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This week’s Spotlight opens in Melbourne, where brutal heat nearly derailed Jannik Sinner’s title defence. The Italian was hobbled by cramps and looked down and out before the heat index policy triggered a delay, a roof closure, and some much-needed air con. That leads us into a deep dive on cramping: why it happens, what Sinner could be doing to address this weakness, and some of the less than credible methods tennis players are using to prevent them. We also unpack another Australian Open storyline — the request for players to remove Whoop devices — exploring both credible and dubious motives for such a ban.

Carbohydrates are in the news again, though this time, it's not about how much athletes are consuming, but rather how little they actually need - 10g per hour. That, according to a review headed by Prof Tim Noakes, is all that is required to prevent fatigue during exercise. We break down the paper, question its scientific robustness, explore some of the gaping holes, and explain why it diverges so sharply from real-world practice, and even from Noakes' own previous work on fatigue and performance.

A rapid-fire round sweeps through listener feedback on whether ChatGPT could ever replace a coach, the retesting of decade-old samples that’s led to bans for seven athletes, more eye-catching performances from teenage phenoms, a pair of world records, and a winter Olympic controversy.

And finally, we turn to Alex Honnold’s jaw-dropping, rope-free ascent of Taipei 101 — a climb that lit up the internet. Where does it sit in the history of the sport, and what made it so utterly unmissable?

Links

• Article on heat issues in Melbourne
• Reaction to the Whoop ban Down Under
• Noakes et al's review article on carbohydrate requirements during exercise
• One of many articles that suggest that muscle glycogen is also important for performance, this time not as part of failure, but rather regulation. Noakes was himself an author on this one
• Another article where Noakes correctly identifies the role of glycogen in the muscle as part of how performance is regulated and improved
• We mentioned the efforts of Dr James diNicolantonio to rebut some of the poor science of the low carb review. Here is one of many threads that offer counterpoints
• A good study from friends of the pod Louise Burke and Jaime Whitfield on what actually happens to performance on a low carb diet
• One of a few systematic reviews on the low carb vs high carb nutrition models for exercise performance
• Athletes test positive ten years after the 'crime'
• "I'm going to burn the whole of track and field down". Well, do it already, stop hinting

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Journalist, author, and speaker Alex Hutchinson is passionate in his search for truth. As the author of three books ('Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?, 2011; 'Endure', 2021 and 'The Explorers Gene', 2025) and writer of the popular Sweat Science blog, the former Physics graduate is at the forefront of modern science journalism. Hutchinson, a former Canadian national team miler, explains his journey to becoming one of the most respected voices in his field, how he balances credibility and relevance in a cluttered social media landscape, and how he conducts research for his books and columns. Together with Ross and Mike, Hutchinson also delves into his favourite topics, including a discussion on how endurance is defined by perceived versus actual limits.

For the discussion that continues long after the podcast, become a member of the Real Science of Sport Supporters club by making a small monthly or annual donation and get access to our Discourse community.

SHOW NOTES

Alex's Sweat Science Website

Alex's website

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In this Spotlight, Gareth and Ross get philosophical as they cast their eyes over a few topics, starting with Gareth's thoughts on 2026 and our recent podcast where Sean Ingle joined us to look ahead at the sporting year. It's a sporting year that won't include Ross finishing the mountain bike race he planned to, and we talk briefly about goals, burn-out and knowing when to cut your losses!

Then we indulge a passion of the pod - talent ID. This after New Zealand's teen sensation Sam Ruthe broke another national record, this time in the 800m. But how often do these world class middle distance teens kick on and improve? The answer may be surprising, but it does reveal how fraught the talent prediction is, and we discuss whether talent is easier to spot in some sports than others?

Staying on the philosophical theme, Gareth's recent forays into the principles of fitness and his attempts to simplify fitness, have led to fascinating conversations with our Science of Sport Supporters about the potential role of Artificial Intelligence in coaching and performance. Will AI take over from coaches? Can you plan and execute an effective training programme using nothing but AI prompts? Do we need human coaches when the knowledge of the whole world is at our disposal? Who has successfully capitalized on the AI hype, and who has contributed to the growing pile of "AI slop" in the world of sport and sports science? We discuss.

And finally, one of our listeners and a three time guest, Dr Jamie Whitfield, is looking for participants in his latest research trial - if you're in and around Melbourne, here's your chance, details in the pod, links in the show notes!

01:50 Who Tires first? Attack or Defence

11:00 Ross makes his predictions - I will remember

15:34 Sam Ruthe & Talent ID

35:00 Ross & the MTB Race that never was plus heat and fatigue

54:20 AI and can it replace coaching?

01:11:20 Jamie Whitfield invites you to a study - If you live near Melbourne

Links

The Sam Ruthe Youtube video that got Gareth excited

DCRainmakers video on the awful Strava Workout feature

The 5KRunner article on the "Digital God of Fitness"

Sale Sharks plan to use AI, they just aren't quite sure why yet

Interested in the Melbourne study with Jamie Whitfield and Louise Burke?

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Join Mike, Ross and the chief sportswriter at The Guardian, Sean Ingle, as we look ahead to the biggest events in 2026. From the Winter Olympics to the World Cup in football, 2026 will be packed with plenty of drama and, no doubt, controversy. The team discusses the inclusion of new events at the Winter Games, how the three-country host format at the World Cup may affect results, whether the Commonwealth Games have a future beyond this year, and whether the Enhanced Games will live up to the hype. Plus, we talk about the biggest stories in track and field, cycling, swimming and golf and offer some predictions. It's the perfect way to start your sporting year.

For the discussion that continues long after the podcast, become a member of the Real Science of Sport Supporters club by making a small monthly or annual donation and get access to our Discourse community

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There's a lot to catch up on today's Spotlight. Four weeks of Festive season sport means a range of topics from technology failures in the Ashes to the "Battle of the Sexes" debacle, thoughts on cyclo-cross dominance and excitement, Biathlon's appeal, Luke Littler's darts revolution, and some Enhanced Games ruminations as more athletes are announced. We also tease a few 2026 sports events, and hope you'll join us throughout the year for sports science insights and discussions.

For the discussion that continues long after the podcast, become a member of the Real Science of Sport Supporters club by making a small monthly or annual donation and get access to our Discourse community

Links

• Article on the Kyrgios-Sabalenka reactions
• Luke Littler's moment and the growth of darts
• Technology fails England at the Ashes
• Gareth's fascinating exploration of the not-so-simple guide to fitness (Supporters Club Members access)
• Stuart Phillips' paper on resistance training - just do it, and don't get stuck on the details
• Michael Ashenden on the Enhanced Games - the source of our philosophical discussion on doping in the show
• The sad death of Sivert Guttorm Bakken of Norway
• USA-Canada relations are not looking good - this time thanks to a skeleton controversy

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As 2025 winds down, Gareth, Mike and Ross reunite to look back on a packed and fascinating year in sport and sports science in a bumper Year-end show!

We pick through the highs and lows, heroes and villains, innovations and failures, revisiting the moments and stories that stood out — and those we’d rather forget. Along the way, we debate the best athletes, the greatest achievements, the biggest let-downs, and our own favourite podcasts and sports science stories of the year.

We rarely agree on our picks, but through lively discussion, our definitive, decisive, utterly unmissable and questionably authoritative show brings insight, perspective and (occasionally) clarity to the world of sport in 2025!

If you have enjoyed 2025 along with us, and want to show your support, you can become a Member of our Science of Sport Supporters Club by making a small monthly pledge at Patreon - think of it as buying us a cup of coffee once a month. You also get access to Discourse where you can read, or engage, with fellow listeners and point out all the great sporting achievements we missed this year!

Happy holidays, and see you all in 2026!

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The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is the body established to oversee drug testing and other integrity issues within the sport of athletics and road running around the world.. Established in 2017 in response to the deepening credibility crises within International Amateur Athletic Federation (now World Athletics) doping processes, the AIU is an independent body designed to oversee drug testing among the top tier in the sport. Brett Clothier is the current head of the AIU and, in this wide-ranging interview, explains the mandate and jurisdiction of the AIU, how doping cases are investigated, how testing is done and why the recent increase in Kenyan positives is a good thing.

Become a Supporter of The Real Science of Sport by making a small monthly pledge, and you also get access to our world-class community of experts and enthusiasts. Plus you get to explain sports like F1 and Squash to Gareth and Ross!

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Become a Supporter of The Real Science of Sport by making a small monthly pledge, and you also get access to our world-class community of experts and enthusiasts. Plus you get to explain sports like F1 and Squash to Gareth and Ross!

Show notes

Today, we focus on three news pieces from last week that reminded us of other stories we covered during 2025. The first two concern weight loss and management in elite sport, beginning with a look at the GLP-1 agonist issue (28:27). This was triggered by reports in the UK advising people that they must continue to exercise, specifically weight train, in order to combat the loss of lean mass that has been observed on the drug, which some have equated with aging a decade. Elite sport, meanwhile, will have to consider whether to ban such drugs as potentially performance-enhancing or harmful.

On the subject of harm, we stay on weight issues to discuss RED-s (40:10), in the light of a remarkable and candid announcement by elite cyclist Veronica Ewers that she's taking time away from the sport to address issues that she explains go back over a decade. Her story highlights all the traps - control and thoughtfulness about discipline, obsession over measurement and gadgets, disordered eating, intense training, positive validation in competitive environments, the remarkable ability of the body to tolerate this punishment, but ultimately, the sacrifice of health in a misplaced pursuit of performance. We talk about the lessons we can all learn, thinking back to Pauline Ferrand-Prevot's victory in the TDFF, which was a success story for weight periodization.

We also cover precocious talent, after a three-year old Indian prodigy earned a chess ranking (1:00:40). That reminded us of Malcolm Gladwell's "compression of adolescence" concept, and we talk about the inefficiencies sport accepts in its pursuit of the next champion, highlighted numerous times this year, with the realization that the system is broken and won't be fixed unless there is a collective will be fix it.

Also in this show, a more light-hearted look at the Football and Rugby World Cup draws (2:54) has us bemoaning the dilution of quality and the dearth of competitive matches early in those tournaments. And we chat about a super-fast Valencia marathon (10:43), that threw up fast winning times and nine national records, leading to a chat about globalization of the sport, the dominance of African runners, the slowest marathon nations (with some reasons), and the density of men's and women's top performers.

Plus Gareth remembers that Curacao is both a drink and World Cup finalist, and Ross defends Ghana's football honour!

Other links

• Review article advising resistance training in people taking GLP-1 agonists
• Paper that examines weight loss after 1 year of exercise or GLP-1 drugs
• More in-depth look at appetite and exercise behaviours in that study
• Study finding risk for RED-s in 30% of triathletes, including the tools that can be used to identify risk factors
• Cycling teams paying young riders big salaries

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Show notes

Today on the Spotlight, we kick off with a chat about whether your running shoes are causing injuries (4:24). This, after a former elite runner has sued Nike for an injury she claims was the result of running in carbon fiber plated footwear. Ross and Gareth talk about the complexity of running injuries, why proving a single cause is a near-impossible task, but why the claim is not necessarily a total no-hoper, given what we know about injury and these particular shoes. We look back at some precedents, sort of, where shoe companies have settled after claims, but with some very important subtle differences.

We then shift to Track and Field for a pair of stories (32:29). World Athletics crowned their Athletes of the Year this week, with Mondo Duplantis and Sydeny McLaughlin-Levrone taking the overall honours. We throw some praise Mondo's way, and not because he's virtually unbeatable and playing with the World Record. We also discuss Grand Slam Track, which is surely in its final days after the depth of its latest financial hole were announced, and Track and Field Athletics, whose supposed demise may have been greatly exaggerated (37:23)

We finish with a couple of contact sports stories. Ross co-authored a paper he thinks could transform how Rugby Union handles contact training to minimize head impacts (47:40). And we spotlight listener Petulant Skeptic, whose insights on infections and hand-washing in hospitals shed light on Guardian caps and reducing concussion risk (58:39).

Oh, And Finally, Ross has a tale about a mattress that will do things you simply won't believe. Or at least, you shouldn't!

Links to some articles

• Former elite runner sues Nike after being injured in Alphaflys
• It's not all frivolous - this paper suggests a possible injury risk
• Injuries are multifactorial and very complex as this Umbrella Review makes clear
• One of the papers I published with Dr Nic Tam on barefoot running, showing that even 8 weeks of supervised progression didn't turn us all into smooth barefoot runners, and may thus increase injury risk for many
• Vibram settled - not for causing injury, but for false claims
• Reducing full contact training in Rugby barely reduces head impacts in elite men's players - the paper we discussed
• The outstanding post by Petulant Skeptic on what infection and handwashing may tell us about Guardian caps

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07:35 - XC at the Winter Games?

17:40 - UK Athletics and the cost of FACT

22:35 - Mediocre Male Beats Strong Women

29:55 - Do Guardian Caps work?

39:55 - And Finally - Fine margins in sport & 2 day tests

Show notes

Today on Spotlight, a news show that begins with a brief look at our recent interview with Travis Tygart, the USADA CEO. Gareth raises an interesting question about USADA's partnership with its athletes and perceived impartiality, and Ross reflects on some of Tygart's strong views.

Sebastian Coe is trying to get Cross Country running into the Winter Olympics. It's not on snow or ice, so the Winter Games family are not all that enthusiastic. It would bring new nations to the medal table, but where should the Games draw the line at expansion?

Then it's on to some news from the always controversial world of sex in sport. UK Athletics have encouraged all their female athletes to get the SRY screen done to ensure eligibility for women's sport. A good step, but one that comes at a financial cost to the athlete.

it's a cost that many would consider worth incurring to protect women's sport, as demonstrated by this week's controversial victory, and then disqualification, of a male in the World's Strongest Woman event in Texas. We pick up on some views expressed by listeners to discuss the relevance of this story, and how Official Strongman, the organization in charge, reacted swiftly and decisively to correct the wrong.

Onto the NFL next, for a brief chat about Guardian caps. Promoted as reducing concussion risk by 50%, these soft-shell devices don't appear to have a plausible mechanism by which work, based on recent published research. This leads us to talk about the dilemma faced by sports authorities, who often throw everything they think works at the problem, but can't do robust, quality science to know what might, or might not, be working

And finally, we speak about the tiny margins between success and failure, sliding doors moments in sport, and take a brief look at why Test cricket just isn't what it used to be!

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