Sportsworld

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Live sport from around the world, with news, interviews and analysis.

  1. 11/14/2025

    Could Alcaraz and Sinner's dominance of men's tennis become boring?

    Delyth Lloyd is joined by the BBC's tennis correspondent Russell Fuller, former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski, and WTA Tour winner Jill Craybas to reflect on the 2025 tennis season. With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner winning the last eight Grand Slams between them, the panel discuss whether their dominance could become boring. World number seven Alex de Minaur tells us how the packed tennis schedule is impacting on players' physical and mental health. We look at the contenders for the women's majors in 2026. And Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool join us to chat about ending the year as the world number one doubles pairing. Timecodes: 00:56 - 2025 highlights 03:45 - Alcaraz and Sinner's dominance in 2025 09:20 - Will Sinner's doping ban tarnish his career? 11:24 - Could Alcaraz and Sinner's rivalry become boring? 15:07 - Alex de Minaur interview 21:31 - Is the tennis schedule too intense? 28:00 - Aryna Sabalenka the dominant force in the women's game 30:59 - The unpredictability at the top of women's tennis 32:58 - Amanda Anisimova 40:46 - Ons Jabeur's pregnancy 43:30 - Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool interview 50:32 - 2026 predictions 51:23 - Will 2026 be Djokovic's final season?

    52 min

  2. 11/13/2025

    Why Soren Lerby played in two games on the same day

    The club versus country row often causes friction, but midfielder Soren Lerby once found a way to satisfy both. He played for Denmark and Bayern Munich on the same day. In different countries. On the afternoon of 13 November 1984 - exactly 40 years ago - Lerby lined up for his national team in Dublin for their final qualifier for the 1986 World Cup. Bayern, meanwhile, had a last-16 German Cup match at Bochum later that evening. Photo: Soren Lerby of Denmark in may 1986 (Credit: VI Images via Getty Images)

    9 min

  3. 10/10/2025

    Bats, Balls and Breaking Barriers – India at the Women’s Cricket World Cup

    The Women’s Cricket World Cup is being held in India for the fourth time, the three previous editions have all been won by Australia. The best performance from India on home soil was a semi-final back in 1997. Their best result anywhere was a runner-up position in England 20 years later. When the India men won the World Cup for the first time in 1983 it was a cultural turning point, igniting a national passion for cricket and instilling belief in the country's potential. So, Prakash Wakankar, Alison Mitchell and former India international Samantha Lobatto investigate whether a win for this women’s team could do the same. Image: Amanjot Kaur of India celebrates with team mate Harmanpreet Kaur after taking the wicket of Kavisha Dilhari of Sri Lanka (not pictured) during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between India and Sri Lanka at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on September 30, 2025 in Guwahati, India. (Photo by Matt Roberts-ICC via Getty Images)

    51 min

  4. 09/04/2025

    The Warm Up Track 2025: Sam Kendricks – A lost Olympics and Making Peace with Tokyo

    Awaiting the start of the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games, Sam Kendricks had just been at the USA Track and Field team meeting and posed for the team photograph when he received a notification which said his name in English and, alongside it, one word: POSITIVE. In that moment, everything changed. The reigning world champion and Rio Olympic bronze medallist would play no further part in the Tokyo Olympics. Sam takes us back to that time and shares exactly what happened to him. It is a harrowing account. The experience has left a lasting impression and made him wonder whether he has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. During our discussion, Sam relives the whole ordeal. He offers his thoughts on whether it is ever right, under any circumstances, to detain someone for ten days the way that he was. He felt like a prisoner and no-one was able to free him. Now, four years on, he’s returning to Tokyo for the World Championships. How will he make peace with the country? How much will the memories of what happened in 2021 cast a shadow over 2025? He says he would rather talk than fight, but he won’t know exactly how he’ll feel until he’s there. Sam Kendricks is one of the greatest male pole vaulters in history. He began his career when Renaud Lavillenie was breaking the event’s long-standing world record and would go on to enjoy his own period of dominance, winning back-to-back world titles in 2017 and 2019. Now, in the era of Mondo Duplantis, he continues to make the podium at global championships. Sam’s assessment of both men, who he calls the two Princes of the sport, is fascinating, as is how he sees his own role as a part of that triumvirate. Sam takes us back to how it all started; being coached by his Dad and trying to beat his twin brother at everything. He explains how Stacy Dragila’s stardom in the women’s pole vault directly impacted High School Track and Field, and helped kick-start his own journey through the sport. We also learn why Sam’s decision to pursue a parallel career in the US Army Reserve wasn’t just about continuing his family’s military tradition, it was also borne out of necessity to get himself to college. Image: Silver medallist Sam Kendricks of Team United States celebrates during the Men's Pole Vault Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

    59 min

  5. 09/03/2025

    The Warm Up Track 2025: Cordell Tinch – Barriers and how we get over them

    Cordell Tinch went to college on a Football scholarship, but soon found he preferred Track and Field. Then the pandemic happened and he came home and got a job. At that stage, there were no thoughts about completing his education, or pursuing Track as a career. Three years went by, and then he received a phone call. It was the beginning of his return to college and to the sprint hurdles. Since 2023, he’s risen through the rankings to become one of the fastest 110 metre hurdlers in the sport’s history. There have still been bumps along the way. Carrying an injury in Olympic year, he finished fourth at the US Trials and wasn’t selected for Paris 2024. But that set-back was just more fuel for what he’s been able to achieve in 2025. He ran 12.87 seconds to win the Shanghai Diamond League meeting, the joint fourth fastest time in history. But he knows that it will be the Tokyo World Championships which define his season and his career so far. Cordell explains his journey to this point and how he looks after his mental health, with help and support from his family who are never more than a phone call away. We also discuss how important friendships are on the international circuit, where all of those airports and hotels can potentially feel pretty lonely. He tells us about imposter syndrome, and how he’s finally getting over that feeling. Cordell is an athlete who has had a completely different route to the top from just about anyone else who has been our guest in five seasons of The Warm Up Track. It’s pretty clear from hearing him describe how and why he’s got to where he is that talent also needs the opportunity to blossom, and that requires key people at key moments having your best interests at heart. Cordell Tinch doesn’t believe he belongs in the same conversation as the all-time greats of sprint hurdles yet, but many who have seen him compete think it’s only a question of time before that changes. Image: USA's Cordell Tinch (R) celebrates after the men's 110m hurdles event during the Shanghai/Keqiao Diamond League athletics meeting in Keqiao, Shaoxing in China's eastern Zhejiang province on May 3, 2025. (Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP via Getty Images)

    45 min

  6. 09/01/2025

    The Warm Up Track 2025: Emmanouil Karalis – Faster, Higher, Stronger

    Emmanouil Karalis was born to a Greek father and a Ugandan mother, and experienced racism growing up in Athens. He was told ‘black people don’t pole vault’ and seriously considered quitting the sport in which he was already proving to be world class. He explains what it was like being a young person of mixed heritage in Greece during a time when the far right ‘Golden Dawn’ party was enjoying it’s greatest period of influence. It wasn’t ‘sunshine and rainbows’ he tells us during a ‘horrible’ time for non-white Greeks. When he reached the age of 18, he decided it was time to speak out about the racism and about his mental health. He says opening that door and taking that first step has helped those athletes who have come after him. Emmanouil - known more familiarly as Manolo – has been winning global and continental medals since the age of 15. He’s had success all the way up through the age-groups and first competed against Mondo Duplantis when both were still just boys. Their rivalry and their friendship has continued to grow. Manolo explains why the Olympic Games is extra special for Greek athletes – because the country was the birth place of the Ancient Olympics. He shares his memories of being taken to watch the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens when he was just four years of age. It was later, watching the London 2012 Olympics on television, that he knew he wanted to be a part of it. Coached by his father, who was a former decathlete, Manolo takes us back to the moment he beat his Dad’s personal best for the pole vault – a story you have to hear. We also discuss Mondo Duplantis and how the world record holder makes Manolo a better pole vaulter. The Greek athlete is, at the time of recording this podcast, the fourth highest vaulter in history, with a best clearance of six metres and eight centimetres. Spending some time in his company it becomes very clear that won’t remain his personal best for very long. Image: Emmanouil Karalis of Team Greece reacts during the Men's Pole Vault Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

    49 min

  7. 07/29/2025

    The Warm Up Track 2025: Prudence Sekgodiso – South Africa’s World Indoor 800m Champion

    Prudence Sekgodiso won South Africa’s first World Indoor gold when she took the 800 metres title at the 2025 Championships in Nanjing, China. She discusses that victory, and her belief that it will lead to more titles. Prudence also describes wanting to quit the sport in 2021, after a positive test for Covid prevented her from competing at that year’s World under-20 Championships. She explains what happened, and who was there for her when she needed support. Growing up, there was no running track in her village – just gravel. The possibility that running could be her career didn’t seem like a reality until she moved to Pretoria. Her first national senior title soon followed at the age of just 17. Prudence is coached by Caster Semenya’s former coach. She says that what Caster achieved in the sport is an inspiration to her. They also competed together at the World Cross Country Championships where Prudence experienced first-hand how good Semenya was at motivating their team. Prudence takes us back to the last edition of the World Championships. In Budapest in 2023 she experienced the nightmare of falling in the semi-final. She resolved to learn from that set-back as she looked to the Paris Olympic Games. The crowd at the Stade de France was so loud it made her nervous, and she was also aware of the weight of expectation from South Africans who wanted her to do well. Whilst she was prepared physically for the Olympics, she now knows that she wasn’t mentally ready. Every goal, every success and every set-back is written down in her notebooks. They’re a key part of how Prudence prepares and how she wins. She speaks candidly about how life on the circuit can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when her coach is unable to join her at every Diamond League meet. We discuss the importance of family and how, even if they only see each other a couple of times a year, her mother is a key part of her life. She’s the one Prudence always calls pre-race and the person she sends a video of the race to afterwards. Prudence believes she will break Caster Semenya’s South African record at some stage, which she knows will take her close to the long-standing 800 metres world record. She’s also interested in running more 1500 metres races and might look to double at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Prudence knows what it means to South Africans to see a black woman after Caster holding the flag high and she knows that the country is proud of her. Image: First placed Prudence Sekgodiso of Team South Africa celebrates winning the Women's 800 Metres final on day three of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 2025 at Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Sports Park on March 23, 2025 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

    35 min

  8. 07/21/2025

    The Warm Up Track 2025: How Ethan Katzberg won Olympic Hammer gold

    Ethan Katzberg won Olympic Hammer gold in Paris. He was already the World champion and, at the age of just 23, his dominance of the event has led to him being nicknamed ‘Canadian Thor’. He describes in depth how he discovered hammer throwing, and how success came with some difficult decisions along the way – like telling his parents he was dropping out of college. He takes us back to the final in Paris, where he led from the first round. Did that ease the pressure on him, or add to it? We also discuss the mechanics of throwing the hammer, and just how wrong it can go; Ethan’s first experience of a global championship was at the World under-20s in 2021, where he failed to register a distance. He takes us back to that final where he ended up with ‘no mark’ against his name and explains the lessons it taught him. Ethan can throw the Hammer out beyond 84m, but the event’s world record is more than 86m and was set in 1986, during the era of the Soviet Union. Does Ethan think that record is casting a shadow over the sport and just how hard will it be to break it? We also discuss the future of the Commonwealth Games as a global sporting event. For Ethan, his 2022 Commonwealth silver was his first major senior medal and he believes that the Games still have a key role to play. Photo: Ethan Katzberg of Team Canada reacts during Men's Hammer Throw Final on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 04, 2024 in Paris, France. (Credit: Getty Images)

    45 min
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About

Live sport from around the world, with news, interviews and analysis.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2025
  • Episodes
    166
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    Sportsworld

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