Ntando Mahlangu was born with fibular hemimelia, a condition that meant his legs didn't develop fully below the knees. After spending his childhood in a wheelchair, he made the decision to undergo amputation aged 10. When he received his first set of prosthetic "blade" legs, his whole world changed - and four years later, he was on the podium at the Rio Paralympics, with a silver medal around his neck for finishing second in the T42 200m sprint. By the time he turned 20, he'd added two gold medals for sprinting and long jumping to his collection.So what's he planning to do next?Eliza Skinner and Ed Harry hear from Ntando about growing up in rural South Africa, and how he's taught those around him to appreciate disabled people for who they are. He explains how seemingly small things in life have made a huge difference to him, and how walking on blades helped him develop as both an athlete and a human being.He also shares his perspective on being a veteran in his sport at the age of 22, the lessons he's learned about balancing his athletic career with personal development, and why he now feels a responsibility to build para-athletics for the generations coming through behind him: "Those hurdles are for me to jump, and to make sure the guys that come after me just walk through them."As the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics approach, delve into our archive to discover more stories of extraordinary sporting journeys. Basketball champion Breanna Stewart and shot-putter Raven Saunders explain why they use the platform sport gives them to act as advocates. Swimmer Anastasia Pagonis and rower Brigit Skarstein share how sport helped them rebuild their futures after life-changing events, while Markus Rogan and Maarten van der Weijden talk about the lives they have found after leaving competition behind. Multi-sport stars like Oksana Masters and Jana Pittman reveal what it's like to compete at both the summer and winter Games. There's stories of memorable victories, like the moment high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi chose to share his gold medal, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo putting everything on the line to reach the top step of the podium. Plus, the triumphs nobody predicted, including Molly Seidel's shock marathon bronze, and the day Anna Kiesenhofer rode away from cycling's biggest names to claim gold in Tokyo.

Men's pole vaulting has been part of the Olympics since the inaugural modern Games in 1896 - but there was no women's competition until more than a century later. When America's Stacy Dragila became the first woman to win gold in the event at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, it was the culmination of years of campaigning from athletes and coaches, who'd been training for an opportunity they were never sure they'd get. As she stood on the podium, Stacy thought about the criticism she had and her fellow competitors had faced - from disapproving comments on their appearance to being repeatedly told their bodies weren't strong enough for the sport.Stacy tells Eliza Skinner and Ed Harry about the "hot mess" that was her introduction to the sport, when her athletics coach in Idaho decided to see if her team of multi-event athletes might have an aptitude for vaulting. She recalls her journey from tentatively vaulting into a long-jump pit to setting her sights on an Olympic medal that didn't yet exist, and the battles that had to be fought to gain acceptance from athletics authorities in both the US and internationally.She also shares the unique mental and emotional experiences that come from landing a perfect jump, and reveals a few things about the event that spectators might not appreciate. Now her competitive days are over, Stacy's devoted herself to introducing children in Idaho to pole vaulting, and she explains why she finds training reluctant or unlikely athletes to be the most rewarding experience of all.As the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics approach, delve into our archive to discover more stories of extraordinary sporting journeys. Basketball champion Breanna Stewart and shot-putter Raven Saunders explain why they use the platform sport gives them to act as advocates. Swimmer Anastasia Pagonis and rower Brigit Skarstein share how sport helped them rebuild their futures after life-changing events, while Markus Rogan and Maarten van der Weijden talk about the lives they have found after leaving competition behind. Multi-sport stars like Oksana Masters and Jana Pittman reveal what it's like to compete at both the summer and winter Games. There's stories of memorable victories, like the moment high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi chose to share his gold medal, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo putting everything on the line to reach the top step of the podium. Plus, the triumphs nobody predicted, including Molly Seidel's shock marathon bronze, and the day Anna Kiesenhofer rode away from cycling's biggest names to claim gold in Tokyo.

Jess Learmonth was a talented junior swimmer, but aged 15, she decided she'd had enough. Over the next few years, she and her partner worked in supermarkets, and travelled through Asia. When they returned home, Jess realised she wasn't done with sport yet - but she didn't expect that her desire to get back into shape would eventually lead her to the top step of the Olympic podium.Eliza Skinner and Ed Harry hear how Jess's decision to take part in a triathlon as a fitness challenge eventually spiralled into a full-time career, and a spot on the UK's gold medal-winning triathlon mixed relay team in Tokyo. She shares what it was like to take up one of the Olympics' most demanding sports in her 20s, often finding herself in the company of much younger competitors, and why imposter syndrome is something she says she deals with every day. Jess also reveals how sport and confidence have been intertwined throughout her life - from feeling it was the only thing she was good at while struggling academically at school, to why she believes a lack of self-belief has helped in her competitive career. She also discusses the unique physical demands of a sport that combines swimming, cycling and running, and how becoming pregnant with her first child changed the way she thinks about her own body, as well as her attitude towards life and competition. As the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics approach, delve into our archive to discover more stories of extraordinary sporting journeys. Basketball champion Breanna Stewart and shot-putter Raven Saunders explain why they use the platform sport gives them to act as advocates. Swimmer Anastasia Pagonis and rower Brigit Skarstein share how sport helped them rebuild their futures after life-changing events, while Markus Rogan and Maarten van der Weijden talk about the lives they have found after leaving competition behind. Multi-sport stars like Oksana Masters and Jana Pittman reveal what it's like to compete at both the summer and winter Games. There's stories of memorable victories, like the moment high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi chose to share his gold medal, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo putting everything on the line to reach the top step of the podium. Plus, the triumphs nobody predicted, including Molly Seidel's shock marathon bronze, and the day Anna Kiesenhofer rode away from cycling's biggest names to claim gold in Tokyo.

John McFall's life changed forever when, at the age of 19, he lost the lower part of his right leg in a motorcycle accident. His dream of joining the British Army was over - but sport gave him a way to find the challenges he'd been seeking. A little over eight years later, he sprinted to bronze at the Beijing Paralympics. Then he left the track behind, and turned his attentions to a new challenge: training as an orthopaedic surgeon. He also began raising a family with his wife Sonia, herself a former Olympic gymnast. But a few years later, a phone call from a friend would send John on another unexpected journey - one that might even take him to outer space.Eliza Skinner and Ed Harry talk to John about the passions that have driven his life, and which are now fuelling his work with the European Space Agency to test what it will take to send a physically disabled person to space safely. He shares the emotional impact that learning to run again had on him, and how he wants his new career to challenge preconceptions of what disabled people can do, both among the scientific community and with the wider public. He also explains why he thinks his Paralympic medal was less important than the eight years of work it took to earn it, and reveals the small memento he keeps from the accident that changed everything.As the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics approach, delve into our archive to discover more stories of extraordinary sporting journeys. Basketball champion Breanna Stewart and shot-putter Raven Saunders explain why they use the platform sport gives them to act as advocates. Swimmer Anastasia Pagonis and rower Brigit Skarstein share how sport helped them rebuild their futures after life-changing events, while Markus Rogan and Maarten van der Weijden talk about the lives they have found after leaving competition behind. Multi-sport stars like Oksana Masters and Jana Pittman reveal what it's like to compete at both the summer and winter Games. There's stories of memorable victories, like the moment high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi chose to share his gold medal, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo putting everything on the line to reach the top step of the podium. Plus, the triumphs nobody predicted, including Molly Seidel's shock marathon bronze, and the day Anna Kiesenhofer rode away from cycling's biggest names to claim gold in Tokyo.

Eliza Skinner and Ed Harry meet more amazing Olympic and Paralympic athletes ahead of the 2024 Paris Games. New episodes from Thursday 27 June.Paralympic sprinter John McFall left athletics behind to become an orthopaedic surgeon - and is now setting his sights on outer space. Triathlete Jess Learmonth nearly abandoned her sporting dreams to work in a supermarket, until an epiphany led her back. Stacy Dragila had to conquer stereotypes and outdated attitudes before becoming the first woman to claim Olympic pole vault gold. And Ntando Mahlangu claimed his first Paralympic medal aged 14 - four years after he first learned to walk on prosthetic blades.Discover more stories of extraordinary Olympic and Paralympic journeys in our back catalogue. Basketball champion Breanna Stewart and shot-putter Raven Saunders explain why they use the platform sport gives them to act as advocates. Swimmer Anastasia Pagonis and rower Brigit Skarstein share how sport helped them rebuild their futures after life-changing events, while John McFall, Markus Rogan and Maarten van der Weijden talk about the lives they have found after leaving competition behind. Multi-sport stars like Oksana Masters and Jana Pittman reveal what it's like to compete at both the summer and winter Games. There's stories of memorable victories, like the moment high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi chose to share his gold medal, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo putting everything on the line to reach the top step of the podium. Plus, the triumphs nobody predicted, including Molly Seidel's shock marathon bronze, and the day Anna Kiesenhofer rode away from cycling's biggest names to claim gold in Tokyo.

Sport but not as you know it. A brand new sports storytelling podcast. Imagine being stranded in the “death zone” on one of the world’s highest mountains. How about running 200 miles in a dark tunnel? We’ve been searching the world for the most amazing sport stories. Other podcasts bring you the scores and team news. This one tells the stories you’ll wish you’d known about and now probably won’t forget. You don’t need to be obsessed with sport to find yourself immersed in our mini-seasons and short stories. Search for Amazing Sport Stories wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Or find it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xtvs1/episodes/downloads

From an alcoholic home to three gold medals aged 16, swimming was Carrie Steinseifer-Bates’s "safe place". But the pressure of being an elite athlete took its toll, and Carrie herself became an alcoholic. Today she is sober and dedicated to helping others.

Australia’s track and field gold medallist Jared Tallent campaigned for years to get what was rightfully his, following a doping scandal. Already an Olympic silver medallist in race walking, it took four years before a Russian rival was disqualified and Jared finally got his gold medal.

The Olympic water polo gold medallist inspired by her friendship with the late basketball star Kobe Bryant. After an accident left her with severe injuries, Kaleigh Gilchrist vowed to get to Tokyo in his memory. And in honour of her Olympian father.

“It saved my life.” BMX competition helped the Swiss-American athlete fight anxiety attacks, which left her unable to leave home as a young teenager. The Olympic bronze medallist is now a mental health advocate.

Singapore’s most decorated Paralympian, with five gold medals. When Yip Pin Xiu won her first gold at the Beijing Paralympics, she was the youngest in her country’s team. And it was the first time ever that Singapore’s national anthem had been played in an Olympic arena.

The Argentinian legend who fought back from cancer. Santiago had won Olympic bronze before he got sick. After years of struggle, he came back to take gold at the Rio Games.

The star basketball player in the US Olympic team. And, off the court, a voice for the abused. Breanna Stewart speaks frankly about her own experience of child sexual abuse, to give hope and strength to other victims. Since becoming a parent, she campaigns to change attitudes on professional sport and motherhood.

Gold medal-winning speed skater Denny Morrison’s near death experience, and a teammate’s selflessness. A competitor gave up his place to give Denny a sporting break, but a devastating motorbike accident was to follow. He fought back against multiple injuries, before then suffering a stroke. But Denny refused to be beaten, qualifying for the 2018 Olympics.

From rowing gold to tackling taboos. Paralympian Birgit Skarstein challenges stereotypes. A gold medallist at the Tokyo Paralympics, she campaigns for women’s sport and disability rights.

Olympic bronze against the odds, in only Molly Seidel's third ever marathon. Her success came after years of battling an eating disorder – a struggle with which she still lives. She talks about her mental health issues and the physical problems which bulimia can cause.

What does it take to be a champion? We’re back with a new season of the show that talks to Olympic and Paralympic medallists. What drives them to do what they do? With comedian Eliza Skinner, sports commentator Ed Harry and Paralympian Scout Bassett. Released weekly from 7 August 2023.

A champion swimmer’s journey to find a new path outside of the pool. Markus Rogan held a world record and won two Olympic silvers for Austria. But when he stopped competing, his world unravelled. Markus trained for a new career as a psychotherapist, and it led him back to the Olympics - as a sports psychologist.

A champion on and off the track. Paralympic track and field star Jaleen Roberts was born with physical disability cerebral palsy. But she has never let it stop her. She shares her mental health journey to help others. (CP description from Cerebral Palsy Alliance in US)

Still winning medals nearly 40 years on from his first Olympic Games, Australian equestrian Andrew Hoy has no plans to retire. After becoming the oldest man to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics, he’s gearing up to compete again.

From a child fleeing conflict to the fastest Paralympian on earth. Salum Kashafali fought for survival, escaping the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo with his family. He took 100 metres gold at the Tokyo Paralympics, breaking his own world record and becoming a global role model.

The non-pro Austrian cyclist who beat the best, without the support of a single teammate. When Anna Kiesenhofer lined up for the women's road race, few thought she was a contender. But her belief paid off and she became the first Austrian to win gold at a Summer Games for 17 years.

"This is my dream." There had never been an Olympic track and field champion from India. But Neeraj Chopra changed everything for his country. His amazing journey from a rural village climaxed with a gold medal in the men’s javelin at the Tokyo Games. Neeraj is now dedicated to inspiring the next generation of Indian athletes.

"All the things I went through": What a medal meant for a US shot-putter who used an Olympic ceremony to send a message. Raven Saunders hit the headlines in Tokyo when she made an X shape with her arms on the podium. Her aim? To show "the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet". The silver medal winner is black, gay and has spoken frankly about her struggles with depression.

Jana Pittman was a world champion hurdler, but injury halted her Olympic dreams. She came back to compete on the ice, and became Australia's first Summer and Winter Olympian when she joined the country's bobsleigh team. She’s also a medical doctor, a mother-of-six and an advocate for women's health. Image: A bright coloured background of yellows and orange and red with the backend of a bobsleigh being pushed by a figure in the all green of Australia (Illustration by Phil Smith)

The blind swimmer breaking records and stereotypes. After losing her vision as a teenager, Anastasia Pagonis broke the world record to take Paralympic gold in Tokyo. Now, she uses her platform as a social media star to break down stereotypes. Illustration: A bright coloured background of yellows and orange on the top and turquoise blue splashing up from underneath. A swimmer is rising mid stroke. her painted fingernails are visible, she is wearing a swimming hat with Pagonis on the side and blacked out swimming goggles (Illustration by Phil Smith)

A golden moment. Why a high jumper put friendship above personal glory. Gianmarco Tamberi leapt to the top of the competition at the Tokyo Olympics - but couldn't be separated from his main rival. A serious injury and a special friendship helped Gianmarco make a momentous decision. Illustration: A bright coloured background of yellows, red and orange with the figure of a man mid flight, bending over the high jump bar wearing multi coloured spikes and a vest in the blue of Italy with the name Tamberi on the front (Illustration by Phil Smith)

What makes a medal winner? How are they different from the rest of us – and how are they the same? The extraordinary human stories behind the medals. Join the Olympians and Paralympians who gave us the iconic moments at Tokyo 2020. And those who failed trying. With comedian Eliza Skinner, sports commentator Ed Harry and Paralympian Scout Bassett. Released 18 June 2022

Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh relive the thrilling moment they won gold as part of the Great Britain field hockey team in a penalty shoot-out in Rio in 2016. What is it like to win as a team? How do you create cohesion and spirit in a group, and what challenges does being partners off the field present to the whole team when you are on it? We also look at how attitudes to LBGTQ+ people vary across sports. Why do some sports seem more welcoming and inclusive than others?

One of only four Indian women to ever have won an Olympic medal, wrestler Sakshi Malik has has inspired a generation to pursue success in a field they thought wasn't open to them. She tells us how she fought back in the very last moment to snatch a bronze medal in the Rio Games, and in doing so changed not only the trajectory of her life, but attitudes to women, women's sport and women in wrestling in India.

Having lost his sight as a child, Lex Gillette discovered new purpose in his life when he took up athletics. A talented runner, Lex is also a multiple Paralympic long jump medallist, and an advocate for blind people in all areas of life. And whilst he knows a thing or two about winning - he’s a triple IPC World Champion - his four consecutive silvers in the long jump at the Paralympics mean he might be the greatest athlete in Games history never to have won gold.

At just 16 years old, Brighton Zeuner will be one of the youngest participants at Tokyo 2020 - but she’ll also be one of the favourites for gold at the Games when skateboarding makes its debut. She tells us how she balances being a normal teenager with the pressure of being an elite sports star, mixing fame with being a fan herself and being a role model to others who hope to follow her path. She also tells us how she deals with nerves when competing, and offers advice to those new to the sport on how to overcome the challenges of both the physical demands and social pressures.

Sizwe Ndlovu became the first black African to win an Olympic rowing gold, as part of the South Africa's lightweight coxless four in 2012. He describes that day as changing the rest of his life. Sizwe tells us about the challenges of growing up in a township, and how the end of apartheid and the sport of rowing helped him carve out a life he couldn't even have imagined possible as a child. A remarkable and inspirational story of achievement and perseverance, his victory became a symbol of hope for the post-apartheid South Africa.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo recalls her part in one of the most memorable finishes in Olympic history, when she dove across the line to take 400m gold for the Bahamas at the 2016 Games. She tells us how she developed the mindset and character to make it to the top and stay there, but also talks about life off the track, and how she switches off from the pressures of racing. Presented by Scout Bassett, Ed Harry and Eliza Skinner and produced by Joel Hammer for BBC World Service.

Abandoned by her birth parents, Oksana Masters had birth defects caused by radiation, most likely from Chernobyl. Trapped and struggling to survive inside an abusive orphanage system in Ukraine, at the age of eight she was adopted by an American single mother. Oksana tells us how she used the trauma of her youth to push herself to sporting greatness, including winning medals at the winter and summer Paralympics. Harnessing the anger and drawing on massive reserves of determination, this is a remarkable story of coming to terms with trauma and refusing to let it define you.

When Maarten van der Weijden was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 19, he thought it was not only the end of his sporting career, but his life. According to Maarten, he was a “lazy” patient and didn’t “win a fight” against cancer; he says he survived simply because he was “lucky”. But having been given a second chance at life, he was determined to make the most of it. Just a few years after recovering from cancer, Maarten won open-water swimming gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He reveals the techniques and mindset that got him through his darkest days, and the significance of setting goals in order to achieve things, whether that be in sport or life. He retired from competitive swimming after winning Olympic and World championship gold in 2008, and dedicated himself to raising funds for other leukaemia sufferers by completing the most severe of swimming challenges. So far, he has raised more than $15 million.

Tunisian Ines Boubakri won bronze in fencing in Rio after a thrilling comeback in her final bout. Crippled with back and knee pain, she dug deep to claim the medal and become the first North African and first Arab woman to win a medal in fencing. It was the culmination of a lifetime proving other people wrong. Ines reveals the secrets behind her success and how she controls her aggression when duelling, a crucial element to her success. She also talks about her other passion, fashion, and how alongside her sporting career she is promoting equal rights for women, particularly in the Arab world.

Paralympian Matt Stutzman is better known as the ‘Armless Archer’. Although he only took up archery a year or so before the Games in London 2012, he still managed to win a silver medal, and will be aiming for gold in Tokyo. Despite being born with no arms, Matt’s talents have seen him win the US National Target Championship, shooting against able-bodied archers, as well as claiming the world record for longest accurate shot in archery. When he’s not racing cars, he’s fixing them, and it’s no surprise that he loves comedy because his laugh is so infectious. Matt reveals how he has cultivated an attitude that has led to remarkable results, as well as providing inspiration to others.

The stories behind the medals. Scout Bassett, Eliza Skinner and Ed Harry find out what it takes to make it to the Games. All episodes available Monday 19 July.