Shows
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatBackstraight End of Year Review 2025Send us a textThe gang’s all here and we’re joined by LOADS of Backstraight’s nearest and dearest to review a jam packed 2025.From Apeldoorn to Tokyo with a detour through Götzis and Zurich we try and remember it all as we highlight our favourite moments of the year 🤩Big thanks to Jaz and all our special guests. Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter...
2025-12-271h 39
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatThe Sayonara Tokyo Edition with Jeanette KwakyeSend us a textThought we'd take a breather after returning from Tokyo before dropping our review pod. Not that we've been slacking, we've been rewatching every last minute of the action if course!!! You miss so much in the stadium. We're joined by one of the very few people we can be certain has followed everything as closely as we have broadcasting legend and honorary Backstraight Girl Jeanette Kwakye.Together we discuss all of the ups and downs of a fantastic 2025. World Championships. Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us...
2025-10-101h 17
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatThe Backstraight Boys vs Swiss Track Check Live from Götzis EditionSend us a textInstead of our usual round up edition of our trip to Götzis we have something a little different for you this week. Here is an interview that we did straight after the meet with the guys from The Swiss Track Check podcast. They’re basically the Swiss Backstraight Boys and when they spotted us in the crowd, invited us on to their pod to discuss our amazing weekend in the mountains. Normal service will resume next week with a big guest!!!Hope you enjoy. ...
2025-06-1023 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatEMERGENCY POD!!! - Jaz Is Back EditionSend us a textEMERGENCY POD ALERT!!!!Our Backstraight Girl is BACK. In her first competition since September 2023 she competed at the Loughborough International meet on Sunday and jumped very encouraging 6.53m.Of course we had to her her straight on the pod to tell us all about it and celebrate another special occasion at the same time. Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at ...
2025-05-2120 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatThe Apeldoorn Review Edition with Preet MajithiaSend us a textJody didn’t make it to Apeldoorn so we’ve invited Backstraight Roving Reporter Preet on to fill us in on all the action. Netherlands cleaned up at their home champs with 7 Golds whilst Team GB had mixed results. Big names like Lieke, Jakob, Sander and Ditaji shone but Jerry’s win and a resurgent Andy Robinson stole the show for British fans 🤩All this and we discuss the very weird UK team for Nanjing. Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on...
2025-03-121h 00
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatThe Apeldoorn Preview Edition with A European Indoor LEGENDSend us a textAfter many discussion about which legend we should invite on for our Apeldoorn 2025 Euro Indoors Preview, we realised we already had one in da house !!! Reigning European Long Jump champ (And more importantly #1 Backstraight Girl) Jaz Sawyers is here with us, to discuss all the action at the upcoming champs. Bayo has been up a mountain, Jaz is recovering from the Brit Awards and Jody still hasn’t decided if he’s attending the champs, but join us whilst we get absolutely everything wrong before the action starts on Thursda...
2025-03-041h 16
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatBackstraight End of Year Review 2024 with Special Guest Claire ThomasSend us a textThe old gang are all here as we're joined by OG Backstraight Girl, Claire Thomas to round up the whole of 2024!!!We has 3 Major Champs and a whole host of stunning performances to look back on so we choose our highs and lows from an amazing year of T&F.Special shout outs to Jazmine Sawyers and Preet Majithia for all of their help this year and of course all our special guests.See ya in 2025 :-) Please enjoy, please subscribe and...
2024-12-301h 48
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatThe Charlie Dobson EditionSend us a textA few tech probs behind the scenes meant that we've been MIA for the last few weeks. Instead of our planned podcast here's a very special interview with Backstraight fave Charlie Dobson that we're dropping for you early!!!The gang will all be back very soon with some other famous names and a full round up of all that's been happening in the world of T&F. Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and...
2024-10-2628 min
Inside Track: The Official World Athletics Podcast.The Backstraight Boys Are Back! The Social Media superstars talk Paris 24 so far!It’s day Six at Paris 24 for the Inside Track team as they, once again, bring you the latest news, biggest views and best guests from the World of Athletics at the Olympic games.On this episode our Olympic gold winning pair of Sanya Richards Ross and Greg Rutherford are joined by two sets of guests.First, social media athletics sensations (and seasoned podcasters) Jodi and Bayo, aka The Backstraight Boys, share their excitement about being in the French capital for the games and talk about the future of at...
2024-08-0647 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatThe Reality Royalty EditionSend us a textJaz is on the move, so the boys get together to discuss Olympic Teams, World Records, Sprint on Netflix and their own glorious reality TV pasts.There's also talk of a Backstraight Meet Up at The London Diamond League, so let them know on Socials if you'll be around for a beer and a chat :-) Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at
2024-07-1255 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatRome Day 3 - The Roma Athletics Meet Edition with Chris Brown-SportSend us a textOur little Backstraight Meet Up had a surprise special guest which along with 2 Golds for #TeamGB and another Irish left us with plenty to celebrate 🥳 Chris Brown-Sport joins us to reminisce on a particularly riotous night of athletics fandom in Roma!!! Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2024-06-1017 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatThe New Girl In Town EditionSend us a textBackstraight's Back with a MAJOR announcement.We've been and gone and gone and bowed to the inevitable, so are super excited to announce Jaz Sawyers our official new Backstraight Girl :-)She'll be joining us across this Olympic summer to discuss EVERYTHING that's going on in T&F starting with the shockingly heavyweight British team for Rome 2024.Join us for a dose of Backstraight Boys (and Girl) WEEKLY from now on - We Promise!!! Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you...
2024-05-2957 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatGlasgow Day 1 - The Noah's Arc Edition with Jazmin SawyersSend us a textOn the first day of the World Indoors we grab honorary Backstraight Girl Jazmin Sawyers for a quick chat about all the action including Gold Medals in the Shot Put, Pentathlon, women's HJ and men's 60m. Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2024-03-0216 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatGlasgow World Indoors Preview with Eilidh Doyle and Preet MajithiaSend us a textWe've been partying it up at the Rio Carnival for the last few weeks so introduce our background Backstraight Boy, Preet to catch us up on all the latest T&F gossip, before welcoming Scottish track legend Eilidh Child onto the pod to discuss all things Glasgow 2024.As we head up to Scotland (Bayo's first ever visit!!!) you can be busy listening and getting prepared for this weekend's feast of athletics action. Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all o...
2024-02-291h 11Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatBackstraight End of Year Review 2023 with Special Guests Jeanette Kwakye and Claire ThomasSend us a textDid you think we'd forgotten about you??? We took our time but it was worth it cos we couldn't do the end of year review without the First Ladies of Backstraight. Jeanette Kwakye and OG Backstraight Girl Claire Thomas made room in their very busy broadcasting schedules to join us and discuss an action packed 2023.From Josh Kerr and KJT snatching Gold, Sha'carri coming good, Faith having a season for the ages and Budapest maybe being THE GOAT, this year had EVERYTHING.We sat down to reminisce ab...
2023-12-311h 50Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatBackstraight End of Year Review 2023 with Special Guests Jeanette Kwakye and Claire ThomasSend us a textDid you think we'd forgotten about you??? We took our time but it was worth it cos we couldn't do the end of year review without the First Ladies of Backstraight. Jeanette Kwakye and OG Backstraight Girl Claire Thomas made room in their very busy broadcasting schedules to join us and discuss an action packed 2023.From Josh Kerr and KJT snatching Gold, Sha'carri coming good, Faith having a season for the ages and Budapest maybe being THE GOAT, this year had EVERYTHING.We sat down to reminisce ab...
2023-12-311h 50Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatThe Pole Position Edition with Katie Moon & Molly CauderySend us a textBackstraight's Back with a Women's Pole Vault Special.We discuss everything that happened at the end of the track season before welcoming vaulting Queens Katie Moon and Molly Caudery on to tell us about their fantastic 2023 and then delve into some off track coaching dramas from UKA, DAS and the Ingebrigtsen brothers.UKA Statement - https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-news/uka-technical-director-stephen-maguire-leaves-post-1039972494/Dina Statement - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/67101853Ingebrigtsen Articles - https://www.vg.no/sport/friidrett/i/dweX7w/jakob-henrik-og-filip-ingebrigtsen-om-bruddet-med-gjert-ingebrigtsen-dette-er-vaar-historie
2023-10-221h 32Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatBackstraight v Citius - Bonus EditionSend us a textWe had planned a big World Champs Review for you this week, but being all athleticsed out and with 2 Diamond Leagues and a London Half Marathon to watch, our very special guests kindly agreed to delay for a week. Instead we're bringing you this bonus edition LIVE from Budapest.We appeared with our good friends Chris and Kyle from Citius Mag on their YouTube Live show and instead of us interviewing the stars we get interviewed about all our adventures in Track and Field. It's a really fun chat and we e...
2023-09-0346 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatBudapest Day 8 - Multiple Medal Madness with RadziSend us a textFull fledged Backstraight Boy Radzi joins us to revel ain another night of first class action. Champs kept on championing as the likes of Faith, Noah and Sha’Carri increased their Gold haul, Mondo and Chase retained their titles and Gong made history (We think). Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2023-08-2731 min
The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field ShowThe Backstraight Boys Podcast's Bayo and Jody Furlong On Their Extremely Die-Hard Passion For Athletics, The Changing Landscape of Track MediaA long-awaited collab. The Backstraight Boys Podcast hosts, Bayo and Jody Furlong, sit down with Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber for the first reunion of track and field's four biggest fans in the world. They share a bit about their origins in how they fell into the sport; traveling the world to see some of the most obscure Olympic and World Champions from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s; their experience within the media space in track and field + why good change is happening with more diversity.
This podcast is a guaranteed good time.
2023-08-2345 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatA Backstraight Reunion: The 'Don't Mention Pacing Lights' EditionSend us a textIt's been 2 months since Jody and Bayo were in the same room together. Now that they have stopped gallivating around the world, it's time to reunite and discuss everything that has been going on this season. Join us to chat about our favourite performances so far this year and the UK Trials happening this weekend (Just don't mention pacing lights). Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter...
2023-07-071h 08Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatRe-Run: UK Sprint Queen SpecialSend us a textWe promised to repost some of our fave Backstraight episodes and what better place to start than our UK Sprint Queen Special from back in 2018.Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all of our socials Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2023-04-071h 30Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatNew Era, Old Flames: An Exciting Istanbul PreviewSend us a textHaving been unceremoniously dumped by their devoted girlfriend of the last 5 years, the newly single boys run back into the arms of an old flame and welcome OG Backstraight Boy, Matt Wood onto the show. It was Matt who introduced Claire and the twins in the first place so you have him to thank for the last 5 years of podcast mayhem.A former GB international Matt now heads Run Through, organising large scale running events across the the UK to keep you all fit. You can see see more of what...
2023-03-0244 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatOld episodes, a new era, and an unwavering love of athletics: Backstraight's big look backSend us a textOur 100th episode passed us by in a flash. Like a home straight Kyle Langford. Like the naps you desperately snatch whilst balancing a championship across the globe with your commitments at home. Like the time between each jaw-dropping performance from Rojas and Duplantis. We missed it just as surely as we've habitually missed Diamond Leagues (why are they so inconsistently scheduled??) since starting this podcast - all the way back in 2017.'Better late than never' we figured, and so we sat down - on New Year's Eve of 2022 - to...
2023-02-171h 11Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatSleep deprivation, Wightman adoration, and the US as a host nation: our Oregon IG Live feat. the peerless Kath MerrySend us a textYo: it's the Oregon set. Backstraight Boys: live and direct.Kath Merry mash up (she was with Wightman on the deck).It's the Eugene World Champs - we're live and direct.Just in case you missed it: here's our mid-Worlds review, with a lengthy and outstanding cameo from the ever-glorious Kath Merry - who dialled in from Oregon (and brought some much-needed knowledge and class to proceedings in the process).Kath: thanks for joining
2022-07-2559 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatThe Kids Are Alright (mostly): Our First Pod of a Jam-Packed 2022Send us a textKeely doing Keely things, baby 'brig setting world records, Mondo soaring, and the Winter Olympics rocked by a doping scandal with a 15-year-old girl at its heart. 2022 hasn't exactly got off to a quiet start, has it?Backstraight is back (alright!) - with a romp through recent indoor results, a discussion about the Kamila Valieva story and Sha'Carri's take on it, and plenty more besides.It is GOOD to be back podding, and you can expect plenty from us this year, as the busiest athletics season we've ever seen...
2022-02-2346 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatJeanette, Estelle, and a Spectacular Year of Athletics: our 2021 Review PodSend us a textIn so many ways, 2021 was a year to forget. It won't be one looked back upon with universal fondness, and there are lots of reasons to be pleased to leave it behind. But one of the reasons we love sport is the phenomenal escapism it offers, and the way its narratives can transcend arenas to leave indelible marks upon the world we live in. On the track, on the field, and out on the roads - 2021 was a year full of those moments. Time and time again, athletes shrugged off the challenges of...
2022-01-0249 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatJubilant Jodie, Kween Keely, and Plenty More from Manchester: Our British Champs Sunday SpecialSend us a textWhen British Athletics offer you accreditation for Olympic trials, you drop everything, and so Claire and Bayo headed up to Manchester for a blockbuster Sunday of runs, jumps, and throws.They caught up with Adam, with Beth, with all three women's 800-metre medalists, with the ever-wonderful Elliot Giles, the prodigious Oliver Dustin, the gravity-defying duo of Jaz and Morgan, a delighted Tiff Porter (off to her THIRD Games), an ecstatic Jess Judd, a not-yet-qualified Amy-Eloise Markovc, and Jodie 'two golds' Williams. It was a blast.Here's a bit of...
2021-06-281h 03Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatSha'Carri, Jump Format Changes, and Euro Team Champs: A Marmitey Backstraight ChatSend us a textWe're never short on opinions at Backstraight Towers, but this week includes some particularly impassioned discussions: why on Earth are World Athletics persevering with the ghastly 'top three' jump competition format? does the European Team Champs have any relevance or merit as a meet these days? and what have we all made of sprinting sensation, Sha'Carri Richardson?We look back at Gateshead (wet and windy) and Doha (exactly the opposite), Silesia and Ostrava, and award a few gongs for recent performances. Of course, we also bring up Merlene Ottey and the...
2021-06-031h 11Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatExtraneous Events, Priceless Experience, and Bra Malfunctions: it's Mr Relay himself - Martyn RooneySend us a textThe World Relays were a funny old meet, but - as per - we were just thrilled to have athletics to watch, and used it as an opportunity to *finally* welcome along Martyn 'relay' Rooney: one of the country's most adored, decorated, and long-limbed stars.Why didn't British Athletics send a 4 x 100 squad? How much can be learned at events like this? What on earth is the point of a Mixed 2×2×400 m? All this and more on the latest episode.A reminder that you should absolutely get yourselves down to...
2021-05-0952 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatHigh Hopes, Closed Honey, and Dipped Sheep: What To Do About British Javelin Throwing, feat. Goldie Sayers and Steve BackleySend us a textBritish javelin throwing is not in a good place right now. The days of Fatima, Tessa, Steve, and Goldie feel long gone, and it's not entirely clear why that is.Lack of coaching or competition? Poor talent identification? Other sports poaching promising youngsters? Lacklustre marketing of the event? We had plenty of ideas at Backstraight HQ, and you lovely lot sent us plenty of fantastic suggestions of your own, but - with an Olympics looming large, and a very real chance that Team GB won't be sending a single j...
2021-04-2239 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatGardens, Gout, and Gunning for Second: Marathon & Race Walks Trials with Tim, Tom, and TomSend us a textTom Bedford made it happen. Tim Hutchings will be on the mic. Tom Bosworth will be doing all that he can to finish... second? Intriguing.This one came together very last minute, but we couldn't not look ahead to the first Team GB Olympic trials event - taking place on the morning of March 26th at Kew Gardens, and available to watch on BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, and the British Athletics website. Not. To. Be. Missed.A big thanks to all three of our guests, and to you...
2021-03-2444 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatLego Vikings, Leif Life, and Going Out Hard: Karsten Warholm Interview SpecialSend us a textThe second fastest of all time, and - if we're going by performances - the third, ninth, and tenth, too. Norway's all-conquering Viking horn-adorned superstar, Karsten Warholm, only took up the 400-metre hurdles a few years ago, but has come to dominate one of the highest quality events in the sport, and in real style. A huge presence on the start line, a rocket out of the blocks, an aggressive racer, and an effusive victor: he's got the personality to back up the pace, and - along with his smartphone-toting, caffeine-chugging, d...
2021-03-2047 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatTactics, Bar Stools, and (alleged) Gingerbread: Our European Indoor Champs Review - feat. Holly ArcherSend us a textYou could be forgiven for thinking that this is the second instalment of our women's middle distance special - 70% of this episode is either us waxing lyrical about the tactical excellence of the British contingent in these events, or Jody's interview with the brilliant Holly Archer - but we do discuss other bits: promise!From Hannah England and Richard Kilty's analytical abilities, to the weeping Lavillenies, and back again via the piece of toast Torun employed as its mascot - our latest offering attempts to cover the 2021 European Indoor Championships, which w...
2021-03-111h 12Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatJemma Reekie, Sarah McDonald, and Melissa Courtney-Bryant: Our British Women's Middle Distance SpecialSend us a textWe say it so often, we might as well replace that part where Jody and Bayo forget their social media handles at the end of each episode with this refrain, but: the British middle distance trials are going to be something else. Olympic qualifying standards are casually scattered up and down the domestic rankings, and we are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to world-class athletes over 800 and 1500 metres. In 2020, we had three women in the global top ten over 800 metres, and four in the metric mile. Laura M...
2021-02-261h 26Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatCompetition, Charisma, and Consistency: Indoors So Far, feat. the World-Leading Trayvon BromellSend us a textThere's regular athletics back on our screens, which is heaven (cheerless cheerleaders in Lievin aside). With Euros just around the corner, we take a deep - far deeper than planned, as per - dive into the performances we've enjoyed so far.From the absurdly talented Grant Holloway, to the fact that Laura Muir ran 3:59 and was beaten by six seconds. From the contrasting styles of two huge middle distance talents - Elliot Giles and Jakob Ingebrigsten - to the gift that keeps on giving: the pole vault. Oh: and the handful o...
2021-02-161h 12Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatEquality vs quality, innovation vs tradition, and everyone vs pacing lights: Cross Country and distance running with Paula RadcliffeSend us a textEarlier this year, UKA announced that they were going to consult clubs, athletes, and competition organisers about cross country race distances. A host of GB runners, including three-time World Champion over the cross - Paula Radcliffe - penned a response, arguing against equal distances for men and women. As could only have been expected, Twitter immediately became the sort of rocky, perilous landscape only previously seen in Aarhus in 2019.Why the furore? Should gender parity, something we love about athletics, extend to XC race distances? Women *can* run as far as...
2021-01-301h 08Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatUnrecognisable Olympics, Unmissable Events, and an Abundance of Stars: Getting Excited for 2021 with the Wonderful Kath MerrySend us a text2021 is upon us. Covid’s still here. Winter training is well underway. The calendar is teeming (but for how long, we don’t know). And - most excitingly - Backstraight is back.In their first pod of the new year, Jody, Bayo, and Claire are joined by Olympic medallist and broadcasting superstar Kath Merry, to discuss everything 2021: the events we can expect to happen and are most excited for; the stars we can't wait to see - both established and rising; and what we would guarantee for this season, if we were...
2021-01-1157 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatImpossible Games, Unthinkable Rule Changes, and an Impressively Great Season: Our 2020 Review PodSend us a text2020: the year that we witnessed garden-staged pole vault AMRAPs and a London Marathon consisting of 19 laps of St James' Park. A season that brought us world records, empty stadia, and Noah Lyles running a devastating 180 metres (in every sense of the word). Months of waiting for Karsten Warholm to scorch his way to history, and a few seconds of explosive perfection as Johannes Vetter hurled a javelin beyond the 97-metre mark. A season sprinkled with individual moments of brilliance, and yet overshadowed by a global pandemic, a decimated calendar, and a huge amount...
2020-10-0840 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatAll Hail Harry, Peerless Pratt, and the Bright British Future: the Delightful Surprise Package of the 2020 British ChampionshipsSend us a textOne left with a national record, one left not a dry eye across the land, but both Harrys were stars of the show at last weekend's British Championships. Alongside the now world-leading Aimee Pratt, the prodigious Lucy-Jane Matthews, the wonderful trio of women's 100m medallists, and - you know what? It'd take too long to list; the event was just gorgeous, which is really saying something, given the circumstances.No crowds and seriously depleted fields could have turned the whole affair in Manchester into a damp squib, but we were thoroughly...
2020-09-1055 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatCheptegei's Heroics, Karsten's Commitment, and World-Class Brits: Jody and Bayo's take on a diamond-standard MonacoSend us a textSafe to say we all had *big* Friday nights... from our sofas... drowning in world record attempts, huge performances, and that ubiquitous green-and-blue Nike race kit.That's right: athletics - proper athletics - is back, and Monaco. Went. Off.Joshua Cheptegei broke Bekele's 5,000m WR, Baby Ingebrigsten has his first European Record, and Faith Kipyegon ran the second-fastest kilometre of all time.Laura Muir broke a British Record, Laura Weightman is now behind only Paula Radcliffe on the all-time 5000m list, and Jake Wightman is also sitting...
2020-08-1529 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatCar Parks, Fist Fights, and More Champagne than Sense : Our 'Fast Girls' Special with Dina Asher-Smith and Amy HuntSend us a text'One Dream, One Team, One Chance', reads the tagline of Regan Hall's 2012 masterpiece, 'Fast Girls'.Those of us at Backstraight HQ suggest the following might be more accurate: 'a plethora of inaccuracies, 91 minutes of madness, one seriously feel-good movie'. It is brilliant and bonkers and almost as full of drama as it is famous athletics faces amongst the extras (seriously; look at the credits. EVERYONE is in this film), and it's the perfect choice for our first Backstraight Film Club.Similarly ideal are our two guests this w...
2020-07-221h 17Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatInspiration Games, Backstraight Film Club, and Athletics Baby Royalty: July's Lockdown RamblingsSend us a textAthletics is creeping back - from the Showdown in Otown to the Inspiration Games. In the former, Noah Lyles beat Justin Gatlin over 100 metres. In the latter, Noah Lyles beat no one over 185 metres. The world's gone mad.Bowerman TC continue to tear things up across the pond, Allyson Felix is looking *quick*, and we still can't bring ourselves to get excited by 100 yard dashes or 3 x 100m relays.There's also been the patter of tiny feet down the home straight: welcome along, Olympia Lightning Bolt and Ruby Elizabeth...
2020-07-1235 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatInspiration Games, Backstraight Film Club, and Athletics Baby Royalty: July's Lockdown RamblingsSend us a textAthletics is creeping back - from the Showdown in Otown to the Inspiration Games. In the former, Noah Lyles beat Justin Gatlin over 100 metres. In the latter, Noah Lyles beat no one over 185 metres. The world's gone mad.Bowerman TC continue to tear things up across the pond, Allyson Felix is looking *quick*, and we still can't bring ourselves to get excited by 100 yard dashes or 3 x 100m relays.There's also been the patter of tiny feet down the home straight: welcome along, Olympia Lightning Bolt and Ruby Elizabeth...
2020-07-1235 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatChristmas Shopping, Sourdough Starting, and Adapting as Athletes: Our Lockdown Chin-wag with Morgan Lake and Jazmin SawyersSend us a textSprint queens, step aside (for one week only, please; we still adore you): the jump queens are in town, and it's been a total hoot.When we say 'in town', we mean on a Zoom call with us, for a lockdown special featuring two of our favourite Team GB athletes - the wonderful Morgan Lake and Jazmin Sawyers. Not only are these two international medallists, articulate podcast guests, and major fans of the sport itself, but they're regular listeners to this show, and so it was a no-brainer to get them...
2020-06-251h 02Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatListening, Learning, and Changing: Black Lives MatterSend us a textIt would be remiss to talk about anything else right now, so - here it is - a Backstraight episode with neither bells nor whistles: just a discussion of this essential global movement away from racism and towards equality. To help us sift through this weighty, complex topic, we're joined by two incredibly knowledgeable former athletes: Chris Lambert - whose impassioned, articulate writing has inspired and educated thousands of people on the topic in recent weeks - and Donna Fraser, whose work as Equality, Diversity & Engagement Lead at British Athletics allows h...
2020-06-141h 12Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatOn Top of the Podium, Next to Dolly, and in Front of Camera: Denise Lewis Interview Special (Part II)Send us a textWHAT a cliff-hanger that was. Aren't we wicked?But - great news - Bayo is back, and so is Denise, and we're ready to pick up where we left off: approaching the 2000 Olympic Games.Just in case you don't know how Denise got on in Sydney (although the episode title does contain a slight spoiler in that regard), we won't ruin the surprise here, but her recounting of the competition makes for a cracking listen. That said, the highlight of this episode is probably Lewis' Dolly Parton impression, which...
2020-05-2048 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatStarting Out, Breaking Through, and Seeking Gold: Denise Lewis Interview Special (Part I)Send us a textFrom Wolverhampton to the top of the podium in Sydney - via a handful of Commonwealth titles and records, a pair of World silvers, a couple of take-off leg changes, and the opportunity to compete against some of the greatest multi-eventers to have ever donned a pair of spikes - Denise Lewis has some cracking stories to tell.So many, in fact, that she spoke with Bayo for two hours for this interview special, and we made the decision at Backstraight HQ to split their conversation into two instalments. Two episodes...
2020-05-1554 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatTriple Jump, Quarter Miles, and Much More Say for Athletes: Christian Taylor on his Career and The Athletics AssociationSend us a textWe say this with love - enormous amounts of it - but Christian Taylor is a serious over-achiever. Double and reigning Olympic Champion, four-time and reigning World Champion, seven-time and reigning Diamond League Champion, and the second best triple jumper of all time. He's also a 45.07 quarter miler, has a gold medal from the World Relay Championships, and is using his platform and influence to benefit his fellow athletes, through the foundation of The Athletics Association.OH - and he's also super duper lovely and interesting.We w...
2020-04-271h 07Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatFootie, Fourths, and Fabulous Four-by-Ones: Adam Gemili Interview SpecialSend us a textAdam Gemili likes to break records. When he produced a dazzling 9.97 in 2015, he became the first British athlete to dip below the two hallowed barriers of men's sprinting. When he scorched past several of his competitors down the back straight of the Olympic Stadium in the 2017 4x100 final, he helped Great Britain to their first ever global title, and a whopping national record. When his funding was reduced to that of a relay athlete only, he marked his return to form with a championship record at the 2019 British Champs.We reckon...
2020-04-101h 07Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatOlympics Postponed, Dry Punished, and Britney (Bitch): Hot Takes for your Locked-Down EarsSend us a textDoes Caster Semenya have the raw speed to challenge the world's best over 200 metres? Does Britney Spears..? As the Olympic Games are postponed for the first time in their history, and Mark Dry receives the same length of ban as Ruth Jebet, the world - it seems - has truly gone mad.The only constant right now is that Mo Farah is embroiled in drama, as a new Panorama documentary airs, and his name makes headlines once more. At least we've something comfortingly familiar in these desperate times, eh? S...
2020-03-2748 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatFiendish Trials, Canny Tactics, and Upholding a Legacy: Our British Men's Middle Distance SpecialSend us a textWe'll level with you: this might be a middle distance special, but it's the length of a marathon. It's an hour and forty-eight minutes of athletics chat, including four substantial interviews with a quartet of Great Britain's finest current 800 and 1500 metre racers. You could get half way through the responsibly-spaced queue at your local Tesco's in that time.'The optimal length for a podcast episode is between 40 and 50 minutes', the received wisdom will tell you. Well, we've a few responses to that:1) You've nothing better to do r...
2020-03-211h 48Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatJemma's Flying, Mondo's Soaring, and GB's Spoilt for 400m Talent: the Glasgow Grand Prix and a few more besidesSend us a textMondo Duplantis is making history at whim, Jemma Reekie has stepped out of Laura Muir's shadow and is eating national records for breakfast, and Jessie Knight is laughing in the face of her own previous bests. Oh, and Joshua Cheptegei just dropped a 12:51 5km on the roads in Monaco. 2020 looks set to be epic.Claire's back with the boys this week, with all of the above covered, plus plenty of shout-outs to other Backstraight favourites around the globe (we see you, Amber Anning), an update on Christian Coleman's location, and a...
2020-02-2050 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatJeanette, Jon, and Pre-Season Joviality: Backstraight's 2020 PreviewSend us a textIt's an Olympic year. Mondo has already broken a World Record. Jemma Reekie has broken three British ones. Jeanette Kwakye and Jon Mulkeen are on the pod. Goodness gracious, 2020 really is off to a fabulous start at Backstraight HQ.We've had a wonderful couple of months off, but are back with an absolute bang, and thought this would be the perfect appetite-whetter ahead of what ought to be a sensational year of running, jumping, throwing, and walking.Here's to rants, raves, and records; to sprint queens and distance duels...
2020-02-131h 21Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatJeanette, Jon, and Pre-Season Joviality: Backstraight's 2020 PreviewSend us a textIt's an Olympic year. Mondo has already broken a World Record. Jemma Reekie has broken three British ones. Jeanette Kwakye and Jon Mulkeen are on the pod. Goodness gracious, 2020 really is off to a fabulous start at Backstraight HQ.We've had a wonderful couple of months off, but are back with an absolute bang, and thought this would be the perfect appetite-whetter ahead of what ought to be a sensational year of running, jumping, throwing, and walking.Here's to rants, raves, and records; to sprint queens and distance duels...
2020-02-131h 21Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatBarshim's Back (so's Radzi), Kat's Beaming, and Athletics is Better (or is it?): Our 2019 Season ReviewSend us a textRadzi's back. He's an expert and a professional, who covered - with great warmth and nous, we might add - many of this year's major events. This recording should be plain-sailing... right?Of course not. Radzi thinks Kipchoge's sub-two was a phenomenal athletic performance. Jody and Bayo think it's a gimmick. Chaos ensues. He also thinks Christian Taylor might be his Male Athlete of the Year. Claire 'Keep it Karsten' Thomas is apoplectic.It was terrific fun, however, and we did agree on a few things: Muhammad's supremacy, the...
2019-12-121h 44Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatKing Kipchoge, Awards Analysis, and Federation Formations: Records are Falling, but Athletes are RisingSend us a textWas Eliud Kipchoge's sub-two marathon an extraordinary athletic achievement? Or was it a technology-doped gimmick? Could it be viewed as both? A little late to the party, perhaps, but full of opinion as ever - we took a look at his history-making run through the streets of Vienna.Within 24 hours of that, Brigid Kosgei was smashing Paula's time in Chicago, and so fell one of the greatest statistical outliers in the sport: the longest-standing marathon record of the post-War era. What a time to be a distance runner, eh? T...
2019-11-2450 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatMary Cain (brave), Diamond League (diminished), and some British favourites (journalised): two mega rants and three mega interviewsSend us a textWe've had a lovely, restful month off. Unfortunately, the IAAF haven't. They've been busy chopping the triple jump, steeplechase, discus throw, and 200 metres from the 2020 Diamond League. Honestly. You couldn't make it up. Taylor v Claye? Meh. Noah Lyles? We've had enough charismatic sprinters. World records? Completed it, mate. Some of the best discuss-throwers in history? Throws leave people cold... right?There's that rant to have, and then there's the NY Times' interview with Mary Cain to discuss. Once one of athletics' most prodigious talents - a distance dynamo with an...
2019-11-131h 31Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatShot Putters in the Stratosphere, Kat and Dina in the History Books, and Elephants in the Room: Our Big Doha Review PodSend us a textWhere do we begin..? With the empty seats? The fainting marathon runners? Alberto Salazar's ban? With the DQs that were and weren't? Or the fact that we missed experiencing Mihambo's 7.30m live because it was necessary to watch (another) Mo Farah montage?OR - how about we talk about the world records? The African fans roaring on their athletes in the distance events without stopping dancing for even a second? The women returning to the sport to earn the titles of both 'mother' and 'world-beater'? Mutaz Barshim shrugging off gravity with...
2019-10-081h 12Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatFalling Records, Sizzling Match-Ups, and Cooling Stadiums (hopefully): An Epic Doha Preview with Our New BFF, RadziSend us a textWe’ll level with you. We completely and utterly lost control of this one. Like Eilish McColgan in the British Championships 5000m this year, it set off like a train, and we never stood a chance. We invited Radzi Chinyanganya along to help us preview the 2019 World Championships, figuring that his professionalism would lend polish and structure to our usual ramblings. To our absolute delight, he completely failed in this respect; Radzi was such an effervescent fountain of knowledge, anecdotes, and ‘one more thing’s that this recording snowballed gloriously. Two hours...
2019-09-242h 01Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatKarsten's King, Abi's Back, and Amelia's Just Getting Started: Diamond League Finals Wrap & Those Picked To #RepresentSend us a textThe 2019 Diamond League has finished, British Athletics have named their team for the World Championships, and the gang's back together! Oh - hang on - Bayo's running late. Close, but no coconut. Regardless: what an exciting time of year, and how bloody amazing does it feel knowing we've a British women's 100m Diamond League Champion? With Doha just around the corner, it's time to ponder how revealing those Zurich and Brussels meets were, and cast an eye through the 74 athletes chosen to #Represent. Ever the journalist, Jody spoke to comeback queen A...
2019-09-221h 26Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatBounding Ben, Dashing Dina, and Heights-Hitting Holly : The Race to Represent at British ChampsSend us a textNewly-crowned British 100m Champion, Ojie Edoburun said something very wise to us this weekend: ‘you can be a circuit guy, or you can be a championship guy.’ Now, in an ideal world, you’d be both, but that’s no easy feat, and it’s a rare old athlete who’d pick Diamond League consistency over the chance to etch their names into the history books, and clinch silverware when big performances matter the most. The British Champs aren’t the Worlds or Olympics, but they sure do run the rule over ou...
2019-08-281h 18Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatBest of British, Birmingham-Bound, and Doha Dust-Ups: Our British Champs Preview PodSend us a textClaire's away 'doing rugby in France' (close enough, lads; she's been in both Portugal and West London, and is now - terrified - hitting 'publish' on an episode the boys promise needs only a cursory tidy up in edit...), leaving Jody and Bayo to look ahead to this weekend's British Championships. Last year, we all agreed that the trials were one of our favourite events of the season: brimming with fierce competition, high-quality contests, and the very best of British athletics. Beth Dobbin's post-race interview. Dina's championship record. A women's long ju...
2019-08-2236 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatYoucef Zatat, Rabah Yousif, and Plenty More Besides: Recent Results and Clangers from the World of Track and FieldSend us a textWe've two guests this week, and they're on for very different reasons. Double European U23 Champion and enormous talent Jemma Reekie is back (we've had her on before. We adore her), to discuss her history-making exploits in Gavle. Rabah Yousif? Well, he's on because he... Oh - hang on. Scrap that. We mean Youcef Zatat. Or do we..? Basically, British Athletics had an administrative shocker in Bydgoszcz, naming the wrong athlete in their 4x400 squad, and catapulting the UK's #2 shot putter into the limelight. FYI - he definitely would have competed, and is...
2019-08-141h 20Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatJakob's baby fat, Karsten's heart, and Shelly-Ann's GOAT status: Backstraight's Half-Century at the London Diamond LeagueSend us a textWe've recorded 50 episodes! How on earth has that come about? Thank you *so* much to those of you joining us on our error-strewn, star-sprinkled athletics' romp to date. We've loved every minute of it (especially when Jody made the pacemaker his Fantasy Diamond League captain...).Claire's been away covering the Netball World Cup, but these major international meets don't journalise themselves, so Jody and Bayo headed to the London Stadium to speak to the following at the Anniversary Games: Karsten Warholm, Laviai Nielsen, Jakob Ingebrigsten, Gjert Ingebrigsten, Beth Dobbin, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce...
2019-07-2456 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatPlenty of Laps, Oodles of Fun, and Lots to Discuss: Journalising (G&Ts in-hand) at the Highgate Harriers Night of the 10k PBsSend us a text'Distance running isn't sexy. How on Earth are you meant to market it? Does anyone even want to watch races longer than 4 minutes these days? Definitely - DEFINITELY - let's not sell beer at distance running meets, have supporters pack out lane three, nor invite international medallists to thrash it out - screamed on by thousands of cowbell-toting fans - for European and national titles.' - Actual (read: completely fabricated) minutes from a recent Diamond League meeting...The fact is - with a little TLC, some big speakers, plenty to...
2019-07-161h 02Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics ChatHandling nerves, seizing opportunities, and PBing for fun: Niamh Emerson Interview SpecialSend us a textBeing a heptathlete (we imagine; we’re hardly speaking from experience here at Backstraight HQ…) requires not only explosiveness, endurance, technical finesse, and sublime co ordination, but nerves of absolute steel. The psychological challenges of the event have proven a stumbling block for many physically-gifted athletes, and to be able to reach into your bag of tricks and deliver a third round clearance, lifetime best, or gutsy 800 metres at the end of two gruelling days of competition requires the mentality of a supreme competitor. Niamh Emerson, from what we’ve seen so far, is one...
2019-07-091h 15Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#47 - Fantasies, Nightmares, and Errors (So Many Errors...): If Bulls did Athletics Round Ups in China ShopsSend us a textAs gaffs go, we thought we'd be hard-pressed to beat missing the entire Stockholm round of the Fantasy Diamond League this season. Our rankings were decimated; our hearts broken. Our seasons, surely, can be written off just like this year's Nike Elite kit. But then Jody named an actual pacemaker as his team captain, and all bets were off. Oh, how we laughed (Jody aside...). Claire's captain? The resplendent Karsten Warholm, whose European record was the headline act of this week's Bislett Games, and one of the finest runs of the...
2019-06-1543 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#46 - Caster’s Class, Doha’s Diamonds, and Eliud’s Enduring Excellence: Backstraight’s Take on the Last Few WeeksSend us a textCaster Semenya is a terrific talent. She is a fierce competitor. She is a dignified presence in a melting pot of opinions: an articulate and inspirational oasis in the face of a relentless tide of ignorance, knee-jerk reactions, and vitriol. We love the light-hearted on this pod, but put our usual flippancy to one side for a moment this week to discuss this historic legal case, and bemoan the lost art of sitting on the fence. It is okay to not have an answer to this conundrum; it is alright to not have...
2019-05-1753 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#45 - Our Young Guns Special with Amber Anning, Molly Caudery and Cameron CorbishleySend us a text'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' wrote Charles Dickens, but this canonical line could well have been penned by Georgia Nicholson, Lady Bird, or any other coming-of-age protagonist. Adolescence is tough enough without international selection, age group championships, and the expectation of massively-invested athletics' fans to contend with. Being a prodigious youngster is no easy feat: just look at Jodie Williams, who had to compete with the moniker of 'Moneylegs', or the many US collegiate athletes who've buckled beneath gruelling schedules and meteoric ascents into the track...
2019-04-151h 25Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#44 - Fewer Events, Higher Standards, and (supposedly) Greater Entertainment: The IAAF's Big AnnouncementSend us a textMore people would watch athletics if there were less of it. More athletes would jump higher, run faster, and throw further if they were under greater pressure (the threat of not fulfilling a lifelong ambition by competing at an Olympics) to do so. More interest could be generated and clarity secured if a global ranking system were put into place. More fans would be able to enjoy field events if they took place outside of stadia. That's right; it's all change on Planet Track & Field. The IAAF have announced reformations to b...
2019-03-2552 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#42 - Twice the Events, Half the Beards, and Double their Ages: Gallivanting in Glasgow (Part I)Send us a textAll sort's been going on at Backstraight HQ the last few days: Bayo's been kicking himself, out in Rio for the Carnival, getting his time zones muddled up and missing the Glaswegian athletics action he's so desperate to live stream; Jody's been catching up with Nicola Sanders, she of indoor 400m royalty, and utterly bonkers splits; Claire's been having a quarter-life crisis, having spent 15 minutes with some of Team GB's brightest young talents, and realising - after hearing Amber Anning discussing her revision timetabling - that she's actually getting on these days; and...
2019-03-041h 05Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#43 - Big Vaults, Tough Falls, and Raised Roofs: Gallivanting in Glasgow (Part II)Send us a textWe had coffee with Holly. We caught up with Guy. We enjoyed a cracking pub lunch (although appreciate that's not entirely relevant here). We screamed Tim onto a gnarly, silver-clinching 1000m personal best. We relished Shelayna's tactical nous. We marvelled at Jamie's classy, canny run. We chuckled at Maria's poker-faced demolition of a high-quality field. We witnessed yet another tactical masterclass from Marcin. We picked our jaws up off the floor after Eilidh's scorching anchor leg. We recorded a mildly hysterical, knackered wrap of the championships. We had a terrific day, all in...
2019-03-041h 06Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#41 - Grand Prix, Glasgow, and Girl Power: The Indoor Season So FarSend us a textAnyone got Samuel Tefera's number? Would someone please let him know he broke a world record in Birmingham on Saturday? He seemed to have absolutely no idea, as he stopped the clock at a handy 3:31.04... Come to think of it, there have been plenty of pinch-yourself marks, times, and series at this year's indoor meets already: Melissa Courtney's run in Karlsruhe; Holly Bradshaw's two-outings, two-4.80s, and two-wins campaign to date; Laura Muir casually setting two national records in the same race; Konstanze Klosterhalfen running (from the front, of course) into German history...
2019-02-1747 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#40 - Unfathomable Hustle, Uncharted Territory, and Untouchable Records: Paula Radcliffe Interview SpecialSend us a textWe feel like we're putting away our track and field Russian dolls* here at Backstraight HQ, because the names just keep on getting bigger. The indoor season is just around the corner, at which point we'll be back in studio, bringing you all our usual mispronunciations, irreverence, and analysis, but we've one final interview special for you, and - boy, oh boy - is it a humdinger of a guest. Paula Radcliffe is a three-time London Marathon winner, has a trio of New York titles, won the Chicago marathon in 2002, and h...
2019-01-291h 11Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#39 – Late Finishes, Even Later Medal Ceremonies, and – Lately – Legal Life: Christine Ohoruogo Interview Special (Part Two)Send us a textJust like a lot of Christine Ohoruogo's races (there was just never a dull moment watching her run, was there?), this episode comes in two parts. That's right; we're providing you with almost 90 minutes of her amazing insights and recollections, you lucky ducks. If you enjoyed the first instalment: welcome back. If not: go and listen to it right now. It's just below this one on the Backstraight feed. This one will still be here once you're up to speed, we promise. Caught up? Good. Chrissy's been found by the 400, won h...
2019-01-201h 09Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#38 - Switching Codes, Missing Tests, and Striking Gold: Christine Ohoruogo Interview Special (Part One)Send us a textWatching Christine Ohoruogo race was exhausting. The gun would go. She'd be in the mix. You'd not panic - knowing that her finish was her greatest strength. Another hundred metres would pass. She'd look off the pace. The butterflies would begin. You'd quell them. 'It's fine. Chrissy finishes like a train.' The athletes would exit the bend. Ohoruogo not even amongst the medals. The butterflies set loose. You'd leap from your seat. 'She's left it too late. Even Christine can't pull this off.' But, wait! With eighty or so to go...
2019-01-151h 13Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#37 - Championships, Challenges, and Champers: A Mimosa-Fuelled Romp Through The Rather Brilliant 2018Send us a text2018 was a doozy. A vintage year. Mondo, Dina, Eliud, Kevin, Laura, Abderrahman, Nafi, Niamh: we could list athletes until 2020 rolls around, but we've just received our accreditation for European Indoors in March, and are rather excited to crack on with covering that for you instead. It was a year in which 6.69 didn't even get you on the women's long jump podium at the British Championships; in which we saw KJT beam - yes, beam! - after a shot put in a major heptathlon; in which you could win double European gold and then...
2019-01-071h 38Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#36 - Freaky Fridays, Sprinting Prodigies, and Imaginary Libraries: A Day at Fudge Project LondonSend us a text'He's got a sprinting library. In his house,' Asha Philip asserts from the physio table, as she receives treatment at the end of a long day's training. 'A bag of books,' adds Seye Ogunlewe, sat alongside. You'll have to listen to this episode to find out whether or not Steve Fudge actually owns a collection of speedy tomes, but - either way - his knowledge of the sport is certainly encyclopaedic. His meticulous mechanical coaching is matched only by his intuitive management of each of the athletes within Fudge Project London...
2018-12-182h 08Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#35 - Freezing Temperatures, Warm Hearts, and Hot Takes: Backstraight Does ParkrunSend us a textAs we hit 'publish' on this episode, 1,810,242 runners have - over the last 14 years - given up their Saturday morning lie-ins to cover an astonishing 120 million kilometres of parks worldwide. It is in no way hyperbolic (and, trust us, we know all about hyperbole on this show) to describe parkrun as a global phenomenon, and we had a myriad of questions about the mass participation sensation: is it good for athletics? is it really more of a 'run' than a 'race'? what's it like to volunteer at one? and, how on Earth has...
2018-11-0255 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#34 - Diamond Duels, Continental Contests, and Historic Hustles: The Final Month of an Epic, Herculean SeasonSend us a textDISCLAIMER: This is not the episode for the pedantic. This is not the Diamond League review for those with photographic memories. Steer away, those of you with encyclopaedic athletics' knowledge looking for a factually-accurate review of the Continental Cup. This is a look back at some spectacular results, some thrilling contests, and some extraordinarily confusing scoring systems at the end of what's been a doozy of a season, but the only world record in danger of falling during this recording session was that for most forgotten athlete names and most frequent laughter by trio...
2018-09-2148 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#33 - Sumos, Steeples, and Seizing Silver: Eilish McColgan Interview SpecialSend us a textBefore Jessica Ennis-Hill in Beijing, there was Liz McColgan in Tokyo - winning global 10,000m gold less than a year after giving birth to Eilish. In just two years’ time, the McColgans will be back in Japan, and hoping to reach another international podium, for - despite her parents’ best efforts not to push her into the sport - Eilish has followed in her mother’s footsteps, and is now a formidable athlete in her own right. 4:01, 8:31, 14:48: these days, she is rubbing shoulders with Paula, Jo, Yvonne, Laura, and other British distance heavyweights towards the to...
2018-09-171h 17Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#32 - Super Families, Scintillating Showdowns, Shoddy Scheduling : A (Pretty Rushed) Wrap of Berlin, 'The Best Champs Ever'Send us a textImagine being a teenager and becoming a double European Champion in 24 hours. Contemplate how it would feel to vault 6.05 just a year after being legally able to buy glue in the UK. For a second, ponder reaching a continental final in your Senior GB debut. Berlin was brilliant, but it didn't half leave us pondering our comparatively useless adolescents. Jakob, Mondo, Imani, Naomi, Laviai: the future of the sport is bright. Smile at Beth Dobbin's incredulity at her own, mesmerising, breakthrough year; celebrate Nathan Douglas' bold medal challenge; and rejoice at Meghan Beesley's hugely-deserved...
2018-08-201h 04Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#31 - Jeanette Stepping Up, Kyle Stepping Back, and Berlin Looking Thrilling: Our Big European Preview EpisodeSend us a text102 athletes have been named in the British team, at least 80 of whom seem to have been selected for relays, but - despite 'the world and his wife' having received the nod (B. Furlong, 2018) - there were still some raised eyebrows and furious tweets. We pick over some of these, along with the events we're most looking forward to watching, the youngsters we think could prove Berlin bolters, and generally get hugely excited for the latest major championship this year (like Ingebrigstens - they just keep on coming...). Oh - and we speak to 'The...
2018-08-051h 17Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#30 - Monaco, Muller, and Millicent: Journalising at the London Anniversary GamesSend us a textFor the first time in thirty episodes, all three of us were at the same meet, with nothing to do but soak up the atmosphere, interview some international stars, and discuss the world of athletics. And, if we do say so ourselves, we've delivered. Morgan Lake, KJT, Laura Muir, Sifan Hassan, Guy Learmonth, Sandra Perkovic, Maria Lasitskene (feat. interpreter), Adam Gemili, and - of course - the man who has catapulted himself into the hearts of British athletics fans, and onto more podiums than you could shake an airline-mislaid bag of pole vault sticks...
2018-07-2351 minBackstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#29 - Champs (British), Cup (Global), and Pie (Humble): Brilliant in both Birmingham and LondonSend us a textThe British Championships were outrageously good. Seriously - they were absolutely brilliant, and we're pleased as punch that our UK Sprint Queens reigned supreme by delivering the race of the weekend. Shout out to bronze medallist Jodie Williams for a magical bend, Bianca Williams for floating (elegant as ever) to a silver, and Beth Dobbin for proving everyone that - not only is she a 200/400 star in the making - media training is vastly overrated. Why not burst into tears on national television and leap upon Jeanette Kwakye upon learning you've broken a Championship...
2018-07-1616 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#28 - Ice Creams, Henry VIII, and War Paint: A Little Bit of Everything with National Record Holder Dina Asher-SmithSend us a textDina Asher-Smith believed she was in mortal peril during her first ever race: a cross country meet at primary school, entered in exchange for the promise of an ice cream. Thank goodness her sweet tooth was stronger than her reluctance to take part; the thought of a Dina-less athletics doesn't bear thinking about. Listing her achievements here seems silly for three reasons: A) she's the darling of British sprinting, so we all know them already B) there are loads of them, and there's only a finite amount of space for these descriptions C) the...
2018-06-281h 05
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#27 - Speedspiration, Hype Tracks, and the 23-second barrier: Our UK Sprint Queen SpecialSend us a textThe ladies featured here might be super speedy - they're all bona fide sprint sensations - but this episode certainly isn't. It's an epic, 90-minute romp through some of the biggest names in British sprinting: Jodie Wiliams (06:51), Shannon Hylton (25:26), Beth Dobbin (33:04), Paula Dunn (51:00), Abi Oyepitan (61:02), and Dina Asher-Smith (78:14). Tell us about it; we've no idea how we managed to persuade such sprint queens onto our little pod, either... Eight UK athletes currently hold the European A standard of 23.20, which is both fantastic and a sign of how far sprinting has come for this country's...
2018-06-261h 30
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#26 – Shaunae’s Shorts, Bell’s Brilliance, and Highgate Hilarity: Our Latest Offering, Feat. Seb CoeSend us a textHello there, beloved listener, and welcome to our twenty-sixth episode. Since we last caught up, Shaunae's gone sub-50 in baggy shorts, Claire's favourite Linden Hall's broken the Australian 1500m record, and Bayo's completed a half marathon (beer-fuelled, much to Jo Pavey and Seb Coe's disappointment).... Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2018-05-301h 01
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#25 – Rain-Drenched in Boston, WL-Spoilt in Doha, and Beer-Soaked in Highgate: A Romp through Recent MeetsSend us a textBoston was bonkers, but so was Mary Keitany’s race plan in London. The first Diamond League of the year (which was grossly under-publicised, obv) produced some phenomenal performances, including by Caster Semenya, who’s been dragged into yet another testosterone palaver. Can drinking the night before a... Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2018-05-1453 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#24 – Aussie Thrills, English Spills, and Langford Lovin’: Gold Coast 2018 Done and DustedSend us a textJody, Bayo, and Claire are in the same country – as Anna in ‘Frozen’ sings whilst cavorting around Arendelle Castle – for the first time in forever. Backstraight is well and truly back. The boys have returned from duty as Track and Field News’ Gold Coast correspondents with, unsurprisingly, numerous interviews with some of the biggest names of the games, and – even less surprisingly – strong opinions on the event and various athletes’ performances. If they topped a podium, they’re on this pod: here’s 85 minutes of top notch ‘journalising’ (all we ask for in exchange is a rating, re...
2018-05-071h 25
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#23 – What a Legend! What a Champion! … What a Relief: Cathy Freeman Interview SpecialSend us a textWe’ve not seen any of the Australian coverage of the Commonwealths, but – if the Gold Coast production team is anything like the BBC – they love showing historic montages of Aussie athletic greats (whilst there are field event and distance finals taking place –... Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2018-04-1212 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#22 – Mixed Zone, Potential Medallists, and Moustaches: Trackside Snippets from the Gold CoastSend us a textThe Commonwealths have been stressful in a number of ways: four separate teams to follow for the usual Team GB stalwarts; deciding which will yield more Twitter traction – #GC2018 (lost amongst the masses?) or #GC2018Athletics (too specialist?); and the delicate balancing act of turning... Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2018-04-1114 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#21 – Indoor Golds, Commonwealth Golds, and a Golden Coast: Welcoming in GC2018Send us a textClaire’s back in England, but Jody and Bayo have jetted off to the Gold Coast, where they’re representing the hallowed establishment of Track and Field News as Commonwealth Correspondents! We’ve not had the chance to dissect last month’s World Indoors, so here’s our gap-bridging offering:... Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2018-04-0745 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#20 – Pioneering, podiums, and philanthropy: ‘Gold Medal’ Mary Peters Interview SpecialSend us a textQueen Mary The Great. When we contrived to bump into Mary Peters at the BAWA awards luncheon back in November, Jody told her he’d rather interview her than Usain Bolt, and – on this week’s pod – you’ll hear why. A lengthy and lofty career... Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2018-03-2553 min
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#19 – Bowerman Babes, Fruit Loop Luck, and Avocado Anthems: Courtney Frerichs Interview SpecialSend us a text11th August 2017. London. Courtney Frerichs eats a bowl of fruit loops for breakfast. She lines up for the women’s steeplechase final, the word ‘Fearless’ inked temporarily upon her arm. She trusts implicitly in her coaches and sticks with Emma Coburn. She wins her first... Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2018-03-091h 09
Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat#16 – Country Crossing, Pimple Popping, and SPOTY Speculating: A New Year of Athletics and ResolutionsSend us a textMuch to Claire’s delight, this week is the first episode with complete gender parity (Jody’s off sunning himself in Goa). In his absence, Bayo and the Backstraight Girl discuss December’s Euro Cross Country Championships, Farah’s shock SPOTY victory, and the resolutions they’d like to see made... Please enjoy, please subscribe and please let us know what you think on all our socials. Thanks for listening and follow us on Social Media at Twitter - (@BackstraightB) Insta - (@BackstraightBoysPodcast).
2018-01-1151 min