The Sam Oldham Podcast

Sam Oldham
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At seven years old I walked into a gymnastics club for the very first time. I was hooked. For the next twenty one years, I dedicated my life to becoming an Olympic champion. I'm going to share with you the life lessons, experiences and stories that have shaped the man I am today. I'm now starting a new chapter in my life beyond my sporting career and look forward to bringing you along with me.

  1. 6d ago

    European Championships Debrief | Gymnastics Show EP 181

    🥇 In 2026, we're launching a brand-new monthly gymnastics show on The Sam Oldham Podcast. Each month, we'll explore the biggest names, emerging storylines, and major championship build-ups in artistic gymnastics, alongside post-competition debriefs with some of the sport's most passionate experts, coaches, and analysts. In this episode, I look back at the Men’s European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which took place in Zagreb, Croatia, in August. The men’s all-around final was won by Illia Kovtun, now representing the host nation, Croatia, by just one thousandth of a point. That incredibly small margin of victory was repeated in the junior event, where Daniil Smirnov, competing as a Russian athlete for Team World Gymnastics 2, took the title—demonstrating just how competitive the sport has become since the reduction to eight skills following the Paris Olympic Games. In the team event, the Russian athletes dominated qualification, led by first-year senior Arsenii Dukhno and Daniil Marinov. However, an outstanding performance from Great Britain saw them claim the team title in Sunday’s final. The experience of Joe Fraser, Courtney Tulloch and Harry Hepworth proved to be the deciding factor in one of the most exciting competitions on the European stage in recent years. All six individual apparatus finals were won by athletes from different countries, including a world-class pommel horse final that was eventually won by Gabriele Targhetta. Remarkably, the top four scores in that final would each have been enough to win the World Championships title less than twelve months ago—an indication of the extraordinary standard we might expect to see in October, when the world’s best gymnasts descend on Rotterdam. Our mission remains the same: to share the stories behind the finest athletes in gymnastics and celebrate the sport we love. Thank you to our listeners, sponsors, and supporters for being part of the journey. Welcome to Episode 8 of The Gymnastics Show! 🎙️

    European Championships Debrief | Gymnastics Show EP 181

  2. Aug 24

    The Ethan McGuinness Story | EP 180

    Today’s guest is Australian tumbling champion Ethan McGuinness. Ethan is a two-time men’s individual World tumbling champion, winning his first World title in 2022 and bringing the gold medal home to Australia again in 2025. But his journey to the top has been anything but easy. In 2017, Ethan suffered a devastating injury, fracturing both his tibia and fibula in a freak accident while competing in the double mini trampoline event. After years of hard work and dedication, he returned to become a World champion alongside his coach, Dima Kachan. At one point, Ethan was even working full-time laying turf in the early hours of the morning while chasing his dream of becoming a professional athlete. Today, through events like Face Off and his growing social media presence, Ethan has helped shine a light on the incredible talent within the sport of tumbling. This is the story of Ethan McGuinness.

    The Ethan McGuinness Story | EP 180

  3. Aug 17

    Gymnastics Show August 2026 Neutral Deductions | EP 179

    🥇 In 2026, we're launching a brand-new monthly gymnastics show on The Sam Oldham Podcast. Each month, we'll explore the biggest names, emerging storylines, and major championship build-ups in artistic gymnastics, alongside post-competition debriefs with some of the sport's most passionate experts, coaches, and analysts. In this episode of the Sam Oldham Podcast, I’m joined by Kensley Behel, the talented voice behind Neutral Deductions — a podcast, website and social media platform dedicated to men’s artistic gymnastics. Together, we recap the Commonwealth Games and discuss some of the standout performances, including all-around champion Reuben Ward, multiple Canadian apparatus gold medallist Félix Dolci, and Australian star Jesse Moore. Kensley also breaks down the recent US National Championships in Phoenix, Arizona, which doubled as the selection event for the US men’s World Championships team. We look at the leading all-around performances from champion Fred Richard, silver medallist Shane Wiskus and exciting young talent Danila Leykin, who finished third. We also discuss strong specialist performances from Kameron Nelson and Patrick Hoopes, which secured their places on the team heading to Rotterdam in October. Finally, we preview the upcoming European Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. Great Britain will be looking to defend their 2025 team title, while the competition will feature the return of a Russian men’s team to the European stage after several years away. The all-around title promises to be fiercely contested, with Joe Fraser, Arsenii Dukhno, Illia Kovtun and former champion Adem Asil among the leading contenders. Meanwhile, some of the biggest names in the sport will battle for individual apparatus titles, including Harry Hepworth, Eleftherios Petronias , Rhys McClenaghan and Artur Davtyan. Our mission remains the same: to share the stories behind the finest athletes in gymnastics and celebrate the sport we love. Thank you to our listeners, sponsors, and supporters for being part of the journey. Welcome to Episode 7 of The Gymnastics Show! 🎙️

    Gymnastics Show August 2026 Neutral Deductions | EP 179

  4. Aug 10

    The Jonas Rushworth Story | EP 178

    At the 2025 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, Jonas Rushworth helped the British men’s team claim gold. It was his first major championships, and Jonas made an immediate impression, competing across multiple apparatus and establishing himself as an important member of the team. Now, just a year later, he’s been selected again to represent Great Britain at this year’s European Championships in Croatia. And 2026 has already been a breakthrough year for Jonas. He’s been crowned English All-Around Champion and, at the British Championships in March, finished runner-up to Olympian and World Parallel bars Champion Joe Fraser. Training at Leeds Gymnastics Club alongside Olympic vault medallist Harry Hepworth and World Floor Exercise medallist Luke Whitehouse, Jonas is surrounded by athletes who have already reached the highest levels of the sport. With LA 2028 firmly in his sights, he’s hoping to follow in their footsteps and establish himself among the next generation of British gymnastics stars. This is Jonas Rushworth’s story.

    The Jonas Rushworth Story | EP 178

  5. Aug 3

    Marriage, Fatherhood and Life After Gymnastics | Ep 177

    On July the 4th 2026, surrounded by family members, loved ones and close friends I married the most beautiful person in the World. It was truly the best day of our lives and we both felt incredibly lucky to have shared the experience with soo many wonderful human beings. Ozzy is now two and a half years old and growing at a pace that me and his Mum find rather bewildering. The past twelve months have been full of both challenges and positive milestones in all aspects of my self employed work. I've shared my Olympic story with thousands of children again this academic year, coached many young gymnasts at both ends of the performance pyramid and have had many exciting opportunities to work with elite athletes. Gymnastics continues to evolve but as we reach the half way point in the LA 2028 Olympic cycle the financial framework within the sport is something I'm watching extremely closely. A wedding signifies the start of a brand new chapter and I feel optimistic about the possibility of building a long lasting legacy that will give back to the sport of artistic gymnastics for many years to come. And this is my story.

    Marriage, Fatherhood and Life After Gymnastics | Ep 177

  6. Jul 27

    The Tommaso Brugnami Story | EP 176

    At the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the young Italian vault specialist Tommaso Brugnami came within touching distance of the podium, finishing fourth in a world-class men's vault final. It was confirmation that one of gymnastics' brightest junior stars had arrived on the senior stage, capable of challenging the very best in the world. But success has never come as a surprise to those who have followed his journey. Brugnami's junior career was nothing short of extraordinary. He helped Italy capture the European Junior team title in 2022 before collecting three European junior gold medals in total. As his junior career reached its peak, he established himself as the world's premier young vaulter, becoming Junior World Champion on vault while also claiming two individual European titles. It was a statement that Italy had another world-class gymnast ready to make the leap to the senior ranks. His rise mirrors that of Italian men's gymnastics itself. Once defined by the brilliance of individual legends such as Olympic champion Yuriy Chechi and Olympic horizontal bar champion Igor Cassina, Italy has transformed into one of the strongest and deepest men's programmes in the world. Years of investment, belief and emerging talent have elevated the Azzurri into consistent contenders on the biggest stages, with a new generation carrying the sport into an exciting era. Tommaso Brugnami is one of the leading faces of that generation. Now, the next chapter begins. His immediate focus is the Italian National Championships, where every routine offers another opportunity to prove he belongs among Italy's elite. Beyond that lies another chance to represent his country at this year's World Championships in Rotterdam—the first major milestone on the road towards qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The Olympics are no longer a distant dream. They are just two years away. Every landing, every tenth of a point, every competition from now until 2028 carries greater significance than the last. The margins are small, but so too is the gap between fourth in the world and standing on a World Championship or Olympic podium. For Tommaso Brugnami, the foundations have already been laid through years of junior dominance and a breakthrough senior season. The talent is undeniable. The ambition is clear. The destination is within reach. The journey to Los Angeles starts now. And this is his story.

    The Tommaso Brugnami Story | EP 176

  7. Jul 20

    Gymnastics Show July 2026 Commonwealth Games Katie Foster | EP 175

    🥇 In 2026, we're launching a brand-new monthly gymnastics show on The Sam Oldham Podcast. Each month, we'll explore the biggest names, emerging storylines, and major championship build-ups in artistic gymnastics, alongside post-competition debriefs with some of the sport's most passionate experts, coaches, and analysts. In Episode 6 of The Gymnastics Show, Sam is joined by Katie Foster — a women's artistic elite gymnastics coach, qualified judge, and respected commentator with a lifelong passion for the sport. This week, we preview the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, breaking down both the men's and women's competitions. Team England will be looking to defend their men's team title, but with Max Whitlock ruled out through injury, the squad—led by 2025 World floor silver medallist Luke Whitehouse—will face fierce competition from Australia, Canada, and an experienced Scottish team. England's women will also have a tough challenge in their pursuit of team gold. Australia, led by Georgia Godwin, and Wales, featuring Ruby Evans, will both arrive with medal ambitions. Canada bring a wealth of experience through multi-time Olympian Ellie Black, alongside Lia Monica Fontaine, who has surpassed the 54-point mark twice this season and is widely tipped as a leading contender for the all-around title. The men's all-around competition promises to be one of the highlights of the Games, with Jesse Moore and Felix Dolciexpected to battle for gold. A strong chasing pack—including Adam Tobin, Reuben Ward, and Marios Georgiou—will all believe they have a realistic shot at the podium. In the women's all-around, defending Commonwealth champion Georgia Godwin will aim to retain the title she won in Birmingham in 2022. Standing in her way are Ruby Evans, Abigail Martin, and Canada's talented all-around squad. British fans will also be eager to watch Luke Whitehouse chase Commonwealth floor gold, while Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan takes on Britain's exciting new generation of pommel horse specialists, including Reuben Wardand Alex Yolshin-Cash. World floor medallists Ruby Evans and Abigail Martin are expected to contend for multiple apparatus medals, while Ruby Stacey and Francesca Stone look set to deliver standout performances throughout the competition. Our mission remains the same: to share the stories behind the finest athletes in gymnastics and celebrate the sport we love. Thank you to our listeners, sponsors, and supporters for being part of the journey. Welcome to Episode 6 of The Gymnastics Show! 🎙️

    Gymnastics Show July 2026 Commonwealth Games Katie Foster | EP 175

  8. Jul 13

    The Danusia Francis Story | EP 174

    Few athletes have demonstrated the resilience, artistry, and determination of Danusia Francis. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, she proudly represented Jamaica in the women's artistic gymnastics competition, fulfilling an Olympic dream that had been years in the making. Before competing for Jamaica, Danusia enjoyed an outstanding international career representing Great Britain. As both a junior and senior elite gymnast, she competed at the highest level at the European and World Championships, establishing herself as one of Britain's leading female gymnasts in the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. Although she was selected as the reserve athlete for Team GB, she narrowly missed the opportunity to compete on home soil. That same summer marked the beginning of a new chapter. Danusia moved to the United States to pursue higher education while continuing her gymnastics career. At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), she flourished, graduating in 2016 as an NCAA balance beam champion. Renowned for her creativity and originality, she performed some of the most distinctive and innovative balance beam skills in the world, earning admiration from fans, judges, and fellow gymnasts alike. The opportunity to compete for Jamaica reignited her Olympic ambitions and provided a second chance to achieve the dream she had chased since childhood. Nine years after narrowly missing the London Games, Danusia stepped onto the Olympic stage at Tokyo 2020, proudly representing her Jamaican heritage and completing one of the sport's most inspiring comeback stories. Since retiring from artistic gymnastics, Danusia has successfully transitioned into a diverse creative career. She has become a respected broadcaster, choreographer, and stunt performer, continuing to combine athleticism with artistry in new and exciting ways. This is Danusia Francis's story—a journey of perseverance, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of an Olympic dream.

    The Danusia Francis Story | EP 174
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About

At seven years old I walked into a gymnastics club for the very first time. I was hooked. For the next twenty one years, I dedicated my life to becoming an Olympic champion. I'm going to share with you the life lessons, experiences and stories that have shaped the man I am today. I'm now starting a new chapter in my life beyond my sporting career and look forward to bringing you along with me.

Information

  • Creator
    Sam Oldham
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    181
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Sam Oldham Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Sam Oldham Podcast

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