The Real Science Of Sport podcast

#Science #Sports Science #Rugby #Cycling #Mike Finch #Professor Ross Tucker #Sports #Athletics #Dope

1:14:43

Artificial intelligence is evolving at an unprecedented pace—what does that mean for the future of technology, venture capital, business, and even our understanding of ourselves? Award-winning journalist and writer Anil Ananthaswamy joins us for our latest episode to discuss his latest book Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI . Anil helps us explore the journey and many breakthroughs that have propelled machine learning from simple perceptrons to the sophisticated algorithms shaping today’s AI revolution, powering GPT and other models. The discussion aims to demystify some of the underlying math that powers modern machine learning to help everyone grasp this technology impacting our lives, even if your last math class was in high school. Anil walks us through the power of scaling laws, the shift from training to inference optimization, and the debate among AI’s pioneers about the road to AGI—should we be concerned, or are we still missing key pieces of the puzzle? The conversation also delves into AI’s philosophical implications—could understanding how machines learn help us better understand ourselves? And what challenges remain before AI systems can truly operate with agency? If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits. Links: Read Why Machines Learn, Anil’s latest book on the math behind AI https://www.amazon.com/Why-Machines-Learn-Elegant-Behind/dp/0593185749 Learn more about Anil Ananthaswamy’s work and writing https://anilananthaswamy.com/ Watch Anil Ananthaswamy’s TED Talk on AI and intelligence https://www.ted.com/speakers/anil_ananthaswamy Discover the MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship that shaped Anil’s AI research https://ksj.mit.edu/ Understand the Perceptron, the foundation of neural networks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perceptron Read about the Perceptron Convergence Theorem and its significance https://www.nature.com/articles/323533a0…

The Real Science of Sport Podcast

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World-renowned sports scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch break down the myths, practices and controversies from the world of sport. From athletics to rugby, soccer, cycling and more, the two delve into the most recent research, unearth lessons from the pros and host exclusive interviews with some of the world's leading sporting experts. For those who love sport. Get bonus content on Patreon

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221 επεισόδια

The Real Science of Sport Podcast

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updated πριν 3 μέρες

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221 επεισόδια

#Science #Sports Science #Rugby #Cycling #Mike Finch #Professor Ross Tucker #Sports #Athletics #Dope

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1
Spotlight: A Women's Sub 4-minute Mile? / A Tale of Textbook Heat Adaptation 1:05:44

πριν 3 μέρες1:05:44

1:05:44

In this Spotlight, Ross and Gareth become "bros" to discuss and critique a recent paper that forecasts a sub-4 min mile in women (specifically, Faith Kipyegon) if drafting strategies were improved. Ross explains his skepticism and reaction to straw man arguments in media about the paper, and the framing of the seven second improvement required as a "mental barrier". This ushers in a new segment for the show, "Grinds my Gears!". We also learn from a Discourse member, @pauliuspeciura, about how to execute a textbook heat adaptation strategy for a race he participated in recently. We talk about the physiology of heat adaptation, and how to implement a downscaled, but necessary approach to heat in your next race. We also briefly touch on two bits of news, one concerning an increasing lack of physical activity in children in the UK, and other a peculiar, though not unique, explanation for doping contamination in the recent case of triathlete Imogen Simmonds* *Ross mentioned a USA Sprinter who was cleared of a positive drug test after using "passionate kissing" as a defence. That was Gil Roberts, not Derrick Brew as mentioned (article link below). Roberts, incidentally, got cleared of this positive result in 2017, but then had another doping violation in 2022 (16 month ban) and then another in 2023, and is now serving an 8 year ban! Show notes Spotlights are inspired by Discourse, and then the discussion continues there after! If you want to become a member of that community, here's the link to Patreon , where you sign up, and then it'll direct you to the Discourse Platform where the floor is yours ! Links Article in the Guardian that talks about the decline in numbers of PE Teachers in Britain A paper in the BJSM on the physical activity issues and the need to optimize social factors Imogen Simmonds' post on the doping positive for Ligandrol. Time will tell whether there's more to it The news piece on Gil Roberts and the passionate kissing defence Discourse Member Paulius Peciura discusses his heat adaptation strategy and race outcome here - Note: Discourse members only The paper analysing Kipyegon's World Record, postulating the sub-4 is possible with a massive 75% drafting benefit The New York Times piece on the sub-4 theory that contains the quotes that ground Ross' gears ! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Rethinking Polarised Training with Dr Stephen Seiler 1:52:14

πριν 4 μέρες1:52:14

1:52:14

Dr. Stephen Seiler is arguably the world authority on endurance training, and popularized the concept of polarized training. But a new paper has revealed some fresh insights into training polarization which suggest that the training structure may only be suitable for certain types of athletes. Enjoy this deep dive into one of the most-discussed endurance topics as we break down the theory, look at the results of this ground-breaking systematic review, discuss how the results can inform training protocols and what future studies are needed. Seiler is an exercise physiologist and Professor of Sports Science from the University of Agder in Norway. SHOW NOTES THE PAPER ON Training Intensity Distribution Intervention will Produce the Greatest Improvements in Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Time-Trial Performance in Endurance Athletes? A Systematic Review. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Spotlight: World Records Galore as Running's Recalibration Resumes / A Final Jannik Sinner Discourse 50:28

πριν 11 μέρες50:28

50:28

This week's spotlight turns to the indoor tracks and roads of the world, as we discuss the continuing recalibration of running performance. Every USA Men's Indoor distance record was broken in the course of a week, with two world records among the performances. One of those world records didn't last the week, as Jakob Ingebrigtsen broke it in France. Then on the roads, Jacob Kiplimo took the half marathon into a new galaxy with a sub-57 performance. The two-hour marathon is now clearly within reach. Gareth and Ross discuss those performances, and inspired to some Discourse, look back at a 2008 paper that analyzed race-horses and greyhounds to make predictions about how fast humans can still run. We check in those predictions to discover how shoe tech has moved some events ahead of the curve. We also shine one last Spotlight on the Janik Sinner three month ban, elaborating on a few matters that arose since our previous emergency Spotlight, and explain why some of the vilification of anti-doping's process may be unwarranted, and in some instances (Tim Henman!) completely detached from reality! Join Discourse For more conversation and insight, join our Discourse community where fellow listeners, experts and enthusiasts offer thoughts and opinions on this issue, and many more sports science topics. Membership requires that you become a Patron of the site, here, with a small monthly pledge to become part of our VIP community Show notes The Mark Denny study using horses and greyhounds to predict human limits , as discussed The Iga Swiatek Reasoned Decision, where Points 40 and 41 explain No Fault and Utmost Caution principles Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Can You Trust Your Sports Watch? 1:28:10

πριν 12 μέρες1:28:10

1:28:10

Dr Joe Warne is a former international athlete and the key instigator of the Sports Science Replication Centre at the Technological University in Dublin. Having also worked as a performance coach Warne has spent hours both testing and working with modern tech devices with a key interest in finding out how reliable and trustworthy the data is. In this interview, the team discusses the metrics you can best trust, how to interpret the data you get correctly, and what the future of wearable tech and exercise data could be. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Spotlight: Janik Sinner Banned For Three Months 24:23

πριν 16 μέρες24:23

24:23

Tennis star Janik Sinner has accepted an immediate three-month suspension for his 2024 clostebol positives. In this emergency Spotlight, Gareth and Ross discuss the agreement between Sinner and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and explain why both parties would have been incentivized to reach a settlement rather than go to arbitration at CAS in mid-April. We offer insights and early thoughts on whether, as claimed by Nick Kyrgios, this is "a bad day for tennis", or whether a three-month ban is justified and appropriate, giving the accepted facts of the case and what could be proven in previous tribunals. Join Discourse For more conversation and insight, join our Discourse community where fellow listeners, experts and enthusiasts offer thoughts and opinions on this issue, and many more sports science topics. Membership requires that you become a Patron of the site, here, with a small monthly pledge to become part of our VIP community Show notes: WADA's full statement on the settlement BBC article on the settlement, as read in the podcast YouTube channel Tennis Talk , who we heard from in the podcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Spotlight: Protecting Women's Sport - Update on New Developments and Policies From Around the World 1:26:51

πριν 19 μέρες1:26:51

1:26:51

In this Spotlight, we address some noteworthy recent developments in the regulation and protection of women's sport. In the most significant of these, World Athletics have announced proposals, still in consultation, that would compel elite female participants to undergo a screening test that looks for the SRY gene as an eligibility requirement. Ross explains why this step, inevitable and necessary for women's sport to deliver on its purpose, may be the most important one taken by any sport in the last few years. We also discuss other proposals that strengthen World Athletics' protection of women's athletics, as well as an Executive Order on women's sport signed by Donald Trump, the NCAA response to that EO, and what this all means for this ongoing controversial issue. Become a Discourse member and drive the Spotlight If you enjoy the Spotlights, and want to weigh in on these and other topics, consider becoming a Patron of the show, and get full access to the Discourse community! Here's where you go to make a small pledge and become a Patron, and that'll open up this portal to a world of sports science, performance and health conversations ! Links to topics and articles we discussed on the show World Athletics page explaining the proposals and the consultation process that includes the pre-clearance (cheek swab) method The full World Athletics document outlining proposed changes to eligibility The academic article that a group of us wrote last year, explaining how screening should be implemented to support protection of the female category Greg Brown's paper comparing boys to girls in running events Same author, same approach, different sport - here's Greg Brown's analysis of boys and girls in swimming Marina Hyde's article that describes how issues are bundled rather than assessed on their merits , to the detriment, sometimes, of reality NCAA update on changes to their eligibility policy, where they take a step towards protecting women's sport, but fail to base it on biology The Executive Order signed by Trump earlier this week The larger Executive Order that helpfully defines sex, male and female with implications for policy Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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The Science of Mind Coaching in Sport 1:25:15

πριν 20 μέρες1:25:15

1:25:15

From international cricket to chess, boxing and hockey, Paddy Upton has helped the best sportspeople in the world achieve through his role as a performance coach. The team dig into how Upton has helped create the right performance mindset and explains how the best in the world handle mental pressure. Along the way Upton shares some remarkable success stories, explains how he went from a fitness instructor to a mind coach and whether BMT is really a thing. Upton's approach focuses on four core human aspects of high performance - leadership, culture, teamwork and individual performance - and combines his 30+ years of experience with degrees from four different universities along with an appointment as Professor of Practice at Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia). Upton has worked with over 350 professional and international level athletes from 21 different sporting codes, including six world champions from six different sports and 25 World Player Of The Year recipients. He has coached in five cricket World Cups and one Olympics (won bronze with the Indian men’s hockey team). He has also helped coach the Indian cricket team to become world test champions for the first time (2009) and win the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time in 28 years. As Performance Director he has also helped coach the South African cricket team to become the first team ever to simultaneously hold the World Number 1 ranking in all three formats of the international game. He is also the author of the best-selling book, The Barefoot Coach (Life-changing insights from coaching the world’s best cricketers) Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Spotlight: News Roundup / Forgiveness for Dopers? / Carbon Monoxide Banned / Yellow Cards For Head Injuries Only 1:05:07

πριν 26 μέρες1:05:07

1:05:07

We have a news-heavy Spotlight for you this week, with stories from athletics, cycling and Rugby League to discuss. Shelby Houlihan's return from a doping ban has Gareth wondering about second-chances and forgiveness for dopers? Cycling's authorities met at the Cyclocross World Champs in Lievin and agreed to regulate the use of carbon monoxide and to prevent its misuse for performance enhancement. We talk about that decision and its details, and how it's a positive step, despite some recognized limitations. Cycling safety is also under the spotlight, with the tragic deaths of cyclists around the world a reminder of the perils of the sport, particularly during training. Finally, Rugby League is considering a change to how players are sent off for high tackles, with a proposal to give yellow cards only when the player on the receiving end of the illegal tackle fails an off-field test indicating possible concussion. Proposed as a means to "get more consistency", Ross explains that if anything, it introduces a (for now) random, unpredictable outcome variable in the decision that will compromise consistency, and may detract from player welfare and behaviour change initiatives. But first, we kick off the show with our Discourse-first birthday announcement, a thanks to all our fabulous followers, and then revisit last week's Spotlight on carbohydrate requirements to explain why elites need to fuel at rates the rest of us needn't aspire to emulate. Join Discourse If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Show notes The paper Ross alluded on the show, that gives an example of relative carb and fat use during exercise Article on the proposal to give yellow cards only when the ball carrier fails the head injury assessment in Rugby League Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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CRICKET SPECIAL: Is The Futue of Test Cricket Under Threat? / The Dying Skill of Fast Bowling / Coaching The Best From School To Elite 1:25:05

πριν 4 weeks1:25:05

1:25:05

Former South African top-order batsman Gary Kirsten is one of the most respected voices in the modern game. After playing 101 Tests and 185 one-day internationals, Kirsten went on to a successful career as a coach. From 2008 to 2011 he coached India that included their win at the 2011 World Cup. Later in 2011 he was appointed coach of the South African team until August of 2013 and also had a brief stint with Pakistan in 2024, along with numerous coaching appointments in other formats including India's IPL. In this wide-ranging interview, Kirsten delves into some of the biggest issues facing the game: The threats facing the future of Test cricket, why the art of fast bowling is dying, the role of coaches at both school and international level and concerns over a proposed two-tier system in the global game. Note: We are aware of a small technical issue where some sections of the pod skip or "jump". We are looking to sort this out in a future upload/version of the pod. Sorry about that! Join Discourse If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Spotlight: You Are Not Simon Yates. But You Can Learn From Him 1:07:40

πριν 5 weeks1:07:40

1:07:40

In this episode, Simon Yates, carbohydrates and the applicability of sports science research to the masses are in our Spotlight. In an interview earlier this week, pro cyclist Simon Yates described a paradigm shift that has changed nutrition and training in the sport. Instead of five hour rides on "two eggs" and "water in the bottles" leaving him feeling exhausted, he talks about 120g/h of carbohydrates in training and racing leading to less fatigue, greater enjoyment, and significantly better performances. That's not new, of course - more carbs has been the name of the game for the elites for some time, as we've discussed in previous shows. Now, Gareth and Ross explore the extent to which elite practice and behaviours should guide what the rest of us 'mortals' do, and whether the pendulum of advice has swung too far? To do so, we use a recent paper by Louise Burke and her team to explain that sports science research, often done on recreational or moderately trained athletes, often fails to add value to elite athletes. Conversely, we discover that what elites do is not necessarily directly applicable to the rest of us, and that while Yates and others demonstrate important principles of nutrition (yes, you need those carbs for harder training), we need to understand context and circumstances in order to understand exactly how to apply their behaviours to our own situations, and to get the specifics right. Ultimately, we may all be bound by the same (physiological) rules, but we're often playing a different game. We explain how to translate and apply research to practice, and vice-versa. Plus, a brief look back at the Australian Open, how tennis analytics doesn't quite do justice to the 'adversarial' nature of the sport, and why players shouldn't be too fussed with perceived crowd and media hostility. Show notes The tennis website Gareth mentioned, full of stats and analytics on performance Join our Fantasy League for the upcoming Men's Six Nations . Once clicked, you'll need a League ID - 142233 : SoS Discoursers, and a password: DWIVM "No bonks". Here is the interview with Simon Yates that reveals the carbohydrate shift in elite cycling , the main subject of today's Spotlight The excellent article by Burke et al that describes why elite practice and research doesn't translate to us mortals, and vice-versa Join Discourse If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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The Role of the Modern Physio: Lessons from the Royal Marines 1:39:02

πριν 6 weeks1:39:02

1:39:02

Richard Hales has spent the last 22 years fixing Royal Marines at the Command Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) Lympstone in the UK and is the Clinical Lead within their bespoke Exercise Rehabilitation Centre. So he knows a thing or two about the role of physiotherapy in a pressurised physical environment. The team delve into the role of a physiotherapist in both prevention and recovery; explains how data drives much of the research, why old-school physio techniques are questionable and whether biomechanics make a difference in causing chronic injury. Hales graduated with a Sports Science degree from Liverpool University in 1992 before qualifying as a Chartered Physiotherapist from Bath University in 1996. Having chosen to specialise in musculoskeletal rehabilitation his roles have included six years as Physio with Exeter Chiefs Rugby Union Club, and clinical co-ordinator for Amputee rehabilitation within ‘Adventure Rehab’, as well as Out-Patient work in both the UK and New Zealand before joining the military. He has just written a book about his time working with the Royal Marines entitled T he NOD Fixe r which is due out in Easter 2025. Join Discourse If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Spotlight: Can We Trust Experts in Fitness and Health? 57:49

πριν 7 weeks57:49

57:49

Can we trust "experts" in the fitness and health industry? We put this question under the Spotlight this week, inspired by a combination of Gareth's fell running exploits and virus scare, his quest to replenish carbohydrates after racing, and a fascinating insider Discourse chat about the credibility of the fitness industry. How can fitness, health and sports enthusiasts know who to trust, and can they ever be assured of credible, effective advice from personal trainers and fitness influencers whose intentions may be good, but whose knowledge is not always where it needs to be? Show notes Join Discourse If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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What Will Sport Look Like in 2050? 1:27:25

πριν 8 weeks1:27:25

1:27:25

A lot has changed since 2000 in sport but not everything predicted at the start of the Millennium has happened by 2025. So what may sport look like in 2050? Hosts Mike Finch and Prof. Ross Tucker - along with the Chief Sports Writer of The Guardian, Sean Ingle - look back at what was predicted in 2000 and what could happen 25 years from now. From age-defying world beaters to astonishing tech and the likely future and popularity of sporting events, sport looks set for some radical changes in the second quarter of this century. SHOW NOTES Sean’s article looking back at the 2000 predictions Sean’s article predicting sport in 2050 Another article by Sean in which he discusses the case for an Olympics every two years The article that predicts that most records will reach a plateau by 2027 Example of how digital twins are being used in sport Speaking of digital twins, Des Linden has one, as explained in this article An article on how AI is changing sport. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Spotlight: Festive feedback 49:27

πριν 8 weeks49:27

49:27

Gareth and Ross kick off 2025 with a brief Spotlight episode that looks back on the Festive season's interesting sports science news stories, and our own Christmas and New Year exercise achievements and sports-watching highlights. Discourse hummed along at its usual pace, with stories on doping, low cadence, cycling safety, and exercise challenges, and Gareth and Ross tackle those subjects in this 2025 'ice-breaker'. Show notes Join Discourse If you fancy a bit of the coaching, sports science and sports news conversations with our amazing members, consider a small donation to become a Patron of the site, and get access to our Discourse community, where you can join like-minded fans and sports enthusiasts to keep the conversation going. Articles on topics discussed in this show Independent scientific experts call China's conclusions on their 23 TMZ swimming cases "intellectually dishonest" Canadian coach calls for doping reform amid doubts over Women's Marathon WR, including bans for countries with more than 10 doped athletes Norway's Mountain Running World Champion accepts a doping ban after claiming contamination for a positive test Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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The 2024 Sports Year In Review 2:10:21

πριν 11 weeks2:10:21