148 episodes

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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The Real Science of Sport Podcast Professor Ross Tucker and Mike Finch

    • Sport
    • 4.8 • 31 Ratings

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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Can We Trust Sport Science Research?

    Can We Trust Sport Science Research?

    Is the field of sports science facing a credibility crisis? According to guest Dr Joe Warne, key instigator of the Sports Science Replication Centre at the Technological University in Dublin, most of the research done in the field is unreliable. So what is the true picture, how can studies be done better, what role do journals play in ensuring better standards and how do consumers discern the good from the bad?
    Show notes:

    Our Patreon page, where you can sign up for access to the Discourse and other benefitsThe Discourse discussion, for all the post podcast discussions, insights into sports science, and even training and injury prevention advice. For Patrons only!Joe Warne's original post on Discourse that inspired this episode (Patron only)Simona Halep is cleared to play. We'll wait for the full CAS Decision for more discussion of this decision, but if you want to read the previous decision that led to the four year ban, it's at this linkFor Patrons, via Discourse, more discussion about Halep's ban and clearing can be found hereArticle on the cycling race in Spain that saw 130 riders out of 182 not finish, and anti-doping had shown up. The degree to which the two are linked remains unclear, as discussedJoe Warne's Sports Science Replication Center websiteOne example of a paper that Warne's group has had published on this issue Get bonus content on Patreon
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    • 1 hr 43 min
    VO2Max: Why It May Be Your Most Important Training Metric

    VO2Max: Why It May Be Your Most Important Training Metric

    Knowing how to measure and train close to your VO2Max may lead to big performance gains. But what is VO2Max and what's the best way to use it? We also discuss the latest developments around rugby's smart mouthguard and the announcement by World Athletics that they are trialling a new way of measuring the long jump which involves a take-off zone rather than a take-off mark. And no, it's not an April Fools joke!
    SHOW NOTES
    The New Science of Sport Discourse - a Patron exclusive, a community that we aspire to make the most well-informed forum on sports science in the world: https://scienceofsportpodcast.discourse.group/. Log in with your patron details
    Become a Patron of The Science of Sport to get access to the community: https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport
    The IFSC Policy on RED-S
    Article on that RED-S policy, including athlete interviews
    The Long Jump article re changing of the laws
    The BBC article on the mouthguards in rugby. Full of holes and errors, a bit of misunderstanding, and some outright dishonesty, which we tried to explain and address in the show
    The paper on the sub-2 hour marathon physiology that shows how those elite runners can get to 90% of VO2max for two hours
    A more lay explanation of the 2 hour marathon, again discussing how close to max elites can run
    Paper on how different durations of interval training affect Power, HR and RPE, which may be useful to guide your choice of interval session structure
    The research study that shows how 8 min blocks at close to VO2max improves VO2max and performance, and that the more time you spend close to VO2max, the greater the benefit
    Get bonus content on Patreon
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 34 min
    Make Your Own Sports Drink / Smart Mouthguards in Rugby / Do We Need On-Field Match Officials in Sport?

    Make Your Own Sports Drink / Smart Mouthguards in Rugby / Do We Need On-Field Match Officials in Sport?

    Can you make your own sports drink and what would be the right mix? Here's what to look for. The team also tackles (see what we did there!) the use of smart mouthguards in rugby, whether trail star Stian Angermund was really guilty of doping, why parkrun has removed some of its records from its website and if the controversial Enhanced Games has any chance of succeeding.
    SHOW NOTES
    Stian Angermund Doping Case
    Reigning world short-course trail running champion Stian Angermund says he is innocent and “utterly bewildered” after testing positive for banned substance chlorthalidone after winning the 55km OCC event at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc for the second time last year.
    Also the Quartz WADA crossover
    https://runningmagazine.ca/trail-running/anti-doping-in-trail-and-ultrarunning-is-the-quartz-program-enough/
    James Magnussen and the enhanced games
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/09/australian-swimmer-james-magnussen-enhanced-games-drug-taking
    Parkrun removes records
    https://www.parkrun.com/blog/news/2024/02/08/changes-to-statistics-on-the-parkrun-websites/
    Get bonus content on Patreon
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 35 min
    The Sporting Diet: How To Eat, Fuel And Thrive

    The Sporting Diet: How To Eat, Fuel And Thrive

    The team are joined by renowned sports dietician, Australian Louise Burke, to discuss everything from keto and fasting to the latest guidelines in fueling and nutrition in sport. Burke has spent over 40 years working in the field of sports nutrition and is an academic and author. She was the head of sports nutrition at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) throughout its existence from 1990 to 2018 and in 2018 was appointed Chief of AIS Nutrition Strategy. Since 2014, she holds the chair in sports nutrition in the Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University.

    Get bonus content on Patreon
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 2 hrs 3 min
    DISCOURSE: Enhanced Games: Hype Or Reality? / 15-Year-old's Doping Saga / Is Rugby Too Dangerous For U18s?

    DISCOURSE: Enhanced Games: Hype Or Reality? / 15-Year-old's Doping Saga / Is Rugby Too Dangerous For U18s?

    Welcome to the Science of Sport Discourse. A monthly wrap of all the stories doing the rounds on our Patreon and newly-launched Discourse channel. Want to be part of the discussion? Become a supporter of the Science of Sport Podcast on Patreon HERE and get free access to our exclusive Discourse channel moderated by Gareth Davies.
    SHOW NOTES
    The New Science of Sport Discourse - a Patron exclusive, A community that we aspire to make the most well-informed forum on sports science in the world: https://scienceofsportpodcast.discourse.group/. Log in with your Patron details.
    Become a Patron of The Science of Sport HERE
    The Valieva doping story - now banned for four years. Sean Ingle wrote the story that summarises the case HERE
    After we discussed the case on the show, the full decision was published, which revealed that Valieva’s team had blamed a contaminated strawberry cake for the test. We’ll touch on this in our next show. READ MORE
    The full decision in the case of Michael Saruni, now banned after trying to send a friend to provide a doping test
    An update on the Enhanced Games, which, as you’ll hear on the pod, Mike thinks is complete “bollocks”
    The documentary about rugby’s referees at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Well worth a watch.
    Track and field will soon join the docuseries trend
    Sean Ingle’s article on rugby risks in children, including mention of the call to ban tackling and rugby in Under 18s, and the mixing of age grades
    Get bonus content on Patreon
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 19 min
    INTERVIEW: Inside The World Of A Pro Mountain Biker

    INTERVIEW: Inside The World Of A Pro Mountain Biker

    Swiss rider Marcel Guerrini is at the top of the pile when it comes to the world's best XC mountain bikers. The team take a look into his world to talk about sacrifice, training, race tactics and pacing. Guerrini is a regular top-five finisher at World Cups and is aiming to qualify for the Olympics in 2024... not an easy task when you come from the strongest mountain biking nation in the world.
    Get bonus content on Patreon
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 6 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
31 Ratings

31 Ratings

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Newby review

New to the podcast and started right from the start - absolutely fantastic content. Love the series. Keep up the fantastic work.

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