The Real Science of Sport Podcast

Sean Ingle, a seasoned sports journalist from The Guardian, joins the conversation to unpack the exciting election of Kirsty Coventry as the new president of the IOC. They navigate her potential impacts on women's sports and the looming challenges for the organization. The discussion also covers World Athletics' new screening protocols for female athletes, aiming to safeguard competition integrity. Additionally, the podcast dives into Tadej Pogacar's remarkable performance in cycling, showcasing a new power metric that redefines performance evaluation.

In this Spotlight, Gareth and Ross kick off by looking back at teen sprint phenom Gout Gout's latest performances, which continue to project a spectacular yet unknowable future. Across the Ocean, a young South African put down a teen-sprint marker of his own with a sub-10s performance, and we use those performances to discuss the nuanced, fluid and undefinable element of super-talents in sport. What matters, what doesn't, what is required for entry into the elites, and what makes a difference once there?We also discuss whether the addition of the Sydney Marathon (among others) to the prestigious World Marathon Majors dilutes their equity, which presents a chance to discuss heat and performance related to both marathons and the currently ongoing Cape Epic. Finally, we chat concussion in the community game, in the aftermath of some misinformed perspectives raised by politicians in the UK about the concussion risk with lower tackle height in the game.Show notesMel Breen wins the 2012 Stawell Gift race from scratchBayanda Walazas asymmetric running styleDiscourse is our VIP community, and if you'd like to be a part of that conversation, receive Gareth's Caught my Eye newsletter, and to interact with fellow listeners, the way to do it is to check out this link, and become a patron of the podcast for a small monthly donation. Thanks for all your support! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Spotlight, we swing the light from cycling to doping, via trans news updates and some success stories from our Discourse members. We kick off with a chat about whether we've been too obsessed with power numbers, and not talking enough about speed, as pointed out by Christoph Roodhooft of Alpecin's pro-cycling team. We discuss what it means to be an "economic cyclist", which allows Gareth to propose the concept of "physiological frugality", which we are 100% sure will take over from "durability" as the next-big-thing in elite cycling by 2027!We also chat briefly about positive fuelling experiences shared with us by Discourse members, who've managed to push their energy intakes up thanks to the experts we've heard from on the pod. We check in on some controversial topics, including the transgender athletes in sport debate, where a new paper, a legal decision and an imminent IOC election are all in the spotlight, and finally, we briefly discuss Shelby Houlihan's own words about her doping defence in an interview with Letsrun.com.Show notesAs mentioned, Discourse is our VIP Community where you can share bicarb recipes, tales of fuel success, and a whole lot more! You become a member by pledging a small amount on Patreon, which you can access here, and that will give you access to all the chat and sports science insights from members.LinksThe GCN segment discussed on the show, giving rise to Gareth's concept of "frugality"The Handelsman & Bermon paper that is discussed brieflyFull Decision in the Hamilton vs Telegraph press complaintThis is the full, in-depth analysis I did for Letsrun on the Shelby Houlihan decision, including the wrong application or misunderstanding of the Technical Document, and the carbon isotope ratio analysis that refuted Houlihan's argumentsThe interview Houlihan did last week with Letsrun, as alluded to by Gareth in the podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore why runners and cyclists are breaking records, from groundbreaking 'super shoes' to the fascinating 'Bannister effect.' Delve into the future of sports technology and how it’s reshaping performance across various disciplines. There's a thought-provoking discussion on talent scouting in cycling through the Zwift Academy, highlighting the challenges of predicting potential. Plus, the evolving landscape of athletic enhancements casts light on the intersection of innovation, training, and the ongoing doping debate.

Exploring the groundbreaking potential for women to break the sub-4-minute mile barrier, the hosts critique a study on aerodynamic drafting strategies. They share skepticism about media interpretations and discuss the psychological challenges involved. Additionally, hear about effective heat adaptation strategies for athletes transitioning to warmer climates, emphasizing the body's ability to acclimatize. The conversation also highlights concerning trends in youth physical activity and intriguing doping defense cases that complicate public trust in sports.

Dr. Stephen Seiler, an exercise physiologist from the University of Agder, is a leading authority on endurance training. He reveals fresh insights into polarized training, questioning its universal applicability among athletes. Discussions cover the significance of training intensity distribution, the balance of high and low workouts, and the importance of recovery. Seiler emphasizes trust between coaches and scientists while exploring how systematic reviews enhance understanding of training efficacy, ultimately advocating for a tailored approach to athlete performance.

This week, record-breaking performances light up indoor tracks, with every USA Men's Indoor distance record shattering just days apart. Jakob Ingebrigtsen's world record quickly fell after his stunning run in France. Meanwhile, Jacob Kiplimo's half marathon achievement hints at the two-hour marathon becoming a reality. The discussions also tackle the ramifications of modern tech in running and dissect the complexities surrounding a high-profile doping case in tennis, revealing the impact of public perception on sports regulations.

Dr. Joe Warne, a former international athlete and performance coach, dives into the reliability of data from wearable tech. He critiques accuracy, especially around heart rate metrics, and urges listeners to carefully interpret the data. The discussion emphasizes the balance between data reliance and intuitive understanding in athletic training. Warne also explores the rapid evolution of sports technology, questioning the impact of marketing versus functionality, and looks towards the future of AI in sports. Get ready to rethink the metrics that matter!

Tennis star Janik Sinner faces a three-month suspension for testing positive for clostebol. The discussion delves into the implications for anti-doping regulations and athlete accountability. Insights are shared on the motivations behind the settlement with WADA, avoiding potential arbitration. The episode questions whether this reflects a broader issue within the tennis community and highlights varying reactions to doping dilemmas. With comparisons to past incidents, the podcast examines the impact on Sinner's reputation and the sport as a whole.

In this Spotlight, we address some noteworthy recent developments in the regulation and protection of women's sport. In the most significant of these, World Athletics have announced proposals, still in consultation, that would compel elite female participants to undergo a screening test that looks for the SRY gene as an eligibility requirement. Ross explains why this step, inevitable and necessary for women's sport to deliver on its purpose, may be the most important one taken by any sport in the last few years. We also discuss other proposals that strengthen World Athletics' protection of women's athletics, as well as an Executive Order on women's sport signed by Donald Trump, the NCAA response to that EO, and what this all means for this ongoing controversial issue.Become a Discourse member and drive the SpotlightIf you enjoy the Spotlights, and want to weigh in on these and other topics, consider becoming a Patron of the show, and get full access to the Discourse community! Here's where you go to make a small pledge and become a Patron, and that'll open up this portal to a world of sports science, performance and health conversations!Links to topics and articles we discussed on the showWorld Athletics page explaining the proposals and the consultation process that includes the pre-clearance (cheek swab) methodThe full World Athletics document outlining proposed changes to eligibilityThe academic article that a group of us wrote last year, explaining how screening should be implemented to support protection of the female categoryGreg Brown's paper comparing boys to girls in running eventsSame author, same approach, different sport - here's Greg Brown's analysis of boys and girls in swimmingMarina Hyde's article that describes how issues are bundled rather than assessed on their merits, to the detriment, sometimes, of realityNCAA update on changes to their eligibility policy, where they take a step towards protecting women's sport, but fail to base it on biologyThe Executive Order signed by Trump earlier this weekThe larger Executive Order that helpfully defines sex, male and female with implications for policy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.