The Real Science of Sport Podcast

Paris 2024: Kara Goucher On Trusting Performances In An Age of Mistrust

Jul 25, 2024

Kara Goucher, elite athlete and whistleblower, discusses balancing trust and skepticism in sports. She reflects on the challenges of celebrating exceptional performances amidst doping suspicions. Goucher talks about the importance of athlete-media relationships and her experience as an Olympics commentator. She provides insights on upcoming track and field events at the Paris Olympics, highlighting potential surprise winners and exciting storylines.

42:43

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Episode guests

Kara Goucher

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Compartmentalizing doubt and joy is vital in promoting athlete performances.

Being a whistleblower in sports requires navigating challenges and responses to skepticism.

Deep dives

Olympics Coverage and Ethical Dilemmas in Sports

The podcast delves into the intricate world of the 2024 Olympics coverage, discussing the tensions between embracing athletic achievements and questioning the methods behind extraordinary performances. It features an interview with Kyra Goucher, a renowned athlete and whistleblower in the Nike, Salazar, Oregon project scandal, who sheds light on the complexities of navigating sports commentary while being aware of potential doping issues.

Intro

4min

Exploring Ethical Challenges in Sports and the Olympics

17min

Navigating Trust and Skepticism in Sports

2min

Challenges of Cleanliness and Whistleblowing in Sports

7min

Commentating on the Olympics

4min

Excitement and Speculation for Track and Field Events at the Paris Olympics

9min

Discussion on French and British athletes' performances and a message of gratitude

2min

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:

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Kara's book, describing her life, career, and the practices at the NOP that led to her becoming a whistleblower

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