The England Athletics Podcast England Athletics

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.