The Real Science of Sport Podcast

2024 was a year filled with unforgettable sporting moments and controversies. The hosts celebrate standout performances, including Leon Marchand's historic Olympic wins. They discuss failures like breakdancer Reagan's Olympic fate and the ongoing debates around transgender athlete participation. Innovations in endurance training and carbohydrate strategies are explored, highlighting the intersection of science and sport. The dynamics within rugby and American football, alongside a look towards the ethical challenges in sports science, make for a reflective yet engaging review of the year.

Gareth Davies, a moderator of the Discourse community and talent development expert, joins to discuss the inefficiencies in identifying and nurturing athletic talent. He and Ross Tucker dive into the ruthless 'race to the bottom' in elite sports, highlighting the human and financial costs that stem from lost young athletes. The conversation also touches on recent anti-doping developments, including changes in regulations that tackle contamination and the ban on carbon monoxide for performance enhancement, revealing a complex web of challenges in sports governance.

James Templeton, a seasoned sports agent with 27 years of experience, discusses the rise of sprinter Gout Gout, who broke the Australian men's 200m record at just 16. They explore the excitement surrounding Gout's potential to rival Usain Bolt and the unique challenges young athletes face. James shares insights on managing talents, the importance of strategic planning, and how Gout is adapting to newfound fame. The conversation also touches on lessons from past legends to help navigate pitfalls in a young athlete's career.

Gareth Davies, a sports discourse expert, dives into the scandal involving tennis star Iga Swiatek and her positive test for trimetazidine. The discussion unpacks whether doping tests go too far and if there's a need for thresholds in prohibited substances. Gareth reveals the stigmas athletes face, even when innocent, affecting their performance and sponsorships. He also highlights the challenges in proving unintentional doping and calls for accountability from pharmaceutical companies, emphasizing the broader dilemmas athletes encounter in the world of sport.

Join Gareth Davies, a cycling enthusiast and contributor to the Discourse community, as he shares insights from his Zwift training experience. Discover the debate on high cadence versus torque training and its impact on cycling performance. Explore the staggering energy demands faced by female cyclists in the Tour de France Femmes, with athletes burning up to 7500 kCal daily. Plus, dive into the complexities of doping controversies, including calls for WADA to address carbon monoxide misuse and the Enhanced Games' provocative prize for record-breaking performances.

Dr. Ross Hemingway, a Sports & Exercise Medicine Doctor at the UK's Commando Training Centre for Royal Marines, shares gripping insights into extreme military training. He discusses the fine line between physical limits and survival, emphasizing the critical role of medical professionals. Topics include managing exertional heat illness and the importance of resilience among recruits. With thrilling anecdotes about overcoming extreme conditions and the mental toughness required for elite training, Hemingway highlights lessons applicable to both military and sports endurance.

The podcast dives into the controversial stance of the British Journal of Sports Medicine regarding transgender athletes. It raises crucial questions about the journal's credibility amidst scientific debates. The discussion explores the ethical responsibilities of sports science publishing and the importance of maintaining rigorous standards. Viewpoints on gender performance are examined, shedding light on the complexities surrounding women's sports and the implications of inclusivity. Listeners will appreciate the nuanced approach to an increasingly polarized discussion.

Ruth Chepng'etich's astonishing marathon world record raise eyebrows and suspicions. The impact of 'super shoes' on women's running performance compared to men is explored. Nutritional strategies and the science of pacing are examined, alongside the use of bicarbonate for endurance. Doping allegations cast a shadow over Kenyan athletics, prompting a discussion on trust and transparency in sports. Historical instances of performance skepticism, like Rosie Ruiz's infamous win, are revisited, highlighting the complexities of validating athletic achievements.

After a post-Olympic break the team wrap up all the latest hot topics and news from our Discourse channel. We share details of how the rollout of rugby's smart mouthguards is going, discuss Jakob Ingebritgsen's crazy half marathon debut and how best to use sport science to help a small-budget cycling team. We also explain the ongoing doping saga of tennis world number one Jannik Sinner and ask if the world governing body for cycling, the UCI, is doing enough to ensure the safety of riders after the death of an 18-year-old at the World Championships.SHOW NOTES Jon Wertheim's excellent piece on the Sinner doping scandal from SI.comThe Guardian's piece on the death of Muriel FurrerIngebrigtsen's crazy half marathon debut Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Roche, a trail star and coach who recently clinched victory at the Leadville 100 while breaking a 30-year-old record, shares his insights. He discusses innovative techniques like hot baths for altitude adaptation and the importance of strategic race planning. Roche reveals that speed in shorter distances best predicts performance in ultra races and critiques the common belief in high mileage training. He also explores the transformative role of super shoes and cutting-edge fueling strategies in endurance racing.