Dame Laura Kenny, Team GB's most decorated female Olympian, delves into pressing issues faced by female athletes, particularly the potential impact of elite sports on fertility. She discusses the dire need for reform in children's physical education due to rising obesity rates, advocating for increased participation in sports. Emma Barnett joins her to highlight the emotional complexities of motherhood within competitive sports and the importance of community support. Kenny's candid insights foster a rich conversation about health, empowerment, and the joy of sports.
Dame Laura Kenny emphasizes the emotional challenges of balancing elite athletics and motherhood, particularly regarding her experiences with pregnancy and miscarriage.
She advocates for increased female leadership in sports, stressing the importance of supporting women to pursue leadership roles in the athletic sector.
Deep dives
Guest Editors and Their Contributions
The episode highlights a tradition of entrusting editorial control to guest editors who shape the content of a popular program. This year's guest editors include notable figures such as Baroness Floella Benjamin, Dame Laura Kenny, and Dwayne Fields, each bringing unique perspectives to the table. Their involvement allows for diverse topics and discussions that reflect their personal interests and experiences, making the programming more relatable to audiences. The guest editors collaborate with producers to curate segments that resonate with current issues, leading to engaging conversations during the designated holiday broadcasts.
Dame Laura Kenny's Editorial Experience
Dame Laura Kenny shares her insights on the experience of being a guest editor, revealing that it has been surprisingly straightforward due to her familiarity with sports and conversation. Her approach centers around choosing topics that genuinely interest her, prioritizing engaging dialogue over scripted exchanges. This natural flow of discussion has created a relaxing atmosphere for meaningful conversations that delve into her experiences in athletics and motherhood. Kenny emphasizes the importance of genuine interaction and the value of open, free-flowing conversations in media.
Navigating Personal Challenges
Kenny reflects on the personal struggles she faced during her journey to motherhood, particularly the challenges surrounding her second pregnancy. Her candid discussion includes the emotional toll of miscarriage and the intense desire she felt for her second child, which significantly impacted her mental well-being. She also opens up about the pressure she faced while balancing competitive cycling and family life, leading her to retire from the sport. This honest dialogue aims to shed light on the complexities of maternal ambitions and the societal expectations surrounding women in sports.
The Future of Female Leadership in Sports
There is a focus on the need for increased female leadership within the sports sector and the personal development necessary for achieving such roles. Kenny discusses the importance of empowering women to pursue leadership positions, highlighting that many feel discouraged due to historical biases. Through collective discussions, she expresses optimism about the changing landscape and the growing opportunities for women in sports. Additionally, Kenny aims to contribute positively to future generations by advocating for better representation and more support for women in athletic leadership positions.
Dame Laura Kenny is Team GB's most decorated female Olympian. She used her guest edit of Today to ask whether elite sport could have a damaging impact on the fertility of female athletes? She also shares her concerns about how much physical exercise children get at school.
Dame Laura Kenny is speaking to Emma Barnett.
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Over the Christmas period we're bringing you extended interviews with the Today programme's Christmas guest editors, so hit subscribe on BBC Sounds to make sure you get an alert every time we release a new episode.
The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson who are both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.
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