On the Podium BBC World Service
-
- Maatschappij en cultuur
The stories behind the medals. Paralympian Scout Bassett, comedian Eliza Skinner and athletics commentator Ed Harry interview remarkable athletes about the journeys they took to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
-
Carrie Steinseifer-Bates: Swimming was her escape
From an alcoholic home to three gold medals aged 16, swimming was Carrie Steinseifer-Bates’s "safe place". But the pressure of being an elite athlete took its toll, and Carrie herself became an alcoholic. Today she is sober and dedicated to helping others.
-
Jared Tallent: Fighting the drug cheat
Australia’s track and field gold medallist Jared Tallent campaigned for years to get what was rightfully his, following a doping scandal. Already an Olympic silver medallist in race walking, it took four years before a Russian rival was disqualified and Jared finally got his gold medal.
-
Kaleigh Gilchrist: In the name of Kobe
The Olympic water polo gold medallist inspired by her friendship with the late basketball star Kobe Bryant. After an accident left her with severe injuries, Kaleigh Gilchrist vowed to get to Tokyo in his memory. And in honour of her Olympian father.
-
Nikita Ducarroz: The power of sport
“It saved my life.” BMX competition helped the Swiss-American athlete fight anxiety attacks, which left her unable to leave home as a young teenager. The Olympic bronze medallist is now a mental health advocate.
-
Yip Pin Xiu: Swimming for gold
Singapore’s most decorated Paralympian, with five gold medals. When Yip Pin Xiu won her first gold at the Beijing Paralympics, she was the youngest in her country’s team. And it was the first time ever that Singapore’s national anthem had been played in an Olympic arena.
-
Santiago Lange: Sailing to gold
The Argentinian legend who fought back from cancer. Santiago had won Olympic bronze before he got sick. After years of struggle, he came back to take gold at the Rio Games.