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Made in haste and love. Join our lobby. Chat to us on socials xoxo

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After a brief sabbatical (Claire was feeling a bit swamped), we're back - and all roads lead to Eugene. The Worlds are a week and a bit away, with Commonwealths and Euros looming large, and the British squad has been announced. It's big, it's teeming with talent, and it's getting us as extremely excited as we always are for anything involving supremely fit individuals running, throwing, and jumping.

Jody and Bayo were at the trials, so report back on a gusty and eventful couple of days, before the team delve into the 78 athletes named for Oregon's Greatest Show.

Daryl dazzled, middle distance running was straight flames, and we're obsessed with Max Burgin. Plus ça change.

Anyway: it's terrific to be back. We've missed it, and we've missed you. 

Let us know your thoughts in all the usual places: your podcast provider, Twitter (@BackstraightB & @Claire_GThomas) and Instagram (@backstraightboyspodcast & @clairegthomas).

Back soon with a Worlds preview plus more information on the fun collab we're doing with World Athletics throughout that big meet across the pond. 

J, B & C xoxo

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Jody and Bayo went to Belgrade, and returned with: photos with everyone's favourite Italian high jumper, a fractured wrist, memories of a splendid birthday feat. the athleticos, and... Covid. A mixed bag, it's safe to say.

More broadly, the 2022 World Indoors were a varied championships themselves: Keely and Elliot were DNS, and Kat was DNF, but there were 3 world records, medallists from 31 different countries, and some outstanding performances. Yaroslava Mahuchikh winning gold was the best moment of all - displaying astonishing poise and grit - but we also loved Rojas' WR, Grant's flames-emoji start, and how at home Holly Mills appears to be at this level.

We had *tonnes* to discuss, so here it is: our big review of Belgrade 2022. Enjoy!

Got an opinion? Let us know your thoughts! @Claire_GThomas and @BackstraightB (plus @BackstraightBoysPodcast on Intsa). Leave us a review on your podcast provider, while you're at it... xoxo

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Full description to follow, but - for now - treat yourselves to an hour of Belgrade chatter with multiple world indoor medallist, Jamie 'Sporting Hair of the Year' Baulch: as heard via Instagram live earlier this week.

Rate, review, subscribe, and SAY 'HI': @BackstraightB, @Claire_GThomas, and @JamieBaulch

The first major championship of 2022 is upon us... phwoar. Enjoy xoxo

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Keely doing Keely things, baby 'brig setting world records, Mondo soaring, and the Winter Olympics rocked by a doping scandal with a 15-year-old girl at its heart. 2022 hasn't exactly got off to a quiet start, has it?

Backstraight is back (alright!) - with a romp through recent indoor results, a discussion about the Kamila Valieva story and Sha'Carri's take on it, and plenty more besides.

It is GOOD to be back podding, and you can expect plenty from us this year, as the busiest athletics season we've ever seen begins. Hold onto your hats...

We've missed you, dear listeners, and would love to hear from you. Get in touch on Instagram (@backstraightboyspodcast) or Twitter -(BackstraightB or @Claire_GThomas) - and please don't forget to leave us a review.

As Jody would say: gracias por escuchar, y adios xoxo

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In so many ways, 2021 was a year to forget. It won't be one looked back upon with universal fondness, and there are lots of reasons to be pleased to leave it behind. But one of the reasons we love sport is the phenomenal escapism it offers, and the way its narratives can transcend arenas to leave indelible marks upon the world we live in. On the track, on the field, and out on the roads - 2021 was a year full of those moments. Time and time again, athletes shrugged off the challenges of the last couple of seasons to lay down historic markers, and give us events we'll never forget. Karsten! Keely! Queen Val! The two golds! Following the sport has been a delight, and so it was about time we looked back on the year's highlights.

Claire essentially moved into Alexandra Palace in December to cover the darts, leaving her unavailable for podding duties, but - don't fear - we found a phenomenal temporary occupant  of the 'Girl' chair at Backstraight HQ: Olympian, broadcaster, and star of Estelle's 2012 hit 'International': the one and only Jeanette Kwakye.

So - here you go - our season review. Tuck in, leave us a review in all the usual places, and let us know your thoughts on Twitter - @BackstraightB 

Happy New Year, you lovely lot xoxo 

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World Athletics have named their end-of-season gong longlists. They've also named their shortlists, but we weren't organised enough to realise that, so we covered all ten athletes per field. Death, taxes, and us merrily getting things slightly wrong on this podcast... Anyway: great fun pitting Elaine against Yulimar, and debating Karsten versus Ryan. There was some *wonderful* running, throwing, and jumping this year, it transpires.

We also turn our attention to the changes at UKA, Kat's move to Florida, and our delight at the imminent return of the Night of the 10km PBs (FWIW - Claire is not fast enough to compete in the F race; she's checked) - whilst chatting away about plenty of other T&F stories which piqued our interest this Autumn.

There are a few special guests on the horizon, and our own annual awards to come very soon, so please do stay tuned. Leave us a review, why don't you? And get in touch on 'socials': @BackstraightB & @Claire_GThomas on Twitter, and @BackstraightBoysPodcast on Insta

Love and festive cheer to you all xoxo

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Diamond League finals, Sha'Carri and #DeadLast, a shout out to the surprisingly excellent Continental Tour, *that* 100 metres in Nairobi, a change in attitudes towards DSD athletes, and plenty more besides - including, of course, quotes from both 'Grease' and 'The Hollow Men'.

It might be rambling, but at least we don't spend 90% of the pod talking about American steeplechasers who aren't even leading the race...*

A huge thank you to Hal Leonard Europe for their support - we adore our new Samson microphones and mixer - and to you for tuning in. You can find HLE on Twitter as @HalLeonardEUR, or Instagram as @halleonardeurope

Got an opinion? Let us know your thoughts! @ClaireGThomas and @BackstraightB (plus @BackstraightBoysPodcast on Intsa). Leave us a review on your podcast provider, while you're at it...

We'll be back very soon with our special 2021 season review, and we can't wait.

Peace, love, and SAFP memes to you all xoxo

* we love Courtney and Emma. This nonsense isn't their fault.

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Two World titles, two Olympic silvers, and a personal best of 7.11m. Fiona May achieved an awful lot in a stellar long jump career, but - despite having been born in Slough and becoming a Junior World Champion whilst competing for Great Britain - her greatest moments were for the Azzurri, after she switched citizenships in 1994, and never looked back. Her daughter, Larissa, is European Junior Champion, and already closing in on her mother's records.

With Italy winning five golds in Tokyo - including a jaw-dropping 4x100 title, and an internet-breaking sob fest of a win in the men's high jump - we could think of no one better to chat it all through with.

From her decision to change allegiances, and her attempts to persuade her daughter to pick any event but the long jump, to what it means to represent Italy - such a passionate sporting nation - we cover it all, and hope you enjoy the listen as much as we relished the conversation. 

Fiona - it was a JOY. Grazie. 

Thanks so much for tuning in. Please let us know your thoughts, and give us a follow on socials: @Claire_GThomas and @BackstraightB on Twitter, and @backstraightboyspodcast on Instagram.

We weren't able to use our amazing microphones for this one, but - because we love them, and are so grateful for their support - here's a shout out to our friends at Hal Leonard Europe, who provided our swanky Samson gear.

Enjoy Pre Classic, guys xoxo

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'What's the plan for this one, Claire?'
'I'll do a quick intro, and then how about we just talk about the Olympics for an hour?'

And there you have it: a non-stop romp through just a sliver of a truly magical Games. From Karsten to Rojas, and back again via Tamber(in)i and some stellar British performances.

We laughed, gasped, and cried our way through the games, had a blast doing World Athletics' Inside Track, and remain utterly in love with the Olympics. We're sure you are, too.

So, tuck in and enjoy. We'll be back soon to reflect some more - we hardly scraped the surface here - but couldn't not get together to celebrate a fortnight of glorious, glorious, track and field.

Thanks, as per, to Hal Leonard Europe for their support - we adore our Samson microphones and mixer - and to you for tuning in.

Please remember to rate/review/subscribe on your podcast platform, and to get in touch with any thoughts on Twitter (@BackstraightB & @Claire_GThomas) or Instagram (@BackstraightBoysPodcast). We really do enjoy hearing from you.

Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials.

Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at

Twitter - (@BackstraightB)
Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).