Sporting Witness

BBC World Service
  • 4.7 (18)
  • Sports
  • Updated Biweekly

Sporting Witness is a short BBC World Service podcast that tells the biggest stories in sport through the people who were actually there. Each episode is about nine minutes – roughly the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea – and is built around one person’s memories. You don’t even have to follow sport to get hooked on our podcast. A lot of the episodes are about so much more – like identity, obsession, and politics. Take the surprising story behind the West Germany shirt from the 1990 World Cup final – a zigzag of black, red and gold that’s now one of the most collected pieces of kit in football history. Or the tale of Tonton Zola Moukoko, a virtually unknown Swedish-Congolese footballer who became an accidental cult hero to millions of gamers, thanks to a stats glitch that turned him into an internet legend. Then there’s the plasterer who somehow ended up in a boxing ring with a genuine legend, the forgotten Women’s World Cup that FIFA didn’t recognise for decades, and the man who swam the entire length of the Amazon. Finally, there are the stories that stick with you simply because they’re so unlikely: the moment Diana Ross missed a penalty at the World Cup, the day a person finally beat a horse in a race, and the tennis player who fled the Nazis to keep her career alive. Join the millions of listeners around the world who tune in to Sporting Witness. You don’t need to know the offside rule or the ins and outs of cricket to become a fan.

  1. 3d ago

    The first Refugee Olympic Team

    In 2016, a new team competed at the Rio Olympics, made up of refugee athletes from around the world. 800m runner Rose Lokonyen fled South Sudan as a child to a refugee camp in Kenya. She tells Rachel Naylor about how when she was scouted, just months before competing, she'd never heard of the Olympics. The Refugee Olympic Team now represent more than 100 million forcibly displaced people globally. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Rose Lokonyen carrying the Olympic flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Credit: Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

  2. Oct 15

    Manchester City’s inflatable banana craze

    In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Manchester City supporters became famous for an unusual sight on the terraces: inflatable bananas. What began as a light-hearted joke soon turned into one of the most memorable fan crazes in English football. Uma Doraiswamy tells the story of football, terrace culture and one of the game’s most unlikely symbols. She speaks to former Manchester City striker Imre Varadi, whose name became intertwined with the phenomenon and also hears from Dr Gary James, a lifelong City supporter who was among the first to embrace the fruity craze. Together they recall how thousands of the inflatable fruits appeared on the terraces, why the trend caught on, and how it became part of Manchester City’s history. They also reflect on the humour, loyalty and sense of community that defined football fandom before the Premier League era. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Football fans at Manchester City match with inflatable bananas. Credit: Glenn Copus/ANL/Shutterstock)

  3. Oct 10

    Mark Taylor's sporting sacrifice

    In 1998, Australia's cricket captain Mark Taylor declared on 334 against Pakistan, equalling Sir Donald Bradman's highest Test score. Taylor decided to stop batting rather than surpass Bradman's feat, putting his team first and their chance to win, before his own personal ambition. Everyone had an opinion on what he should do - carry on batting and become Australia's highest test scoring batsman or declare and put Pakistan in to bat. He tells Uma Doraiswamy about the sleepless night he had coming to his decision. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Mark Taylor congratulated by his team after his unbeaten 334 against Pakistan in 1998. Credit: Usman Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

  4. Oct 3

    Mr YouTube Man

    In 2015, Julius Yego made history by becoming the first Kenyan to win a World Championship gold medal in a field event. Nicknamed Mr YouTube Man, Yego taught himself the javelin by watching online videos having struggled to find coaching or training facilities in Kenya - a country better known for producing distance-running champions. Against the odds, his remarkable talent took him from training with sticks in his home village of Cheptonon to standing top of the podium at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing with a throw of 92.72 metres - the third longest in history at that time. Yego recalls the determination, setbacks and self-belief that powered his extraordinary journey. He tells his unconventional story to Hunter Charlton. An Ember production. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Julius Yego in the Men's Javelin Final at the World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015. Credit: Ian Walton/Getty Images)

  5. Sep 26

    The first female photographer in the Premier League

    In the 1990s Magi Haroun became the first female football photographer in the Premier League. She had begun her career in footballing photography in 1986 after growing up with close connections to Manchester United. Her uncle was the club’s chairman from 1965 until 1980, and she had a good relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson during his tenure as manager. She spoke to Tim O’Callaghan in 2025 about embarking on a career in a male-dominated field. She also revealed the unlikely story of how she rescued a cat from Manchester United’s training ground. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Magi at work. Credit: Handout via Magi Haroun)

  6. Sep 19

    The most successful Paralympian

    The American swimmer Trischa Zorn-Hudson is the most decorated Paralympian in history. Across seven games, Trischa, who was born blind, has won 55 medals. In that time, she also saw the Paralympics go through drastic changes, as competitors campaigned to get similar privileges and rights as Olympic athletes. In 2024, Trischa shared her memories with Matt Pintus. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Trischa at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000. Credit: Scott Barbour/ALLSPORT via Getty Images)

  7. Sep 12

    The first Rubik's Cube world champion

    On 5 June 1982, a teenage refugee from Vietnam became the first Rubik's Cube world champion. Representing the United States, 16-year-old Minh Thai took on contestants from 18 other countries at the championship in Hungary. He made history by solving the cube in 22.95 seconds. He tells Helen Ledwick about his first encounter with the iconic puzzle, his journey from Los Angeles to Budapest, and a last-minute obstacle that nearly stopped him from taking part. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Picture: 1982 Rubik's Cube World Championship, Budapest, Hungary. Credit: Fortepan/Gabor Viktor)

  8. Sep 5

    Norway v England 1981: 'Your boys took a hell of a beating'

    In 1981, Norway pulled off one of the biggest shocks in football history, beating England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo. But the match is remembered just as much for what happened after the final whistle. Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien, caught up in the joy of the moment, delivered one of the most famous lines in sports broadcasting: “Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? Your boys took a hell of a beating!” His breathless commentary on NRK became a national treasure in Norway, and later a legendary sporting soundbite around the world. As he celebrated the win, Bjørge switched between English and Norwegian, calling out the names of famous figures from British history and culture before ending with the line about the then UK prime minister that made him famous. Uma Doraiswamy speaks to Bjørge Lillelien’s son, Marius Lillelien, about the man behind the microphone, the night Norway stunned England, and how a few seconds of radio commentary became one of football’s most unforgettable moments. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Norway v England 1981 in Oslo. Credit: Monte Fresco/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Sporting Witness is a short BBC World Service podcast that tells the biggest stories in sport through the people who were actually there. Each episode is about nine minutes – roughly the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea – and is built around one person’s memories. You don’t even have to follow sport to get hooked on our podcast. A lot of the episodes are about so much more – like identity, obsession, and politics. Take the surprising story behind the West Germany shirt from the 1990 World Cup final – a zigzag of black, red and gold that’s now one of the most collected pieces of kit in football history. Or the tale of Tonton Zola Moukoko, a virtually unknown Swedish-Congolese footballer who became an accidental cult hero to millions of gamers, thanks to a stats glitch that turned him into an internet legend. Then there’s the plasterer who somehow ended up in a boxing ring with a genuine legend, the forgotten Women’s World Cup that FIFA didn’t recognise for decades, and the man who swam the entire length of the Amazon. Finally, there are the stories that stick with you simply because they’re so unlikely: the moment Diana Ross missed a penalty at the World Cup, the day a person finally beat a horse in a race, and the tennis player who fled the Nazis to keep her career alive. Join the millions of listeners around the world who tune in to Sporting Witness. You don’t need to know the offside rule or the ins and outs of cricket to become a fan.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    685
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Sporting Witness

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