E86 - How Elite Athletes Are Made

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Professor Mark Williams joins host Martin Foster to discuss How Elite Athletes Are Made. Professor Mark Williams has researched Sports Science for over 30 years, he has published hundreds of academic articles, written, and edited over 20 books and has worked at leading organisations around the world. In this podcast we focus on his book "The Best. How Elite Athletes are Made." We discuss a wide range of topics from how siblings and the environment we live in can impact our sporting success, the truth about the 10 000 hour rule, the power of coaching and much more. If you want to learn more about how elite athletes are made, then this podcast is a great place to start.Intro 00:00How Elite Athletes Are Made 3:25Most important aspects 6:12 Siblings 7:32Helicopter parenting 9:24Location 10:39Age and academies 20:24Early specialisation and 10000 hours 31:23Born or made? 35:31Practice 38:50What makes the best coaches? 48:01Next steps 1:03:48Outros 1:06:09

In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, Dr Janine Coates (expert in inclusive PE and school sport), Tammy and her mum Lynn (stars from the 'Equal Play' documentary), and Helen Derby (Strategic Lead, Programmes, Activity Alliance) join host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) to discuss how physical education can be improved to make it inclusive for everyone who takes part.Intros 00:00The research 2:51Tammy's experience 5:55Activity Alliance 10:17 Examples 18:40 The future 21:17Wheelchair tennis 29:14Outros 33:51

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Steven Bradbury joins host Martin Foster to discuss Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion in Sports Leadership. Intro 00:00Equality and equity 1:49 Leading the way: the background 3:19 Levels of representation 6:52 Benefits of a diverse workforce 9:55Challenges 14:27Barriers 23:15Examples of good practice 26:02Recommendations 34:12Next steps 41:27Outro 46:17

Physical activity levels of children in England and around the world remain stubbornly low. Research has shown that Physical Education can inspire children to embrace physical activity and sport, yet the curriculum that is delivered nationwide remains narrow with a heavy focus on skill development for sport.  In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, Professor David Kirk and Professor Ash Casey discuss Models-based practice with host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead). The trio cover what models-based practice is, the potential benefits and the best way to apply Models-based practice within schools. Professor Ash Casey is the Programme Director for the MSc and PGCE in Education with QTS (Physical Education) at Loughborough University. Ash maintains an active presence on X (formerly Twitter) (@DrAshCasey) and operates a blog (www.PEPRN.com), dedicated to translating research into practical applications Physical Education and Pedagogy. His research explores pedagogical models, teacher development through social media, and pedagogies of technology.  Professor David Kirk is an educational researcher with teaching and research interests in educational innovation, curriculum history, and physical education and sport pedagogy. He is the founding editor of the peer reviewed journal Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy (Routledge) and editor of Routledge Studies in Physical Education and Youth Sport. He has held academic appointments previously in universities in England, Australia, Ireland and Belgium and is currently Honorary Professor of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland. Intro 00:00Background of P.E 3:04 What is the purpose of P.E.? 12:59 Models based practise 22:30An Activist Approach 34:53In practise 36:49What’s next? 48:39

Safeguarding and interpersonal abuse in sport – the development and potential impact of the IOC consensus statement. Last month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirmed its commitment to safe sport by announcing the release of its third consensus statement on safeguarding and interpersonal violence in sport. In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, hosted Martin Foster is joined by those involved in delivering this initiative. The panel, featuring Prof Daniel Rhind (Loughborough University), Prof Yetsa Adebodunde Tuakli-Wosornu, (Stanford University), and Kirsty Burrows (Head of the IOC's Safe Sport Unit), discuss the background to the consensus statement, its development, the overarching recommendations and what this means for wider stakeholders. Intro 00:00 Consensus statement importance 2:52  Research rationale 7:42  Definitions 9:14 Methodology 16:31 Findings 18:06 Sport and society 28:27 Intentional interpersonal violence 34:43 Recommendations 41:28 What changes do you want to see? 52:02 Outros 56:01 

In the latest Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Professor Paul Downward to discuss the UK’s low levels of sport participation. The podcast includes discussions on government policy and its impact on participation rates, and what needs to change to encourage more people to become active.Intro 00:00Participation rates 7:10 History of monitoring 12:19 How have things changed? 17:27 General trends 22:46Specific trends 25:57Fitness industry 30:27Biggest impact 37:18Future of policy 39:29What are we trying to achieve? 50:06The future 55:04

Axel Dopfer, Professor Duncan Walker, Dr Richard Ferguson, and Josh Cresswell join us to discussHow Loughborough University's world-class sports ecosystem helped alumnus Axel Dopfer break the German hour record.Intros 0:00 University approach 6:55  Training as a Loughborough student 11:20  Memorable moments 14:26  Interdisciplinary aspect 16:37  Heat acclimation 27:52  Training smart 32:02  Build up to the day 39:34  Methodology 48:29  The Event 52:24  What next? 56:47  How to find out more 1:03:22  

Professor Jonathan Folland and Dr Tom Balshaw join host Stuart McErlain-Naylor to break down the anatomy of Strongman Champion Eddie Hall and highlight the key characteristics that enabled him to break world records in the deadlift. Time Stamps: 00:00 Intros 1:04 An evening with Eddie Hall 5:16 Scope of research 10:13 Why Eddie Hall?11:55 Preparation 16:50 What did the day entail?22:19 Main findings of the case study26:24 Under or over developed? 28:43 Tendon adaptation 34:44 Injury risk 37:07 Inherited characteristics 42:11 Limiting factors in human performance 43:43 What else is there to know about Eddie? 45:58 Current and future research 49:27 Where to find out more50:55 Outros  Journal: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00342.2024

Professor Vicky Tolfrey chats to host Dan Trussell to discuss the Paralympics in Paris, wheelchair sport and what's to come after the Games. Intros 0:00Wheelchair configuration in tennis 0:43 Competitive edge 4:28Athlete collaboration 5:26What to expect from wheelchair sport 7:10Wheelchair basketball at Loughborough 8:11The future of parasport 9:41Parasport and society 14:11Outros 19:29

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster, discusses research within Para sport at Loughborough and its potential across the landscape of sport with guests, Vladyslava Kravchenko, Alasdair Donaldson, and Jennifer Wong, of Loughborough University.Time stamps:0.00-4.03 - Introduction4.04- 8.31 - Why Loughborough?8.32- 10.49 - Development of Para sport at Loughborough10.50-12.32 - Examples of Para sport development12.33-17.32 - Developing the workforce17.33-24.05 - Opportunity at Loughborough24.06- 28.34 - International relations 28.35-34.04 - Para sport against stigma 34.05-42.37 - London 2012 Legacy42.38-45.53 - Barriers and stigma45.54-48.25 - Making noise toolkit48.26-49.54 - Diplomacy and international governance PhD49.55-51.25 - Outros