Backstraight Boys Athletics Chat

Where to even begin? 2022 had it all: a World Indoors, World Outdoors, Commonwealths, Europeans, and the GOAT Shelly-Ann adjusting her hair mid-200 metres.Can you even believe that Marcel Jacobs beating Coleman in that fantastic 60m was only nine months ago? Us neither. It's bonkers how much athletics there's been this year. Bonkers and brilliant - but also impossible to summarise in a single podcast episode, unless you really, really know your onions.Enter: Jeanette. Sprint Queen turned Broadcast Queen, and an utter *delight* to discuss T&F with. Honestly - it's left us buzzing for everything that's to come in 2023.We decide our performances, moments, athletes, and low points of the year - plus what we're most excited for next season. So, without further ado: here's our look back at the busiest twelve months in track and field history. We loved it. It was exhausting. We can't wait for next year. Let's never have one like it again...Twitter: @backstraightB & @Cl

EUROPEAN CHAMPS REVIEW. GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT.Twitter: @BackstraightB & @Claire_GThomasInsta: @BackstraightBoysPodcast & @ClaireGThomas

'Three is a magic number' - and so it often proves. Destiny's Child. Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Major outdoor champs this summer. Members of this podcast. Stages in the wonderful, bronze-clinching personal best achieved by this episode's guest in the Commonwealth triple jump final.That's right: the one and only Naomi Metzger joined us for our Birmingham review - fresh from soaring onto the Alexander Stadium podium.We chat Commonwealths, competing in Germany, the majestic Yulimar Rojas, her new coach and newfound love of lifting,  and a whole lot more besides.It was a proper pleasure to have her on  - thanks so much for stopping by, Naomi! - and the reminisce fully cemented Birmingham in our minds as a fantastic championship. From Eilish to Laura, from Kat to Arshad, and from to Olivia to Ferdinand: we cover almost as much ground as Metzger did en route to her terrific gong.Thanks for listening, you lovely lot. It means tonnes, and we're so grateful to you for tuning in.Enjoy Europ

It's our 100th episode. One *hundred* podcasts. Can you believe that? We certainly can't.Jody and Bayo are sleep deprived after watching all of Eugene live, Claire is trying (and failing) to instil some sort of structure into our Oregon World Championships review, and all three of us are fuelled by M&S birthday cake. It's neither organised nor comprehensive, but it's certainly opinionated and enthusiastic (a sentence which applies to each of the 100 episodes we've produced so far, and will probably cover any we publish in the future, too...).Jakob and Jake, Alison and Allyson, Jeanette and Geoff, and the queen of them all - SAFP. "It's Shelly-Ann's world, and we're all just living in it", after all. Devon's DQ and whether or not Sydney is enjoying her athletics. What we made of the event itself, and why it's left us a little confused over our stance on taking full teams to championships. There's a lot in here, if you can overlook the frequen

Yo: it's the Oregon set. Backstraight Boys: live and direct.Kath Merry mash up (she was with Wightman on the deck).It's the Eugene World Champs - we're live and direct.Just in case you missed it: here's our mid-Worlds review, with a lengthy and outstanding cameo from the ever-glorious Kath Merry - who dialled in from Oregon (and brought some much-needed knowledge and class to proceedings in the process).Kath: thanks for joining <3You lovely lot: thanks for listening xoxoFull Oregon 2022 review pod coming soon! Twitter: @BackstraightB & @Claire_GThomasIG: @backstraightboyspodcast & @clairegthomas

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After a brief sabbatical (Claire was feeling a bit swamped), we're back - and all roads lead to Eugene. The Worlds are a week and a bit away, with Commonwealths and Euros looming large, and the British squad has been announced. It's big, it's teeming with talent, and it's getting us as extremely excited as we always are for anything involving supremely fit individuals running, throwing, and jumping.Jody and Bayo were at the trials, so report back on a gusty and eventful couple of days, before the team delve into the 78 athletes named for Oregon's Greatest Show.Daryl dazzled, middle distance running was straight flames, and we're obsessed with Max Burgin. Plus ça change.Anyway: it's terrific to be back. We've missed it, and we've missed you. Let us know your thoughts in all the usual places: your podcast provider, Twitter (@BackstraightB & @Claire_GThomas) and Instagram (@backstraightboyspodcast & @clairegthomas).Back soon with a Worlds preview plus more inf

Jody and Bayo went to Belgrade, and returned with: photos with everyone's favourite Italian high jumper, a fractured wrist, memories of a splendid birthday feat. the athleticos, and... Covid. A mixed bag, it's safe to say.More broadly, the 2022 World Indoors were a varied championships themselves: Keely and Elliot were DNS, and Kat was DNF, but there were 3 world records, medallists from 31 different countries, and some outstanding performances. Yaroslava Mahuchikh winning gold was the best moment of all - displaying astonishing poise and grit - but we also loved Rojas' WR, Grant's flames-emoji start, and how at home Holly Mills appears to be at this level.We had *tonnes* to discuss, so here it is: our big review of Belgrade 2022. Enjoy!Got an opinion? Let us know your thoughts! @Claire_GThomas and @BackstraightB (plus @BackstraightBoysPodcast on Intsa). Leave us a review on your podcast provider, while you're at it... xoxo

Full description to follow, but - for now - treat yourselves to an hour of Belgrade chatter with multiple world indoor medallist, Jamie 'Sporting Hair of the Year' Baulch: as heard via Instagram live earlier this week.Rate, review, subscribe, and SAY 'HI': @BackstraightB, @Claire_GThomas, and @JamieBaulchThe first major championship of 2022 is upon us... phwoar. Enjoy xoxo

Keely doing Keely things, baby 'brig setting world records, Mondo soaring, and the Winter Olympics rocked by a doping scandal with a 15-year-old girl at its heart. 2022 hasn't exactly got off to a quiet start, has it?Backstraight is back (alright!) - with a romp through recent indoor results, a discussion about the Kamila Valieva story and Sha'Carri's take on it, and plenty more besides.It is GOOD to be back podding, and you can expect plenty from us this year, as the busiest athletics season we've ever seen begins. Hold onto your hats...We've missed you, dear listeners, and would love to hear from you. Get in touch on Instagram (@backstraightboyspodcast) or Twitter -(BackstraightB or @Claire_GThomas) - and please don't forget to leave us a review.As Jody would say: gracias por escuchar, y adios xoxo

In so many ways, 2021 was a year to forget. It won't be one looked back upon with universal fondness, and there are lots of reasons to be pleased to leave it behind. But one of the reasons we love sport is the phenomenal escapism it offers, and the way its narratives can transcend arenas to leave indelible marks upon the world we live in. On the track, on the field, and out on the roads - 2021 was a year full of those moments. Time and time again, athletes shrugged off the challenges of the last couple of seasons to lay down historic markers, and give us events we'll never forget. Karsten! Keely! Queen Val! The two golds! Following the sport has been a delight, and so it was about time we looked back on the year's highlights.Claire essentially moved into Alexandra Palace in December to cover the darts, leaving her unavailable for podding duties, but - don't fear - we found a phenomenal temporary occupant  of the 'Girl' chair at Backstraight HQ: Olympian, broadcaster, and star of

World Athletics have named their end-of-season gong longlists. They've also named their shortlists, but we weren't organised enough to realise that, so we covered all ten athletes per field. Death, taxes, and us merrily getting things slightly wrong on this podcast... Anyway: great fun pitting Elaine against Yulimar, and debating Karsten versus Ryan. There was some *wonderful* running, throwing, and jumping this year, it transpires.We also turn our attention to the changes at UKA, Kat's move to Florida, and our delight at the imminent return of the Night of the 10km PBs (FWIW - Claire is not fast enough to compete in the F race; she's checked) - whilst chatting away about plenty of other T&F stories which piqued our interest this Autumn.There are a few special guests on the horizon, and our own annual awards to come very soon, so please do stay tuned. Leave us a review, why don't you? And get in touch on 'socials': @BackstraightB & @Claire_GThomas on Twitter, and @Ba

Diamond League finals, Sha'Carri and #DeadLast, a shout out to the surprisingly excellent Continental Tour, *that* 100 metres in Nairobi, a change in attitudes towards DSD athletes, and plenty more besides - including, of course, quotes from both 'Grease' and 'The Hollow Men'.It might be rambling, but at least we don't spend 90% of the pod talking about American steeplechasers who aren't even leading the race...*A huge thank you to Hal Leonard Europe for their support - we adore our new Samson microphones and mixer - and to you for tuning in. You can find HLE on Twitter as @HalLeonardEUR, or Instagram as @halleonardeuropeGot an opinion? Let us know your thoughts! @ClaireGThomas and @BackstraightB (plus @BackstraightBoysPodcast on Intsa). Leave us a review on your podcast provider, while you're at it...We'll be back very soon with our special 2021 season review, and we can't wait.Peace, love, and SAFP memes to you all xoxo* we love Courtney and Emma. This nonse

Two World titles, two Olympic silvers, and a personal best of 7.11m. Fiona May achieved an awful lot in a stellar long jump career, but - despite having been born in Slough and becoming a Junior World Champion whilst competing for Great Britain - her greatest moments were for the Azzurri, after she switched citizenships in 1994, and never looked back. Her daughter, Larissa, is European Junior Champion, and already closing in on her mother's records.With Italy winning five golds in Tokyo - including a jaw-dropping 4x100 title, and an internet-breaking sob fest of a win in the men's high jump - we could think of no one better to chat it all through with.From her decision to change allegiances, and her attempts to persuade her daughter to pick any event but the long jump, to what it means to represent Italy - such a passionate sporting nation - we cover it all, and hope you enjoy the listen as much as we relished the conversation. Fiona - it was a JOY. Grazie. Thanks so much for tuning in. Please let u

'What's the plan for this one, Claire?''I'll do a quick intro, and then how about we just talk about the Olympics for an hour?'And there you have it: a non-stop romp through just a sliver of a truly magical Games. From Karsten to Rojas, and back again via Tamber(in)i and some stellar British performances.We laughed, gasped, and cried our way through the games, had a blast doing World Athletics' Inside Track, and remain utterly in love with the Olympics. We're sure you are, too.So, tuck in and enjoy. We'll be back soon to reflect some more - we hardly scraped the surface here - but couldn't not get together to celebrate a fortnight of glorious, glorious, track and field.Thanks, as per, to Hal Leonard Europe for their support - we adore our Samson microphones and mixer - and to you for tuning in.Please remember to rate/review/subscribe on your podcast platform, and to get in touch with any thoughts on Twitter (@BackstraightB & @Claire_GThomas) or Instagram (

Athletics in Tokyo is just hours away, and - if we thought we were excited before Roger Black joined us to discuss it all - we had another thought coming. The three-time Olympic medallist has left us like kids at Christmas: he really was the perfect guest for this one.Stacked middle distance fields, infinite and bonkers scheduling permutations, and those 400 metre hurdle races... Be still, our beating hearts.We honestly cannot wait, and promise to keep serving up track and field chatter throughout.Let us know what YOU'RE excited about, why don't you? @Claire_GThomas, @BackstraightB, and @RogerBlack400 Don't forget to check out our Instagram Lives - @BackstraightBoysPodcast - and to leave us a review, if you haven't done so already.A remote recording this week, so no Samson mics in use, and - wow - did we miss our swanky kit. We can't wait to be back using our Hal Leonard gear very, very soon.Lots of love. Let the Games begin xoxo

When British Athletics offer you accreditation for Olympic trials, you drop everything, and so Claire and Bayo headed up to Manchester for a blockbuster Sunday of runs, jumps, and throws.They caught up with Adam, with Beth, with all three women's 800-metre medalists, with the ever-wonderful Elliot Giles, the prodigious Oliver Dustin, the gravity-defying duo of Jaz and Morgan, a delighted Tiff Porter (off to her THIRD Games), an ecstatic Jess Judd, a not-yet-qualified Amy-Eloise Markovc, and Jodie 'two golds' Williams. It was a blast.Here's a bit of chatter, a glorious smorgasbord of some of Britain's finest, and then a bit more chatter. We hope you enjoy it.We'll be back in the studio with our wonderful Samson gear (thanks, Hal Leonard Europe!) as soon as Jody is better (get well soon, other Backstraight Boy xxx), ready to get - if possible - even more excited for the Olympics than we already are. What a time, eh? We. Can't. Wait.Social media info, should you want to get in

US trials start today, so we hopped on Instagram Live with the reigning Olympic Champion, the goat, and the birthday boy, Christian 'friend of the pod' Taylor: the future president of World Athletics (/the world).Here's - and, brace yourselves, it's entirely unedited - our preview of what should prove a humdinger of a championship. On paper, the US trials are simple: have the standard, finish top three, and go to Tokyo. In reality, they're high pressure, high quality, and high drama. We. Can't. Wait.Thanks so much for tuning in. Please let us know your thoughts, and give us a follow on socials: @Claire_GThomas and @BackstraightB on Twitter, and @backstraightboyspodcast on Instagram.We weren't able to use our amazing microphones for this one, but - because we love them, and are so grateful for their support - here's a shout out to our friends at Hal Leonard Europe, who provided our swanky Samson gear.Happy birthday Christian. Good luck to all those competing at the trial

We're never short on opinions at Backstraight Towers, but this week includes some particularly impassioned discussions: why on Earth are World Athletics persevering with the ghastly 'top three' jump competition format? does the European Team Champs have any relevance or merit as a meet these days? and what have we all made of sprinting sensation, Sha'Carri Richardson?We look back at Gateshead (wet and windy) and Doha (exactly the opposite), Silesia and Ostrava, and award a few gongs for recent performances. Of course, we also bring up Merlene Ottey and the boys getting drunk at various international competitions. Plus ca change...Got an opinion? Let us know your thoughts! @ClaireGThomas and @BackstraightB (plus @BackstraightBoysPodcast on Intsa). Leave us a review on your podcast provider, while you're at it...A huge thank you to Hal Leonard Europe for their support - our love for our new Samson microphones and mixer is growing by the week - to Faloola Chong for her recent review, and

We're back in the same room! We've got amazing new recording equipment! Katie Snowden's run 4:02! The women's 100 metres at Gateshead is going to be incredible! 'Sarah' actually exists! There's so much to be excited about this week, as the gang meet up - in the actual flesh - to look at recent standout performances by athletes all over the world, and preview the first Diamond League of the season. Bayo said it best: there are going to be some entirely 'wait, who?' unpredictable Olympic Champions this year, but the performances themselves are guaranteed to be brilliant.A huge thank you to Hal Leonard Europe for their support - we adore our new Samson microphones and mixer - and to you for tuning in.Please remember to rate/review/subscribe on your podcast platform, and to get in touch with any thoughts on Twitter (@BackstraightB & @Claire_GThomas) or Instagram (@BackstraightBoysPodcast). We really do enjoy hearing from you.Happy Diamond League, you lovely lot. Fr