SportSpiel

Jamaican diver Yona Knight-Wisdom (https://twitter.com/YonaKW) is something of an anomaly in his sport. As the Leeds-born athlete says himself, he is almost two metres tall, is a ‘heavy diver’ and he’s black. That isn’t something you see very often. But despite the stereotype he is writing history in Jamaican sport. Not only was he the first Jamaican diver to medal at an international diving event, he was also the first Jamaican - and first to represent a Caribbean island - at the Olympics...

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by journalists Julia Cook (https://twitter.com/juliaellencook) and Ollie Godden (https://twitter.com/Goddeno) for SportSpiel's September discussion episode. On this edition of the show the panel go through the biggest headlines and pick apart the most important questions. In part one (6:07) it's all about the IAAF World Championships and whether Doha - the capital of Qatar - is a suitable venue after horrible scenes during the women's marathon....

Lizzie Simmonds is one of Britain’s most successful swimmers. She is a double European Champion, a 13-time British Champion, a double Olympian and a Commonwealth silver medallist – that’s just a short list of her achievements. The 28-year-old retired from the sport back in July 2018 but things have been far from simple since then. When you’ve lived for most of your life as an elite athlete – chasing targets and aiming to go as fast as you can – there is a massive void to fill when you take...

British trampolinist Laura Gallagher has transformed into a completely different person. In her first appearance on SportSpiel (https://sportspielonline.com/2019/03/02/gymnastics-special-laura-gallagher/) the 2017 British Champion bravely opened up about the mental health struggles she faced that subsequently led to her break from the sport. In particular there was a nagging sense that she hadn't fulfilled her potential and that she felt like a failure....

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by Goalball UK star Sarah Leiter (https://twitter.com/SarahLeiter) on episode 40 of SportSpiel. Feature Interview On our feature interview section (2:42) Alasdair speaks to Sarah who is not only a talented athlete, but also a junior doctor after graduating from the University of Cambridge. In her chat on the podcast Sarah explains about life growing up with albinism, and having only 10 per cent of her vision, but also how it has come to define her....

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by Rugby League official and Leeds Rhinos' star Caitlin Beevers (https://twitter.com/CaitlinBeevers1) on episode 39 of SportSpiel. Feature Interview On our feature interview section (4:29) Will speaks to Caitlin who has already achieved so much at the age of 17. As part of Leeds Rhinos she already has two consecutive Challenge Cup victories - in 2018 and 2019 - and she has also been selected as part of the England squad for the Downer World Cup...

Will Moulton hosts a Netball World Cup special of the podcast with Australia's Jo Weston (https://twitter.com/joannamweston) and Liz Watson (https://twitter.com/watson_lizzy) plus New Zealand's Shannon Saunders. (https://twitter.com/FrancoisShannon) The 2019 Netball World Cup gets underway in Liverpool on Friday, July 12 with anticipation building at home and abroad. While the home nations will be hoping to enjoy their own success, two nations vying for glory will be Australia and New...

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host the fifth FIFA World Cup Special ahead of the start of the 2019 tournament in France. This year's competition looks likely to get more coverage than ever before, thrusting women's football into the spotlight. And it really is about time. In part one of this episode (1:42) Alasdair and Will talk about the development in social media towards women's football and what else still needs to change. In part two (16:53) the two talk about how France 2019 must be...

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by Sportsbeat and Love Sport Radio's Ella Jerman (https://twitter.com/EllaJerman) to look ahead to the FIFA Women's World Cup. In our fourth special episode ahead of France 2019, the podcast turns to analysis before the competition gets underway on Friday, June 7. In part one (3:19) we look at England and how their preparations have gone ahead of their first game against Scotland. We discuss how they might line-up and we also take a look at Shelley...

Will Moulton hosts the third FIFA Women’s World Cup special with Reading's Players' Player of the Season, and returning guest, Remi Allen (https://sportspielonline.com/2019/03/31/football-special-remi-allen/) . The countdown is well and truly on for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France and the excitement is building. As Remi is someone who has played against, and played with, some of the Lionesses squad members she takes us through the team position by position and player by player....

Alasdair Hooper hosts the second FIFA Women’s World Cup special with former England international defender Laura Bassett (https://twitter.com/laurabassett6) . As the 2019 World Cup approaches Laura is one player who knows exactly what it takes to perform. The defender - who announced her retirement from the game today (https://twitter.com/laurabassett6/status/1135403202243911681) - was one of the key components of the team that finished third in Canada four years ago. But she also knows all...

Alasdair Hooper hosts the first FIFA Women's World Cup special with England international and Wolfsburg goalkeeper Mary Earps. (https://twitter.com/1maryearps) With the 2019 World Cup proving to be such a vital competition the Lionesses stopper is understandably delighted to be part of it. As part of the squad jetting out to France, the 26-year-old gives us an insight into preparations and the atmosphere within the camp. Mary also tells us about how easy it is to get lost in the bubble of...

Will Moulton hosts a Netball World Cup special of the podcast with Northern Ireland international Niamh Cooper (https://twitter.com/niamhyCoop) , England star Jade Clarke (https://twitter.com/jadeyclarke) and Scotland's Emily Nicholl (https://twitter.com/_EmilyNicholl_) . With 50 days to go ahead of the start of 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool (12-21 July) the excitement is starting to grow. The sport has a renewed focus on it like never before thanks in part to England's efforts in...

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by two-time Paralympic gold medalist Danielle Brown MBE on episode 38 of SportSpiel. **Feature Interview** On our feature interview section (5:25) will chats to the inspiring 31-yer-old about her career in archery and her role with The Mintridge Foundation. The duo chat about winning two Paralympic golds, with the second coming off the back of a nail-biting final, as well as the origin of that trademark pink hat. But Danielle also talks about the...

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host a special episode of the podcast to celebrate two years since the first SportSpiel episode aired. Episode 1, featuring British fencer James-Andrew Davis, was launched on April 20, 2017 and the show has come a long way in that time. On this special episode Alasdair and Will look back on how the show has evolved (2:19) and we discuss when we first realised all sport matters - a key message the podcast looks to promote (6:28). We then have a look back at...

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by Badminton England prospect Hope Warner on episode 37 of SportSpiel. **Feature Interview** On our feature interview section (4:48) interviewer Yashas Mudumbai chats to Hope Warner all about her life in the sport of badminton. The pair talk about her rapid rise through the ranks with the 17-year-old currently training with some of the very best in the country. But despite that the prospect still has her moments of doubt, and tells the podcast...

Will Moulton hosts a football special episode of the podcast with Reading FC Women midfielder Remi Allen. The 28-year-old is currently plying her trade at Reading in the WSL - the top tier of the women's football pyramid in England. After finishing fourth last season - and scooping a host of individual awards at the end of it - all attention soon turned to the current campaign with the WSL now a fully professional entity. But for Remi there are a number of important issues close to her - all...

Alasdair Hooper hosts a boxing special episode of the podcast with Scottish boxer Hannah Rankin. Having grown up on a sheep farm in Scotland the 28-year-old classical musician has now set her sights on becoming her country's first ever boxing world champion. Since turning professional in 2018 it's currently six victories in nine bouts with the highlight being her victory that earned her the WBC silver super middleweight title. In this wide-ranging interview Hannah takes us through her life...

Will Moulton hosts a Six Nations special episode of the podcast with Scottish Rugby international Jade Konkel. In the third of our Six Nations specials – in collaboration with The 52 Blog and Caytoo - Will chats to Jade about the tournament so far. In a wide ranging interview the pair discuss Jade's pathway into the game and her influence off the pitch. There's also conversations on tattoos and wrestling with her brothers. **Messages** Follow us on Twitter -...

Will Moulton hosts a gymnastics special episode of the podcast with 2017 British trampoline champion Laura Gallagher. In this special Laura reveals all about the mental struggles that led to her break from the sport prior to claiming her maiden individual British title in 2017. Having won team European and World gold medals in 2013 and 2014 respectively, struggles with injury, confidence, identity and her mental health soon took over. After reaching the lowest point of her career, Gallagher...