Around the world, the way that young talent is identified is often done without an understanding of how young athletes develop. We talk to Norwegian researcher in the field, Eirik Halvorsen Wik, PhD, from Cape Town's Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine at Stellenbosch University, for a close look at the challenges faced by young sporting stars, why there may be a better way to make selections at youth level and how to ensure the best athletes are given the best chance at long term success. Wik has previously worked at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences and the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre.
SHOW NOTES: A news story on the Ultra runner who took a car trip for 2.5 miles mid race
The paper in which coaches are revealed as not being all that good at spotting good running economy
Our guest Eirik Wik’s study on injuries in adolescent athletes
Another paper published by Dr Wik, describing different injuries with age in elite adolescent footballers:  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why How We Select Young Sporting Talent Is Probably All Wrong

World-renowned sports scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch break down the myths, practices and controversies from the world of sport. From athletics to rugby, soccer, cycling and more, the two delve into the most recent research, unearth lessons from the pros and host exclusive interviews with some of the world's leading sporting experts. For those who love sport. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sports

Dr Tamara Hew-Butler is the Queen of Hyponatremia (@hyponaqueen on X). What's hyponatremia, you may be wondering? It is a condition that is far more dangerous than dehydration, and which can develop when we drink too much fluid during exercise, with potentially lethal and often tragic consequences. We have been conditioned to fear the health and performance risks of dehydration during exercise, to believe that we cannot afford to lose fluid, and that by the time we are thirsty, it's too late. But Hew Butler, a world authority on fluid requirements during exercise, is here to set the record straight, to explain how exquisitely our bodies regulate our sodium and fluid levels, and why we can and should trust our physiology instead of the marketing messages of sports drinks and water companies. This is an episode that will challenge beliefs, and set the record straight on exercise hydration.
Show notes
Become a Patron and join the Discourse community
Links to articles on the subject matter of the podcast 
Tami is lead author on a series of consensus statements on Exercise Associated Hyponatremia. This is the most recent version of that consensusThe Men's Health article mentioned on the show, discussing overhydration and quoting TamiA review article by Tami, published in 2017, with details on the physiology, treatment and prevention of hyponatremiaA 2022 paper by Tami, on the Physiology, Psychology and pathophysiology of overhydrationA study Tami was involved in looking at soldiers doing a 40km march, showing that drinking to thirst avoided the dangers of both hyponatremia and dehydrationIn the show, we spoke about research we did at the Comrades Ultramarathon. Here is one of the papers from those studies in the medical tentTwo papers on what typically happens during ultra-endurance exercise, first in Ironman athletes, by Sharwood et alA second paper describing over 2000 endurance athletes and the changes in body weight, sodium levels and hydration statusThe first case series of hyponatremic athlete in the Comrades, going all the way back to the 1980sTami's X handle: @hyponaqueen Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Real Science Of Hydration During Exercise

Kenyan athletes are being banned, literally, by the hundreds.  The country that produces many of the world's outstanding distance performers has a huge credibility crisis.  It is clear that doping is widespread, but frustratingly, despite dozens of athletes being caught and banned every month, we are no closer to identifying how what have been described as "sophisticated doping regimes" are being managed and delivered to many of the best Kenyan athletes.  In this Spotlight, the second episode of the Series, Ross and Gareth talk about the extent of the problem, the challenges faced by authorities who are casting their own spotlight on Kenyan running, and the shadow that sadly looms over Kenyan medals and records.
Show notes
Sign up to become a Patron of the show and join the conversation 
The latest AIU list of banned Kenyan runners, as at 1 June 2024.  This list has since grown by about 30 namesA year ago, Kenyan government pledged to fight the doping problem with a significant investment.  The bans now may be the result, but is it the solution?Rhonex Kipruto is one of the biggest Kenyan names banned to date.  Here is the AIU Reasoned Decision describing the ban, including the results and graphs discussed by Ross and Gareth on the show
 Olympic surveys:Here is the survey we have created for you to rate every Olympic sport's "athleticism" and attributesHere is the "bracket", where you choose your favourite Olympic sport in a series of Head-to-Head battles.  We are now in Round 2
 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Science of Sport Spotlight 2: Kenya's doping induced credibility crisis

Dr Geoff Burns lives and breaths running. From his own accomplishments as an elite-level ultra racer, Burns has spent years researching the biomechanics of running, the science behind what makes great runners and the impact of the new super shoes in this new age of running. Burns has a PhD in Sports Science, is a physiologist with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and is a researcher and engineer with a special interest in running.
SHOW NOTES Follow Geoff on Twitter
The paper that describes the relationship between calf circumference and running economy 
The Japanese study comparing the tendon function of Kenyans to Japanese runners
A paper that looked at cerebral oxygenation in Kenyan runners, another where the effect of being a good runner is hard to tease out from being a Kenyan effect
Geoff and ROSS collaborated on this paper, as discussed on the show, looking at barefoot vs shod running in elite vs recreational runners
www.geoffreyburns.com/stream

 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Science and Art of Good Running

Today we introduce the Science of Sport Spotlight, a category of podcast that we intend to use to round up all the big sports stories with a sports science angle, and then share those insights with you. Today, we discuss the news that transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has lost a case brought against World Aquatics' transgender guidelines at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But it's not entirely as it seems - the case was dismissed because Thomas is not eligible to bring the case as Thomas is no longer a member of US Swimming. In this Spotlight episode, Professor Ross Tucker explains why that is frustrating for World Aquatics and other sports, and why the Thomas case would have made an interesting test in the court.
Notes: 
Sean ingle's article on the decisionThe research paper by Senefeld that analysis Thomas' performance changes with testosterone suppression, alluded to in the showAnother research paper, on which I am a co-author, which explains why the IOC Guideline on the trans issue is so misguidedPatrons only: The discourse thread that mentions the Ultra cycling race won by a trans woman this past weekend
 You can join the ongoing sports science conversation, and support our work, by becoming a Patron member at this link.
That Patron membership gives you access to our Discourse channels, where like-minded enthusiasts discuss sports science and news Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Science of Sport Spotlight 1: Lia Thomas loses case against World Aquatics

With 50 days to go to the Paris Olympics, it's all systems go for athletes, coaches, and media. Sean Ingle will be covering his 7th Olympic Games, and he joins us from Rome's European Track and Field Championships to talk about some of the themes we expect to make the news at these Paris Games. They include tech's pervasive and unavoidable influence on performance, a simmering feud in the world of anti-doping, and the evolution and relevance of the Olympic Games in the face of both external and internal pressures. We also present The Official Science of Sport surveys in which you get to vote for your favourite event of the Games, and our ambitious consensus project to classify the Olympic Sports by their physiological and psychological demands. A busy period of great sport starts here!
Show notes:
Here is where you sign up to become a Patron and get access to our awesome and informative Discourse community
The Discourse page, for those who are already Patrons of the pod (you sign in with your Patron log-ins)
If you want to join our survey to rate the Olympic sports for their athletic components, here is the link to the once-off survey
Our 'bracket' challenge to pick your most engaging, popular specific event
We spoke of tech in cycling on the show, and here's an announcement from Team GB/Lotus about their track bikes for their Paris campaign
Here's the paper with Kenenisa Bekele has a co-author, that recognizes that the new era performances, powered by super shoes, and aided by wavelights, need an asterisk alongside them
Follow Sean Ingle on Twitter/X

 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why How We Select Young Sporting Talent Is Probably All Wrong

Download our free app to listen on your phone