Spotlights are our weekly show that wraps up the news and the topics that you, the listener, are discussing in our VIP Discourse community. To become a member, to join the conversation, learn from the best online sports science community, or simply to show your support for the pod, you can make a small monthly pledge at Patreon.

Show notes

The Spotlight is back! This week, our Discourse Digest kicks off the show with a look back on a hugely successful Rugby World Cup, and a look forward to the weekend's final between England and Canada. Ross picks England by ten, Gareth thinks Canada pull off a heist in the home of English Rugby. Who is your pick?

We also discuss an article by Sean Ingle, that revealed that between 50 and 60 athletes with DSDs had been identified by World Athletics since 2000. Ross explains how these athletes were identified, what they were required to do in order to compete, and why their number supports the introduction of screening of all athletes who enter women's sport.

In Center Stage (29:08) we look back at Tokyo's World Championships one last time. We nominate our best athletes, best performances, biggest surprises, best events, most impressive comebacks, and 'winners and losers' from a championships that we both scored very highly for entertainment and intrigue.

Ross Replies (1:00:26) remains focused on Tokyo, and a question from Neil about the rarity of 400m-800m doubles in elite athletics, and how the 800/1500m combination seems to have been replaced by a 1500m/5000m pairing. Ross discusses the physiological differences, with some fascinating insights on pacing strategies in 800m world records, a limit to how fast the second lap can be run, and how shoes and changes to qualification criteria may have tilted the balance in favour of the 1500m athletes against the track distance specialists.

And Finally (1:12:09), celebrities who run marathons end our show, with a recent impressive Berlin sub-3:00 performance the catalyst. We wonder who the most recognized name is in the world who has run a sub-3 marathon?

We are now also on YouTube!

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On the Track today

Tokyo 2025 is a wrap! On the final day, the surprises continued, as Kenya's Lilian Odira beat favourite Keely Hodgkinson to win the 800m title, securing a first ever sweep for Kenyan women. Cole Hocker did what 1500m athletes do, as he outkicked the field in a tactically intriguing Men's 5000m to redeem himself after his 1500m disappointment. And the relay gold medals were won by the USA, with one exception in a fabulous 4 x 400m for men, that confirmed Busang Kebinatshipi as a global super star.

In our final show, Gareth and Ross wrap up the action, and reflect on a week full of surprises.

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On the Track today

In track action today, the middle and long distance titans clashed, as Faith Kipyegon raced Beatrice Chebet over 5000m. A tactically intriguing race with so many potential plays didn't really deliver on its promise, as Chebet once again produced an unrivalled sprint finish after a fairly bland race to claim a World Champs double to go with her Paris titles.

The men's 800m produced arguably the best race of the Champs so far, as Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi, led from the front, and dragged 7 others to historically fast times, with three going under 1:42, and all 8 breaking 1:43.

We also look at relay qualification carnage, where the USA, Jamaica, South Africa and GB failed to finish or were eliminated in one of either the 4 x 100m or 4 x 400m heats.

We also cover the field event medals, and look ahead to the final day.

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On the Track today

Having missed Day 6 due to travel woes, we take a look back the highlights from Tokyo on Thursday, which included a historically fast women's 400, won by Sydney McLauglin Levrone's 47.78s, in a performance the brings Marita Koch's world record within striking distance. The Men's 400m saw a surprise winner, as Busang Kebanatshipi ran another PB and WL to win from Jereem Richards.

The Friday action saw the 400m hurdles golds won by Rai Benjamin and Femke Bol. The latter was imperious and faultless, but Benjamin's win was not without controversy. We explore the DQ and then re-instatement of the Olympic and now World Champion and explore Karsten Warholm's failure to win a medal. Track action concludes with the 200m titles, where Noah Lyles defended his title to win a 4th consecutive gold, while Melissa Jefferson-Wooden doubled to do what only three other women had ever done.

Plus field event drama, and previews of Saturday's action in our latest Tokyo daily!

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On the Track today

The Race we’d all been waiting for, and it didn’t fail to deliver! It did, however, deliver a major surprise, as Isaac Nader became 1500m world champion. Ross and Gareth discuss the race, exploring how it unfolded, what happened to the big favourites, none of whom been made the podium after a week of drama and attrition.

We also discuss a fast, brutal women’s steeplechase, with analysis of the intersection of technique and fatigue, and the cost of being too aggressive for two of the pre race favourites.

Finally, we look ahead to the 400m finals, and in particular, how fast Sydney McLaughlin Levine can go? Gareth predicts a World Record, Ross thinks just outside 48, and we dive into the pacing, fatigue physiology and technical elements of the event to unpack what we can expect to see tomorrow.

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On the Track today

It was a day for the pre-event favourites to deliver in Tokyo. Faith Kipyegon produced a near- perfect display of front-running to win yet another major 1500m title. Cordell Tinch broke 13 to make his 110m hurdle win look routine. Hamish Kerr and Ethan Katzberg won the High Jump and Hammer Throw respectively, and Syndey McLaughlin Levrone put the 400m world record on notice in winning her semi-final.

We explore and unpack those performances, and look ahead to the men's 1500m final, which features tactical intrigue and a possible final 200m showdown between Josh Kerr and Niels Laros, with Gareth and Ross picking a dark-horse who may spoil that party.

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On the Track today

A remarkable day, with gold and silver split by 0.03s in one of the great marathons, surprise gold medals in the Men's Steeplechase and Women's 100m hurdles, and a disappointing disqualification in the men's 1500m.

Also on the menu today, Ross completely misses a World Record, we explain the fragility of tactics in the middle distance events, and look ahead to tomorrow's finals, wondering how Kipyegon will set about winning her 1500m gold.

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On the Track today

The fastest man and woman in the world were crowned on track in Tokyo today. Could Lyles defend his 100m crown and continue the US dominance of the event, or would the Jamaicans wrestle control back? Would the season-long dominance of Jefferson-Wooden turn into a maiden world title against Olympic champ Alfred?

Speaking of sprinting, the women's marathon came down to a sprint, with a surprise medalist joining two pre-race favourites on the podium. And speaking of surprises, the men's 10000m had plenty! We also had the elimination of three big favourites in Round 1 of the Men's 1500m, semi-finals in the women's 1500m, a first look at the 400m women, and a host of field events.

Ross and Gareth dissect the action from Day 2 in Tokyo, and look ahead to Day 3's action.

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On the Track today

The first gold medals were contested on track today, with the women's 10000m and mixed 4 x 400m relays kicking off the gold rush. We dissect those races, discussing how they were won, whether the favourites lived up to their billing, and who made tactical errors that may have cost them?

We also look ahead to Day 2, which will feature the crowning of new 100m champions. Can Lyles defend, or do Jamaican take back the title, and does Jefferson-Wooden hold off Julien Alfred? The Women's Marathon and the men's 10000 are also up for grabs, and we look ahead to the favourites and likely storylines.

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Show notes

In this (supposed to be) quick Spotlight we look back and forward at the Women’s Rugby World Cup (02:08) and how the lack of competitive matches may be dulling the appetite and how the game can grow. We discuss a concussion and a card which may have implications for the quarter finals and examine why there are so few coaches at the top level of women's rugby. While Gareth is shocked by only three in the World Cup and zero in the Women's Premiership, Ross explains why it takes time for the knowledge and experience to filter through and change will come more slowly that we might think.

In Center Stage (17:30), we take another look back at the Malcolm Gladwell podcast, but through the eyes of the Discourse members, who like Gareth, focused on the topics which the rest of the internet forgot in their trans debate frenzy. Does Gladwell really think Hodgkinson might be doping? Why compression of adolescence is such a good term for an important concept, and why Gladwell backs the 'whimsical' suggestion of banning parents from live sports events, even knowing it to be unfeasible? Did Gladwell mislead on the relative age distribution theory? Is his bridging of the gap between journalism and science valid? Do athletes have a responsibility to entertain? So many gems, so little time.

And Finally, (42:58), we look forward to the first of the athletics World Championship finals - the 4x400 mixed relay and the women's 10000 metres, and make a few predictions.

Show Notes

• World Rugby and Gallagher extend GHPA programme
• World Rugby launches Women Coaching Rugby Toolkit to recruit and retain more female rugby coaches
• Don't forget you can watch all our episodes on Youtube now

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