Sporting Witness

In 1956, the Manchester City goalkeeper, Bert Trautmann, became an FA Cup hero by breaking his neck at Wembley but playing on to the end of the final. Trautmann was a former Nazi paratrooper who adopted England as his home country after being taken prisoner during World War Two. Simon Watts introduces BBC archive recordings of Trautmann and speaks to Catrine Clay, author of Trautmann's Journey.

(Photo: The injured Bert Trautmann at the end of the 1956 FA Cup Final. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

In 2004, the British wheelchair racer, Tanni Grey-Thompson, faced the toughest challenge of her career at the Paralympic Games in Athens. Suffering from a loss of form, the great champion was humiliated in her best event and had to go for glory in the 100-metre sprint. She tells Lucy Burns about the race and how becoming a mother gave her a fresh perspective on sport.

(Photo: Tanni Grey-Thompson at the Athens Paralympics. Credit: Getty Images).

In 2000, the great Ethiopian distance runner, Haile Gebrselassie, won the Olympic 10,000 metres by a single second - beating his closest rival in the process. Gebrselassie, who announced his retirement in May 2015, describes the race to Fred Dove. The programme is a Whistledown Production and was first broacast in 2012.

PHOTO: Haile Gebrselassie celebrates (Getty Images).

In May 1980, a match between Yugoslavia's top teams, Hajduk Split of Croatia and Red Star Belgrade of Serbia, was interrupted by the annoucement of the death of the dictator who had ruled the country since World War II. Players and fans from both teams burst into tears and left the stadium in silence. Barely a decade later, Yugoslavia collapsed, leaving Croats and Serbs on opposing sides of a bloody civil war. Robert Nicholson reports. A Whistledown Production.

In May 2000, the rising star of Nascar, Adam Petty, was killed in an accident on the track in New Hampshire. Petty was the fourth generation of one of the most famous dynasties in American motor sport. His father, Kyle Petty, talks to Simon Watts.

(Photo: Adam Petty. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1976, the Cuban runner, Alberto Juantorena, pulled off a unique double at the Montreal Olympics - winning both the 400 and 800 metres. The victory made the athlete known as 'White Lightning' a hero on the Communist island. He talks to Will Grant.

(Photo: Alberto Juantorena winning the 800 metres in 1976. Credit: Getty Images).

In 1991, the Hungarian chess prodigy, Judit Polgar, became the youngest Grandmaster ever at the age of 15. She speaks to Robert Nicholson about her unconventional childhood and how her extraordinary career defied expectations for female players.

PHOTO: Judit Polgar (Associated Press).

In 1976, the Yale women's rowing team stripped naked to demand equal treatment for women's sport. The protest attracted national attention in the USA and helped force universities to make the same funding and facilities available to women athletes as to men. Catherine Davies talks to two of the Yale protestors, Christine Ernst and Ginny Gilder.

(Photo: The 1976 Yale women's rowing team in action. Credit: Getty Images).

In 1975, Lee Elder braved death threats to become the first African-American golfer to play at the prestigious US Masters in Augusta.

It was one of the last race barriers in US sport and made him a hero to many black sportsmen – including Tiger Woods.

In 2013, Lee Elder spoke about the tournament to Simon Watts.

(Photo: Lee Elder playing golf later in life. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1975, Lee Elder braved death threats to become the first African-American golfer to play at the prestigious US Masters in Augusta. It was one of the last colour barriers in US sport and made him a hero to many black sportsmen - including Tiger Woods. In 2013, Lee Elder spoke about the tournament to Simon Watts.

(Photo: Lee Elder playing golf later in life. Credit: Getty Images)