The Real Science of Sport Podcast

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

In the second of our two-part special on fatigue we examine Fatigue Resistance or durability. Is it just a modern term for an old concept, what does it really mean and what sort of training helps build it.SHOW NOTESCaught My Eye SegmentThe Zwift study looking for remote research participations, as submitted by Gareth D England’s rugby coach proposes rule changes to help kicking success in women, in another illustration of the differences between the sexesThe third of Gareth’s submissions, looking at the helmet approved in Quarterbacks in the NFL The research study discussed on the show looking at whether rugby scrum caps can reduce concussion riskMain Topic (Skip to 35:48)Link to the Ed Maunder paper that describes the durability conceptSome examples of papers that assess durability (as a performance outcome) in elite cyclists:Mateo-March paper with 112 cyclists over 8 seasons, showing that World Tour cyclists had much smaller power decay than Pro Tour cyclists with accumulating levels of fatigue26 Pro cyclists over a combined total of 85 seasons, showing how Cat 1 cyclists drop off less than Cat 2 cyclists when fatigued https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33731651/The study we mention that looked at durability early: Mmid- and late season, and showed how durability increases with more polarised training Lab study that shows how high intensity intermittent exercise affects power outputs with fatigue more than continuous exercise  Finnish study showing that low and high intensity training improve endurance, at least in less well trained individuals

Mental and muscle fatigue is part of every sporting endeavour. But what is fatigue? What happens in the body when we get tired and is it possible to push beyond our perceived limits? SCROLL TO 19:35 FOR THE MAIN TOPICSHOW NOTES:Caught My Eye:The case of the cheating fishermen  The article on the fallout from the apparently botched doping case of Peter Bol.An article, which includes a video of the documentary exploring the controversies about the exploitation of Paralympic classification: A story and video of the Canadian man who broke the women’s masters powerlifting world record, simply by declaring that he is a womanThe Swimming England announcement of their trans policy Fatigue DiscussionAn article that introduced a series of other articles that explored the integrative nature of fatigueMy own review article on how pacing strategy is regulated as part of a homeostatic systemThe research study that used fentanyl to block sensory feedback, which totally messed up pacing and caused more peripheral fatigue than in a regulated systemAnother Amann study, this one using hypoxia and hyperoxia to influence muscle recruitment and pacing strategy while defending against peripheral fatigueThe Les Ansley paper we mentioned where shorter (4km) trials caused more peripheral fatigue, and longer (20km and 40km) trials caused more central fatigueA paper on how neurotransmitters in the brain affect fatigue and performance

At first glance the story of New Zealand's Zane Robertson is just another web of lies. But is it? The team take a close look at one of the most tragic doping cases in recent times. Plus World Athletics recently announced new rules regarding transgender and DSD athletes. We ask how does the decision impact world sport and particularly the International Olympic Committee?SHOW NOTES:Patron Joshua Stacey the long jump that never quite caught on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp7BclslUyoArticle on the underarm basketball throw that also didn’t catch on: https://www.sportscasting.com/rick-barrys-underhand-free-throws-and-why-nba-players-today-dont-follow-suit/From Patron Travis Hawkins, on the Norwegian protest of their own athlete’s shoe: https://www.triathlete.com/culture/news/the-world-triathlon-protest-against-the-norwegians-was-filed-by-the-norwegians/From Patron Travis Hawkins, on the Norwegian protest of their own athlete’s shoe: https://www.triathlete.com/culture/news/the-world-triathlon-protest-against-the-norwegians-was-filed-by-the-norwegians/World Athletics’ policy on trans and DSD athletes: Transgender athletes: https://www.worldathletics.org/download/download?filename=f911778e-5bfa-4d49-b044-9920fc743216.pdf&urlslug=C3.5A%20%E2%80%93%20Eligibility%20Regulations%20Transgender%20Athletes%20%E2%80%93%20effective%2031%20March%202023DSD athletes: https://www.worldathletics.org/download/download?filename=2ffb8b1a-59e3-4cea-bb0c-5af8b690d089.pdf&urlslug=C3.6A%20%E2%80%93%20Eligibility%20Regulations%20for%20the%20Female%20Classification%20%E2%80%93%20effective%2031%20March%202023

Over the past few years English schools have begun to introduce non-competitive sport in an effort to be more inclusive. But is that the right strategy when it comes to producing future champions and developing a 'winning' mentality? The team take an in-depth look into the evidence surrounding the debate and examples of countries that have already rolled out similar plans.> Jump to 45:17 for the main topic.PLUS RED-S in male athletes / Bicarb in endurance sport / shinty drug testing / Remembering Dick Fosbury, the inventor of modern high jumping.SHOW NOTES:Caught My Eye SegmentJake Smith’s Instagram post about his RED-SThe 1984 study on bicarbonate as a performance enhancerA 1993 meta-analysis on bicarbonateA 2022 systematic review on bicarb and performanceA recent article that contains some of Maurten’s promises and promotionsPrimoz Roglic’s glowing endorsement of bicarb. “With 600W it always hurts, huh?"The BBC piece on Shinty’s drug testing plansDavid Epstein’s article on Dick FosburyMain SegmentArticle on how early specialisation and training rather than fun increases injury risk

Christopher McDougal's latest book, Born To Run 2, revisits the barefoot and minimalist movement that upended the world of running over a decade ago when he published his first book Born To Run in 2009. But what does the latest research say and is running barefoot the key to running nirvana?SHOW NOTES:Sean Ingle’s report after UK Athletics announced a “non-policy” recognition of the trans women issue and were corrected by EHRC: The statement by the Equality and Human Rights commissionThe Peter Bol doping story, as submitted by Patron Joshua StaceyThe Connor Benn doping clearance story, with much to be discussed and determinedThe WADA study on clomiphene in eggs: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19440049.2021.1949497The twitter thread that speculates about the use of biomechanics as a way to identify a doperThe article that is skeptical about barefoot runningStudy on stiffness of tendons in cushioned vs minimalist runnersOne of the reviews showing no injury risk difference between shod and barefoot runnersStudy showing successful transition to barefoot running in 71% of runners with a 20 week transition programmeNic Tam’s study on individual responses to barefoot runningNic’s second paper on how individuals respond to a barefoot running programmeNic’s third paper on the effect of fatigue on biomechanics when barefoot vs shod