
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

Feb 22, 2021 • 1h 35min
Q&A SPECIAL: Salty Sweater? Is it bad thing? / Why You're Probably Training Too Hard / Smart Watch VO2: How Accurate Are They?
We asked our Patreon community to pose their most vexing sport science questions so that we could answer them. Prof Tucker and Mike Finch discuss everything from salty sweaters to the real facts behind the 80-20 endurance training rule, women-specific training protocols and the accuracy of modern-day fitness smartwatches to predict VO2 max.NOTES:2020 Review on Occlusion training, a systematic review: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546520964454?journalCode=ajsbEarly (2009) review on occlusion training: https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/fulltext/2009/06000/the_use_of_occlusion_training_to_produce_muscle.11.aspx#:~:text=LOW%2DINTENSITY%20OCCLUSION%20Potential safety issues with blood flow restriction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21410544/Review on the mechanisms for improvement with blood flow restriction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25249278/Health for Performance resources in the context of women’s sport and RED-S: http://health4performance.co.uk/SUPPORT US ON PATREON!https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 21, 2021 • 1h 15min
S3 E1: The Science of Motivation / Does BMI really matter? / How Exercise Affects Body Temperature:
S3, Ep1: In our first episode of 2021 Mike Finch and Prof. RossTucker discuss the science of staying motivated, if Body Mass Index (BMI) is outdated and how exercise affects body temperature. We also discuss plans for the year, the issue of health versus performance and whether or not the Tokyo Olympics may go ahead this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 8, 2020 • 1h 41min
Does Crowd Support Matter? / What Covid Taught Us / 2021: The Stories to Watch
From shoe tech to the effect of crowd support on performance, 2020 has been an unprecedented year that also provided some unique opportunities. Together with some of the leading voices in global sports science, Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch look forward to the breakthroughs and controversies likely to dominate in 2021, why they matter and how they will change the games we play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 3, 2020 • 1h 28min
Why Rugby's Controversial New Transgender Guidelines Make Sense For All Sporting Codes
In early October 2020, World Rugby released its Transgender Guidelines aimed at protecting player safety. But the guidelines were followed by controversy with some unions even refusing to implement them, Prof. Ross Tucker, who was part of the World Rugby committee that decided on the guidelines, explains why the science makes sense and why all sporting codes need to look closely at World Rugby's lead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 6, 2020 • 1h 5min
What the London Marathon Taught Us About Performance and Temperature / The Fall of Kipchoge / Can Kosgei Be Beaten?
The ground-breaking 2020 London Marathon saw the great Eliud Kipchoge lose his first marathon since 2013 as Ethopian Shura Kitata took the men's win and Brigid Kosgei the women's title. But the real story of the marathon was the weather and what really happened to Kipchoge on race day. Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch take a close look at one of the most dramatic city marathons in history Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23, 2020 • 1h 10min
TOUR DE FRANCE WRAP: Pogacar's Race-Winning TT Analysis / Cadence vs Power / VAM Explainer
Slovenian Tadej Pogacar's sensational penultimate stage performance up the famed Les Planche de Belle Filles, on his way to his overall win, will go down in legend as one of most dramatic moments in Tour de France history. Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch break down the numbers, discuss the implications and wrap up an enthralling edition of the world's greatest stage race. They also discuss cadence vs power, the meaning of VAM, the Covid success story and whether leg length and height make a difference in cycling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 15, 2020 • 1h 16min
TOUR DE FRANCE 2020 (Week 2): The True Risk of Covid and Roadside Fans / Pogacar's Climbing Numbers / The Concussion Question
Do excitable fans on the side of the roads really present a threat to cyclists in the midst of the Covid pandemic? Join Mike and Ross for a second week analysis of the 2020 Tour de France as they delve into the facts, the numbers and the stats and look forward to a thrilling final week Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 12, 2020 • 41min
THE CASE OF CASTER: Why Principle Trumped Bad Evidence / Her Future / What It Means For the Future of Women's Sport
This week double Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya lost her appeal in a Swiss Federal Court to have a decision made by World Athletics - effectively forcing her to lower her testosterone levels artificially in order to compete in her favoured event - overturned. Ross and Mike break down this complex issue, question some of the suspect evidence and decisions made by World Athletics and what the future holds for the controversial athlete. Support our podcast @ https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 8, 2020 • 1h 23min
TOUR DE FRANCE 2020 (Week 1): First Week Deep Dive / What Pro Power Data Shows Us / The Covid Question / How the Sprints are Won
The first week of the delayed 2020 Tour de France threw up some big surprises and some stunning performances. But what does all the data say about the state of the sport, the contenders and what it takes to win? Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch take a deep dive into the first week of a long-awaited Tour, break down the facts and make some predictions, Support our podcast @ https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 snips
Sep 2, 2020 • 1h 22min
THE SUPPLEMENTS EPISODE / Why Most Claims are Bogus / What Really Works / The Problem with Vitamins
From vitamins to weight-loss tablets, muscle builders and energy drinks, supplements promise a quick fix to performance and health. But is there any evidence that they work? Join Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch as they lay bare the often murky, and unregulated, world of supplements, the bogus claims and some of the dangers of believing in the hype. Support our podcast @ https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.