We are back with a Spotlight show, and in this one, we discuss the case of Janik Sinner, who was cleared earlier this week of a doping violation after a panel agreed that his positive test for clostebol was caused by his physiotherapist's use of a banned substance to treat a finger cut while performing massage treatments on the player. We describe the timeline, the challenge faced by anti-doping authorities, and the controversial speed with which Sinner was able to continue playing after appealing provisional suspensions on two occasions. We also shine a spotlight on risk in sport, after a tragedy at the CrossFit Games in Texas, where a 28 year old participant died during a swim item. The team explain why swimming is where the danger exists, and then discuss the philosophy of risk and the tension between the core values of a sport, and the duty of care of the sports to protect athletes from foreseeable and unnecessary risks.Join DiscourseIf you've enjoyed our Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.Show notesJanik Sinner SpotlightSummary of the Janik Sinner decision by the ITIAThe Full Decision of the case can be read hereThe study showing clostebol positive tests through contamination, cited in the defenceEdmund Willison's article on clostebol positives, primarily in ItalyCrossFit Games SpotlightStudy on deaths in triathlon, showing the high proportion that happen on the swim legPaper that proposes Swimming Induced Pulmonary Edema as a cause of swim-related deathsLay article that explains SIPE and interviews researchers who study it, including discussion of how risk is mitigated and managed by events Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One last time, we get the band together to bring you our bumper Olympic recap show. Mike joins Ross and Gareth to look back on the Paris Games, and we discuss and debate our highlights, lowlights, winners, losers, surprises and disappointments. We offer some perspectives on the medal tables, and identify which countries outperform their resources, and why? We reflect on the great athletes and great performances from Paris, and add a final round of insights into the biggest stories. Finally we rate the Games, and take a moment to thank all of you for the fantastic interactions on Discourse, and for listening and enjoying these Olympics with us.Join DiscourseIf you're enjoying of Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The "Zatopek" is complete, and while Sifan Hassan did not perfectly replicate the Czech legend's achievements, she did help close off the Athletics programme of the Paris Olympics in spectacular fashion, winning the women's Marathon gold. We review the race, and explain how once again, the course added great intrigue to create a great race and spectacle. We also look back on the final night of track and field from the stadium, where an historically fast men's 800m produced four of the top 8 times ever, and France got its first athletics medal. Kipyegon did the expected in a fast women's 1500m, and Ingebrigtsen did the obvious in winning a slow men's 5000m. The relays, as always, capped off a great night with a near world record for the USA women, and an epic race between USA and Botswana in the men's race.Join DiscourseIf you're enjoying of Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tamirat Tola won the men's Olympic Marathon gold today, but it was the marathon course that we thought was the star of the show, as it threw two severe hills at the athletes, creating a dynamic, unpredictable race full of excitement. We explain how Tola conquered that course in remarkable fashion to break the Olympic Record with aggressive hill running. We also look back on the track action, which included relay medals for some athletes who came so close to individual podiums, as well as a double gold and bronze in the women's 10000m, and an impressively fast women's 400m. Finally, we talk breaking, boxing and the IOC's disgrace, and look ahead to the final night of track action from Paris.Join DiscourseIf you're enjoying of Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Paris 2024 Olympics were hyped as the Noah Lyles games, with the American's campaign to win four gold medals the anticipated storyline. That storyline was terminated by Botswana's Letsile Tebogo in the men's 200m final last night, and it was subsequently revealed that Lyles had tested positive for Covid on Tuesday. We discuss Tebogo's 19.46s victory, and contrast his approach to the brash approach of Lyles in a rivalry that may continue to produce fast times and good quotes. Another rivalry produced a mismatch, where Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone destroyed both the world record, and a field including Femke Bol, in another remarkable 400m hurdles race. We talk about Bol's all-or-nothing race that ultimately cost her silver. We also discuss the latest salvo in the WADA-USADA dispute, which threatens to undermine the credibility of anti-doping, as the power struggle and allegation game continue. Finally, we look ahead to the second-last night of track finals, and even remember that there's a marathon happening in Paris tomorrow!Join DiscourseIf you're enjoying of Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.Here's that WADA statement that we discuss on the show Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The men's 400m Olympic Champion is Quincy Hall, who produced a remarkable final 100m to reel in Matthew Hudson Smith. We discuss the historically fast race, with a focus on Hall's last 100m were a triumph due to survival, rather than a blistering kick. We also analyze the men's 3000m steeplechase, where el-Bakkali defended his gold and Girma's hopes crashed, literally, into the Paris track. A brief look at the team pursuit golds in cycling is followed by a news round-up including a fascinating wrestling weight loss controversy, and some drama around lane draws for Olympic finals, with some implications for tonight's action. Finally, we preview the big track finals tonight, and Ross the Octopus makes his gold medal picks.Join DiscourseIf you're enjoying of Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.Here is the story of the Indian weightlifter, Vinesh Phogat, discussed on the showA graphic showing the change in lane draw allocations for the track finals - better than listening to Ross try to explain themKenny Bednarek's tweet and the resultant discussion that he protested Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sport Climbing is one of the newest additions to the Olympic sporting menu. In Paris, climbers tackle two distinct disciplines - boulder/lead, and speed climbing. In this special episode, we are joined by Tim Cross, a science writer with The Economist, to reveal the hidden side of sport climbing. We talk about the differences between these disciplines, and how the competitions are scored and won. We also about the physiological demands of the sport, the ideal body types for climbing, and how route design presents new challenges for climbers that means that climbing excellence is both art and science, mental and physical. Join DiscourseIf you're enjoying of Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going.The IFSC Policy for RED-S, as discussed on the podcastFor Discourse members only, Discourse Member Julia Littlefair shared some really interesting thoughts on the RED-S issue. This thread also includes links to other interesting material on this issue. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In one of the most hyped, anticipated track races in recent memory, it was Cole Hocker, and not the big favourites Jakob Ingebrigtsen or Josh Kerr, who emerged as the Olympic 1500m champion. The race lived up to its billing - Ingebrigtsen's aggressive pace-setting, Kerr hunting from behind, and Hocker, patient and poised, waiting to unleash what turned out to be the deadliest kick of all. We review the race, offering insights on Ingebrigtsen's pace selection, which truly was all or nothing as he faded to finish fourth. We also discuss the other track finals (women's 200m and 3000m Steeplechase), and explore a track cycling world record deluge in Paris' velodrome.Join DiscourseIf you're enjoying of Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keely Hodgkinson has her Olympic Gold. The pre-race favourite delivered under pressure with a commanding front-running performance to secure an elusive global title. We discuss the race pattern that delivered the gold with big margins behind, and explain why it suggests a lot more to come from Hodgkinson. Beatrice Chebet outclassed Faith Kipyegon in the women's 5000m, in a race marred by a clash between Kipyegon and another pre-race favourites, Gudaf Tsegay. Mondo DuPlantis did Mondo things, winning relatively comfortably and then ticking off an Olympic record followed by another World Record in the Pole Vault. We dissect those performances, and wrap up the Artistic Gymnastics where falls and drama were the order of the day, as well as Gareth's new found Olympic love, Canoe Slalom Cross.Join DiscourseIf you're enjoying of Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a recent press conference, the IOC were asked why they believed sex eligibility tests done on the now controversial boxers were arbitrary? In response, they said "There's no reason for the test", and appeared to equivocate on what the purpose of testing might be. This is the latest in a series of side-steps in which the IOC are downplaying what those tests actually show - males in women's combat sport - and instead undermining why they were done. But for sport, the ability to assess who is eligible for a category is not arbitrary, it is fundamental to making the category work. Weight classes only work because of weigh-ins, for instance. In this Bonus episode, Ross addresses this, directly addressing the IOC to explain why the category boundary can only be defended if some form of testing is welcomed. He explains how every IOC statement on this issue should be understood as the necessary defence of their choice of inclusion ahead of fairness and safety for females, and offers the solution that would be welcomed if the choice had been made to defend fairness and safety, instead.Join DiscourseIf you're enjoying of Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Noah Lyles. The big 100m showdown in Paris saw the top four separated by 0.03s, wity 5/1000th between gold and silver. Noah Lyles came out on the winning side of that margin, defeating Kishane Thompson, with Fred Kerley taking bronze ahead of SA's Akani Simbine. The winning time, 9.784s may not have been super fast, but the race was historically deep with positions 4 to 8 all running the fastest times ever recorded for those finishing places. We discuss the tension of the 100m, and look at 10m splits and speeds to discover how the race was won by Lyles despite his slow start. We also look back at the women's cycling road race, where Kristen Faulkner delivered a perfectly timed attack to take gold from more fancied rivals. Finally, we wrap up the Olympic swimming action, where the USA delivered two world records to move to the top of the medal table, with a look back on the winners and losers from the pool.Join DiscourseIf you're enjoying of Paris Daily podcasts, and generally love sports science, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new 100m Olympic Champion was crowned in Paris as Julien Alfred pulled of an upset of sorts (but not entirely!) to win gold in 10.72s, ahead of Sha'Carri Richardson. We assess the race, explaining how Alfred's 2024 season had hinted at this performance, and how Sha'Carri Richardson didn't manage overcome a series of poor starts to add Olympic gold to her World title. We also discuss a majestic 'hunt' relay leg from Femke Bol, to shock the USA in the mixed 4 x 400m relay final. Men's cycling saw another first, with Remco Evenepoel winning the road race, and becoming the first man to win both TT and Road golds in the same Games. We also wrap up a medal rich evening in the pool, and update you on the latest news in the IOC's tragi-comedy handling of the 'Humans whose passports say women and so they're ok for women's boxing' controversy.Show notesHere's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to our Discourse forum where other listeners share their thoughts and responses to these issues Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joshua Cheptegei is the Olympic 10,000m champion, after he beat a stellar field in a fast race to open the Track programme in Paris. We discuss that race, and the Ethiopian tactics that set it up perfectly for Cheptegei. We also discuss the BMX racing, where France reach new levels of euphoria with a clean sweep of the men's podium, while Australia dominated the women's race to win gold. BMX racers produce the highest power output recorded in the sport - over 2000W to get the first bend advantage that often decides the race. We explore that and explain the metabolic demands of the race. We then preview the day ahead, where Katie Ledecky aims to cement her legacy, and the women's 100m title will be decided on the track. Will Sha'Carri Richardson do what she did in Budapest, or might the occasion, and some rivals, upset the race favourite?Show notesHere's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to our Discourse forum where other listeners share their thoughts and responses to these issuesSean Ingle's article on the technology boost for track athletes in ParisAnother piece by Sean, this one on the World Record in the 4 x 400 mixed relayPiece on Cameron McEvoys shift in training Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simone Biles established herself as the world's best gymnast in Paris, but it wasn't without a challenge from Brazil's Rebeca Andrade. The first golds were handed out in the track and field programme, won by Ecuador and China in the 20km race-walking events. We talk about how race walking is judged, and whether high tech shoes make a difference to walkers as they do to runners? In the news, athletes aren't happy with the food in the village, tennis legends are out and retiring, and the IOC flexes its plastic muscles in realms of doping control and fair and safe women's sport. Plus, we look ahead to the opening night in the Track programme, where the 10000m gold should be fought out between east African giants from Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya.Show notesHere's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to our Discourse forum where other listeners share their thoughts and responses to these issuesThe Lanterne Rouge preview of the road cycling Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simone Biles became the Olympic All Around champion for a second time in Paris yesterday. In doing so, she defeated her rivals, seemingly conquered gravity on some elements, and put to rest certain 'demons' from Tokyo 2021. Back then, she withdrew from competition citing a case of "the twisties". But what are the twisties? Often described as equivalent to the "yips" that affect golfers, the twisties can affect athletes in skill movement sports, effectively costing them the ability to know where their bodies are in space. To explore this phenomenon, and understand how athletes overcome it, we are joined by Prof Dave Collins, a performance psychologist with 40 years' experience in elite sport. Prof Collins has worked with 90 elite athletes, many in sports where the dreaded twisties can strike, such as freestyle skiing, BMX, snowboarding and gymnastics. He explains the differences between the yips and the twisties, and offers insights into they are conquered.Show notesHere's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to our Discourse forum where other listeners share their thoughts and responses to these issuesGuest Prof Dave Collins' website Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The controversial issue of males in women's sport has reared its head at the Paris Olympics. In this episode, the team discuss the case of two boxers who were disqualified after failing 'gender eligibility tests' by their international federation at last year's World Championships but, despite being biologically male, are competing in Paris. We discuss how this situation has arisen, including an explanation of the governance issues that led to their inclusion, and the biological factors that give rise to the Differences of Sex Development (DSDs) that are thought to be responsible for these two cases. We explain how significant male advantage is in sport, and why boxing, of all the sports, is one that should recognise male biology and its implications. Finally, we offer insight into the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Principles of Fairness and Inclusion, contrasting this with other sports that regulate women's sport and exclude male advantage.Show notesHere's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to our Discourse forum where other listeners share their thoughts and responses to these issuesThe IOC's Framework on Inclusion with the ten principles discussed in the show, including "Number 1: Inclusion", and "No Presumption of Advantage"The Scientific Paper that accompanied the IOC Framework aboveWe (Ross) co-authored a scientific rebuttal to that paper, addressing some of the issues with the science and human rightsHere is the IOC Guidance on language use in Paris, as raised by Gareth on the showThe International Boxing Association Technical and Competition Rules, which include, at 4.2. Eligibility Guidelines for Gender. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leon Marchand gave France even more to celebrate as completed a unique double, winning both butterfly and breaststroke golds in the pool last night. Ross and Gareth discuss those performances, along with a World Record in the pool, and add some insights on how swimmers manage their races.Other highlights in this episode include analysis of the Men's and Women's Triathlon races, discussion about the wildly successful Sevens tournament in Paris, and a men's all round gymnastics competition that went to the very last performance. We also learn about the psychology of the Twisties, and how gymnasts manage their emotions under pressure to deliver technical athletic excellenceShow notesHere's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the showJump to 1:08:14 for the Twisties psychology conversation with Prof Dave Collins Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get an insiders views on the sprint events at the Paris Olympics with Stu McMillan, one of the world's top sprint coaches. Currently in his 25th year of professional coaching, he has worked with professional and amateur athletes in a variety of sports - with the focus being on power and speed development. He has personally coached over 70 Olympians at 7 Olympic Games; over 30 of whom have won Olympic medals. Since 2013, McMillan has been based in Phoenix, Arizona, at sprint academy ALTIS, where I he is co-owner and CEO. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 4 in Paris was meant to bring us a Triathlon conversation, but that was pushed back, maybe to today, by E.Coli levels in the Seine. We discuss the implications of the delay, and learn about some extreme training approaches (that we don't recommend). The swimming action is building, including a rare double attempt by Leon Marchand in the butterfly and breaststroke, and a stuttering gold medal campaign from the USA. News from Paris includes more dubious doping denials, less than elite accommodation in the Olympic Village, and a fascinating insight into the precision of timing in swimming.Show notesHere's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the showArticle on Simone Biles, in which she talks about the struggle to continue after Tokyo, and feeling terrified of the risksThe injury and illness surveillance study mentioned in the podcast, this time back to Rio 2016 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ross and Gareth look back on Day 3 action, which featured one of the great races of the Games - an all-time epic mountain bike duel. We also review the swimming golds, and round up the Paris news, from skateboarding the streets of Paris to surfing the corals of Tahiti.On the decks in this episode:Tom Pidcock duels Victor Koretzky in a race for the ages. Overcoming a puncture, the defending champion was initially patient, then powerful, and ultimately punchy as he denied France a men-women MTB double. We break down an incredible race, and discuss how Pidcock managed his efforts to return to the front after his punctureAnother finger tip finish in the pool saw David Popovici win 200m freestyle gold by 0.02sAnother teenager, Summer Mcintosh, added 400m Medley gold to her silver in the 400m freestyle, with a dominant winWe talk pacing strategy, tactics and playing to your strengths in the pool, bringing up the swimming pacing paradoxA news roundup that includes skateboarding musings and a dramatic end to the men's team gymnastics competitionThe Men's Triathlon is tomorrow. We hope. The swimming remains in jeopardy. We talk about how that plays out in the athlete's minds and preparationShow notesHere's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the show Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ross and Gareth look back on Day 2 in Paris, which was characterized by dominance for some, despair for others, and defeats by the tiniest of margins - milliseconds and magnifying glasses. We also tackle cupping, tell the truth about lactate and fatigue, and discuss a looming controversy about males in women's sport, thanks to the IOC's leadership. On the deck:Swimming on night 2 produced a French gold and dominant win for Leon Marchand, and gold by the smallest of margins by Nicolo MartinenghiWe correct some errors in understanding of lactate's role in fatigue, as explained by the BBC in Paris two nights agoThe Mountain Biking produced an even more dominant win for France, with Pauline Ferrand Prevot destroying the competition. Crashes and bad luck punctuated the hunt for the medals she left behindA DSD controversy is growing, where both boxing and football have cases in women's events. The IOC have already acted to create this situation, and won't intervene, leaving the issue to build, to the detriment of women's fairness and safetyWe look ahead to Day 3, where the men's MTB should produce a closer battle for gold, and where five golds are on offer in the pool.Show notesHere's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the show Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France overcame Fiji and the pressure of expectation to win the first team gold of the Paris Games, and much was owed to the influence of Antoine Dupont on the Semi-final and Final. Gareth and Ross talk about Dupont's impact on those games. We also briefly review the Cycling Time-Trials, narrowly won by Remco Evenepoel and dominantly won by Grace Brown, and the opening night of swimming where the 4 x 100m freestyle relays were split between the USA and Australia. Finally, we look ahead to Day 2 action, which includes strong favourites for more home gold in women's MTB, swimming and judo, and the first of the potential Chinese swimmer controversies.Show notes:Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the showI got some of the details wrong when we discussed the underwater swimming speeds, but this is the story of the underwater swimmer and the rule change Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let the Games Begin! The Paris 2024 Olympics get underway for real today, with the first gold medals being handed out. In this Paris 2024 special, Gareth and Ross look ahead to three of the major medals being contested on Day 1. They are the men's and women's Cycling Time-trials, where Remco Evenepoel attempts to carry Tour form, but not fatigue, into a matchup against Josh Tarling and Filippo Ganna, time-trial specialists who have specifically targeted Paris.Second, we discuss the first night of swimming, which kicks off the USA vs Australia rivalry in the form of 4 x 100m Freestyle relays and a pair of 400m Freestyle finals. The latter will deliver one of the most anticipated matchups of the Games - only five women in history have broken four minutes in the 400m Freestyle, and four of them are expected to battle it out for gold in this race. We also talk pool technology, a shallower than normal pool, and how pacing is at a premium for swimmers at the Games.Finally, on the medal billing, the men's 7s gold is also up for grabs in front of a packed Stade de France, where a frenetic and occasionally flustered France remain in the hunt in a competition that is wide open after the two pre-event favourites were knocked out in the quarter-finals. It leaves France to play SA, while defending champions Fiji face Australia in what has set the stage for a fabulously supported Olympic Games.Then we are joined by James Austin, a three-time British Judo champion and 2012 Judo Olympian, who explains some of the fundamentals of Judo to us. We'll learn how the bout is won and lost, what it takes to be a champion, the tension between attack and defence, the Olympic programme, and some of his picks and highlights, all of which we hope enriches your Paris Olympics watching.Show notes:Here's where you go to sign up for Patron, with a small monthly pledge, which then gives you access to the richness of the Discourse forum mentioned on the showHere's The Original Judo Podcast, run by our guest James AustinJames Austin's biographyThe home page of the International Judo Federation Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Swiss MTB star, and fifth-place finisher at the 2022 World Championships, Marcel Guerrini offers unique insight into the races and the course ahead of the XCO mountain biking events at the Olympic Games. Guerrini suggests the men's race is more open than most think, that there is one athlete most likely to win the women's race and why tyre choice may make all the difference. The women's XCO event takes place on Sunday, July 28 and the men's on Monday, July 29. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eve of the Paris Olympics, Kara Goucher joins Ross to put their minds to the fans' dilemma - how do we celebrate the performances we see from the best athletes in the world while we struggle to trust their credibility amidst perverse incentives, suspicious behaviours and an anti-doping system we know is far from effective?Goucher is uniquely positioned to offer insights on this question: an elite athlete who reached the podium in global track and marathon events, she not only saw behind the secretive curtain of doping, but lived it as an athlete in the Nike Oregon Project. She eventually became a whistleblower, before transitioning into a new phase of her sporting life - a commentator for NBC, where she now brings track and field performances to life. But how does she compartmentalise the conflicting emotions of doubt and joy to interpret and promote the best performances ever achieved by athletes? She explains her views, talks candidly about the challenges of being a whistleblower, and how athletes should respond to the mistrust and skepticism directed towards them. Finally, she picks her three best events to watch from Paris, and even offers a potential surprise winner of the men's 1500m gold medal.Show notes:Become a Discourse member and join the conversation. Sign up with a donation here, at the Patron site, and get access to DiscourseKara's book, describing her life, career, and the practices at the NOP that led to her becoming a whistleblower Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ross & Gareth shine the spotlight on The City of Light, where the Olympic Games begin today, with the Men's Football and Sevens preliminary matches kicking off 19 days of sporting action. After a brief look back at our personal Tour de France highlights and the results of our Discourse Fantasy League, we discuss our plans for a daily Science of Sport Jeux du Jour/Games of the Day show. In this show, we'll offer sports science insights on the medal action from the day/night before, and then preview the expected upcoming highlights of the next day. Gareth also shares his thoughts on the relevance of the Olympic Games. Finally, we invite you to share your expertise on the Olympics sports with our Science of Sport Discourse community, and even showcase just how much we need your input by pretending we know even the first thing about horse training and abuse controversies in the equestrian events!Show notesBecome a Discourse member and join the conversation. Sign up with a donation here, at the Patron site, and get access to DiscourseThe equestrian controversy that saw GB's Charlotte Dujardin withdraw from the Olympics after a self-proclaimed "error of judgment" Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The spotlight falls on the most influential sports science research ever published. A recent paper produced a list of the 100 most influential sports science papers of the last 100 years. Gareth and Ross choose a handful of them, discussing what they found, what their authors didn't know at the time (and got wrong), and what it means today. We discover that the arc of sports science knowledge runs through all these studies, connecting people from AV Hill to Noakes, and themes including oxygen debt, lactate, altitude, pacing strategies, fatigue, and even the 2-hour marathon !Show notesBecome a Patron here, and then join the discussion on on Discourse CommunityStanding on the Shoulders of Giants: The paper that inspired the episode, a collection of 100 influential sports science articlesThe AV Hill Paper on muscular exertion, oxygen and 'lactic acid'. The OG of sports scienceGeorge Brooks proposes the Lactate ShuttleNoakes, St Clair Gibson and Lambert explain the concept of complex regulation. This is the summary and conclusion paper. The more detailed papers are:Why the "catastrophic model for fatigue" fails to explain real-world performance physiologyEvidence for complex systems integration and regulation of muscle activityHow fatigue and performance help control homeostasis during exercisede Koning and Foster explain how pacing is regulated during exercise, using the RPE and duration remainingMichael Joyner applies his physiological determinants of the marathon to the sub-2 hour questionLundby's review questioning the performance benefits of altitude trainingA more recent review on altitude training that covers how periodization, managing training, repeat visits and smarter nutrition may help create and increase the effectA more detailed paper on the role of nutrition when at altitude Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Spotlight, the team discuss exercise in the heat, using the challenging conditions and travails of Mark Cavendish and others in the Tour de France's first two stages as the catalyst. We explore why athletes 'fail' in the heat, and how the brain pulls a physiological ripcord to protect us when we either don't pace ourselves appropriately, or can't lose the heat we need to in order to avoid critical hyperthermia. We also briefly assess the state of the Tour's yellow jersey battle, where the first shots were landed by Pogacar on the Galibier in yesterday's Stage 4. But will they be decisive, and how likely is Vingegaard to bounce back and improve as the race progresses?Show notesBecome a Patron and join the Discourse communitySome papers on heat stroke and limiting hyperthermiaA position statement on heatstroke, including details on risk factors and pathology. Find out about "leaky guts" here!One of the Danish studies that shows how the hot brain just stops activating muscle and causes us to fail at exerciseAnother paper showing that perceived exertion is altered by hyperthermia during exercise in the heatTour de France insightsThis is the best podcast you'll listen to on the Tour, in my opinion. That is, if you really like a deep technical dive into the tactics of the raceThe analysis of Pogacar's record climb of the Galibier yesterday. Note that it was a hard stage, and so a real test of durabilityThe record was also broken on San Luca on Stage 2. Here's that analysis and power estimateThe Olympic Sport bracket that Gareth mentioned on the show - will road cycling bounce back and beat the marathon in the popularity stakes? Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tour de France begins Saturday and in this Spotlight, Ross and Gareth gaze into their crystal balls to discuss whether Jonas Vingegaard, the two-time defending champ, can recover from his April accident to challenge race favourite Tadej Pogacar? They explore how his injuries will have set back his preparation, and the challenges he'll have faced to balance recovery with adapting for the demands of a Grand Tour. They also explain how his 'durability' may be compromised, and how Pogacar may look to exploit this tactically, to kill the contest in Week 1. Add in some speculation and predictions we both hope are proven incorrect, and you have a TDF teed up for discussion and debate!Become a Patron and join the Discourse communityOur TDF Fantasy League is open - here are the detailsThe physiology of the Grand ToursWhat happens to the hormone levels during a Grand tour?Review of the physiology of the Tour, with some high level overviews of the requirements to race a Grand TourPerformance requirements of racing a Grand Tour, with some nice power data from the very best cyclistsDurability in cycling, as discussed on the showA field study of durability in elite cyclists, showing a 3% (average) drop in 20 min TT power after a fatiguing bout. Note that the fatiguing bout used (10 kJ/kg/hr) is equivalent to an easy-to-moderate mountain day in the Tour. UAE will want rivals to do a LOT more work than this before attacking in the final 20 minutesA nice study looking at how fatigue affects the power-duration curve in elite cyclists. This shows that World Tour riders are more "durable" than Pro Tour riders, and that the greater the work before "the test", the greater the decline. Again, a cue for a rider who wants to win the Tour to put his rivals under pressure before the final climbResource for power estimates in the TourPogacar's best climb of the Giro, because of the work done before it, and the altitudeCrazy high numbers from Switzerland on the short 43km stage where fatigue was not a factorRoglic's best Dauphine performance, contextualized against Pogacar at the Giro - just a few percent off where it needs to be to match Pogacar Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kenyan athletes are being banned, literally, by the hundreds. The country that produces many of the world's outstanding distance performers has a huge credibility crisis. It is clear that doping is widespread, but frustratingly, despite dozens of athletes being caught and banned every month, we are no closer to identifying how what have been described as "sophisticated doping regimes" are being managed and delivered to many of the best Kenyan athletes. In this Spotlight, the second episode of the Series, Ross and Gareth talk about the extent of the problem, the challenges faced by authorities who are casting their own spotlight on Kenyan running, and the shadow that sadly looms over Kenyan medals and records.Show notesSign up to become a Patron of the show and join the conversationThe latest AIU list of banned Kenyan runners, as at 1 June 2024. This list has since grown by about 30 namesA year ago, Kenyan government pledged to fight the doping problem with a significant investment. The bans now may be the result, but is it the solution?Rhonex Kipruto is one of the biggest Kenyan names banned to date. Here is the AIU Reasoned Decision describing the ban, including the results and graphs discussed by Ross and Gareth on the showOlympic surveys:Here is the survey we have created for you to rate every Olympic sport's "athleticism" and attributesHere is the "bracket", where you choose your favourite Olympic sport in a series of Head-to-Head battles. We are now in Round 2 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we introduce the Science of Sport Spotlight, a category of podcast that we intend to use to round up all the big sports stories with a sports science angle, and then share those insights with you. Today, we discuss the news that transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has lost a case brought against World Aquatics' transgender guidelines at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But it's not entirely as it seems - the case was dismissed because Thomas is not eligible to bring the case as Thomas is no longer a member of US Swimming. In this Spotlight episode, Professor Ross Tucker explains why that is frustrating for World Aquatics and other sports, and why the Thomas case would have made an interesting test in the court.Notes:Sean ingle's article on the decisionThe research paper by Senefeld that analysis Thomas' performance changes with testosterone suppression, alluded to in the showAnother research paper, on which I am a co-author, which explains why the IOC Guideline on the trans issue is so misguidedPatrons only: The discourse thread that mentions the Ultra cycling race won by a trans woman this past weekendYou can join the ongoing sports science conversation, and support our work, by becoming a Patron member at this link.That Patron membership gives you access to our Discourse channels, where like-minded enthusiasts discuss sports science and news Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join host Mike Finch, co-host Prof. Jill Warner and Dr Dale Rae, Director at Sleep Science and a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Physiological Sciences at the University of Cape Town, as they discuss what good sleeping habits look like, what constitutes a good sleep routine, catching up on sleep, the effects of sleep deprivation and why sleep dictates mood regulation, body health and even weight gain. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building on from our previous discussions on optimal fuelling for endurance exercise, in this episode we go deep into the details of why carbohydrates are the rocket fuel for our bodies, and how we can take advantage of metabolic agility and different fuel strategies to unlock performance gains. To do this, we are joined by Dr Jamie Whitfield, a postdoctoral researcher in exercise nutrition and an expert in muscle physiology and metabolism. We explore how your body ‘chooses’ whether to burn fats or carbs as fuel and which carbs it prioritizes as we change our intensity and diet. We discuss whether fasting or feasting before exercise is beneficial, and we learn whether ketogenic diets hinder or enhance exercise performance.SHOW NOTES:Jamie’s X account: @jwhitfieJamie’s page at the ACUThe article by Jamie and a former guest, Prof Louise Burke, responding to Prof Tim Noakes on Keto diets and performance. The entire point-counterpoint is available at the link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38485731/A research study that Jamie referred to that looked at how ingesting carbohydrates at different rates affected total carbohydrate use during exercise: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-022-05019-w Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the field of sports science facing a credibility crisis? According to guest Dr Joe Warne, key instigator of the Sports Science Replication Centre at the Technological University in Dublin, most of the research done in the field is unreliable. So what is the true picture, how can studies be done better, what role do journals play in ensuring better standards and how do consumers discern the good from the bad?Show notes:Our Patreon page, where you can sign up for access to the Discourse and other benefitsThe Discourse discussion, for all the post podcast discussions, insights into sports science, and even training and injury prevention advice. For Patrons only!Joe Warne's original post on Discourse that inspired this episode (Patron only)Simona Halep is cleared to play. We'll wait for the full CAS Decision for more discussion of this decision, but if you want to read the previous decision that led to the four year ban, it's at this linkFor Patrons, via Discourse, more discussion about Halep's ban and clearing can be found hereArticle on the cycling race in Spain that saw 130 riders out of 182 not finish, and anti-doping had shown up. The degree to which the two are linked remains unclear, as discussedJoe Warne's Sports Science Replication Center websiteOne example of a paper that Warne's group has had published on this issue Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team talk to Dr Zoe Schaedel on the impact of menopause on sleep patterns and how to resolve them. Schaedel has 15 years of experience as an NHS GP in the UK with expertise in menopause care, sleep problems, sexual health and contraception. She is an accredited British Menopause Society (BMS) Menopause Specialist and is a member of the BMS Medical Advisory Council. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join host Mike Finch, Dr Jill Warner and Emeritus Professor John Warner to break down the effect allergies have on sleep quality. The panel discuss the various allergens affecting sleep - from dust mites in your bed to cat dander - and how best to deal with them. Dr Jill Warner has a BSc in Immunology and Physiology and a PhD in Allergy from the University of London. She is currently an Honorary Professor in Paediatrics at The University of Cape Town and her research interests are in the foetal origins of allergic disease and environmental allergen avoidance. Dr Jill Warner has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and journal articles in the field of allergy. Prof. John Warner is a Professor of Paediatrics at Imperial College London and the University of Cape Town. His research has focused on the early life origins of asthma and related allergic and respiratory disorders. He has published over 400 papers in scientific journals on these topics. He was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology from 1997-2010 and chairman of the paediatric section of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology for 5 years until 2010. He is also a member of the Speciality and Training Committee of the World Allergy Organisation and a past Trustee of the charity known as The Anaphylaxis Campaign. He was a member of the Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes of the Food Standards Agency for 12 years until 2012 and was recognised for his work in food allergy research by the award of an OBE in 2013. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this case study Prof John Warner interviews a mother whose 8-year-old child suffers from persistent allergies. Could it be dust mites? Listen in on this consultation to see how allergies are diagnosed.Prof. John Warner is a Professor of Paediatrics at Imperial College London and the University of Cape Town. His research has focused on the early life origins of asthma and related allergic and respiratory disorders. He has published over 400 papers in scientific journals on these topics. He was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology from 1997-2010 and chairman of the paediatric section of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology for 5 years until 2010. He is also a member of the Speciality and Training Committee of the World Allergy Organisation and a past Trustee of the charity known as The Anaphylaxis Campaign. He was a member of the Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes of the Food Standards Agency for 12 years until 2012 and was recognised for his work in food allergy research by the award of an OBE in 2013. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Co-hosts Dr Jill Warner and Mike Finch are joined by Dr Simon Durrant, Associate Professor at the School of Psychology, University of Lincoln and Chairman of the British Sleep Society, to discuss the relationship between sleep and mental health, the most common sleep disorders and how to treat them and how sleep can determine your chances of getting depression. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Dr Dale Rae, Director: Sleep Science, Cape Town and Senior Lecturer at the Division of Physiological Sciences, University of Cape Town, and co-hosts Dr Jill Warner and Mike Finch as they talk about the special challenges adolescents have when it comes to sleep time, regularity and requirements. Understand why teenagers sleep at odd hours, how stress affects their sleep and the best sleep strategies for the younger set. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team are joined by Dr Dale Rae, Director at Sleep Science and a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Physiological Sciences at the University of Cape Town, to break down the special sleep needs of sports, and active, people. The team talk about how to earn a 'nap' licence, how much to sleep if you're an active person, how to cope with jet lag and why early risers are more likely to succeed in sport. Co-host Dr Jill Warner also interviews former Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ryk Neethling about his sleep experiences and the lessons he has learnt along the way. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 5 from the World Athletics Championships threw up some intriguing storylines. An upset in the men's 1500m, as history repeated in the GB (actually Edinburgh Athletic Club) vs Ingebrigtsen rivalry, Karsten Warholm returned to the top step of the 400m hurdles podium, and there was an agreed tie for gold in the Women's Pole vault. We discuss the physiological fragility of the 1500m event, ponder fatigue and pacing strategies in the field events, compare Lyles 2023 to Bolt 2009, and Mike gives us insights on Hungarian goulash! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike is on the ground in Budapest, and the duo are doing LIVE Instagram chats every morning, discussing the big stories from the World Athletics Championships. In this episode, we go back to Night 3 to talk about the women's 100m champion and a press conference that Mike attended (and asked a question that got a prickly answer!), and discuss Sha'Carri Richardson's volatile relationship with the media, in contrast to her huge potential upside to the sport. We also talk about Faith Kipyegon's absolute dominance of middle distance running (bordering on invincibility), the heat and humidity in Budapest as a challenge to everyone from the schedule-creators to the shot-putter to the marathon runner. We also open the door on some anti-doping stories, including the potential for a new tool, and a brewing doping controversy.These episodes have been recorded every day on Instagram live (so apologies for some scratchy sound, live from the field), and then all of them are uploaded as Patron exclusives, so if you're enjoying our coverage and feel like being part of the Science of Sport patron community, check us out and consider donating here!Show notes:The article about a tilted runway in the pole vault - Mike and his spirit level are on it!Systematic review on cannabis and its effects on exercise performanceThe Sean Ingle piece about AIU and the new antidoping toolA brief article on Tobi Amusan's whereabouts failure and the prospect of AIU appealing the decision (the full decision is out today, more to come, no doubt) Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elite ultra runner Jenna Challenor made headlines during the recent 89km (56-mile) Comrades Marathon when she crawled across the finish line on all fours to finish fourth. Mike Finch talks to her about her Comrades experience, how she dealt with debilitating long Covid, training and pacing strategies and how to tough it out.SHOW NOTES: Jenna Challenor's dramatic Comrades finish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULZQiAZF03A Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, Ross shares brief thoughts on the latest, inevitable and increasingly volatile controversy in the transgender athlete debate. Swimmer Lia Thomas has been shattering university records, setting the fastest times in the USA, and is well on the way to becoming the highest profile trans women athlete to date. Her times as Lia are within sight not only of legends of US women's swimming, but also very close to what she swam as Will Thomas, prior to a period of suppressing testosterone to become eligible for women's sport. This confirms what science has shown, that biological and performance advantages of males cannot be undone by a period of testosterone suppression. What next? Ross shares some insights, explaining how Thomas is the result of a system that has failed women from the top, how women are now being told to hold their thoughts, science be damned, and why the argument about winning and being unbeatable is spurious, and how Thomas refutes an old and incorrect rebuttal saying "if there is an advantage, where are all the medalists?". Also, a 2021 Christmas wish, and thanks for listening to the podcast in 2021. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, Ross sits down with Dr Emma Hilton, a developmental biologist who has outspokenly defended women's sport and explained the science and physiology of male vs female sporting performance differences. In a candid conversation, she shares insights ranging from political to philosophical, both personal and scientific. Why is the recent IOC Framework such a failure of leadership and setback for women? What do we make of trans men in men's sport? How should sports respond to sex reassignment during childhood? What are the most compelling arguments for and against inclusion, and how should fallacies like the length of Michael Phelps' arms steer our thinking about fairness in sport, and the need to protect the women's sporting category? All these questions, and more, answered in this wide ranging interview, which was initially broadcast live on Twitter Spaces on 25 November. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

In the ongoing debate and discussion about the risk of injury in rugby, many people have suggested that cutting the number of substitutes is the easiest and most obvious "fix". The truth, however, is a little more complex than this, because there are grounds to suggest that doing this will backfire and make the situation worse, not better. That's why decision-makers in the sport have to prioritize evidence when making decisions. In this bonus episode, Ross shares the two models in play for the substitute-case, and explains how research is needed to identify which model holds sway, and what this means for player welfare decisions in the sport. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK Sports Councils have released guidelines on transgender participation in sport, following an exhaustive and comprehensive review process. The two key points made are: 1) to confirm that the current policy that suppresses testosterone for twelve months is not fit for purpose, because advantages are retained even after testosterone is reduced, and 2) that "categorization by sex is lawful" (it also states that this categorization remains the most useful and functional division relative to sporting performance.The implications of those two statements alone are profound, and they effectively mandate the sports to make a choice between three options, also offered in the guidelines. In this bonus episode, Ross explains what they are, what this all means, and perhaps most importantly, discusses revelations from the report about fear and anxiety from those who don't believe in inclusion and fairness, and how they've been threatened into silence or compliance on this issue. That should be alarming, but the presence of this report should be encouraging. What happens next? Nobody knows, but this podcast has you covered for where we are now. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.