Power of Sport podcast

Chester Koyana is a key figure at the LIV Village in Cottonlands, where together with his own family and under the guidance of Liv Founders Tich and Joan Smith he makes a lasting impact on the community. Chester is first in a brand new series profiling great South Africans doing their part to improve lives through sport. #PowerOfSport presents... the sporting heroes among us that we all should know.

Over $400,000 was raised by the incredible Just Challenge Africa trek that took place in South Africa in an event that championed Sport for Good, and also saw five Laureus-backed programmes around the world benefit. 100 people from all across the globe laced up their hiking boots traversing over 100km through the Drakensberg World Heritage site in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that proved to be a serious physical feat. In the latest episode of the Power of Sport the likes of rugby legends Bryan Habana, Brian O'Driscoll, Jean de Villiers together with fellow ambassadors Annabelle Bond and Dan Nicholl tell the tale of this extraordinary event.

The latest episode of the Power of Sport is action-packed! We have an exclusive catch-up with our newest Ambassador, Dean Furman, not just about what the recognition means to him but also about the exciting news of Bafana Bafana's qualification for AFCON and Dean's take on what expectations are ahead of that; we hear from Proteas batsman Aiden Markram on their day out with Waves for Change in Cape Town, Ron Rutland checks in from Iran on his latest, crazy adventure riding his bike from London to the start of the Rugby World Cup - in Japan - and not trying not to curse the Springboks, again, AND Banyana coach Desiree Ellis spends a very special afternoon at LIV Village. It's a must-listen!

What a night! The 19th Laureus World Sports Awards, which took place in Monaco, once again wowed the sporting world. There were a whole host of special moments including speeches from Arsene Wenger, Jelena Djokovic, as well as her husband Novak, Lyndsay Vonn, the inspiring work done by the Yuwa programme in India and many more - you don't want to miss listening back to this. Plus, also in this episode we had a little inside help too: we enlisted a number of the star South African contingent on the ground in Monaco to share their experiences as we weave together a unique local-flavoured tapestry encapsulating sport's grandest spectacle. Enjoy!

One of South Africa's great sports stories of 2018 was the success of Banyana Banyan qualifying for a first ever World Cup Finals. We speak to the coach of the team and Laureus Ambassador Des Ellis to reflect on her last 12 months and the major challenge now ahead for her team. Plus, it's a bumper sporting year so we find out what the likes of Zanele Mdodana, Shaun Pollock, Schalk Brits and Corne Krige are most looking forward to while the Laureus World Sports Awards are just around the corner; and it's a final chance to push for Springbok captain Siya Kolisi to take his place on the famous red carpet of Monaco!

A visit to the LIV Village in Cottonlands is always a hugely inspiring occasion. And in this episode of the Power of Sport it was perhaps even more so. A whole host of our ambassadors joined our proud new partner, the Ignition Group, for a truly humbling experience. That was capped off by a special event in Umhlanga to announce the new partnership and an Ambassador's Forum that brought together some of the most influential figures from both past and present to share their experiences of the Power of Sport.

In this episode 23 inspiring Laureus South Africa Youth Empowerment through Sport (Yes) graduates celebrated their special day in Johannesburg as they continue their journey in spreading the Sport for Good message in the communities in which they live and work. And we travel to Cape Town and the official residence of the UK High Commissioner His Excellency Nigel Casey where special guest Johann Rupert joined a host of programmes and ambassadors before heading to Muizenberg to see Waves for Change, Polo Africa and United Through Sport in action. Don't miss it!

130 programmes from around the world, 200-odd delegates, Academy members, Ambassadors and Sport for Good - the 2018 Laureus Global Summit in partnership with Allianz was a huge success.  This special edition of the Power of Sport travelled to Paris for the 3-day gathering that brings the Laureus family together to tell that story. We speak to delegates from across the world as well as the likes of Sean Fitzpatrick, Steve Waugh, Bryan Habana, Daley Thompson, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Fabian Cancellara and Jens Lehmann as they all continue to champion Sport for Good.

Not even the man himself could probably have imagined that The Dan Nicholl Show would have reached the 100 episode mark. And so in order to honour the fantastic achievement Jean Smyth sat down with the Laureus Ambassador in Paris to reflect on some of his favorite memories over the years and what Sport for Good means to him. Plus, there’s the small matter of an on-the-record admission that Bryan Habana will likely be keen to hear!

The Eastern Cape is the beating heart of Mercedes Benz in South Africa, with a rich history. The world’s premier motoring company is a proud partner of Laureus South Africa and in 2018 held a series sporting-themed breakfasts delivering key insights into the latest happenings in the sporting world as well as the Laureus Foundation. This episode provides a highlights reel of those events as we hear from some of sport's biggest names including the likes of Zolani Tete, Jeremy Brockie, Amanda Dlamini, Morne du Plessis and Elana Meyer. This audio journey is a spiritual homecoming to the famous Mercedes Benz plant in East London, of sorts, as we trace the impact Nelson Mandela had on Mercedes Benz South Africa, the Laureus Foundation and to millions around the world.

"Please, please my child; never stop going to school because look at what's happened to you because of this.....the ululating, the happiness, you can't explain it." Those the words of the Hlawula Vutomi's Doc Mabila who we speak to in the latest Power of Sport podcast as he, along with Morne du Plessis and Corne Krige, held a special event in the Kruger National Park to showcase the work this incredible programme is doing not only for sport but also conservation. And, he's done it again, death-defying Grant Lottering has conquered not only the Pyrenees but also the Alps, in a single feat, and all in the aid of Laureus SA. We check in with him to ask him how it was possible!

There are few South African sporting figures who have garnered more attention in the media in the last few months than Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. For this episode of the Power of Sport Jean Smyth went to meet up with him and got unique insights into family, leadership, guilt & the meaning of inspiration.

In the year that Nelson Mandela would have turned 100, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and its South African Chairman, Morne du Plessis, walked its own road to Ellis Park to pay tribute to his memory. The hallowed turf upon which Madiba’s Magic united a nation, Ellis Park, played host to programmes from around the country who gathered, in many ways, to pay tribute to his legacy on Mandela Day. In this special edition, Jean Smyth hears from real-life South African heroes living among us who, through sport, are changing lives and granting hope to where before there was only despair.

He's still fairly new in the job but the CEO of Laureus Jonathan Hill, has already made a big impact! The man from Leeds, with an illustrious career in sport, fills us in on his background, his drive and what his vision is for the organisation going forward. Plus, he reveals his guilty sporting pleasure and tells us about his role in creating one of football's most prominent catch-phrases.

Laureus South Africa is going on another exchange! This time the incredible team from Fight with Insight travel to Rio de Janeiro not just to hone their boxing skills but to share knowledge and gain valuable life experience. Plus, Football World Cup fever will be gripping the nation hoping to put the despair of 2014 behind them in Russia 2018! And Ambassador Dan Nicholl, never one for the conventional, celebrated his birthday by inviting all of his friends to a cricket tournament letting them loose with bat, ball and on the mic all in the spirit of Sport for Good!

In this episode Jean Smyth catches up with Schalk Brits who spent just two weeks in retirement before being called up to the Springboks. An extraordinary story featuring: golf, Ibiza, Vincent Koch, Rassie Erasmus & mojitos! Plus, we kick off our annual series of sporting themed breakfasts with Mercedes Benz delving deep into the cycling world.

Do you know who’s going to win the Football World Cup in Russia? Go on then, tell us. While you’re sending your tweet or compiling your Facebook post, download and listen to the latest Power of Sport podcast where some of the most compelling reasoning can be found as to who will be crowned World Champions on 15 July in Moscow can be found. That’s right: none other than former World Cup winner Marcel Desailly, Bafana Bafana midfielder Dean Furman, the Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis and former Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund all weigh in with their predictions. It’s not to be missed and you can send us yours too. Plus, we hear back from Ryan Sandes on his incredible feat of conquering the Great Himalaya Trail in record time along with partner Ryno Griesel.

What a night! The Laureus World Sports Awards, yet again, wowed all with Roger Federer taking top honours. Power of Sport host Jean Smyth goes 'behind the scenes' to bring you this Special Edition featuring unique insights into one of the sporting world's most high-profile events. Hear from Federer at his majestic best, as well as Bryan Habana, Caster Semenya, Steve Waugh, Edwin Moses, Sean Fitzpatrick, Ryk Neethling, Dan Carter, Morne du Plessis, Akani Simbine, Craig Nossel and Mercedes Benz SA as they walked the red carpet. And then we go inside the Salle des Etoiles where Hollywood star Benedict Cumberbatch played host to the event in which the true Power of Sport was celebrated.

In this episode Springbok record try-scorer and Laureus Ambassador Bryan Habana gives the strongest hint yet that he’s on the verge of retiring from the sport. We also gain an insight into South African production house T&W whose founder Gareth Whittaker talks about the emotions he has watching work produced by his company at the Laureus Awards is viewed by 200 million people across the globe. And, Jean Smyth chats to former US football star goalkeeper Hope Solo for her view on former Banyana Banyana coach Vera Paauw and why her fight for equal pay for men and women at the top of the sport is about ensuring that she finds herself “on the right side of history”.

Two Springbok rugby legends, one goal, to use the Power of Sport to change young lives! In this episode Jean Smyth chats to Bryan Habana as his foundation finds root in South Africa while former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers is part of the Coolplay and Laureus initiative in which 12 youngsters will be travelling to one of the greatest rugby spectacles of them all - the Hong Kong Sevens.

Fancy trekking through the Himalayas? You do? How about aiming to traverse the entire area, in just 28 days? Impossible, surely? Well not if you’re ultra-distance legend Ryan Sandes who tells Jean Smyth about his mind-boggling upcoming attempt that’ll be the toughest challenge he’s ever faced. His words, not ours. Plus Power of Sport hears from another man out of his comfort zone, football manager Andre Villas Boas, who explains why he decided on a break from football to drive in the Paris-Dakar rally. Yes, really :)

In this first episode of 2018, 800m star Caster Semenya gives Jean Smyth her exclusive reaction to being nominated as Sportswoman of the Year at the upcoming Laureus World Sports awards. Cycling sensation Nic Dlamini gets his career underway on the sport's biggest stage with Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka's World Tour team and we sit down with Banyana Banyana interim head coach Desiree Ellis who reflects on the team being recognized as the continent's best at the CAF awards, her goals for the year and a personal message from a 10-year-old aspiring footballer that's kept her grounded.  

In the final episode for 2017 sprint superstar Akani Simbine joins Jean Smyth to reflect on the year, the influence Usain Bolt played in his career and his goals for 2018; we travel to East London as the Youth Empowerment through Sport (Yes) leaders graduate and we pick out the best moments across the series in our journey to highlight the Power of Sport.

2017 has been among the most successful for Laureus SA. In this podcast Jean Smyth speaks to Executive Director Brett Graham to unpack the highs - and how that strategy will inform an equally exciting 2018.

Jean Smyth sits down with the World Sevens Series Champions Blitzboks to gain an understanding of what made them South Africa's most succesful sports team on the international stage last season. And (we had to do it) they play Blitz, on one another; you don't want to miss out on this from Kyle Brown, Phillip Snyman and coach Neil Powell.We also wrap the series of hugely succesful sporting-themed breakfasts with partner Mercedes-Benz, we hear from Indian cricket superstar Yuvraj Singh who has joined the Laureus family and Luvo Manyonga, along with the Longest Hole, can be voted for in the current batch of Sporting Moment's of the Year. The long jump star talks about his leap from drug addiction to global athletics glory. You don't want to miss it!

In this episode Jean Smyth hears about the big themes at the annual Laureus Summit held recently in Mauritius. Jean also chats to former Protea Jacques Kallis and to Ron Rutland, having just returned from the 2000km Longest Hole golfing campaign in Mongolia.

Lynn Naude is one of SA sports most prominent figures and talks us through her remarkable career and what her hopes are for the future. Also, Bafana star Dean Furman picks his alltime #BestXI, Corne Krige is announced as a Laureus Ambassador and we roadtrip with Waves for Change from East London to J-Bay and meet some of the world's best surfers.

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka once again thrilled their fans at the 2017 Tour de France as they continue their meteoric rise within the top division of world cycling. In a unique feature, the Laureus Power of Sport podcast brings you a special edition: the inside story of Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka at the 2017 Tour de France -  presented by Jean Smyth. Smyth also visits the Qhubeka assembly plant at Nederburg to find out just exactly how bicycles are literally changing lives. And, in a truly uplifting story, Nicholas Dlamini, a member of the Laureus YES! Programme, has now taken one step further to realise his dream of riding at the Tour de France after earning himself a contract on Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka’s World Tour team.

Former Proteas captain Graeme Smith joins Jean Smyth in this episode of Power of Sport sharing his thoughts ahead of the upcoming Test series between South Africa and England. Laureus Ambassador and Springbok great Bryan Habana has launched a new Foundation - we hear what motivated him; and we catch up with Ron Rutland, who with Adam Rolston, is walking across Mongolia, playing golf… the 80-something day long campaign is fondly referred to as The Longest Hole.

Sean Fitzpatrick, Brian O'Driscoll, John Robbie, Bryan Habana & Ian Jones reminisce of Lions tours past & outline what it'll take for Warren Gatland's many to have any chance of beating the World Champion All Blacks. 

Power of Sport previews the New Zealand Lions Series 2017 - catch the special episode out tomorrow!

Welcome to Episode 4! In this edition: the Business of Sport. Jean Smyth finds out exactly the state of it as we travel to the Discovery Sports Industry Awards.  Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco touched down in the City of Gold for a whirlwind visit… Jean chats to her and subjects her to Blitz in sunny, suburban Morningside. And, we sat down with Grant Lottering – to hear about his plan to ride nearly 2000kms on a bike – without stopping – literally facing the fears over and over on a piece of road that technically claimed his life less than 5 years ago…

In this episode of the Power of Sport, presenter Jean Smyth joins 13,795 other runners on the streets of Johannesburg for the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge and while there he speaks to local and international football giant Lucas Radebe. Back in Cape Town he travels to Atlantic Beach Golf course to find out more about the awesome Mercedes Trophy and turns the tables on TV presenter Dan Nicholl. We also go behind the scenes at Beyond the River, a new movie on the local circuit that is guaranteed to inspire.

In this episode we catch up with the riders from the Absa Cape Epic - mountain biking's ultimate test. And not one but two special stories for the Laureus Foundation in particular. We'll also take you behind the scenes of Waves for Change, winners of the Laureus Sport for Good award in Monaco...they use surf therapy as a powerful development tool. Our Blitz victim this week is British athletics hero Daley Thompson - in town for the aborted Cape Town Cycle tour.

In this episode we travel to Monaco for the 18th edition of the Laureus World Sports Awards. Expect to hear from the world's fastest man on 4 wheels - Formula One World Champion Nico Rosberg and the fastest on two legs - Usain Bolt. Laureus Academy Chairman Sean Fitzpatrick pays tribute to Springbok great Joost van der Westhuizen AND golfing legend Gary Player reflects on Nelson Mandela's inspired speech that is the core of what Laureus seeks out to achieve. Finally, Ryk Neethling is our first ever Blitz victim.