Fresh from the World Championships, Jess Fox joins Shane and Nat as she counts down to Tokyo 2020.  With Olympic silver and bronze already around her neck, will it be third time lucky and gold in Japan.

Steve Hooker won gold in the pole vault in 2008, but, what does it take to be the world's best pole vaulter? Plus, is commentating sport actually the next best thing to competing? Turns out, it might not be.

And, we've got all the latest selection news, in this week's edition of Ready Set Tokyo.

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EP 13: Todd Woodbridge is a four time Olympian, and this week reflects on his Games experiences including gold in Atlanta.  Woodbridge also addresses why tennis belongs at the Olympics, despite arguments to the contrary.

At just 17, Hayley Wilson is one of the world's best skateboarders. Before 2016, she could have never dreamed of representing Australia at the Olympics and now, its close to a reality.

Plus, will adequate security be in place in Tokyo during the Olympics, and our weekly, Taste of Tokyo.

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EP 12: This week, Nat was one of the first reporters to catch up with our newest world champion, Kelsey- Lee Barber.  

Softball is back at the Olympics for the first time since 2008, and Australia is focussed on one thing- GOLD.  Jade Wall discusses qualifying for the Games, and how she juggles working full time, with training for the Olympics.

Also, the disastrous timing of events at IAAF World Championships in Doha, and why the swimming finals in Tokyo won’t be prime time for Aussie fans.

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Australian Kelsey-Lee Barber has won javelin gold in dramatic fashion at the World Championships in Doha.

The Canberra thrower moved from fourth place to first with a huge final-round throw of 66.56 metres.

Just hours after her win, Kelsey-Lee spoke to Natalie Peters on Macquarie Radio's Ready Set Tokyo program.

Kelsey-Lee has told Ready Set Tokyo, "The World Champion part is still the bit that's sinking in."

"You can win comps and you can win medals, but wow, it feels unbelievable to say that I'm a World Champion."

Kelsey-Lee has also given her take on negative headlines about extreme heat impacting competition, and poor crowds at events.

The marathon and walk events have been starting at midnight, in a bid to limit the impact of extreme heat and humidity.

Kelsey-Lee says she's very grateful to be competing in an air conditioned stadium, but many of her teammates aren't as lucky.

"During the day it is exceptionally hot, almost too hot to be outside."
Athletes and commentators say crowd numbers at the meet have been disappointing, but Kelsey-Lee told Ready Set Tokyo, it's just different.

"I think the crowds are fantastic for what we have here. They're very enthusiastic and they're sharing lots of energy, but we're maybe just not filling the stadiums."


 
Ready Set Tokyo is your weekly Olympic podcast ahead of Tokyo 2020, hosted by Macquarie Radio's Shane McInnes and Natalie Peters. The athletes. The playmakers. Opinions. A celebration of the Games.
Subscribe to the podcast or hear it on Macquarie Sports Radio at midday Saturday.

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This week, Andrew Gaze reminisces about one of his greatest achievements- flag bearer at the Sydney 2000 Opening Ceremony.  Gaze also takes us back to the 1984 Los Angeles Games where he made his debut, and answers the question: NBA Title or Olympic Gold?

Matt Belcher is no stranger to Olympic success, so what are his chances on the water in Tokyo? And, with so many different classes in sailing, what are the differences?  Belcher breaks it down.

Plus, the Rugby World Cup is a test event for Tokyo and Japan, and already some major issues have come to the fore.  And, this week's phrase of the week, is a MUST for anyone visiting Japan.

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EP 10: This week we check-in with three time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, cyclist Matt Glaetzer ahead of his Olympics campaign.

We also chat to the Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson to find out what a Brisbane Games bid would mean to South East Queensland.

And we explore the cutting edge technology set to be used in Tokyo next year.  

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EP 9: This week Kevan Gosper joins us to reflect on how he and his team won the bid to host the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.  He discusses the challenges SOCOG faced in the lead up to the Games, and gives his thoughts on a potential bid for Brisbane 2032.

And the Australian men's hockey team have qualified for another Olympics, we catch up with the team's captain Aran Zalewski.

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Ep 8: This week we chat to former Major League Baseball player Luke Hughes as he tries to help the Aussie Baseball team qualify for next year's Games.

64 bucks for a burger? We look at the exorbitant prices ready to hit Tokyo tourists.

And a bronze medal at this year's World Championships has set the bar high for our Women's Water Polo team. We check in with one of the stars from the team, Isobel Bishop.

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This week Shane and Nat explore the anti Olympics movement, and why there are people who actually believe they can break the Olympic spirit.

Nat has concerns about a lack of accomodation availability in Tokyo for the two weeks of the Games, while Shane shares his experience of finding a new hotel room smack bang in the middle of the London 2012 Games.

The Paralympic movement is thriving, and Australia is at the forefront.  Kate McLoughlin is the Chef de Mission for the Australian team and provides an update on preparations.

Racewalking is as much about speed as it is technique.  Rio bronze medallist, Dane Bird Smith explains what’s involved in racewalking, and opens up about his mental health battles.

Plus, this week’s Taste of Tokyo answers the question of where to arrive when travelling to Tokyo: Narita or Haneda?

 

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EP 6: This week we chat to Olympic legend Kieran Perkins. He reflects on the memories of Games' past and gives us his assessment of the current swim team. 

Annabelle Smith takes us through what it takes to be a synchronized diver and opens up on her surprising training routine. 

And sports climbing coach Duncan Brown introduces us to one of the Olympic's newest sports. 

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