On the Podium

The blind swimmer breaking records and stereotypes. After losing her vision as a teenager, Anastasia Pagonis broke the world record to take Paralympic gold in Tokyo. Now, she uses her platform as a social media star to break down stereotypes.

Illustration: A bright coloured background of yellows and orange on the top and turquoise blue splashing up from underneath. A swimmer is rising mid stroke. her painted fingernails are visible, she is wearing a swimming hat with Pagonis on the side and blacked out swimming goggles (Illustration by Phil Smith)

A golden moment. Why a high jumper put friendship above personal glory. Gianmarco Tamberi leapt to the top of the competition at the Tokyo Olympics - but couldn't be separated from his main rival. A serious injury and a special friendship helped Gianmarco make a momentous decision.

Illustration: A bright coloured background of yellows, red and orange with the figure of a man mid flight, bending over the high jump bar wearing multi coloured spikes and a vest in the blue of Italy with the name Tamberi on the front (Illustration by Phil Smith)

What makes a medal winner? How are they different from the rest of us – and how are they the same? The extraordinary human stories behind the medals. Join the Olympians and Paralympians who gave us the iconic moments at Tokyo 2020. And those who failed trying. With comedian Eliza Skinner, sports commentator Ed Harry and Paralympian Scout Bassett. Released 18 June 2022

Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh relive the thrilling moment they won gold as part of the Great Britain field hockey team in a penalty shoot-out in Rio in 2016.

What is it like to win as a team? How do you create cohesion and spirit in a group, and what challenges does being partners off the field present to the whole team when you are on it?

We also look at how attitudes to LBGTQ+ people vary across sports. Why do some sports seem more welcoming and inclusive than others?

One of only four Indian women to ever have won an Olympic medal, wrestler Sakshi Malik has has inspired a generation to pursue success in a field they thought wasn't open to them. She tells us how she fought back in the very last moment to snatch a bronze medal in the Rio Games, and in doing so changed not only the trajectory of her life, but attitudes to women, women's sport and women in wrestling in India.

Having lost his sight as a child, Lex Gillette discovered new purpose in his life when he took up athletics. A talented runner, Lex is also a multiple Paralympic long jump medallist, and an advocate for blind people in all areas of life.

And whilst he knows a thing or two about winning - he’s a triple IPC World Champion - his four consecutive silvers in the long jump at the Paralympics mean he might be the greatest athlete in Games history never to have won gold.

At just 16 years old, Brighton Zeuner will be one of the youngest participants at Tokyo 2020 - but she’ll also be one of the favourites for gold at the Games when skateboarding makes its debut.

She tells us how she balances being a normal teenager with the pressure of being an elite sports star, mixing fame with being a fan herself and being a role model to others who hope to follow her path.

She also tells us how she deals with nerves when competing, and offers advice to those new to the sport on how to overcome the challenges of both the physical demands and social pressures.

Sizwe Ndlovu became the first black African to win an Olympic rowing gold, as part of the South Africa's lightweight coxless four in 2012. He describes that day as changing the rest of his life.

Sizwe tells us about the challenges of growing up in a township, and how the end of apartheid and the sport of rowing helped him carve out a life he couldn't even have imagined possible as a child.

A remarkable and inspirational story of achievement and perseverance, his victory became a symbol of hope for the post-apartheid South Africa.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo recalls her part in one of the most memorable finishes in Olympic history, when she dove across the line to take 400m gold for the Bahamas at the 2016 Games.

She tells us how she developed the mindset and character to make it to the top and stay there, but also talks about life off the track, and how she switches off from the pressures of racing.

Presented by Scout Bassett, Ed Harry and Eliza Skinner and produced by Joel Hammer for BBC World Service.

Abandoned by her birth parents, Oksana Masters had birth defects caused by radiation, most likely from Chernobyl. Trapped and struggling to survive inside an abusive orphanage system in Ukraine, at the age of eight she was adopted by an American single mother.

Oksana tells us how she used the trauma of her youth to push herself to sporting greatness, including winning medals at the winter and summer Paralympics. Harnessing the anger and drawing on massive reserves of determination, this is a remarkable story of coming to terms with trauma and refusing to let it define you.