
The Real Science of Sport Podcast
World-renowned sports scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch break down the myths, practices and controversies from the world of sport. From athletics to rugby, soccer, cycling and more, the two delve into the most recent research, unearth lessons from the pros and host exclusive interviews with some of the world's leading sporting experts. For those who love sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

7 snips
Jun 7, 2022 • 1h 10min
EXCLUSIVE: How Adidas Took On Nike In The Shoe Wars
The team take a critical look at an interview with Simon Lockett, Global Category Director of Running Footwear at adidas. Simon and his team are involved in the overall strategy, product creation, and go-to-market approach for a number of franchises including ADIZERO racing footwear and the Duramo franchise. He works together with a team of expert product managers who work alongside design and development to produce the world’s fastest running shoes. But have adidas succeeded in taking on Nike and were they sent into panic mode when the US giant released the first super shoe back in 2016? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 17, 2022 • 1h 8min
Doping and the Curious Case of Shelby Houlihan
Excuses for doping are as varied as the drugs available on Amazon (yep, it's that easy!). But what does it take to be a doper? Are authorities winning the war and is American track superstar Shelby Houlihan really guilty of being a doper herself? The team unpack it all in this latest update on the war against performance-enhancing drugs.Show notes:Read more about the topics discussed in this podcast here:Ross' detailed technical analysis of the Shelby Houlihan caseThe Q&A that LetsRun.com does with Ross on the caseThe full CAS decision in the Shelby Houlihan caseA review of the risk of contamination of supplementsA second review on the risk of inadvertent doping through supplement use Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 snips
Apr 21, 2022 • 55min
How The Pros Train (And What We Can Learn From It)
From top level cyclists to world-class runners and speedskaters, pro training regimes offer a fascinating look into what it takes to count yourself among the world's best. Recent research among top-level athletes is also leading us to question entrenched training methods as sports scientists continue to learn more about the way the body adapts and reacts to exercise.SHOW NOTES:The study of world class distance runners’ training - https://sportsmedicine-open.springeropen.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s40798-022-00438-7.pdfA study comparing polarized training to a high threshold pyramidal training model, as mentioned in the show: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jonathan-Esteve/publication/237096628_Does_Polarized_Training_Improve_Performance_in_Recreational_Runners/links/0a85e530cba391399a000000/Does-Polarized-Training-Improve-Performance-in-Recreational-Runners.pdfMarius Bakken’s website, which describes the Norweigan model: http://www.mariusbakken.com/the-norwegian-model.htmlThe training approach of Nils van der Poel: https://www.howtoskate.se/One of Stephen Seiler’s early descriptions of the polarized training of elite athletes: https://paulogentil.com/pdf/Quantifying%20training%20intensity%20distribution%20in%20elite%20endurance%20athletes%20-%20is%20there%20evidence%20for%20an%20optimal%20distribution.pdf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 13, 2022 • 1h 4min
CYCLING SPECIAL: The Science of Cadence / Van der Poel's Incredible Numbers / Colbrelli's Health Scare
In this cycling special, we take a deep dive into the numbers that helped Mathieu van Poel win the Tour of Flanders, why new research on cadence has challenged decades-old beliefs and how sportspeople with heart problems may still be able to compete at the top level thanks to modern technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 24, 2022 • 1h 1min
The Lia Thomas Controversy: Anger in the Age of Trans Gender Sport
Transgender athlete Lia Thomas recently won the 500-yard title at the US National College Swimming (NCAA) Championships triggering an uproar and suggesting that her participation may have wide-ranging implications for women's sport. At the recent MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston, Prof. Ross Tucker was invited as a guest to discuss the transgender issue in sport and discusses the issue here in the context of the Thomas affair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 24, 2022 • 1h 40min
The Future Of The Olympics: Are They Heading For Obscurity?
Viewership figures are down, fewer cities want to host them and their integrity is being seriously challenged. What does the future of the Winter and Summer Olympic Games look like? The team talk to the Chief Sports Reporter of the UK's The Guardian, Sean Ingle, and renowned author, journalist and columnist David Epstein to present the facts and the challenges facing the Games and potentially the solutions to help them survive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

45 snips
Feb 15, 2022 • 1h 21min
The Science of Endurance: Fuel & Hydration
Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch break down the various forms of energy the body uses, how they work, how we fuel them and when to use what. Plus learn to decipher the ingredients in energy supplements, understand why carbs are still king and how best to train your body to become an efficient endurance machine. A must-listen for any endurance athlete. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 8, 2022 • 1h 34min
Winter Olympic Special: The Science of Ice Hockey, Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon
What makes world-class ice hockey players, cross-country skiers or biathletes? We ask two experts to help explain the special set of skills needed to compete at the top level, the challenges athletes face and the training they do to compete. If you've never understood anything about the Winter Olympics here's your chance to take a deep dive into three of the most fascinating disciplines.Guest Biographies:Tommy Lundberg is a consultant to the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation along with his job as a lecturer and researcher at the Division of Clinical Physiology at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Follow him on Twitter @TLexerciseKerry McGawley is a senior researcher and Associate Professor at Sweden's Winter Sports Research Centre. She is actively involved in performance development among Sweden's top winter sports athletes. Follow her on Twitter @KerryMcGawleySupport the Science of Sport podcast https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13 snips
Feb 1, 2022 • 1h 24min
The Science of Endurance
Welcome to endurance month! In this episode the team break down the mechanics of endurance, the five challenges that long-distance athletes face, how the body changes the longer we exercise and why humans are more adapted to going long than any other living creature on the planet. We also ask whether excessive exercise is always good for you and look back at the lessons learnt from endurance athletes of yesteryear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 25, 2022 • 1h 14min
The Effects of Heat on Exercise
This podcast explores the effects of heat on exercise, including the challenges of racing in extreme heat, the consequences of heat stroke, and the importance of heat management in sporting events. They discuss heat exhaustion and heat stroke, pre-cooling strategies, and how the brain regulates exercise failure. The speakers emphasize the need for heat policies in sports and highlight the upcoming World Cup. They conclude by promoting another podcast.