The Real Science of Sport Podcast

Paris 2024 Daily: Day 1 - Swimming Finals, Sevens Gold and a Lesson in Judo

Jul 27, 2024

Remco Evenepoel, a professional cyclist fresh off the Tour de France, aims for Olympic glory while facing off against time-trial specialists Josh Tarling and Filippo Ganna. The swimming finals heat up as rivals USA and Australia clash in the 4 x 100m Freestyle relays, featuring a thrilling 400m matchup with historic implications. Meanwhile, the men's rugby sevens gold hangs in the balance, with an unpredictable competition set to unfold. Judo expert James Austin shares insights on the sport's mental and physical demands as Olympic excitement builds.

59:31

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Episode guests

Josh Tarling

Remco Evenepoel

Filippo Ganna

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast captures the electric atmosphere surrounding the opening day of the Paris 2024 Olympics, highlighting key events like swimming and cycling.

A thrilling showdown is anticipated in the women's 400-meter freestyle, featuring a historic rivalry between top competitors Katie Ledecky and Ariane Titmus.

The unpredictable nature of rugby sevens is showcased, emphasizing France's strong home advantage and the passionate crowd's support during matches.

Deep dives

Olympics Opening Ceremony Insights

The podcast covers the anticipation surrounding the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, emphasizing the excitement and unpredictability of such grand events. The hosts acknowledge the potential for humorous or serious mishaps during the ceremony, indicating their decision not to speculate before the event. Instead, they invite listeners to share their thoughts on the ceremony through a dedicated community platform, where discussions can continue throughout the games. This interactive approach fosters engagement and allows for a range of perspectives on the unfolding events.

Intro

3min

Rivalries and Records: Women's 400m Freestyle at Paris 2024

5min

The Science of Swimming Performance

11min

Olympic Cycling and Outdoor Adventures

4min

The High Stakes of Rugby and Judo at the Olympics

28min

Promoting Judo: Opportunities and Challenges Post-Olympics

3min

Exciting Storylines and Key Athletes to Watch at the Olympics

6min

Engaging Insights and Recommendations

2min

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:

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Here's The Original Judo Podcast, run by our guest James Austin

James Austin's biography

The home page of the International Judo Federation

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