Spotlights are our weekly show that wraps up the news and the topics that you, the listener, are discussing in our VIP Discourse community. To become a member, to join the conversation, learn from the best online sports science community, or simply to show your support for the pod, you can make a small monthly pledge at Patreon.

Show notes

The Spotlight is back! This week, our Discourse Digest kicks off the show with a look back on a hugely successful Rugby World Cup, and a look forward to the weekend's final between England and Canada. Ross picks England by ten, Gareth thinks Canada pull off a heist in the home of English Rugby. Who is your pick?

We also discuss an article by Sean Ingle, that revealed that between 50 and 60 athletes with DSDs had been identified by World Athletics since 2000. Ross explains how these athletes were identified, what they were required to do in order to compete, and why their number supports the introduction of screening of all athletes who enter women's sport.

In Center Stage (29:08) we look back at Tokyo's World Championships one last time. We nominate our best athletes, best performances, biggest surprises, best events, most impressive comebacks, and 'winners and losers' from a championships that we both scored very highly for entertainment and intrigue.

Ross Replies (1:00:26) remains focused on Tokyo, and a question from Neil about the rarity of 400m-800m doubles in elite athletics, and how the 800/1500m combination seems to have been replaced by a 1500m/5000m pairing. Ross discusses the physiological differences, with some fascinating insights on pacing strategies in 800m world records, a limit to how fast the second lap can be run, and how shoes and changes to qualification criteria may have tilted the balance in favour of the 1500m athletes against the track distance specialists.

And Finally (1:12:09), celebrities who run marathons end our show, with a recent impressive Berlin sub-3:00 performance the catalyst. We wonder who the most recognized name is in the world who has run a sub-3 marathon?

We are now also on YouTube!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.

On the Track today

Tokyo 2025 is a wrap! On the final day, the surprises continued, as Kenya's Lilian Odira beat favourite Keely Hodgkinson to win the 800m title, securing a first ever sweep for Kenyan women. Cole Hocker did what 1500m athletes do, as he outkicked the field in a tactically intriguing Men's 5000m to redeem himself after his 1500m disappointment. And the relay gold medals were won by the USA, with one exception in a fabulous 4 x 400m for men, that confirmed Busang Kebinatshipi as a global super star.

In our final show, Gareth and Ross wrap up the action, and reflect on a week full of surprises.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.

On the Track today

In track action today, the middle and long distance titans clashed, as Faith Kipyegon raced Beatrice Chebet over 5000m. A tactically intriguing race with so many potential plays didn't really deliver on its promise, as Chebet once again produced an unrivalled sprint finish after a fairly bland race to claim a World Champs double to go with her Paris titles.

The men's 800m produced arguably the best race of the Champs so far, as Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi, led from the front, and dragged 7 others to historically fast times, with three going under 1:42, and all 8 breaking 1:43.

We also look at relay qualification carnage, where the USA, Jamaica, South Africa and GB failed to finish or were eliminated in one of either the 4 x 100m or 4 x 400m heats.

We also cover the field event medals, and look ahead to the final day.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.

On the Track today

Having missed Day 6 due to travel woes, we take a look back the highlights from Tokyo on Thursday, which included a historically fast women's 400, won by Sydney McLauglin Levrone's 47.78s, in a performance the brings Marita Koch's world record within striking distance. The Men's 400m saw a surprise winner, as Busang Kebanatshipi ran another PB and WL to win from Jereem Richards.

The Friday action saw the 400m hurdles golds won by Rai Benjamin and Femke Bol. The latter was imperious and faultless, but Benjamin's win was not without controversy. We explore the DQ and then re-instatement of the Olympic and now World Champion and explore Karsten Warholm's failure to win a medal. Track action concludes with the 200m titles, where Noah Lyles defended his title to win a 4th consecutive gold, while Melissa Jefferson-Wooden doubled to do what only three other women had ever done.

Plus field event drama, and previews of Saturday's action in our latest Tokyo daily!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.

On the Track today

The Race we’d all been waiting for, and it didn’t fail to deliver! It did, however, deliver a major surprise, as Isaac Nader became 1500m world champion. Ross and Gareth discuss the race, exploring how it unfolded, what happened to the big favourites, none of whom been made the podium after a week of drama and attrition.

We also discuss a fast, brutal women’s steeplechase, with analysis of the intersection of technique and fatigue, and the cost of being too aggressive for two of the pre race favourites.

Finally, we look ahead to the 400m finals, and in particular, how fast Sydney McLaughlin Levine can go? Gareth predicts a World Record, Ross thinks just outside 48, and we dive into the pacing, fatigue physiology and technical elements of the event to unpack what we can expect to see tomorrow.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.

On the Track today

It was a day for the pre-event favourites to deliver in Tokyo. Faith Kipyegon produced a near- perfect display of front-running to win yet another major 1500m title. Cordell Tinch broke 13 to make his 110m hurdle win look routine. Hamish Kerr and Ethan Katzberg won the High Jump and Hammer Throw respectively, and Syndey McLaughlin Levrone put the 400m world record on notice in winning her semi-final.

We explore and unpack those performances, and look ahead to the men's 1500m final, which features tactical intrigue and a possible final 200m showdown between Josh Kerr and Niels Laros, with Gareth and Ross picking a dark-horse who may spoil that party.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.

On the Track today

A remarkable day, with gold and silver split by 0.03s in one of the great marathons, surprise gold medals in the Men's Steeplechase and Women's 100m hurdles, and a disappointing disqualification in the men's 1500m.

Also on the menu today, Ross completely misses a World Record, we explain the fragility of tactics in the middle distance events, and look ahead to tomorrow's finals, wondering how Kipyegon will set about winning her 1500m gold.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the conversation on Discourse. Have your say and read what fellow listeners think of the Tokyo 2025 action. A small monthly pledge on Patron gets you that, and so much more, and is a way to show your support for what we do.

On the Track today

The fastest man and woman in the world were crowned on track in Tokyo today. Could Lyles defend his 100m crown and continue the US dominance of the event, or would the Jamaicans wrestle control back? Would the season-long dominance of Jefferson-Wooden turn into a maiden world title against Olympic champ Alfred?

Speaking of sprinting, the women's marathon came down to a sprint, with a surprise medalist joining two pre-race favourites on the podium. And speaking of surprises, the men's 10000m had plenty! We also had the elimination of three big favourites in Round 1 of the Men's 1500m, semi-finals in the women's 1500m, a first look at the 400m women, and a host of field events.

Ross and Gareth dissect the action from Day 2 in Tokyo, and look ahead to Day 3's action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.