The Real Science of Sport Podcast

Sean Ingle, Guardian Chief Sports Reporter, discusses the state of anti-doping in sport, conflicts in the media zone, the marketability of the sport and its athletes, and his family history in boxing. They also touch on the upcoming Rugby World Cup and the challenge of preventing and managing head impacts.

Why the Owen Farrell incident may well have saved rugby / Remco Evenepoel takes on the best stage racers at this year's Vuelta a Espana: Can he dominate? / All the best performances and stories from the World Athletics Championships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast explores the effectiveness of the Q-Collar in preventing concussions, debunking its claims and lack of evidence. They discuss woodpeckers showing signs of brain injury, the misinterpretation of altitude's role in protecting against concussions, and the ineffectiveness of the Q-Collar in preventing concussions. The hosts also debunk the pseudoscientific digit ratio theory and highlight the reproducibility crisis in sports sciences.

Day 5 from the World Athletics Championships threw up some intriguing storylines. An upset in the men's 1500m, as history repeated in the GB (actually Edinburgh Athletic Club) vs Ingebrigtsen rivalry, Karsten Warholm returned to the top step of the 400m hurdles podium, and there was an agreed tie for gold in the Women's Pole vault. We discuss the physiological fragility of the 1500m event, ponder fatigue and pacing strategies in the field events, compare Lyles 2023 to Bolt 2009, and Mike gives us insights on Hungarian goulash! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike is on the ground in Budapest, and the duo are doing LIVE Instagram chats every morning, discussing the big stories from the World Athletics Championships. In this episode, we go back to Night 3 to talk about the women's 100m champion and a press conference that Mike attended (and asked a question that got a prickly answer!), and discuss Sha'Carri Richardson's volatile relationship with the media, in contrast to her huge potential upside to the sport. We also talk about Faith Kipyegon's absolute dominance of middle distance running (bordering on invincibility), the heat and humidity in Budapest as a challenge to everyone from the schedule-creators to the shot-putter to the marathon runner. We also open the door on some anti-doping stories, including the potential for a new tool, and a brewing doping controversy.These episodes have been recorded every day on Instagram live (so apologies for some scratchy sound, live from the field), and then all of them are uploaded as Patron exclusives, so if you're enjoying our coverage and feel like being part of the Science of Sport patron community, check us out and consider donating here!Show notes:The article about a tilted runway in the pole vault - Mike and his spirit level are on it!Systematic review on cannabis and its effects on exercise performanceThe Sean Ingle piece about AIU and the new antidoping toolA brief article on Tobi Amusan's whereabouts failure and the prospect of AIU appealing the decision (the full decision is out today, more to come, no doubt) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From creating a healthy relationship with food to eating for performance, looking after young athletes is a complex issue with long-term repercussions. The team sit down with dietician Dr Sarah Chantler to discuss challenges and solutions. They explore the impact of fatigue on performance in road races and the interesting physiological aspect of cycling. They discuss penalizable offenses and World Athletics Championships, highlight altitude training's molecular effects, and tackle misconceptions about body composition. They also address strategies for high-risk individuals, the importance of prioritizing food over supplements, and the significance of proper nutrition for young athletes.

From pro cyclists to runners and cross-country skiers, altitude training is a popular preparation method for a major event. But is it as simple as training high? The team break down the benefits, the science and the reasons why it may not work for everyone. SHOW NOTESArticle on the AFL’s potential reduction in contact trainingArticle on AFL considering mandatory headgear for playersKate’s caught my eye that looks at five case studies of navicular stress fractures in runners wearing carbon plated running shoesALTITUDE TRAININGThe research showing a reduction in VO2max of about 6% per 1000m of altitude gain, with performance impairments 14.5% per 1000m The first of two good reviews, this one explaining the concepts and principles of altitude trainingA decade later, a contemporary review of how altitude training and training periodization should be managedThe research that found that LHTL didn’t have any benefit compared to LLTL in cross-country skiersOne of the “skeptic” reviews calling for more research on altitude trainingVery recent review showing that the responder vs non-responder concept may not be as simple as was thought, and that various factors contribute to the success of altitude training camps Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The critical moments that split the top contenders at this year's Tour de France rose more than a few eyebrows. The team take an in-depth look at the cycling spectacle, look closer at the numbers we know and discuss the merits of full disclosure by the top riders to help rebuild trust in cycling performances. PLUS Migual Angel Lopez's doping suspension and more on the ongoing transgender debate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dane Jonas Vingegaard produced arguably the greatest individual time trial in cycling history during the 16th stage of the 2023 Tour de France. The team discuss the numbers, implications and the many questions that such a dominating performance raises. PLUS Carlos Alcaraz's biggest challenge in his tennis career after his Wimbledon victory, Caster Semanya's latest court victory and the recent UCI decision on transgender athletes.SHOW NOTES:Tom Dumoulin's assessment of Jonas Vingegaard's 16th stage performance The power profile of elite cyclists. A great paper to understand what the elite guys are doing. If only we could see this for the front of the race on days like yesterday and today! A paper on how fatigue affects power output in elite cyclistsA story that talks of the 97 ml/kg/min VO2max of Jonas Vingegaard, as yet unverified Paper looking at how position on the bike affects speed at the same power output Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A rare case of CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in a young female sportswoman asks the question: Are women more susceptible to head injuries than men? Plus the controversy around an English cricket repor on racismt, the Ben Stokes stumping affair and how some sports are dealing with fat shaming among young sportspeople.SHOW NOTES:CTE case identified in a female athlete: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/04/first-case-cte-female-athlete-aflw-player-heather-anderson-diagnosed-australian-researchersResearch article we mentioned where the criteria used to identify TES were challengedEngland’s report on racism in cricketReport on Wetmore and body composition tests in runnersSwimming England bans weighing of young athletesEnhanced Games initial reportThe substack by Sarah Barker that describes how the US Anti-doping category doesn’t think a runner in the non-binary category is male or female Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.