The England Athletics Podcast: Recent Episodes
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series, in connection with the Commonwealth Games.The 21-year-old won 200m and 4x100m titles in Bergen last year and is also the reigning UK 200m champion, but there are so many other things that you might not know about her. Success is a midwifery student who initially grew up in Spain, before moving to Manchester.At first, she focused on swimming, and her running talent was spotted by a teacher when she sprinted the whole way during a cross country race.
series, inspired by the upcoming Commonwealth Games, in which he'll compete in the 10,000m.The 27-year old talks to co-hosts Dan Pembroke - a two-time Paralympic javelin champion - and athletics commentator Alex Seftel about his background in football, getting the workload just right in training and what inspired his love of good coffee.Scott played for Sunderland in his early teenage years, but got into running at Morpeth Harriers after being released by the Black Cats academy. He also reflects on his love of live music and the adjustment of leaving the North East to move to the USA at the age of 18 to study at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.
series, inspired by the upcoming Commonwealth Games.Co-presenters Dan Pembroke - a two-time Paralympic javelin champion - and athletics commentator Alex Seftel ask Newnham to describe an incredible 18 months in which she's won her first senior medals and reduced her 400m hurdles personal best by nearly three seconds.The 22-year-old discusses how she has learnt to deal with nerves, her part-time job in an escape room and her love of painting and pies at football matches.
series, inspired by the upcoming Commonwealth Games.Co-presenters Dan Pembroke - a two-time Paralympic javelin champion - and athletics commentator Alex Seftel ask Greaves to reminisce about a legendary career which has seen the 43-year-old compete at seven Paralympic Games since Sydney 2000, medalling at six of them.Greaves also discusses the time he met Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II unexpectedly in the corridors of Buckingham Palace after Rio 2016, his advice to younger competitors, and his football team Aston Villa, who won the UEFA Europa League in May.
series, inspired by the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Co-presenters Dan Pembroke - a two-time Paralympic javelin champion - and athletics commentator Alex Seftel ask Gemili to reminisce about his favourite moments in his career. They also discuss his return to Chelsea Football Club as a speed coach - a full-circle moment for the 32-year-old - who switched to athletics full-time prior to his Olympic debut in 2012. Gemili feels that he can debunk the classic social media-driven myth that Premier League footballers can run just as fast as Usain Bolt, who he has stood next to on the start line. Who knows where his new coaching career could take him, if other clubs and other sports show the same respect for sprinting knowledge.
, inspired by the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The show is newly available to watch on YouTube, while also being on audio platforms Spotify, Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud.Two-time Paralympic javelin champion and F13 world record holder Dan Pembroke joins regular host and athletics commentator Alex Seftel as a co-presenter for the series.In this introductory episode, Pembroke explains how he was diagnosed with a rare condition as a child, which led to the deterioration of his eyesight. As a young athlete, he was a rising talent in javelin, until a serious ligament injury hampered his ambition to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games.Unsure of how much time he would have left to see the world, Pembroke went travelling, taking on backpacker jobs abroad like working on farms. When he returned to the UK, he worked as a sports massage therapist, but the javelin itch returned. Para athletics gave him a second chance to achieve his dreams and he never looked back.In the last two years since his Paralympic title, Pembroke has started brewing his own beer called Paris Gold. He has also become a dad for the first time.
Sophie Power is a role model for ultra-runners and women around the world.In a fascinating conversation with England Athletics' Barry Hopkins at the National Running Show, Power talks about the moments that have shaped her inspiring career-to-date.You may have seen the viral photo of Power breast-feeding her three-month-old baby at the 106-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc race in 2018. She discusses how it completely changed her life and made her rethink her priorities and focus more time on her children.More recently, she was part of Great Britain's gold medal-winning team at last year's IAU 24-Hour World Championships.
1990 Commonwealth 10,000m champion Eamonn Martin is the latest special guest in a series building up to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.Martin reminisces about that glorious moment when he sped away to victory in Auckland 35 years ago, along with his London Marathon victory 1993. He remains the last Briton to win the men's race, and amazingly, he did it on his debut at the distance.The three-time Olympian also tells host Alex Seftel about how he is trying to bring entertainment to cross country as he prepares to host the London Cross Challenge Meeting. It's a busy time of year, as he is also team managing for both England and UK Athletics.
The latest England Athletics Podcast features two winners of Coach of the Year as part of our Regional Volunteer Awards 2025.Wenlock Olympians coach Camilla Stewart was victorious in the West Midlands, while Victor Oyesola of West Cheshire AC won the award in the North West region.In conversation with host Alex Seftel, the pair discuss how they got into coaching, their journey in the sport so far, and what motivates them.
The latest England Athletics Podcast, featuring three-time Commonwealth champion Tessa Sanderson, is the first of a series of episodes building up to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.Sanderson won for England in 1978, 1986 and 1990 and also famously took home the gold medal from the 1984 Olympic Games. She made history as the first black British woman to win the Olympics and the first Briton to win an Olympic throwing event.In conversation with host Alex Seftel, coinciding with Black History Month, she discusses her battles with great rivals like Fatima Whitbread and how she excelled at major championships when it mattered.
Heptathlete Jade O'Dowda and hammer thrower Jake Norris speak at the Manchester International, previewing the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.Hannah Cockroft and Bebe Jackson also join to look forward to the World Para Athletics Championships, which are taking place in New Delhi from 27 September to 5 October.Rebecca Perry tells us about her bid to take on the heptathlon at next month's European Masters Athletics Championships in Madeira. Perry, who is a lawyer and mother to twins, was originally known as a sprinter, before taking an extended break from the sport seven years ago.Photo: Getty Images for UK Athletics.
It's been a summer of athletics that has kept Birmingham's Alexander Stadium busy!Ellen Barber, who recently won the England heptathlon title there, joins host Alex Seftel to talk about her multi-eventing talents that extend beyond track and field.A rich family history within horse racing meant that was the first sport that came naturally to her, while she is also a part-time architect and property coordinator.Alex also provides a round up of the recent England Athletics Age Group Championships from the Alexander Stadium, bringing in stadium announcer Harrison Mayne to discuss the three-day event.
Mohammed Riaz Sabir is a visually impaired athlete from Rotherham who has less than five per cent of his sight. He trains on his treadmill at home, but came to England Athletics because he wants to pursue his dream to run outside with the support of a guide runner, and maybe one day run the London Marathon.But so far, he hasn't been able to find a guide.He tells Alex Seftel the story of losing his sight later in life, how he has adapted, and his hopes for the future.
In the latest podcast, two-time Paralympic champion Richard Whitehead discusses the impact of the sport on his mental health and his challenge of completing 100 career marathons by November this year.
What's it like to bring up and support a global champion?In the latest England Athletics Podcast, Amber Anning's mum Mel gives a behind the scenes view on their journey together, including the highs and lows of the indoor season in which she won world indoor 400m gold.She also tells host Alex Seftel about her involvement in getting the late Lloyd Cowan to coach her daughter, and the Brighton and Hove AC athlete's development from young hopeful to double Olympic medallist.Photo: Anning Family
400m runner Poppy Malik describes her excitement after a breakthrough indoor season which saw her selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at her first major championships.That debut at the European Indoors in Apeldoorn has been followed by another selection for May's World Relays for the Loughborough-based 21-year-old.She tells host Alex Seftel about what it was like to rub shoulders with the greats of the sport, what she does during downtime between competition rounds, and what she has gained from being part of our Senior Talent Programme.
George Mills and Georgia Hunter Bell are among the athletes to give their reaction to title-winning performances at the UK Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham.Photo: Getty Images for British Athletics.
World medallists Jo Pavey, Rio Mitcham and Sara Willhoit join host Alex Seftel at the National Running Show to discuss their passion for running as England Athletics launches its new individual membership, RUN:EA.Recorded at the NEC in Birmingham, the guest trio talk about their similarities and differences as athletes, offering advice for those looking to take the sport more seriously.They also explain the benefits of being part of the athletics community, rather than solely training alone self-coached.You can join RUN:EA for £30 a year. Head to englandathletics.org/runea
In the latest episode of the England Athletics Podcast, two-time Commonwealth medallist Jade Lally reflects on her career following her retirement from discus throwing.Lally won silver at Birmingham 2022 and bronze at Glasgow 2014 with Team England, competing at four Commonwealth Games in total.In a wide-ranging, honest discussion, the England record holder also talks about her job as a personal trainer and coach, her foray into indoor rowing in Australia, and the challenges associated with returning to the sport after becoming a mum.
In the latest episode of the England Athletics Podcast, England senior 400m hurdles champion Tyri Donovan describes how he recovered from a serious injury to have his best ever season this year.CEO Chris Jones also joins the show to reflect on a successful summer and assess the current priorities for those working in the sport domestically.
Olympic medallist Marilyn Okoro joins the podcast to discuss her transition from competitive athletics into a job in the corporate world, alongside her role as an England Athletics board member.In this episode which marks Black History Month, she also discusses the importance of celebrating the success of black athletes, from Kelly Holmes to Tessa Sanderson.Okoro has found that many of her skills are transferrable, while many of the causes that she spoke up for as a competitor - including athlete welfare and diversity - still need work today.Photo: Mark Shearman
"It's phenomenal, I can't believe it," says Great Britain's Dan Pembroke after winning his second Paralympic F13 javelin title in Paris, obliterating the world record in the process.Pembroke talks to podcast host Alex Seftel about his journey in the sport, from missing out on the London 2012 Olympics through injury, to the deterioration of his eyesight and becoming a para athlete."There's no regrets, because I'm here now, and I'm being given a second chance to do a sport that I absolutely love," Dan adds.
Great Britain's Didi Okoh tells her story ahead of making her major championship debut in the 100m at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.We also catch up with Paralympic high jump champion Jonathan Broom-Edwards at the England Athletics Senior Championships.Photo: Pat Isaacs.
The second episode of the heritage-focused Chariots of Fire series sees the film's technical director Tom McNab give listeners the opportunity to answer questions about the film.In conversation with Alex Seftel, McNab details his excitement in watching the Paris 2024 Games, as well as suggesting which other Olympics would be suitable for dramatisation in a film.
In the latest episode of the England Athletics Podcast, four Olympic debutants describe what it means to be part of Team GB at Paris 2024.European 400m silver medallist Charlie Dobson is pleasantly surprised by his progression after running a personal best of 44.23 seconds at the recent London Diamond League meeting.Charlotte Purdue - who competed for Team England at the 2010 Commonwealth Games - is delighted to finally have an Olympic opportunity in the marathon.Commonwealth heptathlon bronze medallist Jade O'Dowda is full of confidence after a personal best of 6314 points at the recent European Athletics Championships put her sixth on the UK all-time list.World and European medallist Alex Haydock-Wilson discusses the importance of Olympians supporting their clubs and what it means to compete as a team in athletics, including with his brothers Max and Jamie. Alex is part of the squads for the men's and mixed 4x400m relays in Paris.
The latest England Athletics Podcast features a round-up from the UK Athletics Championships in Manchester, where Olympic hopefuls booked their spots at this summer's Paris 2024 Games.17-year-old Phoebe Gill describes to host Alex Seftel what it means to have won her first senior Great Britain and Northern Ireland vest after a stunning performance to win gold in the women's 800m in a brilliant time of 1 minute 58.66 seconds.Dina Asher-Smith, Alastair Chalmers, Amber Anning, Lina NIelsen and Morgan Lake also join after winning their respective events at the championships to qualify for Paris.Callum Wilkinson is hoping to join them, while Efe Uwaifo is delighted to win back-to-back British triple jump titles.Photo: Getty Images for UK Athletics
This episode is a behind the scenes focus on Highgate Harriers’ Night of the 10,000m PBs.An event dubbed the “Glastonbury of Athletics", its energy and charm have attracted interest from around the world, thanks to a combination of music, circus acts and spectators lining the outside lanes of the track.Host Alex Seftel talks to elite athletes, club runners, event staff and fans to get their perspective on what makes the meeting so popular.Patrick Dever and Megan Keith give their reaction to winning their respective British 10,000m titles, with European indoor champion Amy Eloise-Neale describing what it is like to be part of the event as a pacemaker.UK Athletics Strategic Lead for Major Events Cherry Alexander and OnRunning's Director of Marketing Gareth Evans give their take on the event's success, with competitors Megan Marchant, Sam Moakes, Evan Grime, William Rabjohns and Natasha Wynn discussing what it is like to be racing on the same evening as the Olympic 10,000m trials.Separately, international hammer thrower Charlotte Payne speaks to the podcast after representing England at the Loughborough International and discusses her return to athletics after she was fitted with a cochlear implant.
The latest England Athletics podcast is the first of a special heritage-focused series all about the making of the film Chariots of Fire.Renowned former national coach Tom McNab - who previously conducted interviews for our Coaching Voices series - is back in time to mark the centenary of the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.As the 2024 Olympics return to the French capital this summer, it is poignant to look back at the 1981 hit film depicting the Games of 100 years ago, famously featuring the likes of gold medallists Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams and coach Sam Mussabini. In this archive audio, McNab - the film's technical director - explains how actors were selected and trained to be athletes, what was historically true and where artistic licence was used, and how the film creatively got around unique problems that arose.If you have questions for Tom, you can send them in for him to answer in a podcast next month via the web addresss: englandathletics.org/contactus
England Athletics CEO Chris Jones sits down with podcast host Alex Seftel to look ahead to the 2024 season and discuss priorities within the sport.
With the Sportshall UK Final taking place in Stoke-on-Trent this Saturday 6th April, a special episode of the England Athletics Podcast has been published, looking at the history of Sportshall Athletics.Sportshall is an indoor form of track and field for children between the ages of four and 16. Created by George Bunner, the first competition took place in 1976, with the aim of providing a safe and warm environment for young athletes to train, especially in winter.This heritage project, in conjunction with The Athletics Museum sees George's sons Tom and Ivan Bunner reflect on their experiences working under their father and now leading what has become a successful global operation. Also joining the panel is Tracey Francis, England Athletics' Participation Programmes Manager.
This episode features a round-up of the action from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow as host Alex Seftel talks to athletes including pole vault gold medallist Molly Caudery, who won the title with a best clearance of 4.80m.Caudery was the youngest member of Team England's Commonwealth Games squad in 2018, before winning a silver medal in Birmingham in 2022, while coached by her dad Stuart, who explains his emotion following his daughter's success.World 1500m silver medallist Hannah England, world 200m champion Dafne Schippers and Athletics Weekly journalist Tim Adams provide their reflections on the event and look ahead to what might happen during this year's outdoor season.Peter Jardine from Scottish Athletics gives insight on Scotland's Josh Kerr and Jemma Reekie, who won 3000m gold and 800m silver respectively.Lee Munn from Track & Field Tours offers a supporter's perspective.Photo: Pat Isaacs
Abi Pawlett discusses what it means to make the British squad for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, where she will be competing in the pentathlon after setting a big personal best recently as part of an England Athletics team in Tallinn.Host Alex Seftel also catches up with UK indoor 1500m champion Georgia Bell, who will compete in Glasgow after returning to athletics following a five-year break from the track.UK indoor medallists Laviai and Lina Nielsen, Owen Heard, Thomas Hewes and Kevin Santos also feature.
The England Athletics Podcast goes behind the scenes of a winter training session at the London Marathon Community Track with Newham and Essex Beagles sprinter Emmanuel Sosanya and his coach Coral Nourrice.Emmanuel talks to host Alex Seftel about balancing athletics with being a fashion model, discusses meeting Wayde van Niekerk at the track at the London Diamond League, and explains his outlook on life including his Christian faith.
UK javelin champion Bekah Walton joins the England Athletics Podcast to talk about her dream of becoming both an Olympian and an engineer. The 24-year-old tells host Alex Seftel about the role of her mum, her dog and netball in propelling her athletics career.Photo: Getty Images for UK Athletics
In the latest episode of the England Athletics Podcast, world 400m hurdles semi-finalist Chris McAlister joins host Alex Seftel to reflect on his career to date.The 27-year-old discusses how he combines athletics with being a government civil servant and describes his enjoyment of his training group led by coach Marina Armstrong.England Athletics CEO also comes on to tell us what we have to look forward to ahead of a bumper 2024 season which will be headlined by the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallists Maddie Down and Phoebe Gill join Team Leader Scott Grace and podcast host Alex Seftel to reflect on their experience in Trinidad and Tobago.England won 24 medals to top the athletics table in August, with Down sealing T38 100m and long jump gold and Gill winning the 800m.
England Athletics Chair Gary Shaughnessy and CEO Chris Jones join the podcast to reflect on the 2023 season.They discuss how all levels of the sport can benefit from an excellent World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Youth Games, before talking about priorities for the future of athletics including supporting clubs and competition providers experiencing rising costs.Chris also visits Vale of York Athletics Community to hear of their ambition to grow one of the nation's newest clubs.
Hammer thrower Anna Purchase says it has been a "journey of determination" to make it to her World Athletics Championships debut in Budapest.
The 23-year-old started competing as an Under-11 athlete at Notts Athletic Club, and tells of how she persevered through a number of 4th and 6th places at English Schools Championships, before getting on the podium with silver in 2018.
Since then, she has made a breakthrough while studying in the USA and working with coach Mohamad Saatara, improving her lifetime best to 73.02m to move up to second on the UK all-time list behind Olympic medallist Sophie Hitchon.
Among her career highlights to-date was being part of the England team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
In the podcast, Anna pays tribute to her mother who bought her a first hammer for Christmas before she sadly passed away. She also explains why she is passionate about showcasing strong and powerful women on social media.
Photo: Getty Images for UK Athletics
This podcast is a World Para Athletics Championships special, with three of the nation's accomplished stars - wheelchair racer Karé Adenegan, sprinter Tom Young and high jumper Jonathan Broom-Edwards - talking everything from challenges they have overcome to best career moments and achieving more recognition.
This episode also marks the announcement of England Athletics' team for the Commonwealth Youth Games, which for the first time ever will include para athletes.
Our Team Leader for the Games, Scott Grace joins along with Welsh Athletics CEO James Williams and England Athletics Head of Talent Development Sarah Benson, with proposals to change age group categories for young athletes discussed.
In the final episode of the Coaching Voices series, former UK national coach Tom McNab describes his memories of watching great athletes and what he has learned from them.
Referencing discussion points from the ten interviewees featured during the series, he tells Alex Seftel how coaching has developed during his time in the sport and how it could change in future.
In this latest Coaching Voices special episode, host Tom McNab talks to former international cross-country coach Hamish Telfer about his career in athletics.
Hamish coached the likes of Olympians Liz Yelling and Spencer Duval as part of World University Cross Country Championships teams.
Malcolm Arnold, the former UK Athletics Head Coach and personal coach to hurdlers including Colin Jackson, Eilidh Doyle, Dai Greene and Andrew Pozzi talks about his life in athletics.
In this latest Coaching Voices special on the England Athletics Podcast, he describes to host Tom McNab about going to Uganda to coach the sport, where he worked with 1972 Olympic 400m hurdles Olympic champion and former world record holder John Akii-Bua.
Photo: Mark Shearman.
European champion athlete and musician Rio Mitcham joins host Alex Seftel to talk about his running and rapping talents.
In the same month that Rio was performing on the global stage, helping Great Britain and Northern Ireland to win the 4x400m title at Munich 2022, he released a dedicated song called "Euro Champs".
Also in this episode, England Athletics' Chris Mallender and Sarah Benson talk about UK Coaching Week including what can be done to support and attract recognition for coaches and details of changes expected to happen later this year.
Photo: Smokiecoco/Instagram.
In this episode, we hear from five people who play important roles in athletics from volunteering and coaching to officiating, team managing and event organising.Ben Pochee is the race director of Highgate Harriers' Night of the 10,000m PBs, one of the nation's most popular and influential track meetings. He talks to host Alex Seftel about how the event became the so-called 'Glastonbury of Athletics'.Lorna Boothe, Matthew Dalton, Janice Kaufman and Clive Poyner all serve on the England Athletics board. They come together as a panel to discuss what they enjoy about what they do, how they fit athletics around busy lives, and what they think needs to change in the sport.
This weekend sees the return of the TCS London Marathon with around 50,000 runners expected to pass through the start line.As a registered athlete in a club affiliated with England Athletics, you can gain spots to take part in this prestigious race. In this episode, we meet two athletes from Hereford Couriers who have just done that - Kate Morris and Clare Mallender!What's more, we surprised them by inviting five-time Olympian and 2:28:24 marathon runner Jo Pavey to provide some top tips and insight into tackling the big race.Also in this podcast, you can hear from young athletes who were part of one of our recent Talent Days in Loughborough.
Former shot putter and UK Athletics Vice President Mike Winch coached Judy Oakes for 25 years. During that time, Judy won three Commonwealth titles between 1982 and 1998, bringing their total number of medals in the Games between them to eight.The pair join Tom McNab and Alex Seftel to discuss their best memories and what they're currently doing in the sport to try and get a better deal for coaches.Photos: Mark Shearman.
The latest episode of the Coaching Voices podcast from England Athletics features international jumps coach Frank Attoh, who has worked with established athletes such Yamile Aldama, Larry Achike, Holly Mills and Greg Rutherford.In conversation with hosts Tom McNab and Alex Seftel, Frank - who was a keen footballer, table tennis and basketball player in his youth - reminisces about getting into triple jump as a teenager.He also discusses why he became a coach, jumping technique and looks back on the Black Power salute that took place at the 1968 Olympic Games.Photo: Mark Shearman.
A panel from England Athletics reflect on the positives from the year so far and discuss key issues and priorities ahead of the outdoor season.Chair Gary Shaughnessy, Chief Executive Chris Jones and Head of Talent Development Sarah Benson join host Alex Seftel to reflect on topics such as competition, coaching, officiating and supporting athletes.
The latest episode of the Coaching Voices podcast from England Athletics features Birchfield Harriers Chair Tony Hadley, the former coach of 400m runners Derek Redmond, Phil Brown and Matt Hudson-Smith.Tony provides a powerful eye-witness account of the famous moment when Derek's father Jim - who sadly passed away last October - helped his injured son to the finish line at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.In conversation with hosts Tom McNab and Alex Seftel, Tony also reflects on his career as a sprinter and a PE teacher.
Peter Stanley coached Jonathan Edwards, the world record holder in men's triple jump, for nine years. In that time they won Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles together, with Jonathan famously jumping 18.29m in Gothenburg in 1995.Peter, who got into athletics through his daughter, coached alongside a full-time job in civil engineering, before later working for UK Athletics as a Head of Field and Combined Events until his retirement in 2020.In this Coaching Voices episode, he talks to Tom McNab and Alex Seftel about his life experience as a coach and what he thinks should be done to improve the sport.
This episode is a journey through the indoor season, starting with 20-year-old Keely Hodgkinson who has won medals at all four major athletics championships in the last two years. Her coach Trevor Painter also explains the environment he tries to create in training to allow her to flourish.Also this month, highlights from the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham featuring Sophie McKinna, Ellie Baker, Morgan Lake and Jazmin Sawyers as well as the England Athletics U15, U17 and U20 Indoor Championships with Thea Brown, Cleo Agyepong, Success Eduan and Ashley Nemits.Youth Development Manager Scott Grace also joins to talk about the PB Awards, an exciting incentive to keep young athletes in the sport.Photo: Mark Shearman.
Until a few years ago, running was something 27-year-old Sam Harrison did just for fun and to keep fit.After joining an athletics club for the first time in 2018, her tumbling times and the guidance of her coach Vince Wilson, encouraged her to take the sport more seriously.That resulted in a first Great Britain vest in 2020, before she made England Athletics' Commonwealth Games squad for the 10,000m last summer.The fact that Sam finished sixth was an incredible achievement. She tells host Alex Seftel that along the way, she has had to give up some of her social life, and balance training alongside a busy job in a dental practice.Photo: Sam Mellish / Team England
Olympic 400m hurdles champion and former world record holder Sally Gunnell discusses the winning mentality that powered her to global success. She opens up on pressure and the impact of becoming a star athlete. In conversation with host Alex Seftel, she also gives advice for people of all ages and abilities to get into exercise and gives her thoughts on the extraordinary times seen in her event over the last few years.Photo: Mark Shearman
It's awards season! A range of great athletes give their reflections as a wonderful year - highlighted by a brilliant Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games - draws to a close.European champion Alex Haydock-Wilson and Olympic medallist Katharine Merry talk about succeeding after disappointment and two-time Olympian Tom Bosworth discusses his recent retirement along with what a hypothetical Netflix series on athletics should include.Also joining host Alex Seftel is Commonwealth champion Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker who wants to be a role model as a para sprinter, while Yemi Mary John remarks on her rise to win the world junior 400m title.Photo: Mark Shearman.
Former national athletics coach Gordon Adams joins host Tom McNab for the final part of the first series of England Athletics' Coaching Voices Podcast.He initially competed as a high jumper in the 1950s and still holds Watford Harriers' record in the latter event, with a jump of 13.90m in 1967, but his move into coaching was accelerated by an ankle injury picked up while playing football. Among his career highlights is working with the silver-medal winning men's 4x400m relay quartet at the 1984 Olympic Games.
Lorna Boothe is a respected coach and administrator who won the 1978 Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles title as an athlete. She was a team manager for British Athletics for nine year which included the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.In this episode of England Athletics' Coaching Voices podcast series, she talks to Tom McNab about her transition from the track to the boardroom, the structure of competition within the sport, and the importance of high quality training for coaches.
Peter Warden, a two-time medallist at the 1966 Commonwealth Games and former national coach, is the guest for the third part of England Athletics' Coaching Voices podcast series, which aims to capture the wisdom of renowned coaches.Predominantly a self-taught hurdler, he has coached ten English Schools champions during a distinguished career which led him to be awarded with a British Empire Medal for services to athletics in 2019. At the time, he joked in an interview that he has been so engrossed in the sport, that he'll one day be buried in a long jump pit.Photo: Mark Shearman.
High jump coach Carol Jackson is the guest for the second part of England Athletics' Coaching Voices podcast series which looks to capture expertise, personality and opinion from renowned coaches.Carol is an accomplished coach and event organiser who has worked with the likes of Olympic silver medallist Robbie Grabarz and former British record holder Mark Naylor, but there is one thing about her that may surprise you."Never in my life have I cleared a high jump bar," she says. "I was a long jumper...I loved athletics but I was the basic, good team member that would do any event that you wanted me to...but for the points.In this episode, she talks to interviewer Tom McNab about the biggest influences on her career and her desire to increase the number of female role models.
Tom McNab has enjoyed a long and successful career as an Olympic coach and novelist after starting out in athletics as a triple jumper.The former RAF Flying Officer's experiences also include preparing Great Britain's bobsleigh team for the Winter Olympics and England for the Rugby World Cup. He was also Technical Director of the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire. In this episode, Tom talks to producer Alex Seftel about a time where there were no coaches in the UK, the idea of 'sliding doors' moments, and his emphasis on creative thinking.This is the introduction to a five-part special series for England Athletics, in which Tom sits down for conversations with coaches to discover more about their personalities, knowledge and expertise.
Commonwealth 4x100m relay champion Jona Efoloko discusses his journey from junior to senior success in the sport, having had a phenomenal breakthrough season winning medals at all three major championships in 2022.
Complimenting that conversation is England Athletics' new Head of Talent Development, Sarah Benson, who discusses her background as a steeplechaser, what the athlete journey pathway entails and her vision for the role.
Photo: Mark Shearman
England Athletics CEO Chris Jones and Chair Gary Shaughnessy join the podcast to reflect on some of the challenges facing the sport and how they can be seen as opportunities to make positive changes and improvements.
We cover everything from athletes and officials to coaches to competitions, clarifying the difference in focus between UK Athletics and ourselves, and discussing what we can do to embrace technology and increase numbers of participants, spectators and volunteers.
We also talk up the wider health and community benefits of the sport, including links between schools and clubs, while analysing the potential impact of the cost of living.
As our #EAJourneyto22 nears its conclusion, Team England athletes Matt Hudson-Smith and Holly Mills preview the Commonwealth Games. Hudson-Smith, the British 400m record holder says it's 'nostalgic' to be picked for an event hosted in the home stadium of his Birchfield Harriers club. Mills asserts that she is going for gold and is excited about the new experience of going into a senior championship as a major contender.
Also in this episode, you can hear from European under-18 gold medallist Ophelia Pye who set a 400m hurdles championship record in Jerusalem this month.
As we continue our #Journeyto2022, this episode features three talented athletes looking forward to big summers. Olympic steeplechaser Aimee Pratt, who has gone from strength to strength making international teams over the last few years, discusses her beginnings in the sport at the age of 14 and the disappointments she has learnt from.
European under-20 800m silver medallist Ben Pattison talks about his recovery after being asked to stop athletics by doctors who told him he required an operation on a heart problem.
After winning double gold at the British Universities' Athletics Championships for the University of Birmingham, European under-23 800m champion Isabelle Boffey describes the buzz around the city which will host this summer's Commonwealth Games.
You'll also hear from an official preparing for the Games as part of a visit to the Norfolk County Championships by our CEO Chris Jones.
Photo: Mark Shearman
This month's episode focuses on The Art of the Athlete exhibition, which showcases the likes of Olympic 800m medallist Keely Hodgkinson. The project at London's Zari Gallery during the month of May is raising money for the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund and Lloyd Cowan Bursary Fund.
One of the artists, Marli Jessop talks to host Alex Seftel about the inspiration behind her art and also discusses what it meant to receive her first Great Britain call-up to the Loughborough International event, in the same month that she showed celebrities how to hurdle on television for ITV show The Games.
Olympic semi-finalist and three-time British champion sprint hurdler David King talks about falling back in love with the sport while based in Arizona and how he made the World Athletics Indoor Championships final in bizarre circumstances.
Also this month, an England Athletics discussion on what the legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games might look like.
Photo: Mark Shearman
In this special episode for International Women's Day, four women who are passionate about athletics come together in conversation to celebrate, reflect, discuss barriers and where they would like to see change in the sport.
Former international medallists Jenny Meadows and Kelly Massey are joined by respected coaches Sharon Morris and Janice Kaufman.
Jenny is a former European indoor champion over 800m who now plays an important role in British Athletics' Futures Programme. She has also turned to broadcasting over the last few years and has recently become a mum.
Kelly is a former 400m runner and a mainstay in successful British relay teams in recent years. She is now a UK Anti-Doping educator who also does research around elite athlete mothers.
Sharon has worked for British Athletics for 16 years. She oversees GB teams at international age group championships as Team Manager and is also a coach with Birchfield Harriers.
Janice is a Non-Executive Director on the England Athletics board. A coach with Gateshead Harriers as well as an official, she won a BBC Unsung Sporting Heroes award together with her son for the legacy they have created at her club.
High jumper Joel Clarke-Khan - the 2020 British champion - joins host Alex Seftel to talk about everything from his senior international debut last year, to his 2022 Commonwealth Games ambitions. The 22-year-old also discusses representing his city of Worcester and being a model on the side.
Meanwhile, CEO Chris Jones has been to visit Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow, and we catch up with Jake Watson, who won pole vault gold at the British Universities' (BUCS) Indoor Athletics Championships.
Photo: Mark Shearman
Two-time British hammer champion Jess Mayho discusses the incredible rise that has seen her go from having a 63-metre best in 2018 to 69 metres last season, giving her aspirations of success on the international stage.
Also in this episode, seven-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft talks us through the very beginnings of her journey in the sport as part of a feature that will continue across England Athletics social media platforms in the coming months.
Self-coached 400m runner James Williams talks about combining athletics with being a maths teacher and a brilliant couple of years that have seen him win his first British title and break through on the international stage.
The European indoor relay medallist and Liverpool Harrier only took up the full-lap distance in his late twenties, having previously done the shorter sprints.
Also in this episode, our CEO Chris Jones has been to Mansfield Harriers who recently returned home to a revamped Berry Hill Park track after a nine-year absence.
England Athletics has launched its 'Journey to 2022' campaign to celebrate a wide range of individuals in the sport ahead of next summer's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
In this episode, you will hear from a teenage runner dreaming of a place in the team, and his Midlands club which is hoping to benefit from the Games.
Telford Athletics Club's Charlie Carvell fell off his bike and broke his arm during lockdown, which prompted him to take athletics more seriously. The 17-year-old won European junior 4x400m relay gold in his first competition abroad.
You'll also hear from Gary Shaughnessy, the new Chair of England Athletics on his background in community sport, his quest to raise awareness of Parkinsons, and his vision for track and field.
This end of season review episode includes an exclusive interview with the British Milers' Club - which describes 2021 as its 'best year ever'.
Also on this month's England Athletics Podcast, our top team discuss the positives to take from the past ten months, as well as the challenges currently being tackled.
In this episode of the England Athletics Podcast, you'll hear from some of the stars of the Olympic Games who are getting excited about the idea of competing for Team England at next summer's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham including Jazmin Sawyers, Daryll Neita and Jodie Williams.
We also get soundbites from Keely Hodgkinson and Holly Bradshaw as they round off their seasons after picking up medals in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, Chris Jones has been to visit Hercules Wimbledon, where the club are seeking to raise awareness of the need to renovate their track. World 4x400m medallist Dwayne Cowan and coach and author Patrick Hutchinson were there.
As athletes eagerly await the start of their Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, it is a great time to remember the individual journeys that each competitor has been on in order to reach the most prestigious sporting stage of all.
63 of the Team GB squad are England athletes competing across track and field, with a range of youth and experience, as well as eligibility to build on Tokyo by representing Team England at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in a year’s time.
Ahead of the Olympic athletics getting underway, we sat down with four athletes in Japan, namely race walker Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge AC, Andi Drake), high jumper Emily Borthwick (Wigan and District, Fuzz Caan), hammer thrower Taylor Campbell (Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow, John Pearson), and pole vaulter Harry Coppell (Wigan and District, Scott Simpson).
Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson via Flickr with creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Hear Scott Lincoln's delight as the 12-time British shot put champion reacts to achieving the Olympic qualifying standard for Tokyo 2020.
Also in this episode, hear from five newly-crowned champions at the England Under-20 and Under-23 Championships in Bedford.
Photo: Mark Shearman
Holly Mills is one of Britain's most exciting young talents - a winner of multiple titles in the long jump - she decided to take on the challenge of switching to the heptathlon in 2018.
Three years later, the 21-year-old is in contention to compete at the Olympic Games after forming a great partnership with Olympic sprinter and Commonwealth gold medallist Laura Turner-Alleyne, her coach.
You'll hear how the change towards multi-events has been approached mentally and physically, as Holly explains that her big recent improvements have come as a result of incredible hard work.
Also in this episode, Kelly Sotherton discusses England Athletics' Commonwealth Games selection policy for Birmingham 2022.
More information can be found at englandathletics.org.
In this episode, you will hear a panel discussion on what we have learnt over the past year and what positives clubs around the country have taken.
Topics covered include everything from virtual and covid-secure competition, to running a club during a pandemic, and supporting and engaging athletes and volunteers. Joining us are Emma Hurst (England Athletics), Les Grant (Doncaster AC), Mick Bond (Cambridge Harriers), Keith Reed (Devon Athletics).
The discussion is in association with the free England Athletics virtual Club Conference on 15th May 2021. For more information, head to englandathletics.org/clubconf2021.
In this episode, you will hear from England Athletics Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Team Leader Kelly Sotherton who has been chatting to Rob Walker about her excitement for next summer's event.
Also looking to be there is The Athletics Museum and you can get involved if you have any ideas for objects that could feature.
We also catch up with Thames Valley Harriers and Avon Valley Runners as they return to training.
Photo: Birmingham City Council.
England Athletics' Martin Rush and Nichola Skedgel are joined by Cherry Alexander OBE for an episode about competition.
Having enjoyed the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, now is a great time to look forward to what is to come in 2021. In a week where we published guidance on the return to competition, you'll hear us take positives from the last year and outline what is being planned with the aim of bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic.
We also discuss the key topic of what makes an athletics competition great.
Got any questions or thoughts to add? Check out englandathletics.org, where you will find the latest guidance.
In spite of all of the COVID-19 restrictions of 2020, plus several injuries, sprint hurdler Lucy-Jane Matthews had a fantastic breakthrough season, coming second at the British Athletics Championships aged just 17.
Find out how she did it, and hear from England Athletics CEO Chris Jones, who reflects on the last 10 months and shares hopes for the upcoming year.
Photo: Trevor Painter
Alex Seftel is joined by athletes Jack Green, Joe Fuggle and Darcey Kuypers for an in-depth discussion on mental health, covering everything from pressure to burnout and comparison to wellbeing within the sport.
Jack is a two-time Olympian and a long-time advocate for speaking out about depression. Joe is an English Schools-winning 400m hurdler who recently founded a platform called 'The Athlete Place', aimed at improving mental health. Darcey, who runs an Instagram page called 'Not Just Physical', is an international sprinter who has battled with anxiety disorders from a young age.
Looking for help or guidance? Check out the 'Supporting Mental Health' section of englandathletics.org.
British javelin thrower Harry Hughes has high hopes for 2021 after successfully raising £5,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to pay for surgery on his elbow. Last year the 23-year-old became the first Brit to throw a javelin over 80 metres since 2012, but he has had to battle with a number of injuries in recent seasons and has two screws in his elbow.
Alongside that, England Athletics' Head of Coaching and Athlete Development, Martin Rush and Competition Partnerships and Innovation Manager, Nichola Skedgel provide a coronavirus update, looking back on how the 2020 season has gone, outlining current guidelines and looking ahead to plans for cross country and indoor competitions over the next six months.
In our latest episode you will hear a chat with international distance runner Phil Sesemann, who combines athletics with working as a junior doctor in an accident and emergency department in Leeds.
Meanwhile, Chris Jones has visited Peterborough and Nene Valley Athletics Club to learn more about their success since merging to form one club last year, and to see how they are managing the impact of coronavirus restrictions on track and field activity.
Photo Credit: Mark Hookway.
What would you do if you had the chance to give away millions of pounds?
Entrepreneur Barrie Wells decided to donate the money to fund athletes including Katarina-Johnson Thompson on their journeys towards the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Barrie - the grandson of a former world pole vault record-holder - has also supported a huge number of seriously ill children as part of an initiative called Box4Kids.
After being awarded an MBE earlier this year, he took some time out to talk to Alex Seftel about his career, philanthropy, and his love of sport.
After postponing plans including her wedding day, 800 metre runner Alex Bell talks about where her mindset is without a major competition to focus on this year.
She also reflects on the agony faced over selection and funding issues and hopes she can be a "brick in the wall" when it comes to changing the sport.
Meanwhile, England Athletics' Andy Anstey joins Alex Seftel to discuss an exciting set of virtual competitions on offer, including the chance to create your own challenge with friends.
Photo: Matthew Quine
Young international shot putters Serena Vincent and Lewis Byng tell Alex Seftel about the best things they've learnt in their careers to date and explain how they've been competing virtually in lockdown.
Meanwhile, Chris Jones has been on a tour of Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club, where he met RaceRunning teenager Thomas Talbot, and Invictus Games champion Debbie O'Connell.
Olympic medallist Kelly Sotherton speaks about her excitement after being named as Team England's track and field Team Leader for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Meanwhile, having started out as a kickboxer, 37-year-old athlete and artist Gavin Johnson-Assoon says he feels "as powerful as ever" after claiming the England javelin title last summer.
You'll hear interesting discussions at Stratford AC, while we also take a closer look at some of the activities that can help you stay active or continue training while restrictions are in place.
Photo: Wiltshire Council via Flickr. Creative Commons licence: https://bit.ly/3f35Onc
Join us for a panel discussion with advice on how we can all adapt to the coronavirus situation including information on support available from England Athletics.
Fresh from being rejuvenated by a charity dance competition, Olympic medallist Marilyn Okoro chats to Alex Seftel about her fight for a place in the sport, whether to prove to her mum that she had chosen the right career path, or to gain selection for major championships.
Hurdler Daniel Rees also shares positive, motivational messages from coaches around the country.
Check out englandathletics.org and our social media channels for the latest updates.
Olympic medallist Kelly Massey chats to Alex Seftel about what she does and doesn't miss now she's hung up her competition spikes.
Kelly opens up on the anxiety around choosing when to call it a day and tells us about a study she is doing on athletes who have retired from elite sport.
You'll also hear from young hurdler Joe Harding, while Chris Jones has been on a club visit to Guernsey and has caught up with colleagues back from a recent European Athletics Congress meeting in Estonia.
Photo: Matthew Quine
Recorded at the Combined Events Indoor Championships in Sheffield, this month's podcast hears from parents, athletes, coaches and officials with a range of views on what can be done to support them.
It comes as England Athletics looks for feedback on its Future Strategy to improve the sport and help more competitors reach their potential.
To have your say, head to englandathletics.org or search for 'England Athletics Future Strategy' online.
Alex Seftel looks at what has been done to celebrate 50 years of clubs competing against each other in the British Athletics League.
Meanwhile, world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson explains our funetics programme to get children active with running, jumping and throwing, and Chris Jones goes on a club to visit to Cornwall.
Chris Jones meets a member of Great Britain's World Transplant Games squad on a visit to Leighton Buzzard.
Also this month, you'll hear about track and field innovation in Denmark, a thriving club in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and what it's like to be a dedicated volunteer official.
If you could change one thing about the sport, what would it be?
Pole vaulter and British record-holder Holly Bradshaw and former sprinter Montell Douglas are among those asked this question by Alex Seftel in our latest podcast.
We've also been to visit Redway Runners in Milton Keynes to find out how the club has gone from being a small group of individuals to having more than 2,500 members.
Photo: Matthew Quine.
Toni Minichiello, Abigail Irozuru and Naomi Ogbeta join Chris Jones, Dean Hardman and Martin Rush from England Athletics for a special debate to discuss what can be done to improve track and field participation and keep young people in the sport for longer.
It follows research by England Athletics on the number of young athletes dropping out of the sport. Read more on the research here: https://buff.ly/33tuNv2
This podcast has an uplifting tone that you'll want to savour!
There is delight for young athletes qualifying for the European Under 20 and Under 23 Championships in Sweden, while masters runners put on an England vest for the first time at the Great Birmingham 10K.
If you have anything you would like us to discuss, get in touch via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or e-mail info@englandathletics.org.
Hear the fascinating story of John Tarrant, who was dubbed "The Ghost Runner" for his habit of gatecrashing races from which he was barred, after he was judged to be a professional for taking money for boxing fights as a young man.
Also this month, Chris Jones has been to visit Vale of Aylesbury Athletic Club in Buckinghamshire to find out what makes it successful.
As ever, if there's anything you'd like us to discuss, get in touch on social media or via englandathletics.org. Thanks to BBC Hereford and Worcester for their help with this episode.
In this episode, you'll hear from a man who took up running aged 55 and is about to embark on his ninth London Marathon. Dana Power runs as "Puff the Asthma Dragon" for charity and is something of a cult hero in his hometown of Bridgnorth in Shropshire.
Meanwhile, Chris Jones has once again been out reporting at a club visit. This time he is hosted by Winchester and District Athletics Club.
There is also a discussion about TrackMark, a scheme introduced last year to encourage investment in track and field facilities around the country. As ever, there are more details at englandathletics.org, where you can get in touch if you have any points to add or questions you want answered.
Photo: Dana Power
The indoor season has seen emerging young prospects battle it out for national honours at the England Athletics Indoor Age Group Championships in Sheffield.
As well as going behind the scenes there, CEO Chris Jones has been to visit Gateshead Harriers to meet everyone from those running the club, to veterans and aspiring teenagers.
Got something you'd like us to discuss? Get in touch via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
This month you'll hear stories from our Road Running Roadshow in Crawley.
We chat to James Westlake, who was released by Millwall Football Club aged 15, and is now an England international marathon runner.
Meanwhile, Chris Jones has been out visiting Stevenage and North Herts Athletics Club, talking to coaches, volunteers and participants to find out what makes it tick.
Want to join in the discussion? Find England Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to share your views.
Hear details of proposed changes to England Athletics' volunteer-led council system. There's a full set of documents on the plans at englandathletics.org.
Also in this episode, find out what it was like for a masters athlete to make his England debut after taking running seriously later in life.
This winter, England Athletics launched the #gocoach campaign to find 10,000 new coaches. In episode 3 of the podcast, you'll hear Dina Asher-Smith and her coach John Blackie discuss what makes their relationship so special.
There's also the 100th visit as part of the Club Run initiative, which sees England Athletics go out to clubs around the country to help develop coaching skills.
This month's featured club is West Cheshire AC and you'll hear a range of enthusiastic people explain why it is a thriving place to be.
Our Hall of Fame and Volunteer Awards night is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the great contributions made by people throughout the sport - from achievers at the highest level of track and field competition - to the officials and coaches who work in grassroots.
Soak up the atmosphere in this episode as you hear from inductees including Katharine Merry, Aston Moore, and Peter Matthews, along with some of our unsung heroes. There's also a posthumous award presented to an Olympic champion.
Photo: Mark Shearman
Introducing the England Athletics Podcast.
In this first full episode, you'll hear from Olympic champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and meet volunteers who love running.
Meanwhile, Dean Hardman and Chris Jones give a flavour of the work that goes on behind the scenes to make our sport a success.
You can always get involved if you have any stories or anything you'd like to be discussed. Head to the England Athletics Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to share your views.
A taste of what's to come on the all new England Athletics podcast.
We want to hear your stories, feature your club and discuss the issues that matter to you in athletics, covering everything from participation, to performance and nostalgia to mental health.
Interact with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share your views.