5 Live Sport: All About...

How is data used in sport? Katie Smith investigates the growing use of and reliance on data in sport, as part of a new four-part podcast series on what goes into helping athletes and teams perform at an elite level, made in partnership with The Open University.

There’s a visit to an England Golf training camp at their headquarters in Lincolnshire to hear from rising golf star Lottie Woad on how data has helped improve her game and from Steve Robinson, England Golf national women’s performance coach, on how data can help with coaching.

Dr Ben Langdown from the Open University explains what is measured as golfers look for an edge and the potential pitfalls of data, while Dr Nichola Kentzer explains some of the ethical dilemmas around the use of data.

What role does data have in cycling? Olympic gold medallist Geraint Thomas explains why he still sees the sport as an art form and he doesn’t rely on the data too much but rather the feelings in his legs. Ineos Head of Innovation and Performance Support Mehdi Kordi reveals how everything can be measured in cycling.

Plus, Liverpool FC’s former Director of Research, Ian Graham shares how football clubs can gain an edge through using data but cautions that football is the hardest sport to analyse data in. He also explains how he sold former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on the merits of data as the club built the team that ended their 30 year wait for a Premier League title.

The Team behind the Team is produced in partnership with the Open University.

Team Ineos Grenadiers staff member David Rozman does not feature in this series and he was never interviewed or offered for interview during the process of gathering material for the series. Our production team was unaware of historical doping allegations relating to David Rozman and the 2012 season, which they have since been made aware of following the recording of this series.

Go behind-the-scenes at the Tour de France – the biggest race in professional cycling – with Ineos Grenadiers. It’s part of a new four-part podcast series, presented by Katie Smith, made in partnership with The Open University.

Ineos Grenadiers have won the race six times but the last of those was in 2019, so how are they attempting to find the winning formula again?

Listen in on their team talk on the bus ahead of the first stage and hear from 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, who was competing in the race for the final time. The team’s Performance Director – Dr Scott Drawer – outlines the key responsibilities of his role and how he believes in collaboration, while CEO John Allert explains why the team were so keen to appoint Scott, explaining there’s a “war for talent” at the elite level.

The Open University’s Professor of Sports Performance Education, Ben Oakley tells us how performance directors have become prominent in Olympic sports, how they implement the teams shared values and how the role is different from being a national coach.

Also hear about how the role of Performance Director works in other sports, with contributions from Head of Sprints and Relays at British Athletics, Darren Campbell and England Golf’s Jenny Henderson.

The Team behind the Team is produced in partnership with the Open University.

Team Ineos Grenadiers staff member David Rozman does not feature in this series and he was never interviewed or offered for interview during the process of gathering material for the series. Our production team was unaware of historical doping allegations relating to David Rozman and the 2012 season, which they have since been made aware of following the recording of this series.

Steve Crossman looks ahead to Wimbledon 2025, alongside Naomi Broady, Dan Evans, Marion Bartoli, Ryan Harrison and correspondent Russell Fuller.

Can Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic stop Carlos Alcaraz? How serious a contender is Jack Draper? Can Aryna Sabalenka finally win a slam in 2025? Will we see the Americans become even more competitive? And how do you get a wildcard?

06:00 Alcaraz

Clive Myrie marks 50 years since Arthur Ashe won Wimbledon and what life was like in 1970s Britain. Ashe became the first black man to win Wimbledon in 1975, beating favourite Jimmy Connors to the title. Hear from Chris Grant and Sir Keith Ajegbo as they share their memories of how Arthur Ashe had a significant impact on their lives and what it was like for black Britons at that time.

Ashe’s long-term friend and former girlfriend, Swedish tennis player Ingrid Löfdahl Bentzer gives us a unique insight into the man himself reminiscing about the day he won. Ingrid also tells us about the abuse she and Arthur received when they were together. We hear from AELTC chair and former player Debbie Jevans on the impact of that famous victory, but also what the landscape of tennis looks like today.

This programme contains strong and discriminatory language.

Featuring interviews with footballers Lucy Bronze and Safia Middleton-Patel, tennis players Jenson Brooksby and Sam Smith, she learns about how many athletes are neurodivergent as well as adjustments and coaching.

Katie is joined in the studio by neurodiversity sports journalist Nick Ransom, and speaks to founder of Neurodiverse Sport and former Olympic rower Caragh McMurtry as well as Jacob Kelly, the UK's first neurodiversity rugby coach.

TIMECODES:

Reaction from Augusta as Rory McIlroy finally completes the career Grand Slam with his first Masters win. Mark Chapman presents reaction with Trish Johnson, Andrew Magee, Alistair Bruce-Ball, Katherine Downes and Iain Carter. They discuss a turbulent fourth day at the Masters Championship which ended with Rory McIlroy taking home his first green jacket. Hear from the man himself on what it means to him after beating Justin Rose in a play-off, and hear from his psychologist, Bob Rotella. Plus, BBC correspondent Mark Simpson is in his hometown of Holywood, Northern Ireland with reaction to what the victory meant to his former golf club back home.

Can Rory McIlroy win the elusive green jacket? Mark Chapman is joined by Ian Carter, Alistair Bruce-Ball and legendary caddie Billy Foster to preview the 89th Masters. Sports psychologist Stephen Smith answers how McIlroy overcomes the mental barrier of attempting to win the one major that has so far eluded him. Ian also speaks to locals to hear the impact hurricane Helene has had since devastating Augusta in September 2024 and tells us how the affects will still be felt at this year’s tournament. Plus, the team discuss whether the out-of-form defending champion Scottie Scheffler is about to peak in time to reclaim his title and consider how they judge the form of LIV golfers in comparison to those on the PGA tour.

TIME CODES:

Coverage of the Masters 2025:

The game on the pitch has never been better, yet rugby union's finances leave the game with an uncertain and precarious future. Rarely has the gap between how the sport would like to be perceived and the unvarnished reality felt wider. Nearly 30 years since the sport went professional, why is it struggling so badly to sustain itself and grow?

The numbers involved are alarming. According to the last set of accounts (2023/24) for each of the home unions, they posted a combined loss in the last financial year of £72m.

The financially picture is equally as bleak for the 10 Premiership clubs, who collectively lost £30.5m in the financial year 2022/23 and have net debts of over £300m.

So how does rugby union put itself back on a more sustainable financial footing against a backdrop of spiralling player salaries, a downward trend in the cost of TV rights, and a crowded sporting marketplace when it comes to attracting new fans? Sonja McLaughlan, Sara Orchard and rugby union correspondent for the Times, Alex Lowe are joined by former Saracens and Harlequins CEO Mark Evans, RFU CEO Bill Sweeney and Gloucester owner Martin St Quinton to discuss what needs to change for rugby union to thrive.

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5 Live's golf correspondent Iain Carter and 2-time Solheim Cup winner Trish Johnson look ahead to the 2025 majors’ season, all coming to a thrilling climax in September with the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, New York. Iain speaks to Team Europe's Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, 4-time major winner Rory McIlroy and 2023 Masters winner John Rahm.

TIME CODES:

Sportspeople featured prominently in the immediate aftermath of Donald Trump's re-election on November 5th, with golfer Bryson DeChambeau and UFC president Dana White making appearances on stage during his victory speech in Florida.

And Dana White was back again, alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, at Trump’s inauguration.

It was a reminder of Trump's sporting connections ahead of his second term in office, during which time, the United States will host this year’s inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup, next year’s FIFA World Cup, and the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, with Trump set to be a highly visible presence at them all.

Mark Chapman is joined by Christine Brennan, sports columnist for USA Today, and Simon Evans, US sports correspondent for AFP, to discuss what impact Trump and some of his policies could have on the sporting landscape over the next four years, including hearing from the likes of two-time golf major champion Jon Rahm, and the president of World Athletics, Lord Sebastian Coe, who could be the president of the International Olympic Committee when Trump’s America hosts the LA games.

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01:45 - President Trump’s relationship with sport