Professor Jonathan Folland and Dr Tom Balshaw join host Stuart McErlain-Naylor to break down the anatomy of Strongman Champion Eddie Hall and highlight the key characteristics that enabled him to break world records in the deadlift. 

Time Stamps: 
00:00 Intros 
1:04 An evening with Eddie Hall 
5:16 Scope of research 
10:13 Why Eddie Hall?
11:55 Preparation 
16:50 What did the day entail?
22:19 Main findings of the case study
26:24 Under or over developed? 
28:43 Tendon adaptation 
34:44 Injury risk 
37:07 Inherited characteristics 
42:11 Limiting factors in human performance 
43:43 What else is there to know about Eddie? 
45:58 Current and future research 
49:27 Where to find out more
50:55 Outros  

Journal: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00342.2024

Professor Vicky Tolfrey chats to host Dan Trussell to discuss the Paralympics in Paris, wheelchair sport and what's to come after the Games. 

Intros 0:00
Wheelchair configuration in tennis 0:43 
Competitive edge 4:28
Athlete collaboration 5:26
What to expect from wheelchair sport 7:10
Wheelchair basketball at Loughborough 8:11
The future of parasport 9:41
Parasport and society 14:11
Outros 19:29

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster, discusses research within Para sport at Loughborough and its potential across the landscape of sport with guests, Vladyslava Kravchenko, Alasdair Donaldson, and Jennifer Wong, of Loughborough University.

Time stamps:
0.00-4.03 - Introduction
4.04- 8.31 - Why Loughborough?
8.32- 10.49 - Development of Para sport at Loughborough
10.50-12.32 - Examples of Para sport development
12.33-17.32 - Developing the workforce
17.33-24.05 - Opportunity at Loughborough
24.06- 28.34 - International relations 
28.35-34.04 - Para sport against stigma 
34.05-42.37 - London 2012 Legacy
42.38-45.53 - Barriers and stigma
45.54-48.25 - Making noise toolkit
48.26-49.54 - Diplomacy and international governance PhD
49.55-51.25 - Outros 

Loughborough University alumna, Paula Radcliffe MBE, joins host, Martin Foster, in this episode of the Experts in Sport Podcast to discuss her experience as a student athlete at Loughborough and her successful career within athletics.

Timestamps:
0.00-1.23 - Intro
1.24-7.14 - Experience as a student at Loughborough University
7.14-9.57 - Combining academia and sport
9.58-12.34 - Student life
12.35-15.22 - Partnered running
15.23-17.51 - Loughborough traditions
17.52-25.06 - Preparation for competition as a student
25.07-31.22 - Changes in practice and training
31.23-34.57 - Menstrual cycle
34.58-42.52 - Androcentrism vs women in sport & training during pregnancy
42.53-47.08 - Further work
47.09-51.02 - Getting into running
51.03-51.47 - Outro

Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, is joined by Professor of Psychology Sophia Jowett to break down coach-athlete relationships and their benefits in athletes having the edge on the biggest stage, seen in the relationship between Mel Marshall and Adam Peaty.

Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, is joined by Professor Liam Heaney, who provides an insight into how athletes are tested on the biggest stage and the work that Loughborough University is carrying out in the area. 

Dr Verity Postlethwaite, from the School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, joins host, Dan Trussell, to discuss Spirit of 2012 and the importance of legacy that exists within major sporting competitions.

A Loughborough University study found that top sprinters, whilst being generally more muscular, had a very specific pattern to their muscularity, with some muscles far bigger. Sport PR Manager, Dan Trussell, talks to Professor Jonathan Folland, from the School of Sport Exercise, and Health Sciences, to discuss research findings in the area.

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host, Martin Foster, is joined by guests, Dr Richard Ferguson and Dr Dave Nichols, to discuss research around elite cycling and performance.

Timestamps:
0.00-2.23 - Intro
2.24-8.59 - Competing at an elite level and training
9.00-12.29 - Individual or team sport and hierarchy
12.30-17.14 - Research to understand level of performance
17.15-21.38 - Interdisciplinary research at Loughborough University
21.39-24.47 - Real-life applications of cycling
24.48-27.19 - Potential use of online tools in elite training
27.20-33.51 - Beneficial research at Loughborough
33.52-42.16 - Loughborough Lightning 
42.17-48.29 - Issues around androcentric research
48.30-54.24 - Upcoming research
54.25-57.11 - Outro

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Donald Barron (Loughborough University), Austin Fuller (Product Director of Football and Rugby business at Hudl, former FA insights and analysis) and Robin Jackson to discuss performance analysis, artificial intelligence, and football penalties.

Timestamps:
0.00-2.23 - Intro
2.24-6.40 - Performance analysis and development
6.41-11.07 - Advent of AI
11.08-17.36 - Analyst’s job before game
17.37-20.30 - Coach comparison between team and their opposition
20.31-27.25 - Preparation prior to competition
27.26-36.59 - Use of data and metrics in decision-making
37.00-53.32 Penalties and analysis of Euros
53.33-1.00.12 - Lack of top corner saves
1.00.13-1.01.14 - Outro

0.00-2.59 - Intro and performance analysis overview
3.00-8.53 - Constraints-led approach within sport
8.54-15.18 - Tailoring training for elite athletes
15.19-18.57 - Performance analyst, coach, and athlete relationships
18.58-20.57 - Technological advancements informing data collection
20.58-30.29 - Research and metric development
30.30-37.22 - Unexpected findings within research
37.23-46.45 - Real-life applications of findings
46.46-59.23 - Encouraging development in younger players
59.24-1.04.52 - Further research
1.04.53-1.05.39 - Outro

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Stuart McErlain-Naylor is joined by guest Judd Kalkhoven, from Western Sydney University, to discuss common misconceptions within the scope of sports injury research.

Timestamps:
0.00-4.50 - Intro
4.51-13.34 - Research and inspiration - causal models
13.35-22.53 - Implications for research findings
22.54-26.14 - Exploratory research to show statistical relationships
26.15-28.18 - Transitioning research from the lab to the field
28.19-30.11 - Do intended applications influence lab work?
30.12-33.55 - Including practitioners in research
33.56-45.44 - Need for research prior to practical application 
45.45-54.10 - Prediction vs. causation
54.11-56.44 - Outro and further work

Dr Tom Webb, Associate Professor in the Centre for Business in Society at Coventry University, joins Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor to discuss officiating within sports and the challenges that face referees and other officials across the landscape. 

Throughout the episode, conversations around the role and purpose of a sports official are centred, alongside the perception of sports officials as athletes, embracing the introduction of technologies such as VAR, and debating what constitutes a successful outcome.

Timestamps:
0.00-4.30 - Introduction and background
4.31-7.49 - How does lack of research affect the representation of sports officials
7.50-13.45 - Referee and Sports Official Research Network and further projects
13.46-23.50 - Role and purpose of a sports official
23.51-27.15 - Embracing and working with technology to officiate
27.16-33.00 - Perception of the official as an athlete
33.01-36.02 - What does a successful outcome look like? 
36.03-40.40 - Errors, re-refereeing and the introduction of VAR
40.41-47.47 - Issue of recruitment and retention within sports and solutions
47.48-50.53 - Examples outside of sport to improve experience
50.54-54.04 - Outro and further work

Dr Verity Postlethwaite, a doctoral prize fellow at Loughborough University, Ruth Hollis, and Amy Finch join Experts in Sport host Martin Foster to discuss Spirit of 2012 and the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on UK populations.

Timestamps:
0.00-5.04 - Introduction
5.05-8.14 - Formation of Spirit of 2012 
8.15-10.43 - Providing opportunities for societal change
10.44-14.42 - Catering to different demographics during the event
14.43-21.38 - Achievements since 2012 and convening people from different sectors
21.39-29.04 - Biggest challenges within the landscape
29.05-32.00 - Lasting legacy on the UK population
32.01-37.00 - Should every event attempt to achieve societal change
37.01-45.35 - Partnerships including Loughborough University and others
45.36-47.49 - Advice for future event organiser
47.50-49.55 - Conclusion and outros

Racism is an integral issue in the arena of sport, but how can its history and mediated culture assist in breaking down barriers for athletes moving forward?

In this episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, hosted by Martin Foster, Dr Nik Dickerson, from Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, features as a guest to discuss the wider issues surrounding racism and its entwinement with masculinity in sport media.

Highly contested issues within sport are decoded, including Colin Kaepernick’s explicit protest (taking the knee during the national anthem at an NFL game) to highlight racial injustices facing African American men, as well as incidences of police brutality.

Dr Enora Le Flao (Postdoctoral Scholar, The Ohio State University), Dr Lizzy Williams (Senior Lecturer, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University) and David Powell (PhD student, Swansea University) discuss concussions in Rugby Union and instrumented mouth-guards, which have embedded sensors to measure linear and angular kinematics of the head.

Time Stamps:
0:00-4:20 Intros
4:20-5:09 What is the rationale behind all this?
5:09-11:23 How has this been previously done and where are we now?
11:23-12:59 Is the mouthguard a replacement for visual monitoring – medical threshold?
12:59-14:44 False positives and negatives
14:44-17:59 What causes concussion?
17:59-22:58 How do the mouth guards work? What are they monitoring?
22:58-26:17 Training and workload
26:17-30:25 Sex differences
30:25-32:03 Misconceptions and eventual aims
32:03-40:00 Further research
40:00-42:52 Other sports
42:53-46:20 Further information
46:20-47:28 Outro and goodbyes

Joanna Czutkowna, a Doctoral Researcher at Loughborough University, joins Experts in Sport host Martin Foster to discuss sustainability of the fashion and sport industries and the big problems that future generations will potentially face as a result of waste.

Timestamps:
0.00-2.30 – Introduction to guest & work
2.31-5.32 – Overview of sustainability
5.33-6.54 – Issues within the fashion industry
6.55-8.54 – Charity shops, markets and clothing waste
8.55-13.20 – Sports industry’s contribution
13.21-16.51 – UEFA leading the way
16.52-21.45 – Scope 3 emissions
21.46-24.09 – What are the most sustainable materials?
24.10-26.15 – Circular business models
26.16-28.28 – Grassroots sport
28.29-33.50 – Culture of repair & the modern education system
33.51-37.00 – Neurodiversity’s part in sustainability
37.01-39.26 – Cricket kitting out
39.27-44.52 – Fans & participants facilitating change
44.53-45.28 – Outro & goodbyes

Dr Rob Gray (Associate Professor in Human Systems Engineering at Arizona State University) talks about coaching in sport as well as skill acquisition in baseball and the future of virtual reality in sport

Timestamps

00:00 - 03:41 - Introduction to guest, background and topic

03:42 - 09:49 - What is skill acquisition?

09:50 - 14:08 - Consistency vs improvement

14:09 - 20:39 - The role of the coach in skill acquisition

20:40 - 24:19 - What would a typical study consist of?

24:20 - 35:10 - Virtual reality in coaching and skill acquisition

35:11 - 41:15 - The variability of the virtual world compared to the real world

41:16 - 48:35 - Where is research and coaching going in the next few years

48:36 - 51:42 - Where to find out more about the topic in the episode

Jo Maher (Pro Vice-chancellor for Sport), Lamonte Winston (Head of NFL Academy at Loughborough) and Steve Hagan (Head Coach at the NFL Academy at Loughborough) talk about the NFL Academy, Super Bowl and the future of American football in the UK.

Timestamps

00:00 - 02:24 - Introductions to guests, topic and backgrounds
02:25 - 09:25 - How did the partnership between Loughborough and the NFL Academy start?
09:26 - 12:21 - The transferable skills from other sports
12:22 - 24:33 - Where are we today with the standard of the NFL Academy?
24:34 - 28:59 - When will we see a Loughborough student at the Super Bowl?
29:00 - 41:19 - How is the partnership going and what can be achieved in the future? 41:20 - 42:27 - Final thoughts, thank you and goodbyes.

Dr Mark Doidge (Reader in Sociology of Sport), Katie Cross (Founder of Pledgeball) and Jenny Amann (PhD student at Loughborough University talk about the impact of climate change on sport.

Timestamps

00:00 - 06:03 - Introduction to guests, background and topic of the episode
06:04 - 09:02 - What is Pledgeball now and how do people get involved?
09:03 - 15:06 - Loughborough University's involvement in this topic
15:07 - 17:00 - Personal appreciation of the sport and reasons for involvement
17:01 - 20:39 - How does Pledgeball attempt to mobilise fans into making climate-related changes?
20:40 - 39:54 - What are common pledges and types of pledges
39:55 - 51:47 - “I hadn’t realised change is NOT a difficult thing, mobilising football fans on climate change”
51:48 - 54:32 - Cultural change in football
54:33 - 58:28 - Where is research regarding climate action and nature?
58:29 - 01:01:09 - The power of sport to be agents of change, Thank you to the guests and final thoughts

Abdul Faisal Chibsah (FIFA High Performance Specialist) talks about the Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) and the importance of the development of football in Africa.

Timestamps

00:00 - 07:52 - Introduction to guest, background, and the topic of the episode

07:53 - 16:46 - Africa Cup of Nations and issues of football in Africa

16:47 - 22:34 - Talent development in Africa

22:35 - 26:17 – Women’s game in Africa

26:18 - 41:48 - What infrastructure is being put in place?

41:48 - 48:36 - Player pathways

48:37 - 52:50 - What does the future of football in Africa look like and which nations are the driving force behind this development?

52:51 - 54:40 - Predictions for AFCON

54:41 - 55:53 - First African nation to win the World Cup

55:54 - 57:55 - Final comments, thank you and goodbyes

Dr Laurence Warren-Westgate (Assistant Professor in Sport, Exercise and Health Psychology at the University of Nottingham talks about deception, anticipation, psychology and biomechanics in rugby with host Stuart McErlain-Naylor. 

Timestamps

00:00 - 04:23 - Introduction to guest, background and the topic of the episode

04:24 - 08:33 - Anticipation in sport: Why is it important?

08:33 - 13:59 - How have anticipation and deception been studied before?

14:00 - 19:40 - How do we recreate this in realistic scenarios?

19:41 - 28:58 - Why are the successful players looking at certain areas?

28:59 - 35:11 - Can you create context-specific actions to lure opponents into traps?

35:12 - 41:36 - Are professionals actually better at deception than amateurs?

41:36 - 43:06 - Are visual elements the same in both phases of play?

43:07- 45:26 - How does bias come into play with deception and interception?

45:27 - 47:47 - What is next?

47:48 - 49:48 - Links, thank yous and goodbyes from the guest.

Dr Russell Seymour (Senior Enterprise Fellow for the Institute for Sports Business) and Elliott Brown (Sustainability Project Manager at Loughborough University) talk with host Martin Foster about Climate change and its impact on sport and what Loughborough University is doing to help. 

Timestamps 

00:00 - 03:14 - Introductions, Background and context of the episode

03:15 - 16:49 - Climate change and its impact of sport

16:50 - 30:16 - What strategies are in place and how can sports fans help?

30:17 - 40:05 - What has Loughborough done to help this?

40:06 - 49:52 - Changing kits every season, Car sharing and how you can help 

49:53 - 51:49 - experience of sustainability in sport 

51:50 - 55:17 - Thank you, links, final comments and goodbyes 

Dr Mhairi Morris (Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry at Loughborough University) talks about the new NHS-approved breast cancer drug Anastrozole with Host Martin Foster. They also discuss how exercise and diet can help in preventing breast cancer alongside other topics.

Timestamps 

00:00 - 07:20 - Introductions to the guest, background and current projects

07:21 - 11:29 - Breast cancer: how common is it?

11:30 - 16:42 - Prevention: health, exercise and diet

16:43 - 21:40 - Anastrozole: the new NHS-approved drug

21:41 - 29:51 - How big is the effect of physical activity? 

29:52 - 34:27 - Round up, thank you to guest and links for further learning

Dr Mark Burnley (Senior lecturer at Loughborough University) talks to host Stuart McErlain-Naylor about how the study of animals can aid athlete endurance training alongside other performance parameters. 

Timestamps 

00:00 - 07:49 - Introduction to guest and background in field and research of the subject 

07:50 - 14:34 - What is the speed duration relationship?

14:35 - 18:55 - Why can we benefit from knowledge from the Animal Kingdom?

18:56 - 30:01 - How do we control and measure what animals do? 

30:02 - 34:13 - How does motivation become an issue when measuring animals? 

34:14 - 43:31 - General trends that have emerged from this research

43:32 - 45:19 - Mythbusting on the accumulation of lactate

45:20 - 48:33 - How can Animals affect the future of Athletes?

48:34 - 51:41 - “Lions don’t warm up in the jungle” - Is there truth behind the saying?  

51:42 - 53:41 - Final thoughts, Thank you, links and Goodbyes