The Christians in Sport Podcast

Episode 3 sees Danno chatting to former rugby wildman turned youth coach Chris Jones and ex-Winter Olympian Adam Pengilly. The pair enjoyed successful, but vastly different careers in top-level sport, with Adam a skeleton slider and Chris an uncompromising prop. But both are only too aware of the challenges faced by elite sportspeople on retirement. Chris talks about trying to fill a void in his life left behind by rugby, while for Adam, it was easy to think that part of his identity had disappeared. Chris and Adam’s accounts will resonate with many top-level sportspeople who are making the difficult transition to that next stage of life. Listen in as they talk about Struggling to keep playing due to injury (2mins 20secs) The emotional impact of knowing you have to retire (2.55) The lows of going through that transition (6.00) Getting your head around no longer being an athlete (10.08) Thinking part of you was now ‘gone’ (12.05) Helping other sportspeople move on (15.15) The impact Christian faith has had on all of this (17.20) And much more..

Welcome back to the Retirement Question. We resume with Danno chatting to former professional golfer Alison Nicholas. The highlights of Alison’s 20 years at the pinnacle of golf included winning the 1997 US Open and captaining Europe to Solheim Cup victory in 2011.  Although she achieved great success on the course with 18 tournament wins, Alison found the transition to life after golf far harder than she expected. Danno asks her: “How on earth did you cope with retirement?” To which, Alison replies: “I’m not sure I did to be honest. I didn’t plan it, which was a real mistake looking back. I knew I didn’t want to play on the tour anymore. I was struggling with the lifestyle and not being able to play to the standard I wanted to.” Now working to support Christian golfers on the Ladies European Tour, Alison’s story will resonate with many elite sportspeople dealing with the impact of retirement. Listen in as Alison talks about The huge impact retirement had on her (2mins 10secs) Struggling with her self worth (3.20) Knowing it was time to hang up her clubs (6.00) How faith in Christ gave her perspective in all of this (7.00) The vital support she received from Christian friends and family (12.00) Her advice to sportspeople facing retirement (14.00) And much more...

For elite athletes, this is singularly the greatest issue. When you stop playing, you have no idea who you are, where you fit into society, what your future holds or how to conduct yourself. It’s a tremendous pressure on elite athletes and that’s why we’re looking at it. In this first episode of a new series, Danno chats to former Premier League footballer Linvoy Primus. Having played more than 400 professional matches over a 17-year career, Linvoy shares some of the challenges he faced in making the transition to life after football and offers advice to elite athletes approaching retirement today. Listen in as Linvoy talks about Knowing it was time to retire (2mins) When it finally sunk in that he was an ex-footballer (7.20) The impact of a Bible verse given to him by a 15-year-old fan (14.20) The fears retiring athletes have (20.45) Trusting in God when you’re outside your comfort zone (22.00) And much more…

Danno is in Australia as a chaplain at the Commonwealth Games.  We interviewed him to find out what he's up to and what he's saying to top level athletes in this high-pressured environment.

With the Winter Olympics about to start, Danno dives into the adrenaline-filled world of skeleton to meet Adam Pengilly. Hurtling down an icy track lying prone on a sled at speeds of over 80 mph would scare the life out of most people, but Adam, a world silver medallist in 2009, relished the experience. In this gripping podcast, Adam shares the highs and lows of a career that saw him represent Team GB at Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010. He tells Danno how he got into the Winter Olympics the “wrong way around” and how he struggled to deal with disappointment. That changed was he was helped to see how his identity as a Christian could transform the way he competed. Reflecting on his Olympic debut, Adam said: “I had a great chance of winning bronze and I wasn’t able to take it. Unfortunately, too much of my identity was caught up in my success.” Listen in as Adam talks about  The difference between bobsleigh and skeleton (0mins 40secs) How his natural attributes were suited tt skeleton (3.45) How he ended up worshipping his sport (6.20) Learning to give his all for God’s glory (11.05) Realising that even a world medal didn’t really satisfy (17.35) And much more…

Welcome back to the Leadership Files. This time, we head into the world of elite rowing as Danno catches up with double Olympic silver medallist and three-time world champion Debbie Flood. As well as her successful career on the water, Debbie’s leadership skills saw her become the first ever female captain of the world famous Leander Club. Debbie shares how she strived to make the most of her own God-given gifts and talents while serving and supporting her teammates. She says: “I would always look at other athletes to see their huge capability and potential. Part of my motivation in leading others in the sports world was wanting them to achieve their potential as well.” Debbie describes the difference her faith in Jesus made to her as a leader, how she looked to be an example to her teammates and the challenge to help others rather than tread them down in the cutthroat world of Olympic sport. Listen in as Debbie talks about: Teaming up with those she had competed against for selection (4mins 35secs) Applying the Olympic motto ‘higher, faster, stronger (12.10) Rowing without fear for the ‘Audience of One’ (16.00) And much more…

Welcome back to the Leadership Files. This time, we return to the world of golf as Danno catches up with former US Open champion and victorious Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas. From the outset, Alison shares how Christian faith has shaped her leadership at the pinnacle of her sport. She says: “What would Christ do in this situation? That’s the question I ask myself.” Alison talks about making tough selection calls as a captain, how she grew as a leader, sleepless nights and struggling with her identity. Listen in as Alison talks about Facing the flak from unpopular decisions (4mins 25secs) Managing different players and personalities (7.30) How the Bible shapes her life (18.10) And much more…

Welcome to the Leadership Files - series three of The Christians in Sport Podcast. We kick off with Danno catching up again with former rugby wildman turned youth coach Chris Jones. Recorded at the ‘House of Pain’ - the home of Pontypridd RFC, the podcast sees Chris share how he learned to coach in the hard but fair style that has brought his Rhondda Valley teams great success. He says: “Any side that I coach, they will be committed, they will be physically and mentally prepared, they will be tough, but they will play within the rules as well.” Chris relates how his Christian faith has shaped him as a leader, why he is still hungry to follow the calling God has given him and where he finds solace in tough times. Listen in as Chris talks about Why you have to be passionate as a coach (5mins 30secs) What’s most important to him as he coaches (12.00) Why coaching is so worthwhile (19.30) And much more…

Why should Christian athletes at the top level get stuck into church? That’s the question we’re tackling on the latest Christians in Sport Podcast. Having met a series of elite sportspeople over the course of the year, we now discuss another key issue that comes out of many of the interviews. The Bible tells us that followers of Jesus should prioritise meeting together (Hebrews 10 v 25), but that can be really hard for elite athletes who spend much of the season away from home and are often viewed as celebrities when they are there. Despite this, our panellists, former Olympic rower Debbie Flood and ex-Premier League footballer Linvoy Primus, found church to a vital encouragement as they looked to follow Jesus at the highest level of sport. In this podcast, they tell Danno why that was the case and the vital difference being part of supportive church families made to them. To get the ball rolling, we hear clips from previous interviews with Paralympic sprinter Niel Louw, ex-England women’s hooker Ann O’Flynn and former West Bromwich Albion defender Darren Moore, which Debbie and Linvoy expand on. Listen to this fascinating podcast as the panel talk about: - The feeling of finally belonging somewhere (3mins 40secs) - Being cared for and supported by a church family and the wonder of normality (6.00) - The importance of good Bible teaching in applying faith to professional sport (8.30) - Prioritising meeting with other Christians (13.40) - Still going to church when your bad performance was shown on Match of the Day (16.45) - Being supported and prayed for while on training camps and away competing (21.30) - The importance of midweek fellowship groups (22.30) - Advice to church leaders if elite sportspeople join their church (23.40) - Why every follower of Jesus needs to be encouraged (26.00) - And much more…

A special roundtable podcast with Graham Daniels interviewing Olympian Debbie Flood and footballer Linvoy Primus about what its like being a Christian and a top-level athlete and if the two can go together.