. Ten years ago she was unfit and struggling under the stresses and strains of modern life when she sought an escape. That escape was running and within four years she was Israel's national champion and vying for a place at the Olympics. Not even being pregnant stopped her, completing the Tel Aviv Marathon seven months pregnant! Beatie is an Orthodox Jew, but for her, running isn’t separate from her religious beliefs, it’s sustained by it. They say "it takes a village to raise a child" but that's also true of athletes too! And when the athlete is autistic, it's even more important to find the right people to support you. Being autistic does not mean you have an illness or disease. It just means your brain works in a different way from other people, but that can present challenges to what others might think of as daily activities. Adrienne Bunn is autistic but with the support of her family, including mum June, her coach Doug and many others too Adrienne has carved out a career in sport. In 2023 she became the youngest female to ever finish the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, arguably the toughest competition in sport. We caught up with Doug, June and of course Adrienne just a day after she completed this year's Boston Marathon! The thing about running is that it almost doesn't matter where you live, or how much money you have, you can probably just step out of your house and start moving. And the challenges that elite athletes face are by and large the same as you and I. So we thought we'd bring together two women who'd never met but who share one thing. A love of running. Lucy Charles Barkley has won multiple IRONMAN World Championships - running, cycling and swimming over distances in excess of a hundred kilometres. Jenny Mannion, is about to attempt her first ultra-marathon - the standard marathon and plenty more! It's hard to believe hearing our stories today that it's only in the last forty or so years that women's have been allowed to compete over the Marathon distance. And that's thanks in no small part to pioneers like Nina Kuscsick. Back in 1972 six women staged a sit-down protest at the start of the New York Marathon demanding the right to run in the same race as the men. Nina, who organised that protest passed away last year, but back in 2019 she spoke to the BBC. Photo: Life Time Miami Half Marathon women's winner Beatie Deutsch, 30, of Israel, crosses the finish line at 1:16:49 during the 18th annual Life Time Miami Marathon and Half Marathon in Miami, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. (CREDIT: Daniel A. Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
२०२६ अप्रिल २४ · ५८ मिनेट
"It is never too late to be what you might have been" so wrote the Victorian author George Elliot. Having searched the globe for the best stories in sport we have found four people that might just force you to redefine what it is you think can still achieve in life! First to Texas and the remarkable story of Mike Flynt. One so extraordinary that seems like the plot to a Hollywood movie, which is why I guess they did make it into a Hollywood movie! Mike's is not only a story of remarkable resilience, not to mention incredible fitness especially given his goal was to play college football at the age of FIFTY NINE! but at its heart, his is a story of redemption. Living with pain is sadly all too common. It can affect people's ability to work, to provide for themselves or to enjoy any aspect of life especially sport, and when you have used being active to redefine your life and conquer the darkness of addiction, then it seems particularly cruel... That's was the fate that befell Meg Robson Austin... but she never allowed herself to think it was too late to win back her life and so she set about a journey that ended with her claiming the crown of the World's Strongest Woman. Sometimes it can seem like it's too late, even before you get going. That the random chance of being born into specific circumstances can dictate large parts of your life. Arshay Cooper born and raised in Chicago's notorious West Side could easily have slipped into gang life and violence, but he carved a different path through sport, not in itself unusual , but when you find out that Arshay sporting journey was in a boat as a rower, well then you have the start of an understanding as to how remarkable his story is. It's just over a year since the world lost "Big" George Forman, and whilst revered for his fights with Muhammad Ali, his Olympic gold in 1968 and of course his grills, it's his longevity and his "it's never too late" attitude we are focusing in on because back in 1994 George Foreman shocked everyone by winning a second world title at the age of FORTY FIVE! Photo: NBC NEWS -- Pictured: Linebacker Mike Flynt, 59 year old Sul Ross State University football player in his first game of the year on October 13, 2007 (CREDIT: Al Henkel/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
२०२६ अप्रिल १७ · ५३ मिनेट
It's amazing how many people are involved in anyone sporting endeavour... Of course the athletes are the stars of the show, but then there's coaches, physiotherapist and umpires. And beyond them there are cameramen, hot dog sellers and security staff. This week we spend some time with some of those people we don't think of as crucial to our enjoyment of sport, but without them we'd really miss them! Benny Drawbars is a man who occupies an almost unique position in sport, one that straddles the very best "old timey" traditions of sport and the modern and exciting way we all now experience sport. How? Well each week Benjamin Wooley steps into the Climate Pledge Arena, home of NHL team Seattle Kraken, blows gently on his fingers, cracks his knuckles and morphs into Benny Drawbars, the demon organist! But is this most wonderful of traditions, heard mostly in the US at hockey and baseball games a dying art? In some ways you could say Ken Calwell has had a career in pizza, but that would do him no justice! He has in fact he has headed up some of your favourite fast food companies, from Pizza Hut to Dominoes and now Papa Murphy... He even had a spell at Wendy's! So why would we want to chat to a man who has spent his life marketing pizza, how ever delicious that might sound!? Well he also created an advert you probably saw during the Super Bowl, the only one not "selling" a product! But first we chatted about his life before and after August 8th 1991 and what happened on that day that changed everything To win a gold medal at the Summer Games or it's winter counterpart is a pretty amazing feet, but to win gold at BOTH, well that's the preserve of a very very few number of athletes. American Kendall Gretsch is one of them. Born with spina bifida which has severely limited the use of her legs, she won gold in the Para-triathlete in Tokyo in 2021 and has now won multiple Paralympic Winter golds, including just a few weeks ago in Milan Cortina, topping the podium in the cross-country skiing. Imagine creating a swimsuit so good it would have to be banned?! That's what Jason Rance and his team at Speedo's research and development Aqualab did ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008. Wearing the LZR Racer swimsuit, United States swimmer Michael Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the Water Cube. Athletes wearing the swimsuit would shatter 30 world records in the space of three months. The suit developed with space agency Nasa and the reduction in skin friction drag was so significant, some called it "technological doping". Photo: The organist for the Chicago Blackhawks plays a tune during an NHL game with the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks circa 1978 at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. (CREDIT: B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
२०२६ अप्रिल १० · ५३ मिनेट
Sometimes the daily grind can feel like climbing the sheer face of a mountain, and all that's keeping you hanging are the very tips of your fingers. This week, four inspirational female athletes tell us their secret to what has made the difference between clinging on and fulfilling their dreams and giving up and falling down. A couple of months ago Sasha DiGiulian attempted the latest in a long line of extraordinary achievements. She wanted to become the first woman to "free climb" the toughest route of the infamous El Capitan in Yosemite. The Platinum route. An already-difficult task was made tougher a week or so into the climb when a storm hit... There was nothing left to do other than hunker down and cling on in her tiny 4ft x 6ft "portaledge", a specialised suspended shelter used for sleeping on big-wall climbs. Sasha has been telling me all about surviving and thriving her most audacious and frightening challenging to date. In August the inaugural season of the Women's Pro Baseball League will get underway. The WPBL is the first professional baseball league for women for more than 70 years, and for one woman it will mark a significant staging post on the way to making her dream of a game truly available to all, come true. Justine Siegal was recently announced as the Commissioner of the WPBL a fitting position for the woman who has broken more barriers in the sport than anyone else. She became the first female coach of a professional men's baseball team, the first woman to throw batting practice to an MLB team, and first female coach employed by an MLB team, and like so many with a love for the game it started as a child, with grandpa in tow! The Portuguese coastal town of Nazaré draws, siren-like, surfers from all over the world. Why? Well it's here that the largest recorded waves are produced and crash down. Lena Kenma is one of only a handful of women who can handle such an endeavour. Born in Germany she moved to Nazaré to pursue her dream of tackling all the Atlantic could throw at her. What she found was that it wasn't Mother Nature who provides the biggest challenge to success. In 1982 Julie Moss made history when she crawled to the finish line, having collapsed just metres from the end of the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. It was her first competitive triathlon and she came second, but as she explains to Not by the Playbook's Rebecca Kesby, that heroic fight for the line changed her life, and her attitude to the sport. Photo: Rock climber, Sasha DiGiulian climbs to gold medal at the 2011 World Championships (Credit: Matt McClain for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
२०२६ अप्रिल ३ · ५५ मिनेट
Risk and fear are bed fellows. It's difficult not to feel some fear when you are taking a risk... But as some people are fond of saying "The biggest risk is not taking any risk at all". So how do we best assess risk and control our fears to perform at our very best? We have lined up four amazing guests who have spent their entire lives actively putting in to practice the philosophies and theories on how best to control our fears and take the right kind of risks. Sometimes guests really surprise us and not always in a good way! But since Not by the Playbook started exactly a year ago, we've not had the pleasure of many more fascinating people than Diego Poncelet. A two-time downhill skateboarding world champion we expected a grungy, laid back, skater boi... Well shame on us for falling for so many stereotypes. Sure, Diego hurtles down mountains at over 100 kilometres an hour, but his thoughtful philosophy that guides him through sport, and his entire life is a fascinating mix of risk taking and challenging fear. Steve Judge had always been a keen runner, it was his escape from a challenging job as an engineer. Today he goes around the world as a motivational speaker, inspiring people with his story of how having lost the ability to walk, he managed somehow to prove the world wrong and not only walk again, but get back to running and become a World Champion triathlete... Dr. Marcia Goddard is a neuroscientist on a mission. Having studied for many years Marcia wanted to use what she had learned in as practical way as possible. And if she could combine that with her love of fast cars, well, all the better! And that's exactly what Marcia has carved out for her career. Combining her knowledge as a psychologist she became a high performance expert coaching teams in Formula One. Ultra marathons are as much about the mind as the physical challenge... and it's 20 years since Scott Jurek, one of the world's best ultramarathon runners, travelled to the remote canyons of Northern Mexico to race runners from an ancient Mexican tribe. The experience inspired the best-selling book, "Born To Run". Photo: Diego Poncelet Sanchez-Cuenca, 2x World Champion Downhill Skater & Filmmaker, makes his way swiftly down a mountain run. (CREDIT: Red Bull)
२०२६ मार्च २७ · ५४ मिनेट
When we see our sporting heroes it's often in highly pressurised situations... and yet the look calm, controlled and steely eyed... but what we see on the surface often belies the hard work, dedication and hidden struggles. It's called the "swan effect". All poise and grace on top, whilst paddling furiously underneath. This week the remarkable stories of athletes who take control despite the struggles and challenges are unseen by us fans. Exactly two years ago we sat down with film director Helen Tither who had something of a pipe dream. To tell the story of soccer team, The Manchester Corinthians. The woman's team, based just a couple of miles from the BBC Sport Studios, dominated around the world...and all while its players including Monica Curran were officially banned from participating in the sport. Well fast forward to present day and "Corinthians: We Were the Champions" premiered on the big screen in March 2026 and so it was time to invite Helen and Monica back on the show Joanna Garland is a young tennis player making her way up the world rankings. She turned professional more than 6 years ago, and now, still aged just 24 she is currently ranked 117th in the world. As such you might expect her life to be one full of the trappings of professional sport. Luxury travel, big pay days and an entourage. But the truth is very different. And nothing illustrates her challenges better than being inches from a life changing million dollar victory and her punishing travel schedule. There's nothing we love more than bringing you upbeat inspiring stories that leave us feeling all warm inside...but the truth is life isn't always like that, and Elise Headley's story sadly illustrates that the dream you can spend your entire life time chasing, could leave you living a nightmare. At just 10 years of age Elise developed a love for the pool and soon it became apparent that with hard work and dedication she could be an elite swimmer and compete at the Olympics. The years rolled on and despite success, something wasn't right. What Elise reveals is a brutally honest appraisal of life as an elite athlete, and one she is sure is shared by many. Sometimes pressure comes primarily from within yourself, sometimes its brought on by coaches, colleagues of close family... but Majlinda Kelmendi had the weight of an entire nation on her shoulders! At the Rio 2016 Olympics, she was expected bring home the first medal for Kosovo since the small country gained independence. The two-time World Champion judoka came from a nation that had endured years of oppression and war, and she'd previously had to compete under the Albanian flag. Photo: Corinthians Ladies FC on tour at Sporting Lisbon 1958 Portugal. Featured in The Corinthians We Were The Champions. Credit/Copyright: Films Not Words/Anne Grimes
२०२६ मार्च २० · ४९ मिनेट
Growing up, Katrina Webb was crazy about sport. But aged eighteen she had a choice to make. Did she continue to hide her disability? Or embrace it and excel in disability sport. She chose the latter and just year later she would go to the Atlanta Paralympics and win two gold medals, embracing what made her different as a strength. Team GB skeleton racer, and Milan-Cortina gold medallist, Tabitha Stoecker offers insight into carving (or sliding!) a unique path in one of the world’s most thrilling winter sports. A late night scroll on social media led to a new start in a sport where speed and fearlessness are everything. Growing up in sweltering Phoenix, Arizona; Alison Levine was a long way from the polar explorers she loved reading about. But, after heart surgery, she was determined to make her dream a reality. She went on to lead the first American all-women expedition up Everest, challenging conventions and drawing strength from adversity in some of the world's harshest environments. And Great Britain baseball do things differently at the World Baseball Classic, with their own team artist. Stories that reflect innovation, adversity and the power of embracing unconventional routes to success. Proving that sometimes extraordinary achievements come from daring to do things differently.
२०२६ मार्च १३ · ४९ मिनेट
The Seven Summits are considered one of the greatest challenges in mountaineering worldwide. It takes some effort to to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents. Imagine doing that as double above-knee amputate! Well that's the extraordinary achievement of Nepalese-British adventurer Hari Budha Magar who recently made history, again, by reaching the summit of Mount Vinson in Antarctica, thus successfully completing his “Seven Summits” mission. He tells us about is extraordinary story from the depths of despair to literally being on top of the world. The first Winter Paralympics were held in the Swedish town of Örnsköldsvik in 1976. Nearly two-hundred competitors came from 16 countries. We hear from two blind skiing competitors with very different experiences - Finnish multi-gold medallist, Pertti Sankilampi, and Londoner Mike Brace, who learnt his sport shortly before the Games. Paralympic gold medallist Matt "The Armless Archer" Stutzman is back with a new series of his podcast Rising Phoenix. This time his focus is on the extraordinary tales of winter Paralympians. But could we ever see Matt on the slopes? He also reflects on how much his gold medal performance in Paris meant to him and his family and how having retired after those Games, he has plenty to "dwell on" with the next Paralympics in front of his home crowd in LA 2028. When Dani Aravich is not winning Paralympic gold, and by the way she's trying to add more as you read this, she is thinking about how she can raise the visibility of Para sport. Sadly when the curtain comes down on the games in Milan/ Cortina many people won't engage with para-sports until the LA Games in 2028. Determined to change that she has launched "Culxtured" a platform for fans to get excited about para-sport and where para-athletes can tell their story to the world. A bit like us really ! But we don't mind a bit of competition. She's not doing it on her own, she's been joined by amongst others, former Paralympic swimming medalist Anna Johannes. One of Culxtured's plans is to create their own podcast, so we thought we'd give them a chance to practice by getting Dani and Anna to interview themselves, whilst we put our feet up! PHOT: Hari Budha Magar who lost his legs serving as a Gurkha’s in Afghanistan, the first double above the knee amputee to Climb Mount Everest (Credit: Ryan Sosna-Bowd/Getty Images
२०२६ मार्च ६ · ४० मिनेट
When Steve Bate received a life-changing diagnosis he knew there wasn’t much he could do about his condition, but he had total control over what happened next. Making every moment count and taking on his biggest challenges, Bate has gone on to solo climb El Capitan and became a multi-medal Paralympian cyclist for Team GB. Ramiro Mora Romero, a weightlifter who represented the Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024, shares his journey of displacement, determination, and hope on the sport’s biggest stage. Overcoming a lack of access to training facilities and uncertainty over his future to become a champion. Blind colour commentator and broadcaster Allan Wylie shows how a perceived barrier can become a strength; using knowledge, awareness and passion to provide in-depth insight for the sports he loves. Allan's story proves that commentary is less about seeing the game, and more about feeling it. Stories that reveal that mindset, courage and community can turn life’s toughest obstacles into triumphs. (Photo: Ramiro Mora Romero of the Refugee Olympic Team reacts during the Weightlifting Men's 102kg Final at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Credit: Lars Baron/Getty Images)
२०२६ फेब्रुअरी २७ · ४९ मिनेट
Here on Not by the Playbook we know "communication is key". Making sure what we say is clear and concise is one of the crucial elements to an enjoyable show. And that's true of most areas of life, the better people communicate the better the outcome, even when the message is hard to hear or difficult to digest. This week, having travelled the world finding the most inspiring stories from the world of sport, we have found all our guest have one thing in common. They are masters of communication! A good explanation can change the way we perceive the world. If something is communicated well enough it can alter our understanding of the concept of something we had held to be true forever. Take the idea of winning. Pretty straight forward, right?! The person who comes first, who beats all the others. The champion. Well Water polo legend Tony Azevedo certainly fits that description. A five-time Olympian he's considered one of the best to have played the game and yet now, as a coach he has a very different message about what it takes to be a winner. It's a message that is born from a life of overcoming difficulties and being prepared to constantly learn, in all areas of life. Most recently that revolved about what type of coffee is best to start the day with! Getting important instructions understood is difficult enough when your team mates are human, but what about if in order to succeed you have to be able to communicate perfectly with an animal!? Well that's what distinguishes the athletes who take part in one of the toughest sporting events in the world, Iditarod dog-sled race each year. When you are making your way through 1,000 miles of Arctic wilderness in Alaska communicating with your team of dogs is crucial to not only success, but in staying alive! In the winter of 1985, Libby Riddles become the first woman to win the race. Steve Wright and his wife Lizzy were briefly guest on our Super Bowl show a couple of weeks ago, by the way you can still enjoy that podcast, and all our other episodes, by searching for Not by the Playbook wherever you get your podcasts. The thing about the Super Bowl show is that we never have enough time! And so we only got to hear a tiny part of Lizzy and Steve's story and several people contact us to ask if they could hear more... And so in the spirit of understanding what was a clearly communicated message, we are going to set that right! Steve was a very successful and decorated NFL star. He was a Cowboy and a Raider and his job required him to act in, and occupy, a super aggressive state of mind. But flicking a switch to go from the mild mannered man Steve is to a threatening and destructive offensive tackle, and back again wasn't easy. Alongside his wife, author Lizzy Wright, Steve explores the subject in their book "Aggressively Human: Discovering Humanity in the NFL, Reality TV, and Life." There's little doubt that children benefit from stability. A routine and a place they can call home. Growing up in a family that has to travel the world regularly, living in different places with different cultures and languages can be unsettling, but for England's latest soccer star and multi linguist Erica Parkinson that lifestyle has given her huge advantages. Just 17 year old she has already played for the England under 19's team and is now part of the Under 23 set up! So could her upbringing have played a part in her swift rise up the footballing hierarchy? Speaking from her home in Porto, Portugal and also explained why she, and her brother Dennis, were always destined to make it as footballers. When she’s not on the pitch, Erica works with mindset coach Martin Fairn of Gazing Red2Blue. Erica draws on mindset coaching during high pressure situations on the pitch. PHOTO: Tony Azevedo of the USA in action during the USA vs Italy Waterpolo group match at Julio de Lamare Aquatics Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (CREDIT: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
२०२६ फेब्रुअरी २० · ४९ मिनेट
Linda Ashmore, Ironman competitor and age-group world champion, shows us that qualifying for the world stage can come later in life. Team GB cyclist and bobsledder Victoria Williamson shares her journey from a devastating crash to redefining herself beyond elite sport, embracing a new path in health and fitness. Former Premier League footballer Jody Craddock reveals how he is building a second career as a professional artist and discovering creativity beyond the pitch. Basketball storyteller Leigh Ellis, founder of the Basketball Passport, on playing pickup games around the world and the power of sport to bring people together. Each story exploring reinvention, identity and the courage it takes to leap into something new. (Photo: Triathletes compete in the 3.8km swim during the Ironman World Championships on 10 October, 2015, Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Credit: Jason Rappaport/Getty Images)
२०२६ फेब्रुअरी २० · ४९ मिनेट
Wrap up warm, because this week all our stories are about winter sports. We'll go cross-country skiing in Italy, play ice hockey on the equator and have a snowball fight in Finland! When Canadian cross-country skiers Beckie Scott and Sara Renner lined up for the Women's team sprint at 2006 Winter Olympics, they wouldn’t have anticipated help from a medal rival. But, after disaster struck, it was a Norwegian coach who was there to help. Proving that even the coldest environments can produce the warmest displays of sportsmanship. An Olympic team of one. Shiva Keshavan was the only member of India’s 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan. A 16-year-old representing a nation of over a billion. Shiva’s sport? Luge, one of the most dangerous winter sport disciplines with athletes facing speeds of up to 145 kilometers an hour. After winning a silver medal at Beijing 2022, para-snowboard star Lisa DeJong turned her inspiring journey into a children’s book. Drawing on her own experiences, the story shows the importance of representation, resilience and celebrating differences. With the Winter Olympics taking place, we learn about a sport and a team with Olympic aspirations. Yukigassen, a snowball fight tuned into a sport; and Kenya’s Ice Lions pioneering Ice Hockey in a country with just a single ice rink. Photo: Beckie Scott and Sara Renner of Canada celebrate winning the Silver Medal for finishing second in the Women's Cross Country Skiing Team Sprint on Day 4 of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games on February 14, 2006 in Pragelato Plan, Italy. (Credit: Bongarts/Getty Images)
२०२६ फेब्रुअरी ६ · ४९ मिनेट
Sometimes realising your dream can all be a bit much. Leonard Russell was drafter 14th overall when the Patriots signed him. The franchise was on the brink of a historic dynasty and Russell was right there, winning the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1991. But being at the top causes its own challenges. Leonard turned to illegal substances to deal with the pressures., and it didn't take long before it had taken his career, marriage and very nearly his life. Ejected from the NFL and sat in a jail cell Leonard realised he needed a radical change of life. Leonard Russell's story is one of revival and responsibility. His comeback is inspirational and shows what can be achieved no matter how far you fall How do we as individuals balance the challenges thrown at us in life and not engage in damaging behaviour. For Steve Wright there was an added layer of difficulty. His job as an NFL player required him to act in and occupy an aggressive state of mind. But flicking a switch to go from his natural mild mannered to threatening and destructive and back again was not easy. Alongside his wife Lizzy Wright, we explore living with Jekyll and Hyde. Jaime Coffee became the first woman to call an NFL game in the stadium when she did so at Levi Stadium (where the Super Bowl is to be played) a couple years back. She had previously broken glass ceilings in basketball by calling NBA games and again when invited by the 49ers to be their stadium announcer for a game back in August 2023 Whichever team wins the Super Bowl will not only receive the Vince Lombardi trophy and have a homecoming parade they also receive a Super Bowl ring! Over the years these have got bigger and more elaborate. Chris Poitras is vice president and chief operating officer of Jostens. They are the jewelers who have made the vast majority of Super Bowl rings over the years. This episode was updated on 9 February 2026 due to music rights restrictions. (Photo: Running Back Leonard Russell #32 of the New England Patriots runs the ball against the Phoenix Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium, 10 October,1993 in Tempe, Arizona. The Patriots won 23-21. (Bernstein Associates/Getty Images)
२०२६ जनवरी ३० · ४९ मिनेट
February, the month of love, the one with the fewest days and the in the northern hemisphere the last month of winter, but what you might not have realised is that February might also be the most exciting month of the year. And we have the guests to prove it! February hosts two massive sporting events, the Winter Olympics in Italy and the Super Bowl in California. So wrap up warm as we head to the ice and snow of Lombardy, and then get your sun lotion as we head to the Bay area and the Super Bowl Iranian skier Samaneh Beyrami Baher is all set to compete in the grueling cross country skiing event at the Winter Olympics in Italy. This is the second time Samaneh has qualified for the Games. When Iran's flag barer at the 2018 Games she caused a sensation with her emotional entrance at the Opening Ceremony. She tells us about her rigorous training, the challenges she's has had to overcome and why she's so confident in a new set of skis she's just received from Olympic champion Jessica Diggins. American Football and Politics... One is a brutal, winner takes all, adversarial, adrenaline fueled contest, where everyone has an opinion. The other is American Football! and the idea that sport and politics don't mix has been debated long and hard over recent years. Some believe players should stick to playing, others that they have a responsibility to use their platform to speak about matters that are important to them. Colin Allred has played both games. He made it to the NFL the hard way going undrafted, before being signed up to the Tennessee Titans. After playing he went back to school to study law and in 2018 was elected as a member of the House of Representative from his home state of Texas. His victory, a Democrat beating the incumbent Republican, was something of an upset. Having lost his seat in 2024, he's trying to regain it later this year. We have managed to find a story that neatly moves neatly from the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl. Kind of! Think Ice Bowl. Back to New Year's Eve 1967, when the Green Bay Packers played the Dallas Cowboys in one of the most famous games in American Football history. Played in Arctic temperatures, the match elevated the reputation of Packers' coach, Vince Lombardi stature. We hear from former Packers' lineman, Jerry Kramer. Photo: Iran's Samaneh Beyrami Baher practicing in Italy ahead of the Winter Olympics which start in February 2026 (Credit: Samaneh Beyrami Baher)
२०२६ जनवरी २४ · ५२ मिनेट
A record breaking NFL star, the woman who won bronze in only her third ever marathon and the swimmer who took on the drug cheats and won! This week all our guest have outstanding tales to tell, and they all come from the same US state! The great state of Wisconsin Even before his NFL career was over Joe Thomas had bought up land in his native Wisconsin ready for what came after football. Joe's return came after a record breaking stint with the Cleveland Browns. Over 10 years he never missed a play, becoming the first, and only player to play ten thousand consecutive snaps! Ten Thousand! In a row! Well since retiring about ten years ago Joe has put that kind of dedication into his new career rearing beef.. And considering his status in the game, it's no surprise his business is called Hall of Fame Beef! Whilst it was common to see runner Molly Siedel in and around the village of Hartland on the banks of the Bark River in Wisconsin, no one expected to see her on the podium at the Olympics in Tokyo. Not least Molly! But that's exactly what happened in 2021 where seemingly out of nowhere she won a bronze medal. it was the culmination of a long journey for Molly after having to seek help for mental health issues and disordered eating. Coming up against someone you know is cheating, but can't prove it is intensely frustrating. Well that's what faced swimmer Wendy Boglioli at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. This was a time when some countries invested in state sponsored cheating. In this case the swimmers and athletes of East Germany. So how do you fight on, and win when the odds are not only stacked against you, but they are deliberately designed to see you lose? Well, somehow Wendy and her US team mates did just that and grabbed gold in a relay that no one thought they had a chance of winning The amazing story of how a wounded Vietnam war veteran became an NFL Super Bowl champion. born and raised in Wisconsin Rocky Bleier was a with the Pittsburgh Steelers when in 1968 he was drafted into the US Army to serve in the Vietnam war. He was injured in combat and his career appeared over. But Rocky fought his way back to become a member of the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers team that won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. Not by the Playbook's Alex Last spoke to Rocky Bleier about his remarkable comeback. PHOTO: The uncle of Joe Thomas waits outside before the 2007 NFL Draft on April 28, 2007 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. (CREDIT: Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images)
२०२६ जनवरी १६ · ४९ मिनेट
Life is full of challenges. Some are caused by circumstances we have no control over. Sometimes our struggles are rooted in long held social attitudes that can take generations to change... and then there are those problems that come entirely from within ourselves, when our minds or bodies work differently from others. We've searched the globe to find 5 athletes with extraordinary tales of challenges they have overcome in every one of those categories. Basketballer Daniel Edozie is a former Division One college baller who also represented England on the international stage... but Daniel led a nomadic life as a child. He was born in the UK, and then taken to America by his mother but ended up being abandoned and living on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angles. Daniels ability to navigate such a dangerous place at such a young age is remarkable. So how did he take control of his own destiny and set his sights on sporting greatness? Runner Lauren Fleshman had a long and successful athletics career, including being twice US 5,000m champion. She retired a decade ago which meant she had more time for writing, something she'd enjoyed doing whilst competing. Her blog "Ask Lauren Fleshman" was a huge success, and when you hear Lauren speak, it's no surprising why people seek out her advice. Drawing on a lifetime of experience, Lauren then published her memoir 'Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World' tackling the added societal stresses and strains professional female sport stars have compared to their male counter parts. When suffer from physical frailty, the source of that difficulty is usually quite obvious, and the treatments well established, but when our brains work differently, the results can be very scary. Even getting the right diagnosis can be a challenge. It took footballer Millie Farrow years of uncertainty and confusion before she was diagnosed with the mental health condition Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The condition made the chances of her fulfilling her dream of becoming a professional footballer slim. Fast forward to today, and having learned how to live successfully with her OCD she's thrived. She's currently playing in Australia, but has also played for North Carolina Courage and several teams in her home country England It's a cruel joke that it's often those who seemingly have it all that can struggle the most. Marcus Smith II was a first round pick when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014. His NFL career continued to rise when he signed a lucrative contract with the Seattle Seahawks. It seemed Marcus was living the dream... but actually he was suffering with crippling anxiety, nothing new to him, it was something he had to deal with since he was just 8 years old.. but eventually it became too much for him to bear. Some of his story is difficult to hear, but after seeking help he was able to take a different path and is now helping others struggling with their mental health. When our bodies fail us sometimes it's our minds that make the difference. In 1981, jockey Bob Champion won a fairytale victory in Britain's most famous horse race, the Grand National. Two years earlier, Champion had been diagnosed with cancer, he put his survival through invasive treatment down to his focus on his life time dream. Winning the Grand National. PHOTO: Daniel Edozie #42 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 85-83 in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (CREDIT: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
२०२६ जनवरी ९ · ४९ मिनेट
Sometimes the odds seem so stacked up, and the challenges so large you can lose your sense of self when trying to navigate a path to success. So this week we set aside all doubters, embrace the impossible and hear how those who were told they couldn't do it proved everyone wrong. Kelsie Whitmore is at the heart of a development in baseball that has been many years in the making. In 1943 a professional women's league started and lasted for 10 years, it was successful, if you've seen the Hollywood movie, A League of Their Own" with Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna then you'll already know. Well fast forward 70 odd years and women's professional baseball is back! The "WPBL" or Women's Pro Baseball League is set to launch later this year with four initial teams based in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The inaugural draft has just been held where San Francisco chose Kelsie Whitmore as the very first pick. No real surprise because alongside representing the USA. Kelsie was the first woman to appear in the Atlantic League, a successful, independent professional men's league. Football club Red Star Paris has built a culture that means it's cool to be a fan of the team. How have they achieved this? Well in no small part through the influence of the clubs former creative director David Bellion. His is a name not unknown amongst football fans. David Bellion played the game professionally for almost 20 years, ending at Red Star Paris but with four seasons at Manchester United along the way with Sir David Beckham, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo and all. Imagine being told you were too nice to succeed. That to get ahead you have to change your sunny disposition to a grumpy demeanor. That's what happened to double Commonwealth Games sprint champion Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. He tells us about how talked about how that upbeat personality helped him transition from star of the track to star of the small screen. He's currently "Nytro" on the UK TV show Gladiators and even when focused on winning gold at the Commonwealth Games he had one eye on what life beyond the 100m might look like for him. In 1967, the American motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel made his name with a spectacular - if unsuccessful - attempt to jump over the fountains of Caesar's Palace Casino in Las Vegas. We discover the man behind the legend. PHOTO: Kelsie Whitmore pitches in the bullpen before her game against the Charleston Dirty Birds at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on July 08, 2022 in Staten Island, New York. Whitmore was the first woman to appear in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game. She also became the first woman to pitch in an Atlantic League game. (CREDIT: Al Bello/Getty Images)
२०२५ डिसेम्बर २६ · ४९ मिनेट
We look back on a year full of inspirational stories from around the world and interviews with people defying the odds! Inspirational stories from around the world. Interviews with people defying the odds Discover Not by the Playbook - the podcast which seeks out the most incredible stories from sportspeople and athletes. We bring you interviews with the sporting heroes who have achieved success in the face of seemingly impossible challenges. Formerly known as Sportshour, Not by the Playbook is brought to you by the BBC, the world's most trusted international news provider. Tune in to hear from some of the most famous names in sport on subjects you've never heard them discuss before. You don't have to be an Olympic gold champion to have an extraordinary story – we also scour the globe for inspiring individuals who make a difference through sport. Whether you’re a football or soccer fan, tennis lover, golf aficionado or cricket addict, you’ll find inspiration in the stories of resilience, determination, and discipline. Expect insightful, honest, and thought-provoking conversations from people who live and breathe sport. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media.
२०२५ डिसेम्बर १९ · ५० मिनेट
Hockey means different things to different people. In India it's second only to cricket in terms of popularity, but no the kind that is played on Ice... In Canada the frozen form of the game is the national sport, and has made worldwide stars on many of it's players, but those who represent the Canadian field hockey team are not well known. As we roam the globe we realise one thing really binds the two versions of the sport, amazing and inspiring stories In 2015 ice hockey player Daniel Carcillo was still living his dream playing for the Chicago Blackhawks and winning Stanley Cups. But despite having his named etched on the Staley Cup again in 2015 the year proved to be his last on the ice. Not even winning the most sort after prize in Ice hockey could hide the trauma he was going through. In February of that year he lost his best friend and former team mate Steve Montador. It was later revealed Montador had suffered with CTE, a degenerative brain condition is caused by concussions, something he and Daniel were more than used to as professional hockey players. Carcillo hung up his skates and left the rink for good but retirement did not bring him any peace, in fact his health deteriorated. Desperate for answer and living in the shadow of CTE, Daniel turned to researching alternative, less mainstream forms of treatment. He came to believe that the answers to the issues he was suffering with could be helped by Psilocybin, the main psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms. He tells us his story. Having represented New Zealand at the last four Olympics it's fair to say that Hugo Inglis has dedicated his life to the game of field hockey. Now into his mid 30's he decided to retire from the sport after the Paris Games, but unlike so many stories of sport stars struggling with life after competing, Hugo is thriving. What he's turned his hand to will have a far more reaching and positive impact in the world than he could ever imagine. Alongside friend and fellow athlete Marcus Daniell, Hugo has started High Impact Athletes an organisation which helps athletes channel the charitable efforts in a way that maxamises their money time and platform. Their mantra is "We believe in a world where all those who can give, give effectively". Field hockey in India is second only to cricket in terms of popularity... So it's not as unusual as you might think that when the women's team won an unlikely gold at the Commonwealth Games of 2002 their story inspired the hit Bollywood film, "Chak De India!" (Come On, India!), which is credited with improving attitudes to women’s sport in India. Not by the Playbook's hears from to the Indian goal-keeper, Helen Mary Innocent. It's 45 years since the USA beat the USSR in the Ice hockey competition at the Winter Olympics of Lake Placid in 1980. It's one of the iconic stories in Games history and retold at every opportunity! but what about the the other side of the Miracle on Ice story? time to hear the Soviet players view Photo: Raitis Ivanans #41 of the Los Angeles Kings and Daniel Carcillo #13 of the Phoenix Coyotes are restrained by the officials during their game at Staples Center on Feburary 18, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (CREDIT: Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
२०२५ डिसेम्बर १२ · ४९ मिनेट
Having scoured the globe for the best stories from the world of sport we've decided to just drop in and hang about. Don't you think the best and most unexpected conversations often arise from just briefly stopping by? But our guests are far from slouches, in fact they are some of the most inspiring, innovative and industrious people you could ever wish to meet! We start by dropping in on a new world record holder. Brazilian Sandro Diaz is one of those athletes whose brain seems to work slightly differently to most others, and in a most wonderful way. A skateboarder of great experience, he's 50 years old, he recently fulfilled a dream he'd had for decades. For this story it's important to learn some of the lingo ... most importantly the "drop in"... that's how you get going from the top of a ramp. You balance on the edge, shift your weight forward and off you go hurtling down the ramp on your skateboard. In competition it might be six or eight feet. That's nothing to Sandro, who has just "dropped in" from 260 feet, that's about a quarter of the way up the Empire State Building. No safety harness, no parachute, just a man, his skateboard, a ramp and very tall building in Brazil The Olympic discipline of modern pentathlon is, well, modernising. For the LA games in 2028 running, shooting, swimming and fencing stay but OUT goes showjumping and in comes obstacle course racing to make up the five disciplines. Historically the preserve of school playgrounds or army training programmes, the Obstacle Course has been popularised in recent years by TV shows like Ninja Warriors. Britain's Mila Stanzani recently returned from the Obstacle Course World Championships with a bronze medal Premier League side Brentford is a family club, where a warm welcome is guaranteed, proved in part by a new initiative the club have got behind. Initially it was to help the mental health of the players but now it's being rolled out across the local community. It's the simplest idea of just hanging out and chatting on a park bench. Not by the Playbook's Steve Crossman has been to find out more Plus we're hanging out with Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci. An icon of Olympic sport she was just 14 years old she achieved the first ever 'perfect 10' at the Montreal Olympics of 1976. PHOTO: Sandro Dias performs during Red Bull Building Drop Project in Porto Alegre, Brazil on September 07, 2025. (CREDIT: Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool)
२०२५ डिसेम्बर ५ · ५३ मिनेट
For nearly 50 years drivers have attempted to navigate the Paris to Dakar Rally. It is an off-road endurance event over all types of terrain from tarmac to gravel to sand. You can take part in a car or on a motor bike, but if you do not have the right skills and support team around you then you can find yourself lost in the Sahara desert. In 2001 German Jutta Kleinschmidt became the first, and still the only woman to win the event, but that is not the twist in her story. The cult classic film Escape to Victory from the early 1980s features the unexpected mix of Hollywood mega stars Silvester Stallone, Michael Caine and football legend Pele, with a plot set in Nazi occupied France. We hear from John Smith who has recently published a book called Escape: A Love Letter to a Cult Football Classic. Badminton is a sport watched and loved by millions of people. It is a sport dominated by athletes from the far East, but at the Athens Games of 2004 Britain's Gail Emms, along side her partner Nathan Robertson, were on the brink of mixed doubles gold. But once Gail had retired from the game the unexpected twists and turns of life saw her struggle to cope. She has detailed it all in her autobiography Grit and Goose Feathers: Chasing Medals and Finding Me. My Olympic Journey Uncovered. Dutch goalkeeper Eddy Treijtel played more than 300 times for Rotterdam giants, Feyenoord. But he is best remembered for one of his most talked about moments and remarkable incidents in soccer history! Eddy has been telling us about the unexpected moment that went down in football folklore. Inspirational stories from around the world. Interviews with people defying the odds Discover Not by the Playbook - the podcast which seeks out the most incredible stories from sportspeople and athletes. We bring you interviews with the sporting heroes who have achieved success in the face of seemingly impossible challenges. Formerly known as Sportshour, Not by the Playbook is brought to you by the BBC, the world's most trusted international news provider. Tune in to hear from some of the most famous names in sport on subjects you've never heard them discuss before. You don't have to be an Olympic gold champion to have an extraordinary story – we also scour the globe for inspiring individuals who make a difference through sport. Whether you’re a football or soccer fan, tennis lover, golf aficionado or cricket addict, you’ll find inspiration in the stories of resilience, determination, and discipline. Expect insightful, honest, and thought-provoking conversations from people who live and breathe sport. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media. (Photo: Actor Sylvester Stallone (L) getting pointers from soccer great Pele (R) during filming of motion picture Escape to Victory. Credit: John Bryson/Getty Images)
२०२५ नोभेम्बर २८ · ४९ मिनेट
***The first part of this interview discusses topics that some may find distressing*** At 6ft 4' and over 300 pounds, Welshwoman Rebecca Roberts is the current, and three times winner of the World's Strongest Woman Championship. But for Rebecca competing in displays of great strength is about more than just showing the world that healthy women can have body shapes of all types and sizes. For her the sport was her saviour, a way to boost her self esteem and self worth, and reclaim what had been so cruelly taken from her. Britain's Emma Finucane did not just have to overcome the physical challenges to become an Olympic champion in Paris, she had to battle her way through the stigma of developing a body built for cycling, where legs are the engine and the muscles, something that does not fit with what a stereotype of what a woman's body should look like. The global fitness industry is estimated to be worth more than $250 billion and growing. But with so much money at stake, not to mention the health of humanity, what is the best form of training and fitness? Dr Conor Heffernan from Ulster University has recently published his latest book, When Fitness Went Global: The Rise of Physical Culture in the Nineteenth Century. It is a book about the history of the fitness industry intertwined with his own fitness journey At the Seoul Olympics of 1988 American sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner became the first American woman to win four medals in a single games. She also broke the world record in the 200m to go along with her 100m record achieved earlier that same year. Both records still stand to this day! But Flo-Jo, as she was nicknamed, was also famous for her flamboyant nails and unique dress sense. In a rare interview, Flo-Jo's husband Al Joyner, remembers her achievements and premature death in 1998. (Photo: Collectible illustrated tobacco or cigarette card, published in 1938 by Ardath Tobacco Company, depicting a woman demonstrating the two positions for side stretching. Credit: Nextrecord Archives/Getty Images)
२०२५ नोभेम्बर २१ · ४९ मिनेट
Dame Laura Kenny is the most decorated female cyclist in Olympic history with 5 gold and one silver medal. Alongside her husband Sir Jason Kenny who has 7 golds and two silvers, they are the most golden family in Olympic history! Both are now retired and are busy raising their three children. But far from falling away from the public eye, Dame Laura has used her platform to talk about subjects that are considered taboo, like her ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. Talking openly is something that has helped Laura throughout her life and career and it could have been very very different. As a child Laura suffered with asthma, a chronic respiratory condition which resulted in her having a collapsed lung. For many it would have put them off from pushing themselves athletically, but for Laura that wasn't an option. Marlie Packer was a member of the squad of the recently crowned Rugby Union World Champions. The Red Roses enjoyed the ultimate success by beating Canada in a final watched by a record breaking crowd of more than 80,000 fans. Marlie was also part of the England set up that won the World Cup in 2014. Now 36, her career has coincided with the growth of the women's game from the early amateur days where Marlie juggled her international career alongside her job as a plumber. Millie Bright has just about won it all. She led the England women's football into the 2023 World Cup final, and the year before she was part of the team who won the European Championships. So her decision to withdraw from this years European championship was a shock to all. Domestically she has more than 300 appearances for Chelsea, during which time the west London side have won eight league titles, and nine FA and League cups and all through out there was Millie. So how has she done it? In 2007 English triathlete Chrissie Wellington surprised everyone by wining the prestigious World Ironman Championship in Hawaii. It turned out to be the first in a series of victories and world records... the remarkable thing is that Wellington only became a professional athlete in her late 20s after giving up a successful career in development. PHOTO: Gold medallist Dame Laura Kenny (nee Trott) of Great Britain celebrates after winning the Women's Omnium Track Cycling at the London 2012 Olympics (CREDIT: Phil Walter/Getty Images)
२०२५ नोभेम्बर १४ · ५१ मिनेट
Imagine being10 metres in the air wearing nothing more than a pair of swimming trunks, with the eyes of thousands of fans staring up. It's 2008 and the Beijing Olympics are in full flow. We're at the aquatic centre as the final round of dives are taking place. Unsurprisingly there is huge backing for the pair of Chinese divers who are sitting in the top spots. Australia's Matthew Mitchum is the penultimate diver. An Olympic medal and a lifetimes dream is there for the taking. He talks us through that moment and keeping cool and executing when it really matters. Mitchum dived into the record book that day. Not only had he set an Olympic record he had won the first Olympic gold medal won by an openly gay athlete. But the media interest in him was there in the build-up to those Beijing games. Answering one question spontaneously and truthfully changed everything for Australia's golden boy. Brazilian Roger Gracie is one of jiu-jitsu's most decorated athletes. A ten time world champion, many say he is the greatest of all time! It's no surprise that Roger's career saw him rise to and stay at the top. His grandfather created the sport and his father was one of it's greatest proponents, and that brought a pressure to succeed. So how, in the heat of battle did he manage to execute his game plan so successfully? He's recently written a book called "Warrior Mindset" and explained what the title means. And whilst the book is focused on Roger's warrior mindset, writing it caused him to open up about parts of his life that had laid dormant for many years : One of the big events of next year is the Winter Olympics in Italy. For many sports its a chance to enjoy their moment in the spotlight that only an Olympics can bring. No surprise then there's always a queue of sports lobbying to be included. Hoping for their chance in 2030 is the sport of Freeriding. Unlike traditional slopes, where the runs are marked and controlled, freeriders seek out natural, off piste trails so they can take whatever path they choose. It will come too late for former World Champion Manuela Mandl, now retired but she still gets a buzz when the Winter Olympics comes around. But the truth is that for many winter sport athletes, particularly in a non Olympic discipline, making ends meet can be hard. So how do you execute your game plan when its not just a matter of winning or losing, but whether you can pay the bills? Speaking to us from her home in the shadow of the mountains of Austria, Manuela explained just how difficult it can be It's nearly 35 years since Wade Leslie stunned the world of professional rodeo by becoming the first – and only – cowboy to achieve a perfect score of 100 points for a bull-ride. Leslie stayed in full control of an angry 1500-pound bull called Wolfman at a meeting in Oregon in 1991. He's been recalling that bumpy, but perfect ride PHOTO: Matthew Mitcham of Australia competes in the Men's 10m Platform Diving at the London 2012 Olympic Games (CREDIT: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
२०२५ नोभेम्बर ७ · ५५ मिनेट
They say there are two types of people, those who see the glass half-empty, and those who see it half-full. Which one are you? For this edition of Not by the Playbook all our guests see their glass not just half full but positively overflowing! For them, staying positive is a way of life. They'd tell you that with the right mindset you can achieve anything. Don't believe them? Well we have four female athletes whose unshakeable belief in themselves has given them life after trauma. When cheerleading is mentioned it might conjure up an image of the super pretty, super popular "mean girl" in high school shaking pom poms, but the competitive sport of cheerleading is very different. Physically demanding, technically challenging and fiercely competitive. Makayla Noble knows all about it. She was a high school 'All-American' for three consecutive years and when on to take part in the 2019 Cheer World Championship and then one day in September 2021 whilst practicing everything changed. They say ignorance is bliss, that sometimes you're better off not knowing what's round the corner. That's true for golfer Alison Johns. Alison recently returned from winning a gold medal at the World Transplant Games in Germany. It featured 2,500 athletes from 51 countries all of whom owed their lives to an organ transplant. Alison received a new liver in 2009. Ten years ago Kelsy Boyer moved from the tranquil countryside of Pennsylvania to the snow-capped mountains of Colorado. Her aim was to secure a place on the US Snowboarding team for the 2018 Winter Olympics. As she attempted to qualify she suffered a concussion on the slopes. Untreated she very nearly died. Compelled to prevent others from suffering like she had, she started Save a Brain, a non profit aimed at educating not just athletes about the dangers of concussion In October 2013, American Minda Dentler became the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the super-endurance, Ironman World Championship ; a distance of over 250 km. Born into poverty in India, Minda has been telling Not by the Playbook how she overcame serious physical illness to realise her athletic dream in Hawaii. Photo: Makayla Noble returns to the gym after her accident. (Credit Makayla Noble Instagram/@makaylamnoble)
२०२५ अक्टोबर ३१ · ४९ मिनेट
You ever get that feeling things aren't quite what they seem to be? That feeling when something looks, smells and sounds as you'd expect, but there's something just a little bit different, and you can't quite put your finger on why. Like baseball, but with an unusual accent. Or the Olympic champion that uses a kite, but out in the ocean! We're on our bikes with the oldest woman to win an Olympic cycling medal in the team pursuit discipline. Dotise Bauch was nearly forty when she won silver as part of the US team at London 2012. A remarkable achievement, made all the more remarkable by her late arrival into the sport, she was advised by a therapist to take up cycling to improve her mental health, but also because she placed on the podium on a plant powered diet. It looks simple enough, but there are fewer more technically demanding sports than Kitesurfing. You ride a board under you, with a massive kite above you and your job is to navigate a course out on water faster than anyone else, propelled by the wind and your ability to stay on the board! And if you still aren't sure exactly what the sport involves worry not because Olympic champion Ellie Aldridge, who won gold in women's kite foiling in Paris in 2024, will explain all As Baseball's World Series Champions are crowned you might be forgiven for thinking that your options for enjoying a game is limited... but what if i told you there was in fact a small but thriving passion for the game in a place you might not expect! And whilst we know that baseball isn’t just an American sport and it’s hugely popular in East Asia, the Caribbean, and in South and Central America as well. But Europe? Well perhaps that’s more of a surprise to fans whose commitment is to the Blue Jays, the Dodgers or the Yankee's. We are in search of baseball fanatics on the other side of the Atlantic. Photo: Dotsie Bausch of the USA rides at the front in the Women's Team Pursuit (CREDIT: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
२०२५ अक्टोबर २४ · ५२ मिनेट
Basketball pioneer Ann Meyers Drysdale joins us to look at her remarkable career on and off the court. A leading light as women's professional basketball took off in the late 1970s, she was not afraid to mix it up with the men, even being paid to be part of the practice squad for an NBA team! Also an Olympic history maker she tells us about the changes she has seen since her playing days to now as Vice President for the Phoenix Suns and Mercury. Ice Hockey has a rough and tumble reputation. Some suggest it's one of the reasons so few players have opened up about their sexuality. Former professional player Brock McGillis is one of the very few who has. Now retired he spends his time advocating for and educating players, fans and coaches on inclusivity and in making the sport a welcoming environment The baseball season is coming to its exciting conclusion, but despite having some of the most recognisable names in world sport playing the game, baseball has suffered a dip in popularity in recent years. Some suggest it's become too slow, even a bit dull. The MLB, the governing body, have introduced new rules this season to speed up the game, but could they take a few notes from the creator of the hugely successful and fast moving Banana Ball? Jesse Cole, is the creator and owner of the Savannah Bananas and explained ow it works, why it's so successful, and why he was wearing a bright yellow tuxedo for the interview!? In 1958, the New York Giants played the Baltimore Colts in the NFL championship game. The match was so exciting it turned American Football into a successful television sport virtually overnight. The clash became known as the "Greatest Game". Veteran American sports commentator, Bob Wolff, who covered the match, tells us why it was so great! (Photo: A large United States flag as seen from right field before Game Three of the National League Division Series between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on October 8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Credit: Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)
२०२५ अक्टोबर १७ · ४९ मिनेट
They say if you want a stable relationship, get a horse! But hey sometimes doing things off the hoof works just as well. This week we're saddling up and on the trail for the most inspirational stories from the world of sport - the equestrian edition... "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway" So said Hollywood icon John Wayne. And that's true of our first guest because Lissa Bachner's story is nothing short of incredible. Alongside her horse Milo, she's won show jumping competitions all over America. She's considered one of the best amateurs out there. Show jumping is an unforgiving sport where a horse and rider navigate a course of jumps as quickly as possible without incurring faults. The goal is to complete the course with the fewest penalties in fastest time without knocking down the fences. So, imagine doing all of that and being blind. That's right. Lissa Bachner is blind, but it hasn't stopped her and Milo making their mark on the equestrian world Show jumping, three-day eventing and dressage are the most common forms of equestrian sport. All Olympic disciplines they test rider and horse and the relationship they have. It's one of very very few sports in the Olympics where men and women compete together. And yet only once has a woman topped the official world rankings. So, meet Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who was born in the USA but after marrying decided to represent Germany. She went on the win bronze at the Rio Games of 2016. With over two million dollars in prize money, cowboy hats as far as the eye can see and a sport that has more than a touch of the Wild West... We are going to spend a little bit of time emersed in what's known as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth" Each July in Canada the Calgary Stampede attracts thousands of fans... But is a celebration of athletic endeavour and cultural heritage, or outdated and cruel to animals? If a man raced a horse who would win? Well, it has been on the minds of a small town in Wales for quite some time. In fact, since 1980 they have been hosting an annual race to find out the answer. Not By the Playbook has been hearing from long distance runner Huw Lobb and race creator Gordon Green about the day that two legs out ran four for the very first time. PHOTO: Saddle Bronc rider, Bailey Small in action during the 2025 edition of the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 11, 2025. (CREDIT: Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images)
२०२५ अक्टोबर १० · ५१ मिनेट
We like to think of ourselves as a bit maverick here on Not by the Playbook. Nothing too outrageous, but we like to think outside of the box... and so we present to you a show dedicated to those athletes whose decision to think out side of the box has served them well. People who have gone against the grain, challenged the established thinking and come out on top Olivia Reeves has literally done the heavy lifting in making her sport more accessible to those who want to try, but were too intimidated to do so. From her home in Chattanooga in the US state of Tennessee, she has been telling us about how she became Olympic weightlifting champion, on developing a winning mind set and becoming the first American to win Weightlifting gold in 24 years, and how her life has changed since. Yana Daniels has taken the concept of out of the box thinking and made it real. No ideas or theories... Yana Daniels literally makes boxes! A top tier footballer and Belgium international she was hoping to play a part in the country's recent Women's Euro campaign, but sadly wasn't picked in the final squad. But that didn't stop Yana from being a really important part of the competition. In fact despite Belgium not making out of the group stages they were represented in the final and indeed every single game, through Yana! She explains all When people hit a certain age some look back on what they have achieved and wonder if it's enough.. and what could the future hold? The stereotype is the man buying a fast car, or a leather jacket... Peter Wright went in a different direction. Aged 40 and over weight, Peter's "out of the box" moment saw him change his life completely. He got FIT and set off on achieving some of the world's most difficult feat's of athletic ability. He recently wrote about his adventures a book called "A Mid-Life Less Ordinary - From Ultramarathon Insanity to Rowing the Atlantic at Fifty" and told me about some of the "hairier" moments of the past 10 years or so! Whilst most of our guests used their "out of the box thinking" for good, our next story shows sometime it's used for villainous reasons! Join us at the finishing line of the Boston Marathon in 1980. Men's champion Bill Rodgers was very much expected to be there first, and he was. What was much less anticipated was the presence of the unheard of Cuban runner Rosie Ruiz, who was duly crowned the women's winner. But all was not quite what it seemed. Photo: Olivia Reeves of Team United States performs a clean and jerk during the Weightlifting Women's 71kg on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at South Paris Arena (CREDIT: Lars Baron/Getty Images)
२०२५ अक्टोबर ३ · ४९ मिनेट
Katie Smith presents a show all about survival and Dutch triathlete Els Visser knows exactly what it takes to survive against the odds. In 2014, Visser was a medical student travelling in Indonesia when the boat she was on started to sink. She made the decision to swim eight hours to a deserted island where she was finally rescued by a passing boat the next day. This not only saved her life, but it also set her on a career path that she never once imagined would be possible. She shares her story and how surviving a shipwreck led to her becoming a successful triathlete. Danny Rensch has helped change the way chess is played, but his own path to chess mastery is one of trauma, isolation and resilience to the point he says chess saved him. He shares how chess was his tormentor but also his mentor with this talent for the game taken advantage of when he was younger and growing up in what he describes as a cult. He now says chess has helped provide solace through how he’s now helping others enjoy the game. Eric Murangwa Eugene explains how football saved his life during the Rwandan genocide. At the time, he was an 18-year-old goalkeeper for one of Rwanda’s top football clubs. He tells Jake Warren why his life was saved when gunmen recognised him as a footballer. Not by the Playbook also catches up with Kate Hwang – a former Kansas City police officer injured in the line of duty – after her medal success at the World Para Athletics Championships. Image: Els Visser of The Netherlands celebrates winning the pro women's race during IRONMAN Maastricht-Limburg on August 5, 2018 in Maastricht, Netherlands. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images for IRONMAN) Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media.
२०२५ सेप्टेम्बर २६ · ४९ मिनेट
On the weekend where the USA and Europe go head-to-head at golf's Ryder Cup, Not by the Playbook’s Katie Smith is bringing you inspirational sporting stories from both sides of the Atlantic. Kate Hwang was living her dream in 2003 as a Kansas City police officer but then a routine traffic stop changed her life forever. She sustained a traumatic brain injury in the line of duty. She’s representing the USA at the World Para Athletics Championships for the first time and she tells her story ahead of competing in the women’s shot put and 100m in New Delhi. Brooke Johnson has become the first woman to skateboard across the US. She recently completed the feat after skateboarding over 5,000 kilometres from California to Virginia Beach. She shares her 119-day journey and why she decided to do this in memory of her stepfather, Roger. From one history-maker to another, Kumru Say is the first horse rider to compete for Turkey at a senior eventing championships. She had never evented until five years ago and her story is one of making sacrifices to pursue her dream having moved to Germany at the age of 14. How did the Ryder Cup get its name? We hear the story of Samuel Ryder, the English businessman who the famous golf competition is named after, and how his influence led to its inception almost 100 years ago. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media. A detailed view of the Ryder Cup trophy is seen in the press conference center on Thursday practice round prior to the Ryder Cup 2025 at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 25, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images)
२०२५ सेप्टेम्बर १९ · ५० मिनेट
Between the Olympics of 1924 and 1948, art was competed for at the Games. Gold medals were awarded in painting, architecture and poetry. It was only removed from the Olympics because the artists were not amateur… but could art return to the Games? We hear from the man who this week has been recognised as the creator of the Olympism art genre. Known as the "Olympic Picasso" Roald Bradstock tells us first about his early life and successful athletic career, reaching two Olympic Games representing Team GB in the javelin. After he stopped throwing he picked up a paint brush and created a genre of art that has been recognised globally with his works being exhibited all over the world. He has been commissioned by the IOC to celebrate recent Games and he has a new exhibition opening this week… He tells us his story and his hope for a return of art to the Olympic Games David Voboro was drafted last in the 2008 NFL thus earning the title of "Mr Irrelevant" but against the odds David's football career was a successful one. However what he has achieved since arguably outshines anything he achieved on the field. After retiring he set up a training center for members of the US armed forces and others who had limbs amputated. The resource has allowed many people to regain and retain their fitness and improved the quality of their lives in the process. He also discusses the difficulties NFL players face and the drugs they often uncontrollably take to keep playing and how he finally overcame his addiction to painkillers. Earlier this year The PGA of America named Lewine Mair as the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism. She was the first woman to be awarded the honour and was the latest in a long line of firsts for a woman who has paved the way for women in the world of sports journalism, particularly golf. Away from the golf course Lewnie also wrote about the decline of her husband's health. Norman Mair, the former Scottish international rugby union and cricket player suffered with Alzheimer's and Lewnie chronicled the difficult journey they all went on before his passing in a book called Tapping Feet. She tells us about the experience including discovering the remarkable effect her piano playing had on lifting his mood. Lewine's book Tapping Feet: A Double-take on Care Homes and Dementia, is available from Amazon. Photo: Roald Bradstock competes in the men's javelin during day six of the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials on July 4, 2008 in Eugene, Oregon. (CREDIT: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
२०२५ सेप्टेम्बर १२ · ५३ मिनेट
River...Martin Strel is a swimming marvel. The Slovenian holds multiple world records, and his specialty is swimming the entire length of rivers... Amazon, Thames, Mississippi, Yangtze, Danube, you name it, he's swam it. Except the Nile! So why not?! Martin tells us about his amazing feats of swimming and why the Nile is not on his list of river results. Deep...In 2000, Jill Heinerth was already a renowned diver, known for her exploits mapping vast underground cave networks in Florida. Filming for a National Geographic documentary brought a new and unprecedented challenge; a vast iceberg known as B-15 had broken away from an ice shelf in Antarctica, providing a unique chance to explore its networks of underground caves. Braving sub zero temperatures and the treachery of constantly shifting ice, Jill became the first person to ever enter one of these caves - a historic milestone in diving. Mountain... Joshua Patterson is an ultra-marathon runner who later this month will attempt to become the first man to complete a marathon at over 6,000 metres altitude. Having successfully become the first person to run 76 marathons in the 76 cities in the UK...in 76 days he's pushing himself to the very edge of physical exertion. He tells us about what he fears the most about this latest challenge, and his motivation the passing of his godson Archie and raising money for www.babylossclub.com, charity Archie's parents have set-up. High... The world’s best athletes are back in Tokyo this week for the World Athletics Championships. It’s a return to the city that hosted the delayed Olympics in 2021. But, the high jump competition will have to go a long way to compete with the drama of four years ago, when Italian Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar’s Mutaz Bar-sham SHARED the gold medal; the first time that’s happened in athletics in over a hundred years. lions around the world… As you Gianmarco is a real character. Before Tokyo he was famous for turning up to competitions having shaved half his beard! That’s right one side of his face hairy, the other clean shaven. What made Gianmarco’s journey to gold even more remarkable was he’d missed the Rio Games due to injury. The cast he had worn on his his ankle, served as inspiration, accompanying him all around the world, including that night at the Olympic stadium Photo: Record Breaking Swimmer Martin Strel Emerges From The River Thames In London To Launch A Film About His 3,375 Mile Swim Down The Amazon Entitled 'Big River Man. (CREDIT: John Phillips/UK Press via Getty Images)
२०२५ सेप्टेम्बर ५ · ५१ मिनेट
Every Hollywood box office success needs a great title track, and that's certainly true of hit 1980's coming of age film St Elmo's Fire. Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Andie MacDowell and the rest of the "Brat Pack" all gave suitably good performances, but the most memorable part of the film was undoubtably the title track, St Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) It reached the top of the US billboard charts in September 1985 and represented singer songwriter John Parr's most successful track. Forty years later people are still singing the song, but most people don't know about the hidden and surprising inspiration behind the song. And it has nothing to do with the film! We hear from both performer John Parr and the man who inspired the song, Canadian para athlete Rick Hansen. Plus other remarkable "Men in Motion" including Olympic medalist Matt Richardson who has just broken the record to become the fastest man on a bike. Janet Guthrie became the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 - the biggest race in American motorsport. Guthrie, a former aerospace engineer, had faced opposition and scepticism from male drivers and some sections of the press. Photo: A view of the Original Motion Picture title track of Columbia Pictures movie "St. Elmo's Fire" in 1985. (Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
२०२५ अगस्ट २९ · ४७ मिनेट
New Orleans is known as the party capital of the South, synonymous with warm welcomes, Mardi Gras, and all that Jazz. But in August 2005 that all changed, now when people think of New Orleans, they think of Hurricane Katrina. The Super Dome, where the Super Bowl will be played, was the city’s “shelter of last resort” in 2005. So, if you did not have the means of escaping, or had nowhere to go, you could find sanctuary at the Super Dome. What happened next at the Super Dome would define the misery, suffering and devastation the hurricane would cause. What happened there just over a year later symbolised the city’s resolution, recovery, and rebirth. At the very heart of it would be Doug and Denise Thornton. Doug was, and still is, the manager of the Super Dome, through their eyes we will learn what it was like to be in the Super Dome when Katrina hit and how it was rebuilt. Denise created the Beacon of Hope Foundation and helped reinvigorate and regenerate neighborhoods many thought lost to the flooding. As a photo journalist Ted Jackson has covered everything New Orleans had to throw at him. He’d also covered the devastating earthquakes in Mexico in 1985, but nothing prepared him for the devastation of his own city. He tells us about what he saw and the difficult decision to put his camera down Photo: A woman screams for help during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Credit: Ted Jackson www.tedjacksonphoto.com)
२०२५ अगस्ट २२ · ४९ मिनेट
Not by the Playbook is celebrating the start of the Women’s Rugby World Cup by hearing from two people who know what it’s like to compete on the global stage and the impact and legacy it can have. Legacy is often talked about when it comes to tournaments like this and what impact the global exposure can have on future generations. This has been at the forefront of former French international Lénaïg Corson’s mind ever since she retired as a player. The World Cup bronze medallist from 2017 is now developing the next generation of players through the “Rugby Girl Academy” she founded, and she tells Katie Smith how carrying the Olympic torch last year was symbolic in handing over the baton once her playing career had ended. One player who is hoping for success this year is England's Ellie Kildunne who says this tournament is “going to change rugby”. Last year’s World Rugby's Women's 15s Player of the Year wants to make sure she captures as many moments as she can. She explains why her camera was one of her must have items for this World Cup - and why she’s even bought a new one especially for the occasion. Former Scottish pole vaulter Henrietta Paxton speaks to Sophia Hartley about how her life changed forever after a gym accident left her paralysed from the waist down. Henrietta had competed at two Commonwealth Games, but she slipped while doing a squat, causing a barbell to fall on top of her. She explains how she’s having to use all her tenacity and resilience to adapt to life. We’re also finding out about the World Egg Throwing Championships from the president of the world federation, Andy Dunlop. What is egg throwing and what does it take to become world champion? Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media. Image: Lenaig Corson of Barbarians passes the ball during the Killik Cup match between Barbarians Women and Springbok Women's XV at Twickenham Stadium on November 27, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
२०२५ अगस्ट १५ · ५२ मिनेट
Could there be a bigger contrast? As the richest soccer league in the world, the English Premier League, gets it new season underway we are on the streets of Oslo meeting the players of the Homeless World Cup and how they are using soccer to turn their lives around. David Duke is the chief executive and founder of Street Soccer Scotland, the charity which transforms lives through football. Fourteen years ago, he was sleeping rough and living in hostels when he saw an advertisement for Homeless World Cup. He was selected to represent his country and three years later, in 2007, he managed the Scottish team who lifted the trophy. Have you, or your child got what it takes to be a Premier League footballer? The fact is that most players are recruited by the age or 8. So how can you spot who is going to make it to the top at such a young age? Chris Robinson knows, he spent twelve year as part of the recruitment team at Chelsea’s academy. He tells us what it's like trying to spot talent, the massive names he helped find, and some he rejected but that went on to become world class. For Keith Salmon going to watch his beloved Liverpool is about more than just the game. For him it’s about friendship and community Keith's is a story about so much more than just supporting the champions home and away, it's about what the sport of football gives him and his family In May 2012, Manchester City won their first Premier League title with a nail-biting injury time victory in the last game of the season. In a goal that made football history, Argentine striker Sergio Agüero rocketed the ball past the QPR keeper in the 94th minute. We hear from former Manchester City defender Micah Richards about his memories of the match. Photo: A detailed view of the Premier League trophy, dressed in red ribbons, prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield on May 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (CREDIT: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
२०२५ अगस्ट ८ · ५२ मिनेट
In 2001 Wojtek Czyz had just signed his first professional contract with the German football side Fortuna Köln. His career was set for take-off but in his very first season he suffered an injury which ultimately resulted in the amputation of his left leg. Determined to stay active Wojtek trained hard and became one of the leading lights of the Paralympic movement. He won seven track and field medals, including three golds at the Athens games of 2004. When his athletics career came to an end, the question like for so many was what next ? For Wojtek that was settling sail on a boat with cargo of prosthetic legs handing them out to anyone in need. His destination was New Zealand, where he was struck by the lack of support for para sport. So, by the time of the Paris Games in 2024 Wojtek had qualified to represent his new country in Badminton. Why? Well, to prove a point and change people's views on disability rights! Cheering from the stands was his good friend and former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp no less. In 1992, the Algerian runner, Hassiba Boulmerka, won gold in the women's 1500m at the Barcelona Olympics. Before the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, her success had made her a political opponent for extremists. An imam had told her that running in shorts was anti-Islam. "My image didn't fit in at all with their ideology," is how she describes it. She was forced to do all her training abroad. She defied death threats from Islamist extremists to win one of the best women's middle-distance races of all time. Laurence Fisher is a former world karate champion who hung up her black belt and medals years ago, but she is now using the sport to help women who are survivors of sexual and physical violence re-discover their self-respect and confidence. The karate lessons they attend are not about self-defence but re-appropriating their bodies after years of abuse. We went to one of the classes in the southern French city of Toulouse. The perfectly manicured fairways of Augusta National - the home of golf's Masters - with its rolling greens and vibrant colours of the azaleas, is one of the perfect images of sport. Contrast that with poverty and struggle experienced by some residents of Sand Hill, just a long drive off the tee from the exclusive golf club. That's where Carl Jackson grew up, but he would go onto experience the highs of Augusta National, winning The Masters twice whilst caddying for Ben Crenshaw. If you’re affected by any of the issues raised go to befrienders.org Photo: Wojtek Czyz of Team New Zealand and Jürgen Klopp poses for a picture on day one of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games (CREDIT: Kevin Voigt/GettyImages)
२०२५ अगस्ट १ · ५४ मिनेट
We meet the ultra-marathon runner with a love of breaking records and taboos. As side from breaking the two treadmill World Record, Sophie Power has completed some of the toughest, longest and energy sapping races. It was whilst doing one of the world's most famous, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc that a picture of her breastfeeding her second child went viral. It raised all sorts of questions about the lack of equity between male and female competitors and forced the sport to rethink its attitude to women Life in the mountains is both a dazzling display of nature with a twist of constant danger. Free ride skier Kim Vinet spent many years competing and then more than a decade guiding others on and around the pristine and untouched snow of British Columbia. She explains the dramatic views and exhilaration of skiing these untouched paths, and the difficulty of loss all too often experienced in mountain communities. Kim is also part of the EcoAthletes collective, a non-profit that inspires and coaches athletes to lead climate action. Emma Pooley enjoyed cycling up mountains so much, she eventually moved to Switzerland! The Olympic medallist in the Beijing time trial is now a triathlete and she's being powered by her own recipes! Having looked at what was available and how it didn't meet her needs, Emma has developed more than 50 recipes for a new cookbook for aspiring and actual athletes attempting to climb their own mountains In 2013, Arunima Sinha became the first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest - just two years after suffering an horrific accident during an armed robbery on a train in the north of India. The accident robbed Arunima of a promising career in volleyball, but she was determined to prove to herself that she could still do anything. Photo: A young mother carrying her little child in a child carrier rucksack on her back. Kangtega Mountain can be seen in the background. (CREDIT: Frank Bienewald/LightRocket via Getty Images)
२०२५ जुलाई २५ · ५२ मिनेट
Not by the Playbook’s Katie Smith is in Switzerland venue of the 2025 Women’s European Championship final. Our first guest couldn't be further from Switzerland if she tried, and sadly the national side she represented is a long way from being able to play competitive matches. Born in Afghanistan, Mursal Sadat played football for her country. Then in August 2021 the Taliban returned and Mursal had to make a chaotic and emotional escape. She now lives in Australia where she tells us about how much she owes to the football family, how she misses her mum, dad and brothers immensely and how she hopes once again to represent Afghanistan on the highest level. Switzerland has been a great host nation. Enthusiastic crowds, city centre's bedecked in the colours of those competing and, of course, it’s being watched by millions of people all over the world. It's all a far cry from the very first European competition for women's football. In 1984, 16 teams battled it out across Europe, before the final was between Sweden and England. We hear from the winning Swedish captain Anette Börjesson. Maria Karlsson De Cecco has been keeping a close eye on the Euro's here in Switzerland, not least because she has many of her clients involved. The football industry is made up of not just players and coaches, but support staff, trainers, journalists and even football agents. Maria Karlsson De Cecco was a top-flight footballer in many European countries but after she hung up her boots she became a football agent, with a difference. She only deals with people in the women's game, and her goal is dedicated to enhancing and empowering all those involved in the women's game. Photo: Elisabetta Oliviero of Italy looks dejected and is comforted by Alex Greenwood of England after the teams defeat and elimination from the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 on July 22, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. (CREDIT: Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
२०२५ जुलाई १८ · १ घण्टा १५ मि
LA is the spiritual home of skateboarding. But it has come a long way from its past as “counterculture” and is now part of the Olympic games which return to Los Angeles in 2028. When Skateboard Hall of Fame inductee, Jaime Reyes started out in the 1990’s she was all alone in a man’s world. Her rise to the top of the sport was as much about her own personal success as it was about getting other girls to see what is possible. When we play a board game, we can get 5 or 6 friends around the board at the most but imagine playing your favourite game with 20,000 others. You need somewhere pretty big for that. So how about the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York? Brennan Lee Mulligan did just that with his version of the game Dungeons and Dragons. Simon Parker heads to Hawaii, the birthplace of surfing, to find out how the sport developed into an Olympic discipline. And we hear from Garrett McNamara of the who broke the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed officially judged to be 78ft. And how do you go about creating a new board game? Well Professor Mary Flanagan has a Games Lab at Dartmouth University* to research board games! She explains the hidden messages in every one we play. Katie Smith provides the weekly brain teaser from the Women's Euros in Switzerland Photo: (Original Caption) 2/16/1965-New York, NY-Alfred Hitchcock won't reveal the subject of his next movie, but he's obviously bored with the former friends who starred in his scare-film "The Birds." The maestro of mayhem was caught in the "ho hum" mood when he dropped in at the Rizzoli Bookstore on New York's Fifth Avenue, to check on the latest "Ghoulology." CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES *We incorrectly stated in the podcast the university that Professor Mary Flanagan has her Game Lab. It is in fact located at Dartmouth.
२०२५ जुलाई ११ · ४९ मिनेट
Roger Taylor was the British tennis number one who fell out with his contemporaries while coming tantalisingly close to winning Wimbledon. He found himself engulfed in controversy through his defiance of the 1973 Wimbledon boycott, which almost tore his world apart. He tells us about his near Wimbledon misses and how he was a leading contender to replace Sean Connery as James Bond. Fifty years ago Arthur Ashe pulled off an amazing feat, upsetting the odds and becoming the first black man to win the Wimbledon Men's final when he beat fellow American Jimmy Connors - but it was not something he wanted to define his life. His fight to break down barriers around racial discrimination was closer to his heart - and apartheid South Africa became one of his battle grounds. Though his agent Donald Dell and tennis writer Richard Evans we tell the story of Ashe’s controversial visit to South Africa in 1973 and how a tennis academy in his name now thrives in Soweto. We meet Rufus the hawk who serves as Wimbledon's "chief pigeon deterrent," flying around the grounds each morning to scare away pigeons and other birds, ensuring they don't interfere with play or disrupt the spectators. He's been patrolling the skies at Wimbledon for 15 years. And new balls please ! 60,000 are used during the Championships each year. They are replaced every seven to nine games during matches to maintain optimal playing conditions. But are they really stored in a fridge? The head of balls Andy Chevalier reveals all. Plus the story of how a Wimbledon first round tie between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in 2010 became the longest tennis match in history, stretching over three days.
२०२५ जुलाई ४ · ५१ मिनेट
Our guest this week prove 'W' stands for winners. We hear from Sir Bradley Wiggins, Lori Walton, Jim and Jeff Whitley and Sir Clyde Walcott. As the Tour de France begins we hear from Sir Bradley Wiggins, one of THE stars of the 2012 Olympics. Just a couple of weeks after becoming the first British rider to win the Tour de France, the home favourite won gold on the streets of London to claim his 5th Olympic title and 8th medal in total. Wiggins was a poster boy for cycling, with his popularity transcending the sport. The hip icon of Cool Britannia was knighted in 2013 as Great Britain basked in the glow of a successful London games. So news of his struggles since retirement came as a shock. As if it reminded us that he was after all human. Battles with the bottle caused him to lose his bearings, his business and his wife. What a relief then when Joel Hammer met him to see a fit, healthy and once again Lycra clad Wiggins. WALCOTT: Exactly 75 years ago Sir Clyde Walcott and his teammates won a Test Match on English soil for the very first time. It cemented the West Indies as a force in international cricket and sparked wild celebrations among the newly arrived West Indian immigrant community. Sir Clyde Walcott scored a century in the game WHITELY: footballers Jim and Jeff Whitley both played in the Premier League for Manchester City. The Zambian born brothers played in midfield and whilst their football careers were interesting, it's what they did off the field that sets them apart. Jeff battled addiction to drinks and drugs that drove his career off the rails. He now works tirelessly helping other professionals to avoid the same mistakes as him. Older brother Jim path has been very different. When his playing days ended, he started a new career as a star of stage and screen WALTON: Bill Walton won two NBA titles before becoming one of the most recognisable faces on American television. To say he was a character is an understatement! He was cult hero. He also lent his voice a new World Service podcast. Sadly, Bill died before he could finish narrating the series. To mark the first anniversary of his death Joel Hammer has speaking to his wife Lori from their "hippy home" in Hawaii about how she marked a year since Bill's passing and why for Lori and the Walton family the podcast has become something very important. (PHOTO: Sir Bradley Wiggins in action on his way to setting a new UCI One Hour Record at Lee Valley Velopark Velodrome June 7, 2015 in London, England. CREDIT: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
२०२५ जुन २७ · ५४ मिनेट
Climber Janja Garnbret is one of the best examples of how easy becoming an Olympic champion can look. In both Tokyo and Paris she seemingly effortlessly ascended her way to gold. They sit alongside her eight World Championships. At 26 she is still young enough to continue to dominate for some time. From her home Slovenia, where she is a mega star, she joined Katie Smith to talk about just how much effort goes into making the very difficult look like a walk in the park, what it felt like to become a two-time Olympic champion and body image. Some say silver is "first looser" and there is no doubt a bitter sweet feel to coming second, even if you are considered one of Africa's greatest Olympic sprinter. Sadly for him there no better person to speak about what it feel like to land a silver, he won four Olympic silvers. We hear from for Namibia's Frankie Fredricks on how it felt to never make it to gold. We meet the Bronze who is a born winner. This bronze is about to set off to defend her gold medal winning performance of four years ago, because this Bronze is England footballer Lucy Bronze. She is part of the England squad looking to defend their Women's Euro title in Switzerland. So if we cannot talk to Lucy about what it is like to finish with a bronze (and yes, we know she won bronze in 2015 at the World Cup) we might as well ask her about the secret to her success, and it turns out that is a small dog called Nala. It seems more than a bit unfair to have our final guest, our guess that fits the theme because it's the "no medal at all" section of the show. Not least because Justin Phongsavanh won Paralympic bronze in the javelin in Tokyo. But with a chance to compete in front of his home crowd at the Games of LA in 2028 his dream appears to have been ripped away from him. Justin has been explaining what has happened and how he is coping. He also tells us about one night in 2015 when his life changed forever. (Photo: Janja Garnbret of Slovenia competes during the women's lead climbing qualification of the Climbing World Cup 2023 in Innsbruck, Austria. Credit: Marco Kost/Getty Images)
२०२५ जुन २० · ४९ मिनेट
Not by the Playbook comes from The Queen’s Club in London where Katie Smith is unboxing her pack of cards. British para standing tennis player Nicky Maxwell has always had a sporting ace up his sleeve, including now as President of the International Para Standing Tennis Association, but his life in sport hasn’t been without its challenges. The former Harvard University sprinter shares what life was like as a para athlete in the US collegiate system and his Paralympic ambitions for para standing tennis. The US queen of Mexico’s rodeo, Paola Pimienta tells us all about the Mexican tradition of charrería and its all-female synchronised team equestrian competition, escaramuza. It’s a traditional sport which can be adrenaline-fuelled, so what’s it like to take part and how has it helped Pimienta connect with her Mexican heritage? After former England cricketer David “Syd” Lawrence was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease last year, it led to a race against time to tell his story in an autobiography. It’s a life which has seen Syd become the first English-born black cricketer to represent his country in 1988, before injury brought an end to his international career at age 28. He’s now been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours. Cricket journalist Dean Wilson helped Syd put the book together and he talks about the process and Syd’s life both on and off the cricket pitch. Every pack of cards needs a Jack so hear the story behind Jack Nicklaus’ record sixth Masters win, plus there’s a spade on hand for trip to the farm which supplies strawberries to Wimbledon. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media. Image: Magician Jeff Thomas, Manager of Hollywood Magic on Hollywood Boulevard does some magic with deck of playing cards, November 12, 2001 in Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)
२०२५ जुन १३ · ४९ मिनेट
Sir Roger Bannister is most famous for being the first man to ever run a sub 4 minute mile. He once said "The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win". This week, guests who have displayed the drive needed to overcome the most serious challenges life can throw at you. The word "drive" can have many different meanings. From maneuvering a car, to pushing a cause and making positive change... Carol Glenn does all three! A Motorsport fanatic, she has successfully done many roles within the sport. She's been a race marshall, secretary of the meeting, championship co-ordinator and a clerk of the course. All roles dedicated to ensuring events run smoothly and safely. To hold those positions is rare for a woman in a male dominated sport... even rarer as a woman of colour! In fact she was the first black woman to become a licensed race official in the UK. Her latest endeavour might just be her boldest yet as she sets about changing the face of the sport to ensure those who want to take part, regardless of colour or background, are given an opportunity. She has set up the Next Racing Generation Academy and so unsurprisingly is a very busy woman. We meet a father and son duo completely driven to be the best in the business! The business of boxing promotion. Not since Don King has a promoter achieved the same level of fame as their boxers. And you can add Barry and Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Promotions to that list. How have they got to such a place? Well by being driven of course. The majority of boxers only fight a few times each year. It's not only extremely physically demanding, but mentally challenging too. But Londoner Johnny Greaves arrived late to the professional ring just before his 30th birthday ... he had one goal ... one hundred professional fights. So driven was he, that he achieved this rare feet by the time he was 34. Averaging a bout every other week, for four years straight. And what makes his journey even more unusual is that Johnny lost ninety-six of those fights, but as you'll hear for him - his record of wins and losses is nothing compared to challenges he overcame just to step in to the ring. Johnny's is a remarkable story, he's detailed it all in a new book, Bright Lights and Dark Corners (Photo: Carol Glenn with Sir Lewis Hamilton. Credit: Carol Glenn)
२०२५ जुन ६ · ४९ मिनेट
Basketball pioneer Paoline Ekambi's changed the perceptions of women's basketball in the 1980's when she played in the USA. She introduced a style of play off and on the court that broke new ground. In turn she also aided the path for French stars likes Tony Parker and Victor Wembanyama to make it in the NBA. In fact Paoline knows Victor very well indeed! But sporting success and the glory it brings can often mask the pain of an athletes life away from the track, field or court. After her career ended Paoline has worked tirelessly as an advocate for those who have survived child sexual abuse. WARNING: Paoline's story is deeply upsetting, a story of the most awful betrayal of trust and how sport was her route to what she calls "freedom" We're not too far away from the first anniversary of the Paris Olympic's. In what was a return to normality for the Games following the sterile and spectator free games in Tokyo three years before. The crowds were so enthusiastic, none more so than in the coastal city of Marseilles where the sailing took place. Australian sailor Matt Wearn won gold at the last two Games in the "Lazer class", that's a single handed sail dingy, not much bigger than a bath! So what was it like to compare and contrast a gold medal winning experience at the two Olympics so drastically different from each other? Matt is also part of the EcoAthletes collective, a non-profit that inspires and coaches athletes to lead climate action. When the French sports TV channel L’Equipe - the broadcast arm of the famous French newspaper bought the rights to the world darts championship - little did they think 18 million viewers would dip in and out of the game. It’s now one of the most popular sports on the channel and the number of players and clubs in France is on the rise. Chris Bockman reports from France Ahead of the French Open tennis finals at Rolland Garros we hear from 1989 winner Chinese-American player Micheal Chang. He became the youngest male winner of any tennis Grand Slam, and it all happened just days after the Tiananmen Square massacre. Michael Chang was gripped by TV coverage of the killings and dedicated his only major win to the people of China. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this show, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of emotional help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide. Head to befrienders.org. They will listen to anyone who feels they have nowhere else to turn. All contact is anonymous if you prefer. Photo: Paoline Ekambi on the front cover of L'Equipe in the 1980's (Credit L'Equipe)
२०२५ मे ३० · ४९ मिनेट
Not by the Playbook’s Mani Djazmi speaks to the World’s Strongest Man after South Africa’s Rayno Nel became the first champion from outside of Europe or North America. Nel is a former rugby player who has a day job as an engineer, so what does it take to become the world’s strongest man and how has his life changed? Mauritius isn’t known for producing world class cyclists, but Kimberley (Le Court) Pienaar is certainly going a long way to change that view. The three-time Mauritius national road race champion won the prestigious Liège-Bastogne-Liège, just 18 months after emailing World Tour teams to give her a chance. Pienaar speaks ahead of competing at the Tour of Britain for the first time in 10 years when things looked very different for the Mauritian. Boxing pundit Steve Bunce has been ringside for many of the world’s greatest fights and he shares what makes a champion from what he’s seen and from the many champions he’s spoken to. Plus, he looks back on some of his most memorable boxing memories. This week’s Not by the Playbook is all about champions and Hayley McAuley explains what becoming the first ever flatpack world champion involved and what it means, so if you need any DIY tips you’re in luck. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media. Image: Rayno Nel of South Africa lifts a 154kg (340 lbs) circus barbell for two reps, during the Overhead Medley event on the first day of qualifying at the "World's Strongest Man" competition on May 15, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images)
२०२५ मे २३ · ४९ मिनेट
Not by the Playbook’s Katie Smith is scouring the world’s surface for extraordinary stories – from the depths of the ocean to an extreme triathlon to the top of the world. Italian freediver Alessia Zecchini speaks from the Philippines where she has set her 40th world record, so what is it like descending down to depths of over 100 metres below the surface without oxygen? Alessia continues to dive in memory of her partner, Stephen Keenan who was killed diving in 2017. Their story is the subject of the Netflix film The Deepest Breath. Mitch Hutchcraft reflects on his gruelling seven month triathlon – from England to the top of Everest. To get there he swam, cycled, ran and trekked for over 13,000 kilometres across 20 different countries, taking 240 days to complete. Strong currents, near fatal accidents and stray dogs were just some of the challenges he encountered, but why did he do it? Runner Mirna Valerio swapped the classroom as a Spanish teacher for the rough and rugged terrain of the outdoors and the rough world of scrutiny on social media. Mirna opens up about the trolling she faces online, the community she’s created and the message she wants to share about how we view ourselves and others on and beneath the surface. This week is all about surfaces on Not by the Playbook and if there is anyone who knows all about different surfaces then it's tennis players. 2016 Olympic women's singles champion Monica Puig reveals all about what it’s like having to adapt to the clay, grass and hard courts of the tennis tour. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media. Image: Alessia Zecchini starting the descent of a freedive in the ocean. (Photo by Kurt Wang)
२०२५ मे १९ · ३ मिनेट
Basketball, the Cold War, and rock band The Grateful Dead collide in this incredible true story. Presented by the late NBA star Bill Walton. Episodes weekly from 19 May. What do basketball, rock music, and tie-dye t-shirts have in common? And what about Mickey Hart, Sarunas Marciulionis, Arvydas Sabonis, and the US Dream Team? Well, they are all subject of the brand new season of Amazing Sport Stories: Bill Walton’s The Grateful Team. It’s Moscow, 1989, and Lithuanian basketball star Sarunas Marciulionis is walking nervously through the airport. If all goes to plan, a new life awaits playing basketball for the NBA in the US. But first, he must cross the Iron Curtain. Sarunas doesn’t yet know the incredible journey he is about to go on. One which will involve political upheaval, the Olympic games, the US rock band The Grateful Dead - and, of course, tie-dye. The late NBA star and sports commentator Bill Walton presents this extraordinary true story. Bill passed away in 2024, not long after recording the series, and his family have given permission for its release following his death. Amazing Sport Stories brings you the greatest twists and personal journeys from sport history. Listen for inspiring tales of courage, drama, myths and legends from all over the globe. All told in mini seasons and one-off documentary episodes. #AmazingSportStories
२०२५ मे १६ · ४९ मिनेट
On FA Cup finals weekend, Not by the Playbook’s Katie Smith looks at the “magic of the cup”. Joe Parkinson goes back 30 years to when he won the 1995 FA Cup with Everton. He reveals why he faced a challenge to get a Manchester United player’s shirt, and he shares his memories of Goodison Park ahead of the final men’s game to be played there. Cup engraver Colin Mabey takes us behind-the-scenes of the intricate detail required to get sports trophies ready for the winners - and how it led to him being part of a film directed by Madonna. There’s cups of a different variety too. Canadian rower Jenny Casson opens up about her self-reflection since competing at the 2024 Olympic Games, but how an exciting new venture has given her a lift. She’s a co-founder of Daylilie who create bras for “athletic silhouettes”. Se is also part of the EcoAthletes collective, a non-profit that inspires and coaches athletes to lead climate action. Completing a stacked show is Kit Fox who shares how his father helped popularise sport stacking around the world. How did the craze of stacking cups become a global sport with its own world championship? Plus, find out about the secrets of keeping the FA Cup trophy safe and hear more about the Vatican’s mini football World Cup. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media. Image: A detailed view as the FA Cup Trophy is displayed on a plinth prior to the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
२०२५ मे ९ · ४९ मिनेट
The ancient game of chess is one steeped in tradition, with a history dating back centuries. The classical form of chess is still prominent on the global stage, but streaming and online platforms have seen the game now increasingly being played online – so much so that it’s set to make its debut at the Esports World Cup later this year. Not by the Playbook’s Katie Smith finds out more about the stories behind this historic board game – from a world record holder to the designer of one of the world’s most valuable and lavish chess sets. Nigeria's Tunde Onakoya shares his story from learning to play in a barber shop to setting the world record for the longest chess match last month. He played against Shawn Martinez for 64 hours in New York’s Times Square and he’s wanting to help children in Africa with a similar story to his. Jules Gambit was a junior chess champion in her youth but found that she was struggling to make friends, so made the switch to ballet. She’s now back involved in chess and is now a rising star in the streaming community. What brought her back to chess and is streaming the future of the sport? Anthony Mathurin is no stranger to strategic games as a chess coach and a contestant on The Traitors, but is he staying faithful to the classical form of chess? Also meet the designer of one of the most valuable and lavish chess sets in the world. The Pearl Royale is estimated to cost $4 million – but what’s the story behind the design? Australian jewellery artist Colin Burn reveals all. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media. Photo: The Pearl Royale chess set which is made of diamonds, blue sapphires and South Sea pearls. Credit: Aaron McPolin/Colin Burn)
२०२५ मे २ · ४९ मिनेट
“What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.” I mean if it's good enough for Romeo and Juliet, it's got to be ok for Not by the Playbook, right!?This week we are meeting three extraordinary women for whom their names mean something much more than just something they call themselves. In 1991 the Chancellor family welcomed their new daughter into the world. they named her Emily. A bright and active girl she grew up watching Rugby union, but it wasn't a sport easily accessible to women. The game however has grown and it's set to get bigger with the Women's World Cup coming to the UK in September. And there's a good chance Emily will be there representing Australia. Chance. It's what you need in sport, in life in general! Chance. It's right there in her name Emily CHANCEllor... and so she has adopted a mantra, a tag line that she lives by. "Life of Chance" I you say something flopped, you're saying it didn't work. That it failed but in the 1960s, American athlete Dick Fosbury invented the 'Fosbury flop'. It was as far from a failure as you could possibly imagine in fact it revolutionised the discipline of high jumping. Instead of diving or scissor-kicking over the high-jump bar, Fosbury floated, or flopped, across on his back. He went on to win a gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. Dick Fosbury died just over a year ago, but in 2011 he spoke to Alan Johnston about his iconic moment Names often have more than one meaning - apparently Henry means "home ruler", Amir means "to live long, to thrive" and Amy means "beloved". Our guest is called Mix, and it's a name she has chosen herself. It not only represents who she is but the name is the perfect reflection of the life she has lead. We have rarely had guests who have excelled at sport but pivoted in a totally different direction – but for archer Mix Haxholm Mix did, going from competing at the Olympics to lining up for "Miss World!” Atoya Burleson created the “Ladies Playbook” and takes us behind the scenes to a part of sport we never see, the lives of the wives of the NFL. It can be a very challenging life being uprooted and resettled, having to make a new home in a new city which can be lonely. The Ladies Playbook helps smooth that bumpy road. For so many, including Atyoa it starts with a love story, in her case one between her and Nate Burleson, who would spend 11 years in the NFL and is now a big TV star in the US, but their story began many years before when they were both at college PHOTO: Emily Chancellor of the Waratahs receives the Super Rugby Women's Final trophy during the Super Rugby Women's Final match between NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds at North Sydney Oval on April 12, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (CREDIT: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
२०२५ अप्रिल २५ · ४९ मिनेट
Aneta Grabmuller is both a winter and summer triathlete. She first started competing at the age of 15, but within a few years she retired having fallen out of love with the sport. She had been subjected to behaviour from her coach that had crossed the line. She was convinced that her weight was a problem and started to train harder and eat less. The strain on her body had caused bones to break whilst mentally she was depressed and anxious. Stepping away from the sport, she studied, became an IOC Young Leader and a certified safeguarding officer. Now aged 25, she is back and better than ever, and when not racing she continues to advocate of REDs (relative energy deficiency in sport). In 1992, the British 400m runner Derek Redmond popped his hamstring in the Olympic semi-final. In absolute agony he got up and started to hobble to the finish line - determined to complete his race. Halfway round, his dad, Jim, ran on to the track to help his son home. It is an Olympic story that has inspired millions around the world. As it is London Marathon weekend, we focus on a great story about crossing the line at the inaugural London Marathon which took place in 1981. Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen who, having battled stride for stride for all 26.2 miles, crossed the line together... hand in hand. In doing so, the pair famously were declared "joint winners" of the London Marathon. And we are with two people as they get ready to compete in their very first ever marathons. One a multiple Paralympic champion and the other someone very close to Katie’s heart! So how have they found the training and having never completed the distance before? We finish with the ultimate finishing line story from in Finland. Only a few weeks ago two skiers crossed the line and recreated one of the most legendary moments in Winter Olympic history. Exactly 45 years after it happened at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, the two competitors, one a Swede beat his Finnish rival by just one-hundredth of a second, a tiny margin in any event, but the two had been neck and neck for every inch of that 15km, cross-country race. In Scandinavia that race is lauded like no other, so it was big news when it was announced they would meet for a rematch all these years on. (Photo: Sweden’s Thomas Wassberg and Finland’s Juha Mieto cross the finish line together. Credit : Matti Huutoniemi)
२०२५ अप्रिल १८ · ४९ मिनेट
This week we are focusing on football fashion and those using jerseys and kits to create clothing that looks fabulous on the field and fantastic on the fashion runways. Everything you want to know about how you elevate your team’s outfit. Christian Jeffery used to design football shirts for Adidas football but has since turned his very talented hand to a more artistic take on team jerseys. He talks us through his process of taking standard football shirts and making them bespoke pieces of fashion that have led to exhibitions of his work and fans from the very top of the footballing world. His designs are striking and intricate and speak to a deeper relationship between the club and the communities they represent. Former PSV Eindhoven midfielder Funso Ojo can still be seen doing his thing on the pitch each week in the English lower leagues, but as his career comes towards an end, he is eyeing up a new career. Inspired by his wife Julie, the two have set up a clothing company "Rose Ojo" that breathes new life into people’s old football shirts. Julie, who has a background in fashion, and Fuso, who is learning how to sew, have now got a thriving business upcycling clothes and making football fashion fabulous. It's all about getting your kit off with Robbie Manson. The New Zealand Olympic rower was combining competing in Paris with making a living tastefully taking his kit off. He made headlines when his “Only Fans” page became popular. The site which allows people to subscribe for personal adult content has made Robbie more money than his professional athletic career ever has. He discussed the moral and practical elements of being an athlete and an adult content creator. PHOTO: Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min standing alongside Christian Jeffery whilst holding one of Christian’s Tottenham kit designs. (Credit: Tottenham Hotspur)
२०२५ अप्रिल ११ · ४९ मिनेट
We’re heading to the river as the University Boat Race makes its way down the Thames. Not by the Playbook’s Katie Smith chats to people who had the courage, bravery and fortitude to stay afloat when others would have floundered. Lauren Rowles is just 26 years old but is already a three-time Paralympic champion, starting in Rio through Tokyo and to Paris. A history maker who has had to overcome countless injuries and battled anxiety. She is a vocal member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a mum, first and foremost. She tells us how one morning, aged 13, she woke up unable to move. She had contracted the rare neurological condition Transverse myelitis. Overnight her life had changed but with the help of sport she has thrived and talks us through the challenges and success, including many a trip to the Palace. Rory Gibbs was part of nine men in a boat who won gold in the Olympic rowing regatta in Paris in August. It was a sharp contrast to the pain of failure he felt in Tokyo where he finished fourth and just outside the medals. He tells us what it took to comeback and climb to the top step of the podium. Since then, Rory has laid down his oar and picked up his pen. He gives us an exclusive reading of his new children's book, a fantastical set of stories all laced with lessons about how best to live your life. And what exactly does it take to win the University Boat Race? Sophie Shapter knows, she was the cox of the winning Cambridge boat in 2018 she talks us through the training, tidal waves and the trophy lift. Photo: (Left to right) Rat and Mole enjoy a picnic lunch as Badger, who dislikes socializing, watches in this scene from Dayton's holiday "Wind in the Willows" display in the eighth floor auditorium.(CREDIT: JOEY MCLEISTER/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
२०२५ अप्रिल ४ · ४९ मिनेट
A new era for sports broadcasting starts with a grand opening. What better way to announce our transformation from Sportshour to Not by the Playbook than with some of the grandest people you'll ever meet! We have an exclusive interview with Grand Slam tennis legend Bjorn Borg. He's been revealing how happy he is that for some people in Scandinavia they don't know him for winning Wimbledon five years in a row, but instead as the man who makes underwear. We celebrate the most famous horse race in the world, the Grand National. From hedges to ditches, it is a challenge of mind and body. But what exactly is it like to face this terrifying race? We visit the stables of former jockey Geraldine Rees who, in 1982, became the first woman to complete the course, riding a horse called “Cheers”. (PHOTO: Bjorn Borg of Sweden holds the trophy aloft after defeating Jimmy Connors during the Men's Singles Final match at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 8 July 1978 CREDIT: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Plus, is there any other grand better than a grandmother?! We hear from ‘IronGran’ herself Edwina “Eddie” Brocklesby who at the age of 81 is still taking part in Ironman competitions, and just a reminder that means a 4km swim, a 180km bike ride, followed by a full marathon run.
२०२५ अप्रिल ३ · २ मिनेट
Inspirational stories from around the world. Interviews with people defying the odds. Katie Smith introduces Not by the Playbook - the podcast which seeks out the most incredible stories from sportspeople and athletes. We bring you interviews with the sporting heroes who have achieved success in the face of seemingly impossible challenges. The first episode arrives Saturday 5 April.
२०२५ मार्च २८ · ३६ मिनेट
This week it’s all about those who turned their hand to something else! We hear from one time motor racing star Billy Monger on his latest success. Last year he became the fastest double amputee to win the infamous Hawaii Ironman, knocking a whole two hours off the old record! Montell Douglas is the only British woman to have competed at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. On both occasions in Beijing! She compares and contrasts those experiences Sweden’s Lennart Johansson is probably best remembered as the father of the Champions League. The then UEFA President he came up with the format which has been so successful. Sulo Karlsson is a Swedish rock legend and lead singer of the band Diamond Dogs. It was he who turned his hand to writing in order to co author Lennart’s autobiography. It started a close friendship which ended with Sulo performing one of Lennart’s favourite songs at his funeral! PHOTO: Billy Monger of Great Britain celebrates after finishing the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship on October 26, 2024 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
२०२५ मार्च २१ · ४९ मिनेट
When Alistair Brownlee turned the corner and saw the finishing line, he was shocked to see the figure of a fellow competitor staggering in pain. Then he realised it was his brother Jonny. So what would you do? Keep going, grab the glory and the $30,000 prize money or stop and help and ruin both your chances of winning?! We relive an iconic moment of sportsmanship and find out why some competitors were less than happy with Alistair Brownlee’s actions… Plus we chat retirement with Alistair now a few months into his, and Jonny reaching the age when it is a consideration for him too! If ever a sporting organisation valued competing ahead of winning, it's the Olympics. The modern-day Games have been around since 1896, two years after the formation of the International Olympic Committee, or the IOC as it's known. As the Olympics grew, so did the role and power of the IOC and especially its president. Well on Thursday, a new president was elected but what challenges lie ahead for Kirsty Coventry? There's few better to assess the situation than David Stubley author of "Game Changers and Rainmakers" which documents the evolution of sport as a business, and the people that made it happen. The first Kabaddi World Cup to be held outside Asia has been taking place this week with players from across the world heading to England for the tournament. It's being staged in the city of Wolverhampton in the English Midlands. Both men’s and women’s games are being broadcast internationally, with teams from Poland, Hungary, Hong Kong and of course India among them. Sportshour's Nina Robinson has been to meet the England women’s team, many of whom are local to Wolverhampton, and find out why the city has established such a strong Kabbadi connection… PHOTO: Alistair Brownlee of Great Britain helps his brother Jonathan Brownlee (c) of Great Britain to cross the finished line as Jonathan collapsed of dehydration 200 meters before the finish line during the Men Elite ITU World Championship race in Cozumel, Mexico. (CREDIT: Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)
२०२५ मार्च १५ · ३५ मिनेट
Pawel Durakiewicz was on the verge of death through a deep addiction to alcohol, but now he's overcoming challenges of a different kind whilst helping others along the way. He tells Sportshour’s Shabnam Younus-Jewell about his story of addiction, recovery and transformation though sport and how his latest challenge saw him set another world record – this time running barefoot on snow and ice. Basketball player Baileigh Sinaman-Daniel refused to let rejection from her high school team, or the fact she was born with one arm, end her dream of playing the sport she loves. She has gone onto make history, becoming the first NCAA Division III women’s basketball player with one arm to score in a collegiate game. She explains the feeling of scoring and how she was determined to prove people wrong. Football can take coaches all around the world as they look to pursue their dreams. That’s the case for Shadab Iftikhar who has coached in England, Mongolia, Samoa, Scotland, Pakistan and now Bhutan. He shares what it’s like travelling and coaching in different countries and why he’s excited by his latest role. The first Kabaddi World Cup to be held outside Asia is being staged in England. Sportshour finds out more about the growth of the sport and the significance of the tournament with World Kabaddi President Ashok Das. *This programme contains discussions around alcohol abuse and suicide. If you’ve been affected by anything discussed or need support, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide, via their website befrienders.org.* Image: Paweł Durakiewicz looks at his phone whilst socks are being put on him after he ran a half marathon barefoot on ice and snow. (Credit: Paweł Durakiewicz/Diamond Soul Foundation)
२०२५ मार्च ७ · ४० मिनेट
Bryony Page has had her ups and downs, but she always bounces back. She's got no choice she’s the reigning Olympics trampoline champion! And whilst she already has her sights set on retaining her title in LA in 2028, for the time being turning her attentions to the circus! The Cirque du Soleil to be precise. Oh and then there's the dinosaur sounds. All will be explained Photo: Bryony Page soars above the lights. (Credit: Simon Wright)
२०२५ मार्च १ · ३६ मिनेट
Step aside the Springboks, because South Africa's new sporting hero is... the Snowbok! On Wednesday Matt Smith became only the 16th South African in Winter Olympic history to qualify for the Games. He was competing at the World Nordic Championships, finishing high enough in the cross country skiing discipline to seal his place in Milan for next year's Olympics... Shortly after he got off the slope, and just before heading to the airport, Matt told Sportshour all about a crazy few years, and achieving his dream. You might think what with the Super Bowl fresh in the memory that the sport of American Football is taking it easy, feet up after a hard season... but actually that couldn't be further from the truth... This week those hoping to be the next generation of stars have been showing off their athletic ability at the "NFL Combine" One of the best placed people to explain all about it is Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg. Not least because Leigh is no regular agent. His track record of representing the top players is unrivalled and Tom Cruise played him in the Oscar winning movie 'Jerry Maguire'. Before he showed us behind the scenes of that famous phrase Leigh explained about what's been happening this week in Indianapolis. Paul Hodgson fell ill as a baby and his life changed forever, but it was his local football team that offered him an escape from the harsh unforgiving world, and it helped him not just get by, but thrive against all the odds. A story about one man's love for his football club, and the love that club gave back, and the crucial difference it made to his life. Paul's detailed this inspiring story in an autobiography called For the Love of Darlo: My Life and Fifty Years Supporting Darlington FC It’s the 5th round of the FA Cup this weekend and we’ll drop into the early kick-off very shortly where two of South London’s finest will face each other. But neither Crystal Palace nor Millwall have ever lifted the Cup... Unlike fellow South Londoners “Wanderers FC” who became the first side to win the competition way back in 1872. And after a golden era of success including winning the competition five times, the club folded in 1887. But over a century later, Wanderers FC has risen from the ashes. Mark Wilson is the club secretary and has been telling us about their FA Cup story. Photo: Matt Smith trains ahead of the World Nordic Championships. (Credit: Torbjørn Husevåg/Torbs Media)
२०२५ फेब्रुअरी २२ · ३७ मिनेट
Craig Wood was just 18 when he lost both legs and his left arm in a roadside bomb whilst serving in the British Army in Afghanistan. 16 years on and he’s attempting to become the first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop across the Pacific. He tells Sportshour’s Shabnam Younus-Jewell the reasons for doing it and the challenges he’s expecting on the journey from Mexico to Japan. From an ocean challenge to someone who knows all about the waves - three-time world champion bodyboarder Damian King is making his comeback more than a decade after retiring from the sport. He shares what’s brought him back to Hawaii and why he will be using the board he rode to victory at the 2004 World Championships. One of the rising stars of women’s snooker, India’s Anupama Ramachandran reveals how it still feels like a dream from being introduced to the sport 10 years ago at a summer camp to now reaching a career-high seventh in the world rankings. And Jo Currie reports from Melbourne where Afghanistan's women cricketers have vowed to keep fighting cricket's world governing body for recognition after playing their first official match. Image: Damian King in action bodyboarding on a wave. (Supplied by Damian King)
२०२५ फेब्रुअरी १५ · ३७ मिनेट
Paris 2024 was Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez's third Olympic Games, but Paris was made extra special by the fact she was not competing alone – she was seven months pregnant. Six months on from the Olympics, and with her daughter now four months old, Nada tells Sportshour’s Nishat Ladha about her Olympic experience and what life has been like post Paris and becoming a mum. From the last Olympic Games to the next - as the countdown continues to lacrosse’s Olympics debut in 2028, a new professional women's lacrosse league is taking place in Washington this week. Sisters Meaghan and Emma Tyrrell are New York Charging teammates and Emma explains what it was like joining a Zoom call to find out whether they will be teammates or opponents. Nine-year-old climber Veronica Chik shares how she overcame her own fears to become the youngest Hong Kong climber to climb the 31-metre “China Climb” before winning gold at her first national championships. Team UK captain Stephen 'Hoops' Hooper joins from Canada where he’s competing at the Invictus Games where winter sports are part of the multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick armed forces personnel for the first time. And to celebrate World Radio Day, Ian Dennis, John Murray and Alistair Bruce-Ball, all familiar voices on Sportsworld tell us what makes radio football commentary so special. Image: Nada Hafez of Team Egypt applauds fans after her victory against Elizabeth Tartakovsky of Team United States (not pictured) in the Fencing Women's Sabre Individual Table of 32 on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Grand Palais on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
२०२५ फेब्रुअरी ७ · ५२ मिनेट
Sportshour comes from New Orleans on the eve of Super Bowl LIX with Katie Smith in the city to bring you the atmosphere and the stories ahead of Philadelphia Eagles against Kansas City Chiefs. Katie Smith meets Jackie Wallace who had it all, but the three-time Super Bowl star had a demon he couldn't deal with. After retirement, he slipped into addiction and lost everything. Ted Jackson was a photojournalist assigned to head to skid row and "find a story". Whilst taking pictures, Jackie came up to him and asked what he was doing. "I've been asked to find a story down here,” Ted said. "Well," Jackie responded, "Have I got a story for you!" Amazed by who he was speaking with and saddened by the state he found Jackie in; he resolved to help him. That started a long friendship which has seen its difficulties, but Jackie now lives a clean life off the streets and the bond between the two is no small part of the reason. New Orleans is the home of Jazz, and the father of Jazz is Fats Waller. Well, his great grandson, Darren Waller was a big name in the NFL. He retired last year to turn his mind to music. We catch up with him to talk about football, fame and his family's musical heritage. Plus, New Orleans is known as the party capital of the South, synonymous with warm welcomes, Mardi Gras, and all that Jazz. But in August 2005 that all changed, now when people think of New Orleans, they think of Hurricane Katrina. The Super Dome, where the Super Bowl will be played, was the city’s “shelter of last resort” in 2005. So, if you did not have the means of escaping, or had nowhere to go, you could find sanctuary at the Super Dome. What happened next at the Super Dome would define the misery, suffering and devastation the hurricane would cause. What happened there just over two years later symbolised the city’s resolution, recovery, and rebirth, and at the very heart of it would be Doug and Denise Thornton. Doug was, and still is, the manager of the Super Dome, through their eyes we will learn what it was like to be in the Super Dome when Katrina hit and how it was rebuilt. (Photo: The Super Bowl LIX logo, the Kansas City Chiefs logo and the Philadelphia Eagles logo projected onto St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, 5 February, 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana. Credit: Getty Images)
२०२५ फेब्रुअरी ६ · २० मिनेट
It all comes down to this.... the unstoppable force meets the immovable object as the Philadelphia Eagles face off against the Kansas City Chiefs to the right to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. If the Chiefs win in New Orleans, they will become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. Their date with destiny is against the Eagles, the team they beat to begin their Super Bowl trilogy two years ago, but where will the trophy be won and lost? Sportshour's Katie Smith has been gauging the lie of the land on Super Bowl's Radio Row. Photo: A detail shot of the Lombardi Trophy next to Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles helmets prior to a news conference on February 03, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana ahead of the NFL Super Bowl LIX football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
२०२५ जनवरी ३० · ५३ मिनेट
The men's Six Nations get underway on Friday whilst current champions Ireland start their defence by welcoming England and their newly appointed captain Maro Itoje. When not leading his nations rugby team Maro collects African art and funds innovative schemes to help those who need help to attain the education they deserve. Born in North London to Nigerian parents Maro he's been telling Sportshour's Katie Smith about his life off the pitch and work the work of his charitable foundation. From catches to crops, tackles to tilling and football to farming! For many a career in the NFL is what their entire life is primed for. But it can leave some, even those who achieve their dream feeling hollow, their life lacking meaning beyond the playing field. At the age of 29 and after seeing out a record-breaking contract that made him the best paid player in his position, in the NFL, he walked away from the game and into one of the worlds hardest professions. That is when Jason Brown the football star became Jason Brown the farmer. He has been telling Sportshour’s Katie Smith, early one morning from his fruit farm in North Carolina, about his remarkable story and about the two million tons of food he gives away annually for free. The Premier League's winter transfer window has been open throughout January... but on Monday... it closes... Or slams shut if you prefer! So, this weekend marks a frantic and final opportunity for players to complete a move. So, who better to speak to than football agent Barry Silkman. Barry has been an agent for many years having had a successful career in the lower reaches of English football, although he also made a handful of appearances at Manchester City. After his career ended Barry realised there was a lack of player advocacy and so he set about helping other players get contracts. His client list over the years is illustrious and very nearly included finalising a deal for Newcastle United to buy Zinedine Zidane! As if football wasnt enough, Barry spread his wing into the world of entertainment and took several famous singers under his wing, including Rod Stewart and Phil Collins. PHOTO: England captain Maro Itoje (CREDIT: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
२०२५ जनवरी २५ · ३६ मिनेट
Unlike basketball's NBA and WNBA the sport of women's American tackle football is under developed. Women and men play flag football which is a non-contact variant of the game you'll see at the LA Olympics in three years, but there is no professional female equivalent to the NFL. But back in 2019, history was planned with the creation of the professional "Women's Football League Association". Santia Deck was chosen to be the face of the league. She signed a $1 million dollar contract. Her life was about to change forever. Five years on and without a game played or a dollar paid she tells Sportshour's Katie Smith how that dream was cruelly snatched away from her. Karishma Ali is a fearless pioneer who has inspired women for generations to come. She has modelled at Milan fashion week, is in Asian Forbes 30 under 30 for her business and entrepreneurship, but most importantly she has knocked down barriers for women in sport, particularly football. She was the first woman from her rural town to represent Pakistan internationally and in doing so has shown her country exactly what women can achieve given the opportunity This might be a sport that you might think is illegal! It sounds something out of Victorian times but the fully regulated and completely legal sport of Bare Knuckle Boxing is alive and well in 2025. In fact this weekend in Philadelphia as part of "KnuckleMania V" the BKFC bare knuckle boxing heavyweight world champion, Britain's Mick Terrill, will defend his title. He's been explaining a bit about the sport, from the blood and guts to what's in place to keep them safe, and why the sport is growing in popularity (Photo: Santia Deck poses with an American football. Credit: Santia Deck/instagram.com/trackbaby001)
२०२५ जनवरी १८ · २७ मिनेट
For a long time, professional wrestling was the domain of men. Stars like The Undertaker and The Rock ruled the ring and our TV screens, but now it's the women of WWE who are making just as big an impact. Whilst a debate over what part wresting is a sport, or just entertainment, what can't be denied is the supreme fitness these athletes achieve in pursuit of their art, and the love they receive from millions and millions of fans all over the world. Newly crowned WWE's Women's champion Chelsea Green told Sportshour's Katie Smith about the subtle but important difference between Chelsea the person and Chelsea the persona in the ring, and how she's 'empowered' by starring in a male dominated world. Some people enjoy life on the edge and for highliners it’s an edge they cross – quite literally. Highlining involves walking on a line (think slack lining but higher up) anchored at two points high above a gap such as between mountains, buildings or bridges, while harnessed to a back-up safety line. It is both spectacular to see and do, but on the face of it incredibly dangerous. Scottish highliner Owen Hope tells us what life on the line is like and how any risks are minimized by a strict safety routine. Sport stars are busy people, always on the go but sometimes they make exceptional efforts to speak to you even when they have other things going on... This was definitely the case when I caught up with double Olympic sailing gold medallist Martine Grael! Martine was making the long trip from her home in Brazil to New Zealand ahead of the first SailGP race of 2025. As well as this being the first time Brazil have had a boat in the championship, Martine has become the first female 'driver' to lead a team in the competition's history. So although going through the airport is not an ideal setting to talk about her status as a pioneer, we did it anyway! Photo: Chelsea Green acknowledges the crowd during SmackDown at Amalie Arena on December 27, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Credit: WWE/Getty Images)
२०२५ जनवरी ११ · ३४ मिनेट
Former tennis professional Louise Pleming was travelling the globe as a tennis commentator and elite coach when her life took an unexpected turn. The Australian met Brian Turton whilst she was volunteering at a soup kitchen. Brian had always dreamt of a professional tennis career but instead he found himself living on the streets. Louise tells Sportshour’s Katie Smith how that chance meeting sparked a friendship which had a hugely beneficial effect on them both and many communities in Australia. It led to Louise setting up the charity Rally4Ever which uses tennis to help people get back on their feet. Who will playing in Super Bowl LIX is still to be determined but that journey starts later on Saturday with the play offs and "Wildcard Weekend". To get you in the mood we are going to head back more than 80 years ago, to a "Bowl" game with a difference. With D-Day looming, 50,000 people watched an American football game featuring NFL and Canadian Football League stars at White City in London in the game that briefly stopped World War II. All these years latter it has been brought to life by Anthony Wootton in his book "The Greatest American Football Story that has Never Been Told" All good things must come to an end, and for Major League Soccer players that's Saturday! MLS teams like Real Salt Lake are assembling for the first time for pre season training ahead of the start of the League in February. So what does a player do with his precious time off, and what can they expect on that first day back? Real's centre back Philip Quinton talks us through it. He also talks about his passion for the environment. He is part of the EcoAthletes collective, a non-profit that inspires and coaches athletes to lead climate action. Photo: A group of participants from RALLY4EVER’s Sydney programs after a pickleball lesson from tennis legend Andre Agassi, Justin Gimelstob and Louise Pleming CREDIT: @raquelpires_photography/https://rally4ever.org/)
२०२५ जनवरी ४ · ३८ मिनेट
NBA star Victor Wembanyama playing one-on-one with fans in a New York park is something you would not expect – even more so when it was not basketball he was playing, but chess. Sportshour’s Katie Smith meets Dylan Rittman, one of Wembanyama’s chess opponents for an unlikely duel in the park. With the new world darts champion crowned, what impact is the sport having around the world? South Africa's nine-time World Championship participant Devon Petersen shares his thoughts and how he’s using darts to help young people with their maths. James Cooper ran a marathon every single day in 2024 for charity, so after 366 marathons in 366 days, how does he feel now the challenge is completed? It's the start of a new year so the time when many people may decide to make new year's resolutions, but trying to keep them is not always easy. Dr Kimberley Dawson, a professor in sport psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada, shares her tips on achieving goals. And find out about the sport of Tiro en Braille which started in a university classroom in Mexico. Image: San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama playing chess in Washington Square Park in New York. (Credit: Dylan Rittman)
२०२४ डिसेम्बर २८ · ४९ मिनेट
***This episode contains discussions and references to extreme violence, sexual violence and domestic abuse. If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide: befrienders.org*** Tracy Otto's life was changed forever one night in 2019. Back then she was a student at the University of Tampa and an aspiring fitness model. An unprovoked attack by her ex-boyfriend left her with horrific injuries - she was paralyzed from the chest down with limited use of her arms and hands, and the loss of her left eye. It was the sport of archery that helped Tracy get her life back on track. She tells us her story and about a magical Paris experience. Team GB's cyclist Neah Evans spilled the beans on the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Games. The things only athletes would know about! From life in the Olympic village to what goes on at the Opening Ceremony or rather doesn't! When Jack Eyers had his right leg amputated at just 16 years old, he never expected it would open up a world of opportunity that has taken him from film sets to catwalks and now to the Paralympic podium in Paris. The British Para-canoer told me about how his amputation has given him the chance to challenge stereotypes. In Paris, 12 years after he was a performer at the London 2012 Opening Ceremony, he claimed Paralympic silver in the men’s Para-canoe. US women’s scrum half Alena Olsen on channelling the heart break of missing out on the Tokyo Games, by putting in everything she can into making the Paris Olympics, as part of the US Women’s Sevens squad. She's been telling Sportshour's Caroline Barker that despite being a part of the bronze medal winning World Cup team in 2022, she knows her Olympic dreams still hang in the balance. A passionate environmentalist, Alena is a member of EcoAthlets (www.ecoathletes.org) a collaboration of likeminded sports stars determined to do what they can for the environment. Photo: Otto Tracy of USA during Para Archery Women's Individual W1 Round of Sixteen on day 3 of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games with fiancé Rick (CREDIT: Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
२०२४ डिसेम्बर २१ · ३५ मिनेट
We come full circle on a story we first covered in 2016 when we visited the exercise yard at San Quentin State prison in California. It houses the highest number of death row inmates in America but also has a sport sporty program designed to rehabilitate those who hope one day to be released. Rahsaan Thomas was one of those to benefit from the scheme. Released in 2023 we catch up with him to see how he is getting on after 23 years behind bars and how he has already continued his sporting life by completing the New York marathon Team GB Hockey player Tess Howard tells us how after scoring the winning goal at the last Commonwealth Games, and that after it and with her “face and body plastered all over the papers” she "felt ashamed of herself". Knowing that she shouldn't be feeling like that, she set about making a significant change to the kit female athletes are allowed to wear in competition in her sport and women’s sport in general. She is also part of the EcoAthletes collective, a non-profit that inspires and coaches athletes to lead climate action and tells us about how important it is to speak up Those players involved in the tournament will have practiced for many years to refine their technique. But at any time, they could be struck down by “Dartitus”. Think of the ‘yips’ in golf but for darts. It’s a condition that means the player is unable to release the dart at the end of their throwing action, and it can happen to anyone. We speak to one Players Championship Winner and World Championship finalist, a former Women's World number one and a coach conducting a 1000-hour experiment to try and crack what causes and how to resolve “Dartitus” Photo: The yard at San Quentin State Prison in San Quentin, California is occupied by inmates getting their daily exercise in the oldest prison in the state, opened in 1852 (Credit: Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
२०२४ डिसेम्बर १४ · ४२ मिनेट
It's one of the sports stories of 2024. In November "Knight's Choice" squeezed home to win the Melbourne Cup by a nose. The 80-1 outsider was ridden by Irish jockey Robbie Dolan. Winning the so called "Race that stops a nation" made Robbie famous in Australia, or should that be even more famous! Because two years previous he was one of the finalists on the TV singing show The Voice! So, a little over a month since that famous victory, has Robbie had a chance to drink it all in?! When it comes to sport at Christmas, what comes to mind? Well there’s the traditional Boxing Day fixtures in the Premier League and the Test match in Melbourne. But what about darts? Well the World Championship begins on Sunday at the Alexandra Palace in London with the new world champion crowned early in the new year. But if you don’t know your double top from your oche, never fear! Sportshour is here. The perfect guest to guide us through is Russ Bray simply known as "The Voice" Using dating apps can be very hit and miss! Sometimes not everything is quite as it seems... but sometimes it can be the start of a relationship that saves the world! When Canadian heptathlete Leanna Carriere "swiped right" it started a journey that will take her and partner Timm Dobert all over the world! Combining her athletic ability and Timm's academic background the two of them have already completed the first leg of a round the world cycle that will see them replicate bird migration and raise awareness of climate change... and it all started with a simple profile picture! For many Zoe Morse, seemed to have it all. Professional footballer who had played in the NWSL for Chicago Fire and was now in the WSL in England with Brighton. Then seemingly from nowhere, at the age of 25 she quit the game! Now back in her native Michigan Zoe has embarked on a career in medicine and told us what it has been like to walk away from the game. She also talks about climate change and is part of the EcoAthletes collective, a non-profit that inspires and coaches athletes to lead climate action. Image: Leanna Carriere and Timm Döbert with their bikes during their 30 day cycling expedition across Canada. (Credit: Bill Ault)
२०२४ डिसेम्बर ७ · ३१ मिनेट
2024 has been a monumental year for Australian Rhydian Cowley. He won bronze alongside team mate Jemima Montag at the Paris Olympics in the inaugural walking mixed team relay. He was also named the BBC Green Sport Award's World Athlete of the Year using his platform to spark debates about climate change and how it's affecting not only sport but the whole planet. Fuelled by homemade jam and some bird watching, Cowley reveals his unusual combination of passions. It's fair to say that Irish tennis player Conor Niland could be best described as a journeyman. He never reached the world's top 100 and never progressed beyond the first round of a grand slam. And in the world of professional tennis there are far more like Conor than there are Roger Federer or Serena Williams'. Connor's new book "Racket" tells the story of those players who travel the world in the hope of climbing the rankings, where the prize money barely covers their expenses. Photo: Rhydian Cowley of Team Australia competes during the Mixed Marathon Race Walk Relay at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Credit: David Ramos/Getty Images)
२०२४ नोभेम्बर ३० · ३३ मिनेट
Hallucinations, crashes, and just 10 minutes sleep – Badlands ultra cycle race is not only a test of endurance but also the ultimate relationship test for the 2024 pairs winners. Danni Shrosbree and Bradley Shenton completed the gruelling 800km (497 miles) route, through the Andalusian mountains in Spain, in 53 hours and 30 minutes. The couple faced temperatures of up to 40C, bike damage, and they tell Sportshour’s Caroline Barker how they only stopped for two five-minute power naps. Earlier this week the Player of the Year awards for Rugby Union were announced South Africa's Pieter du Toit won the men's award, for the second time in his career, and the Women's award went to Ellie Kildunne. Ellie was top scorer as England won the Six Nations Grand slam earlier this year and at just 25 has been telling us about how her career on the pitch has developed, and also what she gets up to off the pitch! Here's a quiz question for you. Who is the youngest player to score in the top flight of English football? The record was achieved about 10 years before the formation of the Premier League by an Ipswich Town Player aged just 16 years and 57 days. If you said Jason Dozzell, you are correct! To say success came early and easy to Jason is an understatement, but as he reveals in his new book "Follow the Thunder" it came at a cost. Now in his fifties he's got a much better understanding of the effect of being a child star in a man's world had on him. Image: Danni Shrosbree and Bradley Shenton cycling on off-road mountainous terrain. (Credit: @benjam / @fred.j.photos / @precisionfandh)
२०२४ नोभेम्बर २३ · ३१ मिनेट
We’re used to celebrating the achievements of para-athletes on the track, but endurance running is still in its infancy. South African born Jacky Hunt-Broersma is changing that. She is at the forefront of amputee ultramarathon and trail running. A cancer survivor, she loves pushing the limits of what is possible. She has already run 104 marathons in 104 days and is now attempting to run from Las Vegas to Los Angeles (venue of the next Paralympics). She tells us of the unique challenges she must face to run extraordinary distances and change perceptions of what para-athletes can do. We go behind the scenes of life in the Premier League with physio Derek Wright. Up until recently Derek served as the Newcastle United physio, a role he held for more than 30 years. Recently retired, he tells us what it’s really like in the dressing room on match day, how he aided more than just the players’ physical health and which manager always called him Dennis, despite the fact he was named Derek. How much do you earn? It’s an uncomfortable question to have to answer in public... but if we were all made to do it, it might quicken the pace at which fairer pay was achieved. We speak to former Italian international goalkeeper Arianna Criscione and Brentford FC director Preeti Shetty, the women behind the #SayThePay campaign who are advocating for salary transparency in the sports industry. NFL star Efe Obada on the secrets to success as an American football player Image: Ultramarathon and trail runner Jacky Hunt-Broersma running on rocky terrain. (Photo courtesy of Jacky Hunt-Broersma)
२०२४ नोभेम्बर १६ · ३४ मिनेट
Toulouse’s six European titles make them the most successful club in European rugby, and if you were to say the French club were out of this world, then you would be right. The city considers itself the aerospace capital of Europe and it turns out one of the club’s secrets to success has been to mix the methods and practices of those training to go into space adapted to the sports field. Sportshour's Chris Bockman finds out more. Former jockey Karen Wiltshire has a powerful and unheard story to tell about being at the forefront of changing participation in sport. Before her no professional female jockey had ever ridden a winner in British Flat racing when she guided The Goldstone to victory in 1978. Her journey there had seen her manhandled physically and harangued mentally and is all detailed in her book "No Place for a Girl" Can table football last in an age of digital information? Derek Air has just written a booked called Land of the Giants: My Journey Through the World of Table Football. It's essentially a love letter to an old-fashioned favourite, a much-loved game, and one that simply refuses to die in this digital age. We hear from Danny Care, a world-class Rugby player who has represented England at every level. After multiple Rugby World Cups and Six Nations tournaments, he became just the sixth player to reach 100 Test caps for his country during England's win over Ireland in in March. Shortly after achieving this remarkable milestone, Danny announced his retirement from international rugby. Image: A blue poster promoting an event showcasing the relationship between space and sport at Cité de l'Espace in Toulouse, France.
२०२४ नोभेम्बर ९ · ३५ मिनेट
How do you channel the passion, determination and fortitude to achieve something knowing you've lost friends doing the same thing? Professional skier Cody Townsend has lost many friends on the mountains he’s skiing down as he attempts to climb and ski all the routes detailed in the book, “The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America”. They're some of the most dangerous slopes on the continent and he’s documented the 46 he’s completed so far in a video series – but although the videos have stopped, that doesn’t mean the challenge attempt is finished. Townsend tells Sportshour’s Caroline Barker about the risks, the rewards and the rules he sets himself when he skis... an experience he wouldn’t trade, even for Olympic gold. Photo: Cody Townsend skiing down a mountain with rockfaces on either side. (Credit: Summit Lunch Productions)
२०२४ अक्टोबर ३१ · ४० मिनेट
In 1989 Donald Trump put his name to a cycle race hoped would rival the Tour de France. This is the story behind the Tour de Trump. We hear what it was like to share the podium with Trump from the winner of the first race Dag Otto Lauritzen. Go behind the scenes with race organiser Mike Plant and hear about the legacy the race left from Peter Nye author of Hearts of Lions: The History of American Bicycle Racing... and why the race no longer takes place. Presented by Caroline Barker Produced by Joel Hammer Photo: Donald Trump at news conference at the DuPont Plaza in Wilmington Delaware, promoting his "Tour de Trump" bicycle race to be held in May 1990. (CREDIT: Harry Hamburg/NY Daily News via Getty Images)
२०२४ अक्टोबर २६ · ३१ मिनेट
With the World Series underway we hear from one man hoping one day to grace baseballs top table. After a life changing boating accident that saw one of Parker Byrd's legs amputated, the college baseball player fought back to become what is believed to be first NCAA Division I baseball player to play with a prosthetic leg. Parker Byrd told his inspirational story to Sportshour's Caroline Barker Did you know that motorsport has an Olympics?! That's what the FIA Motor Sport Games claim to be. In just it's third year the competition has been taking place in the Spanish city of Valencia this week. We hear from Team GB captain Chris Froggatt and from one of the youngest competitors, 11 year old Manuel Cardona and his dad Ricardo. Remember the name! The trio of women who are about to get to know each other VERY VERY well! Jess Rowe, Miriam Payne and Lottie Hopkinson-Woolley are preparing to row across the Atlantic together! UFC Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria was born in Germany to Georgian refugees. And after spending some of his childhood back in Georgia he moved to Spain as a teenager. Which means Ilia is not only Spain's but Georgia's first UFC Champion. He's been speaking to Sportshour's Joel Hammer (Photo: Parker prepares to face a pitch on his return to action. CREDIT East Carolina University)
२०२४ अक्टोबर १९ · ३८ मिनेट
As the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship heats up as the drivers head to Austin for the United States Grand Prix, it will also be a significant weekend for F1 broadcaster Jennie Gow. She tells Sportshour’s Caroline Barker how she has had to learn to write and speak again after a stroke in December 2022 and shares her love for F1 ahead of the release of her new book ‘How to Read F1’. Ultra-endurance bike rider Lael Wilcox chats about her journey around the world after setting the new world record for the fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe by bike and also reveals how she missed a message from tennis legend Billie Jean King. Adriana Brownlee shares what it means to become the youngest ever female climber to summit the world’s tallest mountains at the age of 23 and why it all stems from a piece of primary school homework she did when she was eight. Zdeno Chara explains why he has no plans to slow down even after retiring from professional ice hockey. After 24 seasons in the NHL, he is now ready to take on one of his toughest challenges yet – the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. And – Miles Myerscough-Harris shares what it’s like photographing and filming the world’s biggest sporting events with vintage cameras dating back to the 1800s. Image: Jennie Gow during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 24, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.(Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
२०२४ अक्टोबर १२ · ३२ मिनेट
World champion speed skater Elise Christie represented Great Britain at three Winter Olympics, but after announcing her retirement from the sport she worked three jobs and slept in her car. She tells Sportshour’s Caroline Barker how the content creation site Only Fans has helped her take back control of her life and what’s next after ruling out a return to the ice for the 2026 Winter Olympics with either Great Britain or Belgium. If you have been impacted by Elise's story then help available in the UK can be found at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Help and support outside the UK can be found at befrienders.org. Will more professional footballers become referees? Former Trinidad and Tobago international Chris Birchall played with David Beckham at LA Galaxy and against England at a World Cup, but after retiring from professional football, he's now a qualified referee. To mark International Referees' Day, he explains how he’s part of a programme that could take past and current players all the way to the Premier League as elite referees. Not many, if any, sports teams in the world are fully owned, managed, and coached by an all-female team... well, New Zealand women's basketball team BNZ Kāhu have changed that. Hear from head coach and co-owner Jody Cameron on the impact they’re hoping to make and how she juggles co-ownership and being head coach. Plus, ahead of Finland versus England in football’s Nations League, Sportshour’s Alex Seftel finds out why British players are heading to Finland's top division. Image: Elise Christie of Great Britain leads during the Ladies 500m Short Track Speed Skating qualifying on day one of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena on February 10, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
२०२४ अक्टोबर ५ · ४५ मिनेट
Ed Moses won 122 consecutive races including two Olympic gold medals over a nearly 10-year span in the 400m hurdles, but how did he become unbeatable? Sportshour’s Caroline Barker speaks to the double Olympic champion about his dominance, his then-revolutionary 13 strides and how an introduction from Morgan Freeman has finally brought his life to the screen. For the first time in the 173-year history of the America’s Cup, there will be a standalone women’s event in 2024. Canada’s Isabella Bertold had swapped sails for pedals to become a professional cyclist, but she explains why she’s back on the water as captain of Concord Pacific Racing team and leading a campaign to champion women's sport. Former Australian international swimmer Kurt Herzog shares his life after elite sport and how he’s working in Indigenous communities to bring neglected public pools back to life. Plus, find out more about the sport of blind baseball with Great Britain’s Grant Mallabar. Image: American athlete Edwin Moses, wearing sunglasses, clears a hurdle during the men's 400m hurdles event of the 1988 Summer Olympics, at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, September 1988. Moses won bronze in the men's 400m hurdles at the Games. (Photo by Bongarts/Getty Images)
२०२४ सेप्टेम्बर २८ · ३५ मिनेट
From sneaking out of her house to play football to becoming a trailblazer for others, Sportshour’s Caroline Barker speaks to Jackline Juma who has become the first female head coach in the Kenyan Premier League. The FC Talanta head coach has already made a winning start, and she's hoping her role will inspire more women and girls to follow their footballing dreams. British triathlete Kat Matthews reveals what it has taken to get back on the IRONMAN World Championship podium, two years after a near-fatal crash whilst training for the same event in 2022. Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever may have been knocked out of the WNBA play-offs, but the basketball star’s impact extends way beyond the court. Former Icelandic basketballer Helena Sverrisdóttir has proof of that after she hosted a watch party in Iceland. Plus, hear from Samson Ndayishimiye, President of the Rwanda Cycling Federation, as Africa gets ready to host the World Road Cycling Championships for the first time in 2025, and there’s all the flicks and tricks from the Subbuteo World Cup. Image: FC Talanta's Jackline Juma on the touchline coaching. (Image: FC Talanta/Football Kenya Federation/Kevin Teya)
२०२४ सेप्टेम्बर २१ · ३४ मिनेट
When Jack Eyers decided to have his leg amputated at the age of 16 he was advised against it... but Jack was done with living in pain. What he didn't realise was that after his amputation a new world of opportunity would open up that has taken him from the Hollywood Hills to the cat walks of Milan and now to the Paralympic podium in Paris, where last month he won silver in the para canoe. Jack tells us about his remarkable story We preview the new WSL season in England with BBC Sports senior women's football reporter Emma Sanders including new managers and players on the pitch... and chat to Dani Gonçalves co founder of 'Fantasy WSL' about all the new managers and players of it. Plus Former USWNT goalkeeper Jillian Loyden on helping develop the next generation of keepers on and off the field though her Keepers Institute. Photo: Silver medallist Jack Eyers of Great Britain celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's Va'a Single 200m - VL3 Final on day eleven of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games (Credit: Elsa/Getty Images) Photo: Cody Townsend skiing down a mountain with rockfaces on either side. (Credit: Summit Lunch Productions)
२०२४ सेप्टेम्बर १४ · २८ मिनेट
the UltraTrail du Mont Blanc is a unique challenge of endurance racing through the mountains of France on foot. It's made up of three races including the brutal 101 kilometre "Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix" or the 'CCC'. Earlier this month, and fresh from returning from a serious knee injury, American Hayden Hawkes crossed the finish line to win. It was exactly seven years since he first tasted victory in the race, and he hasn't looked back since. Photo: Hayden Hawkes of the United States celebrates as he wins the 50k race during the UTMB World Series Canyons Endurance Runs 2023(Credit: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images for Canyons UTMB)
२०२४ सेप्टेम्बर ७ · ४९ मिनेट
Live from Paris with all the action and stories from the 2024 Paralympic Games. PHOTO: Matt Stutzman of Team United States during the Men's Archery Individual Compound at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games (Credit: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
२०२४ अगस्ट ३१ · १ घण्टा ६ मि
Live from Paris with all the action and stories from the 2024 Paralympic Games Photo: Dong Lu of team China competes in the Women's 200m individual medley final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games (CReditby Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
२०२४ अगस्ट २४ · ३९ मिनेट
How does it feel winning the Tour de France Femmes? Poland's Kasia Niewiadoma will tell you directly – pain, suffering, excitement and euphoria. It was the rollercoaster of emotions the 2024 Tour de France Femmes winner experienced as she thought at one moment she had lost the yellow jersey, but Niewiadoma dug in to win the overall title by just four seconds. As the Women's Open golf takes place at St Andrews we chart the progress of Women's golf. Katie Dawkins is one of few female PGA professionals in Golf Monthly’s Top 50 UK list of coaches as well as being an instructional and features writer for the publication. Her podcast “Birdies Banter” is part of “A Birdies View” magazine, a women’s online publication www.abirdiesview.com. Having been involved in the game for many years, Katie is able to identify the changes that have made the growth in the women's game possible, and what still needs to be done, including "on course facilities" And staying with golf... Kind of! When you were young, did you and your friends or siblings make up your own games? Imagine if the games you played as a child went on to became a recognised sport, played across the world and who knows maybe even one day the Olympics!? Well that's where American Alex Van Alen finds himself. The sport he used to play as a youngster is called "FlingGolf". Played on a golf course, the aim is to get your ball in the hole, but you don't always hit the ball, you fling it... Alex Van Alen explains all You might think that the Dutch Formula One Grand Prix taking place this weekend would be the most important sporting event in the country this month... but those in Franeker in the north of the Netherlands would beg to differ. Sport as we saw at the Olympics can bring people together from across the world, but it’s also a way of binding together a community with a shared passion – especially if the sport has a powerful local identity. Which is why we sent Sportshour’s Matthew Kenyon to check out one of the biggest days in the sporting calendar in the Dutch province of Friesland. The opening ceremony for the Paralympics in Paris takes place on Wednesday. Thousands of competitors from all over the world will descend on the French capital in search of sporting glory... but they will also hope to once again showcase their skill, and in doing so change wrongly held stereotypes about disability. But for one group of athletes there's another goal, to lift the spirits of their nation. Sportshour's Andy Swiss has been to meet Ukraine's para athletes: Photo: Canyon//SRAM Racing team's Polish rider Katarzyna Niewiadoma celebrates after crossing the finish line and winning the third edition of the Women's Tour de France cycling race (CREDIT: JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images)
२०२४ अगस्ट १७ · ३० मिनेट
You could say Sportshour's Premier League preview lacks a bit of emotion. There's no drama. No temper tantrums. No overheated opinions. Just facts. Cold hard facts. Ian Graham is a 'data architect' and if you don't really know what that is then you are not alone. But it turns out data architects are one of the secret ingredients you need to win the Premier League. Ian is the proof. He was Liverpool's Director of Research until 2023 and has just written a new book "How to win the Premier League" It's not just the Premier League whose season starts this weekend. The inaugural Women's "USL Super League" launches in America. Aimed at providing younger footballers a stepping stone into the big leagues it's made up of eight teams, expanding to sixteen next season. One of stars of this new league is Laveni Vaka. Earlier this year she became the first female pro-footballer from the Pacific Island of Tonga. The defender tells us how thrilled she was to be turning out for her new team Fort Lauderdale United It's been a shocking week in the world of chess with news that Russian chess star Amina Abakarova, was caught on CCTV allegedly trying to poison her opponent who was taken ill and hospitalised after her chess board was smeared with mercury! Abakarova has been detained and faces a prison sentence of up to three years if convicted. Chess has been the subject of a number of bad headlines over the years from extra ordinary accusations of cheating to this latest life threatening incident. Grand Master, five time World champion and deputy president of the International Chess Federation Viswanathan Anand joins us The English Channel is not only the world's busiest shipping lane, it is an iconic challenge to cross for swimmers and now windsurfers too! Dodge the enormous ships and you could find yourself in a small elite club of people to have faced down that challenge... Windsurfer, Bob van de Burgt is hoping to do just that this coming week, but not content with simply landing in the UK from his home in Netherlands, he's going to return across the channel immediately! and you can follow Bob's progress at www.surfingformuscles.com Photo: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with his Premier League winners medal (Credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
पछिल्लो १०० एपिसोड देखाइएको।
