Medals & More - a conversation with Dame Katherine Grainger

Welcome to the final episode of the second season of Medals and More - where we explore the phrase 'more'. What do we mean and how do we deliver it in high performance sport?As UK Sport reveals its new 10 year strategy, chair and presenter of this podcast, Dame Katherine Grainger looks into how certain aspects of the plan are already in place and the impact it's having on elite sport in this country.Katherine's joined by President of World Athletics, Lord Sebastian Coe and two CEOs who are also already making a difference in the sporting world - Georgina Usher from British Fencing and Sam Parfitt from the True Athlete Project. Hear them talk passionatably about the impactThis is Medals and More - the podcast getting behind the scenes of Olympic and Paralympic Sport.

This is Medals and More - the podcast getting behind the scenes of Olympic and Paralympic Sport.In this special edition, marking International Women's Day, Katherine speaks to two incredible guests, Anne Wafula-Strike and Sally Bolton, who've both had a huge impact on British sport behind the scenes. We hear about the challenges they've faced, how they helped make vital changes at boardroom level and the importance gender equality. Anne is a British Paralympic wheelchair racer and is one of just a handful of black females that sit on a British sport board - among 415 board members in the sector. Sally is Chief Executive Officer at Wimbledon, the All England Lawn Tennis Club, having previously held the roles of Strategic Planning & Operations Director and Head of Corporate Affairs the Club. She has been a member of the UK Sport Major Events Panel since 2013 and is a current member on UK Sport's board.

Trigger warning: The following episode contains conversations on self-harm and suicide. If you, or someone you know have been affected by any of these issues raised please take the time to seek help and support. In the UK, the Samaritans can be reached for free on 116 123.No athlete, however talented, will experience a routine journey to success. Every athlete, however successful, will face adversity. So how should they respond and face the challenge? In this episode, Katherine speaks to two Great British Winter Olympians who've dealt with their fair share of misfortune.Elise Christie is a 10 time European short-track speed skating champion, and 3 time Olympian. But at Sochi 2014 and four years later in Pyeongchang, her hopes of podium success were dashed on the ice. Now, ahead of Beijing 2022, she tells Katherine of her rediscovered love for the sport!David Murdoch is also gearing up for the Winter Games as Olympic head coach for British Curling, with all the challenges the Covid-19 pandemic brings. But as an athlete he also put behind him the disappointment of a 4th and 5th place finish at the Olympics, to 'skip' the team to silver success in Sochi!This is Medals and More - the podcast getting behind the scenes of Olympic and Paralympic sport. Subscribe and listen and you won't miss a moment!

In this episode, Katherine and her guests give an excellent insight into the positive impact of embracing transition and share their personal experiences of how to adapt to and welcome change.Donna Fraser is a four time Olympian, just missing out on a medal in that historic 400m at Sydney 2000. But since retiring, she's become a valued and trusted part of the world of sports administration, and is now Equality, Diversity & Inclusion lead at UK Athletics. Find out how she did it!Elite sportsmen and women are used to change and some thrive on it. Charlotte Henshaw is a Paralympic medalist in one sport, and now a world champion in another, as she prepares for glory at Tokyo 2020 this summer. It's not all been smooth waters, but Charlotte reveals how she copes.This is Medals and More - the podcast getting behind the scenes of Olympic and Paralympic sport. Subscribe and listen and you won't miss a moment!

Welcome to the latest edition of UK Sport Chair Dame Katherine Grainger's monthly podcast ‘Medals & More’ - a behind the scenes look at high-performance sport.Following the successful virtual PLx 2020 event, in this episode we hear from three of the leading speakers who shared their challenges and successes of this year.British Triathlon's Mike Cavendish on new technology in elite sport and how covid-19 may have done them a favour! Beijing bronze medalist Sarah Stevenson on her new role on Taekwondo's world governing body and putting athletes first, and what makes a successful high performance team with England Rugby's Conor O'Shea.Each month, Katherine talks to guests about a particular theme - this is episode three of season two - check out previous editions around ‘Diversity’ and last month's elite sport ‘Community’.This is Medals & More - download and subscribe and you won't miss a moment!

This is Medals & More – the podcast getting you behind the scenes of Olympic & Paralympic sport. In this episode, Katherine Grainger is joined by Cheavon Clarke, Lora Fachie & Jon Dutton to discuss community, and in-particular, the role elite sport can play in it. British Olympic and Paralympic athletes are quite rightly often praised for their performances on the world stage, but what about their efforts closer to home? How can major sporting events held here in the UK help energise the local area? And what do sports do to inspire the next generation?Cheavon is a British boxer who will be looking to compete for Team GB at next year’s Olympic Games, having won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Also that year Chev raised funds and organised the rejuvenation of the boxing club where he started his career. Lora made her Paralympic debut at London 2012, and also competed at Rio 2016 where she came away with one gold, and a bronze medal. Away from competing, Lora has also been a member of the BPA Athletes’ Commission for nearly four years. And Jon is CEO of the Rugby League World Cup 2021, which kicks-off in Newcastle in less than a year, and he hopes the event can also deliver off the pitch to the local communities it's held in!Download and subscribe and you won't miss a moment!

Freestyle sport isn’t new to the Olympics, the speed, showmanship and ability to perform aerial manoeuvres whilst skiing was debuted in 1988, but freestyle and action sports are increasing at both the Winter and Summer Games.In this episode of Medals & More, the podcast getting behind the scenes of Olympic and Paralympic sport, five time Olympic medallist and now the Chair of UK Sport, Dame Katherine Grainger welcomes two experts in their fields.Rich King is British Cycling’s BMX Freestyle Park Lead, as the sport makes its debut at Tokyo next year, and Pat Sharples, Head of Coaching at GB Snowsport, which has seen British athletes achieving more podium finishes and top 10 results in more disciplines than ever before. This episode, recorded before lockdown, also brings this current season of Medals & More to a close, but we’ll be back soon counting down to the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021! Listen and subscribe and you won’t miss a moment!

Across the sporting community, there has been an increased focus on athlete wellbeing. We are used to hearing from athletes about their physical problems, but what about their mental health?In this episode of Medals & More, the podcast getting behind the scenes of Olympic and Paralympic sport, recorded during Mental Health Awareness Week, five time Olympic medallist and now the Chair of UK Sport, Dame Katherine Grainger welcomes a panel of three guests to discuss the emotional challenges facing athletes aiming to be the best.Two time Olympic Champion Lizzy Yarnold, Great Britain's most successful Winter Olympian ever, describes how the pressure of training for the Olympic Games meant she often cried herself to sleep at night, whilst world record holding race walker Tom Bosworth admits that following his disqualification during the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London, he attempted to take his own life.There is support for athletes in the shape of Performance Lifestyle Advisors at the English Institute of Sport and Jo Harrison discusses what is now in place to help athletes struggling with their mental health.The podcast was recorded in mid-May with Katherine and the entire panel speaking remotely from their homes.