Untold Legends

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The world’s forgotten champions, ad-free

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Ora Washington: The champion the world ignored. You might know this tennis and basketball star, were it not for the colour of her skin. Renee Montgomery investigates Ora’s story.

11/08/2022

Season 1 trailer: Ora

The Queen of two courts. Ora Washington is the star the world ignored. It’s time everyone knew her name. Ora was a black tennis champion in the era of racial segregation in the United States. She was a basketball star too. Hosted by Renee Montgomery, former basketball player, the co-owner of the WNBA team, Atlanta Dream and a self-described “sports history geek”. Discover Ora’s story from 29 August 2022.

3 min
28/08/2022

1. An empty chair

Who was Ora Washington? The southern farm girl who wanted more. But recognition came too late – why was the guest of honour at a star-studded event missing? Ora was a brilliant tennis and basketball player who fought to make her name in racially segregated America. We find out about her early life in Virginia. Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. #UntoldLegends

30 min
04/09/2022

2. A radical statement

“She loved to compete”: Ora takes her first tennis lesson. But race, sex and class prejudice stand in her way. It’s the 1920s and Ora has gone north to Philadelphia – a city of opportunity and danger. Racial tensions are high in her neighbourhood. What motivates her to start playing the so-called ‘gentleman’s game’? Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. #UntoldLegends

30 min
11/09/2022

3. Advantage Ora

Can she beat the best? Ora is the underdog against the crowd favourite, the formidable Isadora “Izzy” Channels of Chicago. It’s a brutally hot day in Harlem and the mood is tense. Everything is at stake. If Ora wins, she joins the black tennis elite. Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. #UntoldLegends

29 min
17/09/2022

4. Queen of two courts

Basketball beckons. The elite tennis player tries a new sport – and it’s a crowd puller. Ora’s quickness and agility translate to the basketball court, as her career takes off in tandem with tennis. But does America have room for a true queen of two courts? Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. #UntoldLegends

32 min
25/09/2022

5. Playing like a ‘real woman’

Ora is at the peak of her sports, but off the court, stars are expected to appear “sufficiently feminine”. If you didn’t, you faced prejudice. Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. This episode was updated on 29 September 2022, to correct some information about the basketball coach, Joe Rainey #UntoldLegends

28 min
03/10/2022

6. Defending her throne

Cracks appear after two decades at the top of black tennis. A new generation of elite athletes want her crown. But is Ora ready to retire? Her hair is greying now and she wears glasses on court. Can she pull off one more victory – against future great Althea Gibson - under the hot Alabama sun? Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. #UntoldLegends

26 min
09/10/2022

7. Flowers for Ora

“Possibly the best female athlete” of her era – why was Ora Washington forgotten? And we meet her family, who are relieved that their Aunt Ora’s achievements are now being acknowledged: “I felt so good that now, even though this is 2022, she's still being recognised”. Please note, this episode contains some outdated language that may offend. #UntoldLegends

35 min
06/02/2023 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Bonus: Ora Washington, a century later

A bonus episode for Black History Month in the US and Canada. Renee Montgomery reflects on the life and story of Ora Washington, the sports star the world ignored. What has and hasn’t changed since Ora was a champion of both tennis and basketball? Renee discusses the first season of the podcast with series executive producer Chrystal Genesis. Renee is a former basketball player and the co-owner of the WNBA team Atlanta Dream. She describes herself as a “sports history geek”, and is the host of season 1 of Untold Legends. #UntoldLegends

22 min
04/04/2024

Bonus: The Black 14

A bonus episode from the Amazing Sport Stories podcast – The Black 14. Sport, racism and protests are about to change the lives of “the Black 14” American footballers. It’s 1969 in the United States. They’ve arrived on scholarships at the University of Wyoming to play for its Cowboys American football team. It was a predominantly white college. The team is treated like a second religion. Then, the players make a decision to take a stand against racism in a game against another university. This is episode one of a four-part season from the Amazing Sport Stories podcast. Content warning: This episode contains lived experiences which involve the use of strong racist language

33 min
30/08/2024

Season 2 trailer: Hedy Lamarr

A refugee who escaped the Nazis, a feminist filmmaker and beauty icon, and one of Hollywood’s most famous golden-age stars. You might think you already know her story, but there’s another side to Hedy Lamarr - a genius history overlooked and a true untold legend of invention. This is the amazing story of how one of the most recognisable faces of her time was never seen for who she really was. A story of an Austrian-born entrepreneur and tinsel-town actress who invented the foundations for much of our digital world – the technology behind Bluetooth, GPS and Wifi – but was denied the credit she deserved. From her teenage appearance in a movie considered so sexual it was banned by Hitler, to the fame and fortune that followed, and her breakthrough idea based on “frequency-hopping” during World War Two - this is the story of untold legend Hedy Lamarr. Hosted by Andini, a fellow model and inventor along with special guest, Hollywood actress AnnaSophia Robb. Discover Hedy’s story from 2025.

3 min

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Global perspectives on one big story. In-depth insights from the BBC, the world's most trusted international news provider. Make sense of the news with our experts around the world, every Monday to Friday. Episodes will be ready by 10:30 GMT. Host Katya Adler and our BBC teams guide you through one major global news story each episode. From Beijing to Boston, Baghdad to Bangalore, our unrivalled reach will take you beyond the headlines to help understand and explore what’s happening. The Global News Podcast brings you the latest updates and, on The Global Story, we will drill deep into a single story. From the climate emergency, to the burning questions around Artificial Intelligence, to the movements of money and markets, and the power of the ballot and the bullet. Katya Adler has been a BBC correspondent and editor for more than 25 years, covering conflicts in the Middle East, political and economic crises in Europe, and drug cartels in Mexico. The Global Story team would like to hear your stories and experiences on the issues that we’re covering on the podcast. Please get in touch: theglobalstory@bbc.com #TheGlobalStory and tell us your thoughts on what you would like us to talk about.

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Renee Montgomery

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Ora Washington: The champion the world ignored. You might know this tennis and basketball star, were it not for the colour of her skin. Renee Montgomery investigates Ora’s story.