Sportshour

On a big weekend for women’s football we are in Morocco ahead of the final of WAFCON between hosts Morocco and South Africa. Plus we'll preview the last of the quarter final match at the Euros in England. We saddle up with Louise Vardeman cyclist & team manager of InternationElles as the Tour de France Femmes gets underway for the first time in its current incarnation. Ahead of the Commonwealth Games we catch up with secretary general of the Tanzania Olympic Committee Filbert Bayi. He has telling us how he hopes his heroics of 1500 m gold in the 1974 games, a race in which he set the current Commonwealth record, can one day be repeated by a new generation of Tanzanian athletes.Photo: Morocco's players celebrate winning the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final (CREDIT: AFP via Getty Images)

Could Alex Wrigley's secret weapon at The Open be his caddy? Johanna Gustavsson is after all a professional golfer as well as his wife.We are finding out about the small city of Eugene and the reasons behind why the World Athletic Championships are being held there.We delve a little deeper into the Tour de France with Sophie Smith, author of Pain and Privilege: Inside Le Tour. The book details the sacrifice and chaos of the race, and threw up some challenging issues about one of the world's most gruelling events.Plus we preview the last games in Group B of the Euros.Photo: Thomas Detry of Belgium tees off from the 18th hole during Day One of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 14, 2022 (CREDIT: Harry How/Getty Images

We are live on Centre Court at Wimbledon on Women's Singles final day. Tunisia's Ons Jabeur is attempting to become the first African woman and first Arab to win a grand slam. She faces Elena Rybakina who became the first player from Kazakhstan to make a major final... So whatever the result history will be made.We also preview the days action at Euro 2022 as Netherlands start the defence of their title and get the latest on US basketball star Brittney Griner's detention in RussiaPhoto: The Venus Rosewater Dish, the Ladies' Singles trophy ahead of The Championships Wimbledon 2022 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (Credit: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)

It is a big month for women's football with four continental championships. The Women's Africa Cup of Nations kicks things off on Saturday before the hosts England take on Austria in the opening match of Euro 2022 on Wednesday. Gill Coultard was part of the England side that lost to Sweden in the first ever final in 1984 and tells us how far the game has come in the past 38 years. As the Tour de France gets underway we are joined by the man with the best seat in the house. Seb Piquet watches the race from a communications car ahead of the riders relaying important information to teams, broadcasters and fans. British sprinter Anyika Onuora stood on the podium at every major championship in athletics. However, her new book My Hidden Race does not detail her sporting achievements. In the era of the Black Lives Matter and Me Too, it is a powerful account of what it takes to pursue your dreams as a Black woman in Britain. Nothing is off the record as Anyika is determined to finally speak out and use her story

Is there something in the water, in the mountains, in the fjords of Norway that creates super human athletes? Norway is the most successful Winter Olympic nation of all time yet they had a surprisingly successful Summer Games in Tokyo. Norway won gold on the track in world record time, the fastest Paralympian on earth is Norwegian, they even picked up gold in beach volleyball! They also have one of the most sought after players in men's football in Erling Haalandand, and Ada Hegerberg is an icon of the women's game. Norway have just had their first tennis grand slam finalist and boast the reigning chess world champion too.Katie Smith investigates what we can learn from the secrets of how this small nation famed for its skiing and snow has also found the formula for gold in the summer Games and beyond.PHOTO: Norway's Karsten Warholm reacts after winning and breaking the world record in the men's 400m hurdles final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 3, 2021. (Credit:

We look ahead to the final day of Royal Ascot by speaking to the most successful female jockey in the history of the meeting. Hollie Doyle has been competing at the course all week, and joins us ahead of her ride in the big race of the day - the Platinum Jubilee Stakes.Kathrine Switzer reflects on how she helped pave the way for female runners following the 50th New York mini marathon. Switzer co-founded and competed in the first event back in 1972 and recalls the barriers women runners faced at that time - including how she was attacked by a race official during the Boston Marathon in 1967, when females were prohibited from entering the race. Nathan Fluellen tells us about “A great day in the Stoke”, which he believes was the biggest gathering of Black surfers in history. He says the idea for the recent event in Los Angeles came to him in the aftermath of 2020's racial reckoning, when Black surfers staged “paddle outs” following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Andrea Mason explains her moti

As the NBA finals continue we hear the remarkable story of three generations of the Grunfeld family, from their escape journey from Nazi persecution to Olympic glory and beyond. A former pro baller himself Dan Grunfeld has written "By The Grace of the Game: The Holocaust, A Basketball Legacy, and an Unprecedented American Dream".Ahead of the 50th anniversary of Title IX with the help of Dr Bonnie J Morris we look at the impact the legislation has had in levelling the playing field in women’s sports, and how its influence spread far beyond the USA and into global professional sport.Ending a professional sporting career is one of the hardest things an athlete will ever have to do. Paul Felder had a long and successful career as an MMA fighter. So how did he come to terms with putting an end to what he loved? He decided to dedicate himself to a new sport, one with less kicking and punching! Paul has entered a new Pro Am Triathlon competition the PTO and a documentary is chronicling his attempt to swim, cycle an

We celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee by looking at the evolution of sport during her reign and some of the world’s most significant and iconic sporting moments of the last 70 years. We discuss the Queen’s influence on sport and what her legacy might be. Plus we head live to Epsom ahead of one of the Queen’s favourite sporting events, The DerbyWe catch up with New Zealand star Rosie Elliot ahead of the Oceania Athletics Championships. She tells us about how she turned to running to help with crippling anxiety, and it turns out she’s quite good at it as she’s now the New Zealand 400 metres champion.Plus When Leon Schaffer was growing up he dreamed of becoming a footballer. Aged just 12 he lost his leg through cancer and he thought his chances of being a professional athlete had gone, until he met a fellow German amputee who just happened to be a Paralympic long jump world record holder. Proving that if you can see it, you can be it, Leon has now achieved just that. Photo: Queen Elizabeth II attends R

As Liverpool prepare to face Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris, we head back 40 years to the 1982 competition. Aston Villa ruled Europe that year, and on their return to Birmingham went on a tour to show fans the trophy. That's where the trouble started. Shari Vahl tells Caroline Barker about how the European Cup was stolen... and retrieved!Ahead of the Championship Play-off final at Wembley, we hear from footballer Dominic Ball. Playing in the Premier League is the ultimate goal for most footballers, one that drives them from an early age. In that regard Dominic Ball is not that unusual, nor any of his five close friends, all of whom started their footballing journeys together. Dom has got closer than most, for the past three years he's played for Queen's Park Rangers in the Championship, and his goal is still in reach, but what about his friends? Dominic has written "From Winning Teams to Broken Dreams" a book which not only tells that story, but is a guide to those who want to follow th

One of golf's most prestigious events, the USPGA, is taking place in Oklahoma. The tournament has come a little too early in the career of 14-year-old Ukrainian Lev Grinberg, but could his name one day be on the trophy? Last week Lev became the second youngest player to make the cut at a professional tournament. We hear from Lev and his dad Illya.It's been a big week for men's football. Jake Daniels, who plays for Blackpool in the second tier of the professional game in England became the first openly gay player in thirty years. The fact that he is the first man in such a long time to come out whilst still playing, highlights just how difficult and challenging it still is for gay men in professional sport. For many different reasons, they can't be their authentic self in a sporting setting. Ryan O'Callaghan had a successful career in the NFL, but despite coming out to his family while still playing, it wasn't until after his retirement he felt comfortable telling the world. He tells us his story.Plus we are l

We preview the Men's and Women's FA Cup final taking place at Wembley this weekend.We'll speak to the BBC's Ian Dennis, get the full match day experience on board the Liverpool supporters coach and revisit some of the classic FA Cup team songs.Then on Sunday it's the women's final. The competition has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. This is only the seventh year in its more than 50 year history the game has been played at Wembley. The progress of the women's game is in no small part down to women like Patricia Gregory, founder of the Women's FA and Lorraine Hoey captain of the Fulham's 1985 cup winners. We bring them together for their thoughts.After Covid caused its postponement, the biggest sporting event for the deaf community, the Deaflympics, have been taking place in Brazil this week. Deaf sport isn't part of the Paralympic Games and as such hasn't seen the same kind of growth in interest, publicity and funding for its athletes, many of whom are struggling with the financial burden

Ukrainian footballer Vova Kubrakov opens up about how football helps him cope with the war in his home country. He was part of a mixed charity game with teams made up of Portland Timbers and Thorns players that raised more than half a million dollars for UNICEF's relief efforts in Ukraine. We also hear from Valeriy Sushkevych, the President of Ukraine's Paralympic Committee who's told the BBC they don’t know how much longer they’ll be able to carry on. We're in Miami as F1 makes it's debut in the city at a Super Bowl worthy setting. US Racewalker Robyn Stevens tells Caroline Barker about the eating disorder that forced her to give up athletics and the journey that led her back to the sport and helped her achieve her Olympic dream 17 years after walking away. As the WNBA season gets underway all 12 teams will have the initials and number of Brittney Griner on their courts to show support for the Phoenix Mecury star who is “wrongfully detained” in Russia. The Mercury will continue to support BG’s Heart and Sol

As former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker starts his prison sentence for hiding more than 3 million dollars-worth of assets, we look back on his brilliant, but also troubled life.Olympic gold medal winning sports climber Janja Garnbret joins us to talk about a new film which followed her quest for gold in Tokyo and the physical and mental preparations and challenges she had to overcome on the way to that success. We’re in Germany where Dynamo Kiev have continued their "Match for Peace" tour this week, playing against Borussia Dortmund to raise money for Ukrainians affected by the war in their country. As the NFL Draft takes place we’ll speak to two-time Super Bowl Champion Osi Umenyiora about the pathways that are being created to help bring more players from Africa to the top level of the sport. Plus we’re in New York ahead of an historic night for women’s boxing as Katie Taylor against Amanda Serrano headlines at Madison Square Garden.(Photo: Boris Becker during a match at Wimbledon. Credit: Chris Cole/Gett

Professional table tennis player Wally Green opens up about he went from being a 13-year-old caught up in Brooklyn Gangs to a table tennis pro on a trip to North Korea for ping pong diplomacy.Big wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner tells us how he was brought in by Jurgen Klopp to help Liverpool’s players deal with stress ahead of their last Premier League title win, and explains how he’s trying to use surfing to help children impacted by the war in Ukraine. World Record rower Victoria Evans joins us to explain why she set herself the challenge of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean having never set foot in a boat before. Sporting Witness tells the story of Pakistani squash player, Jahangir Khan, who went undefeated for five years during the 1980s. Plus we’re at the Crucible to hear about the pigeon at the Snooker World Championship and at Wembley for heavyweight boxing as Tyson Fury looks to defend his world title against Dillian Whyte. Photo: Wally Green watches a game of Table Tennis. Credit: Paul Conrad/Getty Im

Lesia Tsurenko discusses the guilt she feels about not being in Ukraine and the impact the conflict has had on her mental health. Tsurenko says she considered ending her playing career before a chat with Alex Dolgopolov made her see she could help Ukrainian’s by continuing to play and earn money to send home. Along with Elina Svitolina, Tsurenko has donated money to buy a tractor for the Army, which she believes will help save lives.Beau Greaves reflects on becoming the youngest ever World Champion in Darts. The 18-year-old predicted she’d win a World Title when she was just 13 years old and tells us winning the WDF World Championship was for her family members that didn’t live to see her achieve her dream. She also says she’s now hoping to pass her driving test if she can master roundabouts.The first blind person to lead climb the iconic Old Man of Hoy – Jesse Dufton – tells us how he got into the sport and how his wife helped him adapt his climbing as his eyesight deteriorated. Dufton says his next challeng

Verna Volker – the founder of Native Women Running – says it acts as a safe space for Native women, who run for healing, ceremony and medicine. She believes a lot of the women are carrying historical trauma and running has become a way to grieve and heal. She has run previously to highlight the plight of Missing and murdered Indigenous women and says non-Native people don’t realise that Native American people view these women as their own relatives. Volker wants to inspire little girls to run and says the prospect of completing the Boston marathon with her own team of runners is unreal. We hear the story of how sport is helping a refugee from Ukraine living in Poland. Yuliia describes her arduous journey from Kyiv to Tychy, leaving her husband behind in Ukraine and the generosity of Polish people. The American Football team her husband plays for in Poland have been providing her with support and a place to stay. She’s a dance teacher by trade and has been teaching classes in Poland and sending any money

We reflect on history being made in the Women’s Champions League after a record crowd of 91,553 people attended the second-leg of Barcelona’s quarter-final against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou. Maz was at the game and we hear from fans, Ballon d’Or winner Alexis Putellas, and from the club about their vision for women’s football moving forward. Courtney Winfield-Hill tells us about her plans to represent England at the Rugby League World Cup. The Australian-born former cricketer tells us she feels at home in England and how she’ll be supporting her wife, England batter Lauren Winfield-Hill, in Sunday’s Cricket World Cup final against Australia. Liz Mills discusses being a pioneer in men’s basketball in Africa. Mills is the only woman coaching at this season's Basketball Africa League - which is a joint NBA-FIBA competition. She's leading Morocco's AS Sale - which also makes her the first female coach in the Arab World. She previously made history by leading Kenya at the men's AfroBasket in 2021. This wee

Leonid Grigoriev tells us how he returned to his home city of Mariupol to rescue his parents this week. Grigoriev – who swims for Ukraine’s national team – describes the devastation brought about by the Russian Army and says his car was almost hit by a bomb during his rescue mission. He says residents of the city looked like they were ready to give up their lives and that he also helped evacuate a woman and her child to Poland.Former Australia netball and Australian Rules Football player Sharni Norder gives us her thoughts on what could be next for Ash Barty after she announced her retirement from tennis this week. Barty has already enjoyed success in cricket, so could she make the move to Netball or Aussie Rules next?Faye West tells us about being one of only two women on Great Britain’s wheelchair rugby team at the recent European Championships and how her long-term goal is to make the team for the next Paralympics.Lavonte Stewart and Jalil Anderson from Lost Boyz explain how they use baseball to tackle you

Oleksiej Zorin is an American Football player and team owner. His family are in Poland under the care of the team he plays for, while he is unable to reach players based in Mariupol, who play on the team he owns, after the city came under heavy attack from Russia. He admits he is scared for the players he can’t reach and grateful his team in Poland got his family out of Ukraine. He tells us about the work he is doing to help the people of Kyiv and how he has considered joining the army. Zorin says he doesn’t fear death but he does fear for the future. Lowri Norkett joins us in a week which saw her make her debut for Wales and then be selected for their 6 Nations squad. Norkett only took up rugby union after her sister Elli – who was a Wales international – was killed in a car crash five years ago. Lowri tells us about wearing her sisters boots and how she is always with her. The incoming NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman tells us about rebuilding trust between the league and the players following allegatio

The vice president of Wisla Krakow, Maciej Bałaziński and Anna Mioduska, who is the chair of Legia Warsaw’s foundation, tell us how their clubs are helping people displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. Both clubs have been aiding the effort to collect supplies for Ukrainian refugees, while Wisla have also given sanctuary to the youth team players from Dynamo Kyiv. Legia have been providing football sessions for children and have plans in place to provide a creche for young children and their mothers. Katie Smith brings us the latest news from the Winter Paralympics and we hear from Canadian legend Brian McKeever. Camille Herron tells us her attitude to ultrarunning is a mix of the fictional characters Ted Lasso, Forrest Gump and Billy Elliott. The American recently broke her own 100-mile women’s world record averaging around 7:37 minutes per mile over the 12 hours and 41 minutes run. And - David Diamante joins us to reflect on the motorcycle accident that could have cost him his life and making his retur