Sportshour

Growing up, Katrina Webb was crazy about sport. But aged eighteen she had a choice to make. Did she continue to hide her disability? Or embrace it and excel in disability sport. She chose the latter and just year later she would go to the Atlanta Paralympics and win two gold medals, embracing what made her different as a strength. Team GB skeleton racer, and Milan-Cortina gold medallist, Tabitha Stoecker offers insight into carving (or sliding!) a unique path in one of the world's most thrilling winter sports. A late night scroll on social media led to a new start in a sport where speed and fearlessness are everything.Growing up in sweltering Phoenix, Arizona; Alison Levine was a long way from the polar explorers she loved reading about. But, after heart surgery, she was determined to make her dream a reality. She went on to lead the first American all-women expedition up Everest, challenging conventions and drawing strength from adversity in some of the world's harshest environments.And Great Britain baseball do things differently at the World Baseball Classic, with their own team artist.Stories that reflect innovation, adversity and the power of embracing unconventional routes to success. Proving that sometimes extraordinary achievements come from daring to do things differently.

The Seven Summits are considered one of the greatest challenges in mountaineering worldwide. It takes some effort to to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents. Imagine doing that as double above-knee amputate! Well that's the extraordinary achievement of Nepalese-British adventurer Hari Budha Magar who recently made history, again, by reaching the summit of Mount Vinson in Antarctica, thus successfully completing his “Seven Summits” mission. He tells us about is extraordinary story from the depths of despair to literally being on top of the world.The first Winter Paralympics were held in the Swedish town of Örnsköldsvik in 1976. Nearly two-hundred competitors came from 16 countries. We hear from two blind skiing competitors with very different experiences - Finnish multi-gold medallist, Pertti Sankilampi, and Londoner Mike Brace, who learnt his sport shortly before the Games.Paralympic gold medallist Matt "The Armless Archer" Stutzman is back with a new series of his podcast Rising Phoenix. This time his focus is on the extraordinary tales of winter Paralympians. But could we ever see Matt on the slopes? He also reflects on how much his gold medal performance in Paris meant to him and his family and how having retired after those Games, he has plenty to "dwell on" with the next Paralympics in front of his home crowd in LA 2028.When Dani Aravich is not winning Paralympic gold, and by the way she's trying to add more as you read this, she is thinking about how she can raise the visibility of Para sport. Sadly when the curtain comes down on the games in Milan/ Cortina many people won't engage with para-sports until the LA Games in 2028. Determined to change that she has launched "Culxtured" a platform for fans to get excited about para-sport and where para-athletes can tell their story to the world. A bit like us really ! But we don't mind a bit of competition. She's not doing it on her own, she's been joined by amongst others, former Paralympic swimming medalist Anna Johannes. One of Culxtured's plans is to create their own podcast, so we thought we'd give them a chance to practice by getting Dani and Anna to interview themselves, whilst we put our feet up!PHOT: Hari Budha Magar who lost his legs serving as a Gurkha's in Afghanistan, the first double above the knee amputee to Climb Mount Everest (Credit: Ryan Sosna-Bowd/Getty Images

When Steve Bate received a life-changing diagnosis he knew there wasn't much he could do about his condition, but he had total control over what happened next. Making every moment count and taking on his biggest challenges, Bate has gone on to solo climb El Capitan and became a multi-medal Paralympian cyclist for Team GB.Ramiro Mora Romero, a weightlifter who represented the Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024, shares his journey of displacement, determination, and hope on the sport's biggest stage. Overcoming a lack of access to training facilities and uncertainty over his future to become a champion.Blind colour commentator and broadcaster Allan Wylie shows how a perceived barrier can become a strength; using knowledge, awareness and passion to provide in-depth insight for the sports he loves. Allan's story proves that commentary is less about seeing the game, and more about feeling it.Stories that reveal that mindset, courage and community can turn life's toughest obstacles into triumphs.(Photo: Ramiro Mora Romero of the Refugee Olympic Team reacts during the Weightlifting Men's 102kg Final at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Credit: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Here on Not by the Playbook we know "communication is key". Making sure what we say is clear and concise is one of the crucial elements to an enjoyable show. And that's true of most areas of life, the better people communicate the better the outcome, even when the message is hard to hear or difficult to digest. This week, having travelled the world finding the most inspiring stories from the world of sport, we have found all our guest have one thing in common. They are masters of communication!A good explanation can change the way we perceive the world. If something is communicated well enough it can alter our understanding of the concept of something we had held to be true forever. Take the idea of winning. Pretty straight forward, right?! The person who comes first, who beats all the others. The champion. Well Water polo legend Tony Azevedo certainly fits that description. A five-time Olympian he's considered one of the best to have played the game and yet now, as a coach he has a very different message about what it takes to be a winner. It's a message that is born from a life of overcoming difficulties and being prepared to constantly learn, in all areas of life. Most recently that revolved about what type of coffee is best to start the day with!Getting important instructions understood is difficult enough when your team mates are human, but what about if in order to succeed you have to be able to communicate perfectly with an animal!? Well that's what distinguishes the athletes who take part in one of the toughest sporting events in the world, Iditarod dog-sled race each year. When you are making your way through 1,000 miles of Arctic wilderness in Alaska communicating with your team of dogs is crucial to not only success, but in staying alive! In the winter of 1985, Libby Riddles become the first woman to win the race.Steve Wright and his wife Lizzy were briefly guest on our Super Bowl show a couple of weeks ago, by the way you can still enjoy that podcast, and all our other episodes, by searching for Not by the Playbook wherever you get your podcasts. The thing about the Super Bowl show is that we never have enough time! And so we only got to hear a tiny part of Lizzy and Steve's story and several people contact us to ask if they could hear more... And so in the spirit of understanding what was a clearly communicated message, we are going to set that right!Steve was a very successful and decorated NFL star. He was a Cowboy and a Raider and his job required him to act in, and occupy, a super aggressive state of mind. But flicking a switch to go from the mild mannered man Steve is to a threatening and destructive offensive tackle, and back again wasn't easy. Alongside his wife, author Lizzy Wright, Steve explores the subject in their book "Aggressively Human: Discovering Humanity in the NFL, Reality TV, and Life."There's little doubt that children benefit from stability. A routine and a place they can call home. Growing up in a family that has to travel the world regularly, living in different places with different cultures and languages can be unsettling, but for England's latest soccer star and multi linguist Erica Parkinson that lifestyle has given her huge advantages. Just 17 year old she has already played for the England under 19's team and is now part of the Under 23 set up! So could her upbringing have played a part in her swift rise up the footballing hierarchy? Speaking from her home in Porto, Portugal and also explained why she, and her brother Dennis, were always destined to make it as footballers. When she's not on the pitch, Erica works with mindset coach Martin Fairn of Gazing Red2Blue. Erica draws on mindset coaching during high pressure situations on the pitch.PHOTO: Tony Azevedo of the USA in action during the USA vs Italy Waterpolo group match at Julio de Lamare Aquatics Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (CREDIT: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Linda Ashmore, Ironman competitor and age-group world champion, shows us that qualifying for the world stage can come later in life.Team GB cyclist and bobsledder Victoria Williamson shares her journey from a devastating crash to redefining herself beyond elite sport, embracing a new path in health and fitness.Former Premier League footballer Jody Craddock reveals how he is building a second career as a professional artist and discovering creativity beyond the pitch.Basketball storyteller Leigh Ellis, founder of the Basketball Passport, on playing pickup games around the world and the power of sport to bring people together.Each story exploring reinvention, identity and the courage it takes to leap into something new.(Photo: Triathletes compete in the 3.8km swim during the Ironman World Championships on 10 October, 2015, Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Credit: Jason Rappaport/Getty Images)

Wrap up warm, because this week all our stories are about winter sports. We'll go cross-country skiing in Italy, play ice hockey on the equator and have a snowball fight in Finland!When Canadian cross-country skiers Beckie Scott and Sara Renner lined up for the Women's team sprint at 2006 Winter Olympics, they wouldn't have anticipated help from a medal rival. But, after disaster struck, it was a Norwegian coach who was there to help. Proving that even the coldest environments can produce the warmest displays of sportsmanship. An Olympic team of one. Shiva Keshavan was the only member of India's 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan. A 16-year-old representing a nation of over a billion. Shiva's sport? Luge, one of the most dangerous winter sport disciplines with athletes facing speeds of up to 145 kilometers an hour. After winning a silver medal at Beijing 2022, para-snowboard star Lisa DeJong turned her inspiring journey into a children's book. Drawing on her own experiences, the story shows the importance of representation, resilience and celebrating differences. With the Winter Olympics taking place, we learn about a sport and a team with Olympic aspirations. Yukigassen, a snowball fight tuned into a sport; and Kenya's Ice Lions pioneering Ice Hockey in a country with just a single ice rink.Photo: Beckie Scott and Sara Renner of Canada celebrate winning the Silver Medal for finishing second in the Women's Cross Country Skiing Team Sprint on Day 4 of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games on February 14, 2006 in Pragelato Plan, Italy. (Credit: Bongarts/Getty Images)

Sometimes realising your dream can all be a bit much. Leonard Russell was drafter 14th overall when the Patriots signed him. The franchise was on the brink of a historic dynasty and Russell was right there, winning the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1991. But being at the top causes its own challenges. Leonard turned to illegal substances to deal with the pressures., and it didn't take long before it had taken his career, marriage and very nearly his life. Ejected from the NFL and sat in a jail cell Leonard realised he needed a radical change of life. Leonard Russell's story is one of revival and responsibility. His comeback is inspirational and shows what can be achieved no matter how far you fallHow do we as individuals balance the challenges thrown at us in life and not engage in damaging behaviour. For Steve Wright there was an added layer of difficulty. His job as an NFL player required him to act in and occupy an aggressive state of mind. But flicking a switch to go from his natural mild mannered to threatening and destructive and back again was not easy. Alongside his wife Lizzy Wright, we explore living with Jekyll and Hyde.Jaime Coffee became the first woman to call an NFL game in the stadium when she did so at Levi Stadium (where the Super Bowl is to be played) a couple years back. She had previously broken glass ceilings in basketball by calling NBA games and again when invited by the 49ers to be their stadium announcer for a game back in August 2023Whichever team wins the Super Bowl will not only receive the Vince Lombardi trophy and have a homecoming parade they also receive a Super Bowl ring! Over the years these have got bigger and more elaborate. Chris Poitras is vice president and chief operating officer of Jostens. They are the jewelers who have made the vast majority of Super Bowl rings over the years.This episode was updated on 9 February 2026 due to music rights restrictions.(Photo: Running Back Leonard Russell #32 of the New England Patriots runs the ball against the Phoenix Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium, 10 October,1993 in Tempe, Arizona. The Patriots won 23-21. (Bernstein Associates/Getty Images)

February, the month of love, the one with the fewest days and the in the northern hemisphere the last month of winter, but what you might not have realised is that February might also be the most exciting month of the year. And we have the guests to prove it! February hosts two massive sporting events, the Winter Olympics in Italy and the Super Bowl in California. So wrap up warm as we head to the ice and snow of Lombardy, and then get your sun lotion as we head to the Bay area and the Super BowlIranian skier Samaneh Beyrami Baher is all set to compete in the grueling cross country skiing event at the Winter Olympics in Italy. This is the second time Samaneh has qualified for the Games. When Iran's flag barer at the 2018 Games she caused a sensation with her emotional entrance at the Opening Ceremony. She tells us about her rigorous training, the challenges she's has had to overcome and why she's so confident in a new set of skis she's just received from Olympic champion Jessica Diggins.American Football and Politics... One is a brutal, winner takes all, adversarial, adrenaline fueled contest, where everyone has an opinion. The other is American Football! and the idea that sport and politics don't mix has been debated long and hard over recent years. Some believe players should stick to playing, others that they have a responsibility to use their platform to speak about matters that are important to them. Colin Allred has played both games. He made it to the NFL the hard way going undrafted, before being signed up to the Tennessee Titans. After playing he went back to school to study law and in 2018 was elected as a member of the House of Representative from his home state of Texas. His victory, a Democrat beating the incumbent Republican, was something of an upset. Having lost his seat in 2024, he's trying to regain it later this year.We have managed to find a story that neatly moves neatly from the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl. Kind of! Think Ice Bowl. Back to New Year's Eve 1967, when the Green Bay Packers played the Dallas Cowboys in one of the most famous games in American Football history. Played in Arctic temperatures, the match elevated the reputation of Packers' coach, Vince Lombardi stature. We hear from former Packers' lineman, Jerry Kramer.Photo: Iran's Samaneh Beyrami Baher practicing in Italy ahead of the Winter Olympics which start in February 2026 (Credit: Samaneh Beyrami Baher)

A record breaking NFL star, the woman who won bronze in only her third ever marathon and the swimmer who took on the drug cheats and won! This week all our guest have outstanding tales to tell, and they all come from the same US state! The great state of WisconsinEven before his NFL career was over Joe Thomas had bought up land in his native Wisconsin ready for what came after football. Joe's return came after a record breaking stint with the Cleveland Browns. Over 10 years he never missed a play, becoming the first, and only player to play ten thousand consecutive snaps! Ten Thousand! In a row! Well since retiring about ten years ago Joe has put that kind of dedication into his new career rearing beef.. And considering his status in the game, it's no surprise his business is called Hall of Fame Beef!Whilst it was common to see runner Molly Siedel in and around the village of Hartland on the banks of the Bark River in Wisconsin, no one expected to see her on the podium at the Olympics in Tokyo. Not least Molly! But that's exactly what happened in 2021 where seemingly out of nowhere she won a bronze medal. it was the culmination of a long journey for Molly after having to seek help for mental health issues and disordered eating. Coming up against someone you know is cheating, but can't prove it is intensely frustrating. Well that's what faced swimmer Wendy Boglioli at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. This was a time when some countries invested in state sponsored cheating. In this case the swimmers and athletes of East Germany. So how do you fight on, and win when the odds are not only stacked against you, but they are deliberately designed to see you lose? Well, somehow Wendy and her US team mates did just that and grabbed gold in a relay that no one thought they had a chance of winningThe amazing story of how a wounded Vietnam war veteran became an NFL Super Bowl champion. born and raised in Wisconsin Rocky Bleier was a with the Pittsburgh Steelers when in 1968 he was drafted into the US Army to serve in the Vietnam war. He was injured in combat and his career appeared over. But Rocky fought his way back to become a member of the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers team that won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. Not by the Playbook's Alex Last spoke to Rocky Bleier about his remarkable comeback.PHOTO: The uncle of Joe Thomas waits outside before the 2007 NFL Draft on April 28, 2007 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. (CREDIT: Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images)

Life is full of challenges. Some are caused by circumstances we have no control over. Sometimes our struggles are rooted in long held social attitudes that can take generations to change... and then there are those problems that come entirely from within ourselves, when our minds or bodies work differently from others. We've searched the globe to find 5 athletes with extraordinary tales of challenges they have overcome in every one of those categories.Basketballer Daniel Edozie is a former Division One college baller who also represented England on the international stage... but Daniel led a nomadic life as a child. He was born in the UK, and then taken to America by his mother but ended up being abandoned and living on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angles. Daniels ability to navigate such a dangerous place at such a young age is remarkable. So how did he take control of his own destiny and set his sights on sporting greatness?Runner Lauren Fleshman had a long and successful athletics career, including being twice US 5,000m champion. She retired a decade ago which meant she had more time for writing, something she'd enjoyed doing whilst competing. Her blog "Ask Lauren Fleshman" was a huge success, and when you hear Lauren speak, it's no surprising why people seek out her advice. Drawing on a lifetime of experience, Lauren then published her memoir 'Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World' tackling the added societal stresses and strains professional female sport stars have compared to their male counter parts.When suffer from physical frailty, the source of that difficulty is usually quite obvious, and the treatments well established, but when our brains work differently, the results can be very scary. Even getting the right diagnosis can be a challenge. It took footballer Millie Farrow years of uncertainty and confusion before she was diagnosed with the mental health condition Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The condition made the chances of her fulfilling her dream of becoming a professional footballer slim. Fast forward to today, and having learned how to live successfully with her OCD she's thrived. She's currently playing in Australia, but has also played for North Carolina Courage and several teams in her home country EnglandIt's a cruel joke that it's often those who seemingly have it all that can struggle the most. Marcus Smith II was a first round pick when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014. His NFL career continued to rise when he signed a lucrative contract with the Seattle Seahawks. It seemed Marcus was living the dream... but actually he was suffering with crippling anxiety, nothing new to him, it was something he had to deal with since he was just 8 years old.. but eventually it became too much for him to bear. Some of his story is difficult to hear, but after seeking help he was able to take a different path and is now helping others struggling with their mental health.When our bodies fail us sometimes it's our minds that make the difference. In 1981, jockey Bob Champion won a fairytale victory in Britain's most famous horse race, the Grand National. Two years earlier, Champion had been diagnosed with cancer, he put his survival through invasive treatment down to his focus on his life time dream. Winning the Grand National.PHOTO: Daniel Edozie #42 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 85-83 in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (CREDIT: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Sometimes the odds seem so stacked up, and the challenges so large you can lose your sense of self when trying to navigate a path to success. So this week we set aside all doubters, embrace the impossible and hear how those who were told they couldn't do it proved everyone wrong.Kelsie Whitmore is at the heart of a development in baseball that has been many years in the making. In 1943 a professional women's league started and lasted for 10 years, it was successful, if you've seen the Hollywood movie, A League of Their Own" with Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna then you'll already know. Well fast forward 70 odd years and women's professional baseball is back! The "WPBL" or Women's Pro Baseball League is set to launch later this year with four initial teams based in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The inaugural draft has just been held where San Francisco chose Kelsie Whitmore as the very first pick. No real surprise because alongside representing the USA. Kelsie was the first woman to appear in the Atlantic League, a successful, independent professional men's league.Football club Red Star Paris has built a culture that means it's cool to be a fan of the team. How have they achieved this? Well in no small part through the influence of the clubs former creative director David Bellion. His is a name not unknown amongst football fans. David Bellion played the game professionally for almost 20 years, ending at Red Star Paris but with four seasons at Manchester United along the way with Sir David Beckham, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo and all.Imagine being told you were too nice to succeed. That to get ahead you have to change your sunny disposition to a grumpy demeanor. That's what happened to double Commonwealth Games sprint champion Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. He tells us about how talked about how that upbeat personality helped him transition from star of the track to star of the small screen. He's currently "Nytro" on the UK TV show Gladiators and even when focused on winning gold at the Commonwealth Games he had one eye on what life beyond the 100m might look like for him.In 1967, the American motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel made his name with a spectacular - if unsuccessful - attempt to jump over the fountains of Caesar's Palace Casino in Las Vegas. We discover the man behind the legend.PHOTO: Kelsie Whitmore pitches in the bullpen before her game against the Charleston Dirty Birds at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on July 08, 2022 in Staten Island, New York. Whitmore was the first woman to appear in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game. She also became the first woman to pitch in an Atlantic League game. (CREDIT: Al Bello/Getty Images)

We look back on a year full of inspirational stories from around the world and interviews with people defying the odds!Inspirational stories from around the world. Interviews with people defying the odds Discover Not by the Playbook - the podcast which seeks out the most incredible stories from sportspeople and athletes. We bring you interviews with the sporting heroes who have achieved success in the face of seemingly impossible challenges. Formerly known as Sportshour, Not by the Playbook is brought to you by the BBC, the world's most trusted international news provider. Tune in to hear from some of the most famous names in sport on subjects you've never heard them discuss before. You don't have to be an Olympic gold champion to have an extraordinary story – we also scour the globe for inspiring individuals who make a difference through sport. Whether you're a football or soccer fan, tennis lover, golf aficionado or cricket addict, you'll find inspiration in the stories of resilience, determination, and discipline. Expect insightful, honest, and thought-provoking conversations from people who live and breathe sport. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media.

Hockey means different things to different people. In India it's second only to cricket in terms of popularity, but no the kind that is played on Ice... In Canada the frozen form of the game is the national sport, and has made worldwide stars on many of it's players, but those who represent the Canadian field hockey team are not well known. As we roam the globe we realise one thing really binds the two versions of the sport, amazing and inspiring storiesIn 2015 ice hockey player Daniel Carcillo was still living his dream playing for the Chicago Blackhawks and winning Stanley Cups. But despite having his named etched on the Staley Cup again in 2015 the year proved to be his last on the ice. Not even winning the most sort after prize in Ice hockey could hide the trauma he was going through. In February of that year he lost his best friend and former team mate Steve Montador. It was later revealed Montador had suffered with CTE, a degenerative brain condition is caused by concussions, something he and Daniel were more than used to as professional hockey players. Carcillo hung up his skates and left the rink for good but retirement did not bring him any peace, in fact his health deteriorated. Desperate for answer and living in the shadow of CTE, Daniel turned to researching alternative, less mainstream forms of treatment. He came to believe that the answers to the issues he was suffering with could be helped by Psilocybin, the main psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms. He tells us his story.Having represented New Zealand at the last four Olympics it's fair to say that Hugo Inglis has dedicated his life to the game of field hockey. Now into his mid 30's he decided to retire from the sport after the Paris Games, but unlike so many stories of sport stars struggling with life after competing, Hugo is thriving. What he's turned his hand to will have a far more reaching and positive impact in the world than he could ever imagine. Alongside friend and fellow athlete Marcus Daniell, Hugo has started High Impact Athletes an organisation which helps athletes channel the charitable efforts in a way that maxamises their money time and platform. Their mantra is "We believe in a world where all those who can give, give effectively".Field hockey in India is second only to cricket in terms of popularity... So it's not as unusual as you might think that when the women's team won an unlikely gold at the Commonwealth Games of 2002 their story inspired the hit Bollywood film, "Chak De India!" (Come On, India!), which is credited with improving attitudes to women's sport in India. Not by the Playbook's hears from to the Indian goal-keeper, Helen Mary Innocent.It's 45 years since the USA beat the USSR in the Ice hockey competition at the Winter Olympics of Lake Placid in 1980. It's one of the iconic stories in Games history and retold at every opportunity! but what about the the other side of the Miracle on Ice story? time to hear the Soviet players viewPhoto: Raitis Ivanans #41 of the Los Angeles Kings and Daniel Carcillo #13 of the Phoenix Coyotes are restrained by the officials during their game at Staples Center on Feburary 18, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (CREDIT: Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)

Having scoured the globe for the best stories from the world of sport we've decided to just drop in and hang about. Don't you think the best and most unexpected conversations often arise from just briefly stopping by? But our guests are far from slouches, in fact they are some of the most inspiring, innovative and industrious people you could ever wish to meet!We start by dropping in on a new world record holder. Brazilian Sandro Diaz is one of those athletes whose brain seems to work slightly differently to most others, and in a most wonderful way. A skateboarder of great experience, he's 50 years old, he recently fulfilled a dream he'd had for decades. For this story it's important to learn some of the lingo ... most importantly the "drop in"... that's how you get going from the top of a ramp. You balance on the edge, shift your weight forward and off you go hurtling down the ramp on your skateboard. In competition it might be six or eight feet. That's nothing to Sandro, who has just "dropped in" from 260 feet, that's about a quarter of the way up the Empire State Building. No safety harness, no parachute, just a man, his skateboard, a ramp and very tall building in BrazilThe Olympic discipline of modern pentathlon is, well, modernising. For the LA games in 2028 running, shooting, swimming and fencing stay but OUT goes showjumping and in comes obstacle course racing to make up the five disciplines. Historically the preserve of school playgrounds or army training programmes, the Obstacle Course has been popularised in recent years by TV shows like Ninja Warriors. Britain's Mila Stanzani recently returned from the Obstacle Course World Championships with a bronze medalPremier League side Brentford is a family club, where a warm welcome is guaranteed, proved in part by a new initiative the club have got behind. Initially it was to help the mental health of the players but now it's being rolled out across the local community. It's the simplest idea of just hanging out and chatting on a park bench. Not by the Playbook's Steve Crossman has been to find out morePlus we're hanging out with Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci. An icon of Olympic sport she was just 14 years old she achieved the first ever 'perfect 10' at the Montreal Olympics of 1976. PHOTO: Sandro Dias performs during Red Bull Building Drop Project in Porto Alegre, Brazil on September 07, 2025. (CREDIT: Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool)

For nearly 50 years drivers have attempted to navigate the Paris to Dakar Rally. It is an off-road endurance event over all types of terrain from tarmac to gravel to sand. You can take part in a car or on a motor bike, but if you do not have the right skills and support team around you then you can find yourself lost in the Sahara desert. In 2001 German Jutta Kleinschmidt became the first, and still the only woman to win the event, but that is not the twist in her story.The cult classic film Escape to Victory from the early 1980s features the unexpected mix of Hollywood mega stars Silvester Stallone, Michael Caine and football legend Pele, with a plot set in Nazi occupied France. We hear from John Smith who has recently published a book called Escape: A Love Letter to a Cult Football Classic. Badminton is a sport watched and loved by millions of people. It is a sport dominated by athletes from the far East, but at the Athens Games of 2004 Britain's Gail Emms, along side her partner Nathan Robertson, were on the brink of mixed doubles gold. But once Gail had retired from the game the unexpected twists and turns of life saw her struggle to cope. She has detailed it all in her autobiography Grit and Goose Feathers: Chasing Medals and Finding Me. My Olympic Journey Uncovered.Dutch goalkeeper Eddy Treijtel played more than 300 times for Rotterdam giants, Feyenoord. But he is best remembered for one of his most talked about moments and remarkable incidents in soccer history! Eddy has been telling us about the unexpected moment that went down in football folklore.Inspirational stories from around the world. Interviews with people defying the odds Discover Not by the Playbook - the podcast which seeks out the most incredible stories from sportspeople and athletes. We bring you interviews with the sporting heroes who have achieved success in the face of seemingly impossible challenges. Formerly known as Sportshour, Not by the Playbook is brought to you by the BBC, the world's most trusted international news provider. Tune in to hear from some of the most famous names in sport on subjects you've never heard them discuss before. You don't have to be an Olympic gold champion to have an extraordinary story – we also scour the globe for inspiring individuals who make a difference through sport. Whether you're a football or soccer fan, tennis lover, golf aficionado or cricket addict, you'll find inspiration in the stories of resilience, determination, and discipline. Expect insightful, honest, and thought-provoking conversations from people who live and breathe sport. Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media.(Photo: Actor Sylvester Stallone (L) getting pointers from soccer great Pele (R) during filming of motion picture Escape to Victory. Credit: John Bryson/Getty Images)

***The first part of this interview discusses topics that some may find distressing*** At 6ft 4' and over 300 pounds, Welshwoman Rebecca Roberts is the current, and three times winner of the World's Strongest Woman Championship. But for Rebecca competing in displays of great strength is about more than just showing the world that healthy women can have body shapes of all types and sizes. For her the sport was her saviour, a way to boost her self esteem and self worth, and reclaim what had been so cruelly taken from her. Britain's Emma Finucane did not just have to overcome the physical challenges to become an Olympic champion in Paris, she had to battle her way through the stigma of developing a body built for cycling, where legs are the engine and the muscles, something that does not fit with what a stereotype of what a woman's body should look like. The global fitness industry is estimated to be worth more than $250 billion and growing. But with so much money at stake, not to mention the health of humanity, what is the best form of training and fitness? Dr Conor Heffernan from Ulster University has recently published his latest book, When Fitness Went Global: The Rise of Physical Culture in the Nineteenth Century. It is a book about the history of the fitness industry intertwined with his own fitness journeyAt the Seoul Olympics of 1988 American sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner became the first American woman to win four medals in a single games. She also broke the world record in the 200m to go along with her 100m record achieved earlier that same year. Both records still stand to this day! But Flo-Jo, as she was nicknamed, was also famous for her flamboyant nails and unique dress sense. In a rare interview, Flo-Jo's husband Al Joyner, remembers her achievements and premature death in 1998.(Photo: Collectible illustrated tobacco or cigarette card, published in 1938 by Ardath Tobacco Company, depicting a woman demonstrating the two positions for side stretching. Credit: Nextrecord Archives/Getty Images)

Dame Laura Kenny is the most decorated female cyclist in Olympic history with 5 gold and one silver medal. Alongside her husband Sir Jason Kenny who has 7 golds and two silvers, they are the most golden family in Olympic history! Both are now retired and are busy raising their three children. But far from falling away from the public eye, Dame Laura has used her platform to talk about subjects that are considered taboo, like her ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. Talking openly is something that has helped Laura throughout her life and career and it could have been very very different. As a child Laura suffered with asthma, a chronic respiratory condition which resulted in her having a collapsed lung. For many it would have put them off from pushing themselves athletically, but for Laura that wasn't an option.Marlie Packer was a member of the squad of the recently crowned Rugby Union World Champions. The Red Roses enjoyed the ultimate success by beating Canada in a final watched by a record breaking crowd of more than 80,000 fans. Marlie was also part of the England set up that won the World Cup in 2014. Now 36, her career has coincided with the growth of the women's game from the early amateur days where Marlie juggled her international career alongside her job as a plumber.Millie Bright has just about won it all. She led the England women's football into the 2023 World Cup final, and the year before she was part of the team who won the European Championships. So her decision to withdraw from this years European championship was a shock to all. Domestically she has more than 300 appearances for Chelsea, during which time the west London side have won eight league titles, and nine FA and League cups and all through out there was Millie. So how has she done it?In 2007 English triathlete Chrissie Wellington surprised everyone by wining the prestigious World Ironman Championship in Hawaii. It turned out to be the first in a series of victories and world records... the remarkable thing is that Wellington only became a professional athlete in her late 20s after giving up a successful career in development. PHOTO: Gold medallist Dame Laura Kenny (nee Trott) of Great Britain celebrates after winning the Women's Omnium Track Cycling at the London 2012 Olympics (CREDIT: Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Imagine being10 metres in the air wearing nothing more than a pair of swimming trunks, with the eyes of thousands of fans staring up. It's 2008 and the Beijing Olympics are in full flow. We're at the aquatic centre as the final round of dives are taking place. Unsurprisingly there is huge backing for the pair of Chinese divers who are sitting in the top spots. Australia's Matthew Mitchum is the penultimate diver. An Olympic medal and a lifetimes dream is there for the taking. He talks us through that moment and keeping cool and executing when it really matters. Mitchum dived into the record book that day. Not only had he set an Olympic record he had won the first Olympic gold medal won by an openly gay athlete. But the media interest in him was there in the build-up to those Beijing games. Answering one question spontaneously and truthfully changed everything for Australia's golden boy.Brazilian Roger Gracie is one of jiu-jitsu's most decorated athletes. A ten time world champion, many say he is the greatest of all time! It's no surprise that Roger's career saw him rise to and stay at the top. His grandfather created the sport and his father was one of it's greatest proponents, and that brought a pressure to succeed. So how, in the heat of battle did he manage to execute his game plan so successfully? He's recently written a book called "Warrior Mindset" and explained what the title means. And whilst the book is focused on Roger's warrior mindset, writing it caused him to open up about parts of his life that had laid dormant for many years : One of the big events of next year is the Winter Olympics in Italy. For many sports its a chance to enjoy their moment in the spotlight that only an Olympics can bring. No surprise then there's always a queue of sports lobbying to be included. Hoping for their chance in 2030 is the sport of Freeriding. Unlike traditional slopes, where the runs are marked and controlled, freeriders seek out natural, off piste trails so they can take whatever path they choose. It will come too late for former World Champion Manuela Mandl, now retired but she still gets a buzz when the Winter Olympics comes around. But the truth is that for many winter sport athletes, particularly in a non Olympic discipline, making ends meet can be hard. So how do you execute your game plan when its not just a matter of winning or losing, but whether you can pay the bills? Speaking to us from her home in the shadow of the mountains of Austria, Manuela explained just how difficult it can be It's nearly 35 years since Wade Leslie stunned the world of professional rodeo by becoming the first – and only – cowboy to achieve a perfect score of 100 points for a bull-ride. Leslie stayed in full control of an angry 1500-pound bull called Wolfman at a meeting in Oregon in 1991. He's been recalling that bumpy, but perfect ridePHOTO: Matthew Mitcham of Australia competes in the Men's 10m Platform Diving at the London 2012 Olympic Games (CREDIT: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

They say there are two types of people, those who see the glass half-empty, and those who see it half-full. Which one are you? For this edition of Not by the Playbook all our guests see their glass not just half full but positively overflowing! For them, staying positive is a way of life. They'd tell you that with the right mindset you can achieve anything. Don't believe them? Well we have four female athletes whose unshakeable belief in themselves has given them life after trauma. When cheerleading is mentioned it might conjure up an image of the super pretty, super popular "mean girl" in high school shaking pom poms, but the competitive sport of cheerleading is very different. Physically demanding, technically challenging and fiercely competitive. Makayla Noble knows all about it. She was a high school 'All-American' for three consecutive years and when on to take part in the 2019 Cheer World Championship and then one day in September 2021 whilst practicing everything changed.They say ignorance is bliss, that sometimes you're better off not knowing what's round the corner. That's true for golfer Alison Johns. Alison recently returned from winning a gold medal at the World Transplant Games in Germany. It featured 2,500 athletes from 51 countries all of whom owed their lives to an organ transplant. Alison received a new liver in 2009.Ten years ago Kelsy Boyer moved from the tranquil countryside of Pennsylvania to the snow-capped mountains of Colorado. Her aim was to secure a place on the US Snowboarding team for the 2018 Winter Olympics. As she attempted to qualify she suffered a concussion on the slopes. Untreated she very nearly died. Compelled to prevent others from suffering like she had, she started Save a Brain, a non profit aimed at educating not just athletes about the dangers of concussion In October 2013, American Minda Dentler became the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the super-endurance, Ironman World Championship ; a distance of over 250 km. Born into poverty in India, Minda has been telling Not by the Playbook how she overcame serious physical illness to realise her athletic dream in Hawaii.Photo: Makayla Noble returns to the gym after her accident. (Credit Makayla Noble Instagram/@makaylamnoble)

You ever get that feeling things aren't quite what they seem to be? That feeling when something looks, smells and sounds as you'd expect, but there's something just a little bit different, and you can't quite put your finger on why. Like baseball, but with an unusual accent. Or the Olympic champion that uses a kite, but out in the ocean!We're on our bikes with the oldest woman to win an Olympic cycling medal in the team pursuit discipline. Dotise Bauch was nearly forty when she won silver as part of the US team at London 2012. A remarkable achievement, made all the more remarkable by her late arrival into the sport, she was advised by a therapist to take up cycling to improve her mental health, but also because she placed on the podium on a plant powered diet.It looks simple enough, but there are fewer more technically demanding sports than Kitesurfing. You ride a board under you, with a massive kite above you and your job is to navigate a course out on water faster than anyone else, propelled by the wind and your ability to stay on the board! And if you still aren't sure exactly what the sport involves worry not because Olympic champion Ellie Aldridge, who won gold in women's kite foiling in Paris in 2024, will explain allAs Baseball's World Series Champions are crowned you might be forgiven for thinking that your options for enjoying a game is limited... but what if i told you there was in fact a small but thriving passion for the game in a place you might not expect! And whilst we know that baseball isn't just an American sport and it's hugely popular in East Asia, the Caribbean, and in South and Central America as well. But Europe? Well perhaps that's more of a surprise to fans whose commitment is to the Blue Jays, the Dodgers or the Yankee's. We are in search of baseball fanatics on the other side of the Atlantic.Photo: Dotsie Bausch of the USA rides at the front in the Women's Team Pursuit (CREDIT: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Basketball pioneer Ann Meyers Drysdale joins us to look at her remarkable career on and off the court. A leading light as women's professional basketball took off in the late 1970s, she was not afraid to mix it up with the men, even being paid to be part of the practice squad for an NBA team! Also an Olympic history maker she tells us about the changes she has seen since her playing days to now as Vice President for the Phoenix Suns and Mercury.Ice Hockey has a rough and tumble reputation. Some suggest it's one of the reasons so few players have opened up about their sexuality. Former professional player Brock McGillis is one of the very few who has. Now retired he spends his time advocating for and educating players, fans and coaches on inclusivity and in making the sport a welcoming environmentThe baseball season is coming to its exciting conclusion, but despite having some of the most recognisable names in world sport playing the game, baseball has suffered a dip in popularity in recent years. Some suggest it's become too slow, even a bit dull. The MLB, the governing body, have introduced new rules this season to speed up the game, but could they take a few notes from the creator of the hugely successful and fast moving Banana Ball? Jesse Cole, is the creator and owner of the Savannah Bananas and explained ow it works, why it's so successful, and why he was wearing a bright yellow tuxedo for the interview!?In 1958, the New York Giants played the Baltimore Colts in the NFL championship game. The match was so exciting it turned American Football into a successful television sport virtually overnight. The clash became known as the "Greatest Game". Veteran American sports commentator, Bob Wolff, who covered the match, tells us why it was so great!(Photo: A large United States flag as seen from right field before Game Three of the National League Division Series between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on October 8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Credit: Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)

They say if you want a stable relationship, get a horse! But hey sometimes doing things off the hoof works just as well.  This week we're saddling up and on the trail for the most inspirational stories from the world of sport - the equestrian edition..."Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway" So said Hollywood icon John Wayne. And that's true of our first guest because Lissa Bachner's story is nothing short of incredible. Alongside her horse Milo, she's won show jumping competitions all over America. She's considered one of the best amateurs out there. Show jumping is an unforgiving sport where a horse and rider navigate a course of jumps as quickly as possible without incurring faults. The goal is to complete the course with the fewest penalties in fastest time without knocking down the fences. So, imagine doing all of that and being blind. That's right. Lissa Bachner is blind, but it hasn't stopped her and Milo making their mark on the equestrian world Show jumping, three-day eventing and dressage are the most common forms of equestrian sport. All Olympic disciplines they test rider and horse and the relationship they have. It's one of very very few sports in the Olympics where men and women compete together. And yet only once has a woman topped the official world rankings. So, meet Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who was born in the USA but after marrying decided to represent Germany. She went on the win bronze at the Rio Games of 2016. With over two million dollars in prize money, cowboy hats as far as the eye can see and a sport that has more than a touch of the Wild West... We are going to spend a little bit of time emersed in what's known as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth" Each July in Canada the Calgary Stampede attracts thousands of fans... But is a celebration of athletic endeavour and cultural heritage, or outdated and cruel to animals?  If a man raced a horse who would win?  Well, it has been on the minds of a small town in Wales for quite some time. In fact, since 1980 they have been hosting an annual race to find out the answer. Not By the Playbook has been hearing from long distance runner Huw Lobb and race creator Gordon Green about the day that two legs out ran four for the very first time.PHOTO: Saddle Bronc rider, Bailey Small in action during the 2025 edition of the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 11, 2025. (CREDIT: Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images)

We like to think of ourselves as a bit maverick here on Not by the Playbook. Nothing too outrageous, but we like to think outside of the box... and so we present to you a show dedicated to those athletes whose decision to think out side of the box has served them well. People who have gone against the grain, challenged the established thinking and come out on topOlivia Reeves has literally done the heavy lifting in making her sport more accessible to those who want to try, but were too intimidated to do so. From her home in Chattanooga in the US state of Tennessee, she has been telling us about how she became Olympic weightlifting champion, on developing a winning mind set and becoming the first American to win Weightlifting gold in 24 years, and how her life has changed since.Yana Daniels has taken the concept of out of the box thinking and made it real. No ideas or theories... Yana Daniels literally makes boxes! A top tier footballer and Belgium international she was hoping to play a part in the country's recent Women's Euro campaign, but sadly wasn't picked in the final squad. But that didn't stop Yana from being a really important part of the competition. In fact despite Belgium not making out of the group stages they were represented in the final and indeed every single game, through Yana! She explains allWhen people hit a certain age some look back on what they have achieved and wonder if it's enough.. and what could the future hold? The stereotype is the man buying a fast car, or a leather jacket... Peter Wright went in a different direction. Aged 40 and over weight, Peter's "out of the box" moment saw him change his life completely. He got FIT and set off on achieving some of the world's most difficult feat's of athletic ability. He recently wrote about his adventures a book called "A Mid-Life Less Ordinary - From Ultramarathon Insanity to Rowing the Atlantic at Fifty" and told me about some of the "hairier" moments of the past 10 years or so!Whilst most of our guests used their "out of the box thinking" for good, our next story shows sometime it's used for villainous reasons! Join us at the finishing line of the Boston Marathon in 1980. Men's champion Bill Rodgers was very much expected to be there first, and he was. What was much less anticipated was the presence of the unheard of Cuban runner Rosie Ruiz, who was duly crowned the women's winner. But all was not quite what it seemed.Photo: Olivia Reeves of Team United States performs a clean and jerk during the Weightlifting Women's 71kg on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at South Paris Arena (CREDIT: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Katie Smith presents a show all about survival and Dutch triathlete Els Visser knows exactly what it takes to survive against the odds. In 2014, Visser was a medical student travelling in Indonesia when the boat she was on started to sink. She made the decision to swim eight hours to a deserted island where she was finally rescued by a passing boat the next day. This not only saved her life, but it also set her on a career path that she never once imagined would be possible. She shares her story and how surviving a shipwreck led to her becoming a successful triathlete.Danny Rensch has helped change the way chess is played, but his own path to chess mastery is one of trauma, isolation and resilience to the point he says chess saved him. He shares how chess was his tormentor but also his mentor with this talent for the game taken advantage of when he was younger and growing up in what he describes as a cult. He now says chess has helped provide solace through how he's now helping others enjoy the game.Eric Murangwa Eugene explains how football saved his life during the Rwandan genocide. At the time, he was an 18-year-old goalkeeper for one of Rwanda's top football clubs. He tells Jake Warren why his life was saved when gunmen recognised him as a footballer.Not by the Playbook also catches up with Kate Hwang – a former Kansas City police officer injured in the line of duty – after her medal success at the World Para Athletics Championships.Image: Els Visser of The Netherlands celebrates winning the pro women's race during IRONMAN Maastricht-Limburg on August 5, 2018 in Maastricht, Netherlands. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images for IRONMAN)Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media.

On the weekend where the USA and Europe go head-to-head at golf's Ryder Cup, Not by the Playbook's Katie Smith is bringing you inspirational sporting stories from both sides of the Atlantic.Kate Hwang was living her dream in 2003 as a Kansas City police officer but then a routine traffic stop changed her life forever. She sustained a traumatic brain injury in the line of duty. She's representing the USA at the World Para Athletics Championships for the first time and she tells her story ahead of competing in the women's shot put and 100m in New Delhi.Brooke Johnson has become the first woman to skateboard across the US. She recently completed the feat after skateboarding over 5,000 kilometres from California to Virginia Beach. She shares her 119-day journey and why she decided to do this in memory of her stepfather, Roger.From one history-maker to another, Kumru Say is the first horse rider to compete for Turkey at a senior eventing championships. She had never evented until five years ago and her story is one of making sacrifices to pursue her dream having moved to Germany at the age of 14.How did the Ryder Cup get its name? We hear the story of Samuel Ryder, the English businessman who the famous golf competition is named after, and how his influence led to its inception almost 100 years ago.Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media. A detailed view of the Ryder Cup trophy is seen in the press conference center on Thursday practice round prior to the Ryder Cup 2025 at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 25, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images)

Between the Olympics of 1924 and 1948, art was competed for at the Games. Gold medals were awarded in painting, architecture and poetry. It was only removed from the Olympics because the artists were not amateur… but could art return to the Games? We hear from the man who this week has been recognised as the creator of the Olympism art genre. Known as the "Olympic Picasso" Roald Bradstock tells us first about his early life and successful athletic career, reaching two Olympic Games representing Team GB in the javelin. After he stopped throwing he picked up a paint brush and created a genre of art that has been recognised globally with his works being exhibited all over the world. He has been commissioned by the IOC to celebrate recent Games and he has a new exhibition opening this week… He tells us his story and his hope for a return of art to the Olympic Games  David Voboro was drafted last in the 2008 NFL thus earning the title of  "Mr Irrelevant" but against the odds David's football career was a successful one. However what he has achieved since arguably outshines anything he achieved on the field. After retiring he set up a training center for members of the US armed forces and others who had limbs amputated. The resource has allowed many people to regain and retain their fitness and improved the quality of their lives in the process. He also discusses the difficulties NFL players face and the drugs they often uncontrollably take to keep playing and how he finally overcame his addiction to painkillers.Earlier this year The PGA of America named Lewine Mair as the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism. She was the first woman to be awarded the honour and was the latest in a long line of firsts for a woman who has paved the way for women in the world of sports journalism, particularly golf. Away from the golf course Lewnie also wrote about the decline of her husband's health. Norman Mair, the former Scottish international rugby union and cricket player suffered with Alzheimer's and Lewnie chronicled the difficult journey they all went on before his passing in a book called Tapping Feet. She tells us about the experience including discovering the remarkable effect her piano playing had on lifting his mood. Lewine's book Tapping Feet: A Double-take on Care Homes and Dementia, is available from Amazon.Photo: Roald Bradstock competes in the men's javelin during day six of the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials on July 4, 2008 in Eugene, Oregon. (CREDIT: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

River...Martin Strel is a swimming marvel. The Slovenian holds multiple world records, and his specialty is swimming the entire length of rivers... Amazon, Thames, Mississippi, Yangtze, Danube, you name it, he's swam it. Except the Nile! So why not?! Martin tells us about his amazing feats of swimming and why the Nile is not on his list of river results.Deep...In 2000, Jill Heinerth was already a renowned diver, known for her exploits mapping vast underground cave networks in Florida. Filming for a National Geographic documentary brought a new and unprecedented challenge; a vast iceberg known as B-15 had broken away from an ice shelf in Antarctica, providing a unique chance to explore its networks of underground caves. Braving sub zero temperatures and the treachery of constantly shifting ice, Jill became the first person to ever enter one of these caves - a historic milestone in diving.Mountain... Joshua Patterson is an ultra-marathon runner who later this month will attempt to become the first man to complete a marathon at over 6,000 metres altitude. Having successfully become the first person to run 76 marathons in the 76 cities in the UK...in 76 days he's pushing himself to the very edge of physical exertion. He tells us about what he fears the most about this latest challenge, and his motivation the passing of his godson Archie and raising money for www.babylossclub.com, charity Archie's parents have set-up.High... The world's best athletes are back in Tokyo this week for the World Athletics Championships. It's a return to the city that hosted the delayed Olympics in 2021. But, the high jump competition will have to go a long way to compete with the drama of four years ago, when Italian Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar's Mutaz Bar-sham SHARED the gold medal; the first time that's happened in athletics in over a hundred years. lions around the world… As you Gianmarco is a real character. Before Tokyo he was famous for turning up to competitions having shaved half his beard! That's right one side of his face hairy, the other clean shaven. What made Gianmarco's journey to gold even more remarkable was he'd missed the Rio Games due to injury. The cast he had worn on his his ankle, served as inspiration, accompanying him all around the world, including that night at the Olympic stadiumPhoto: Record Breaking Swimmer Martin Strel Emerges From The River Thames In London To Launch A Film About His 3,375 Mile Swim Down The Amazon Entitled 'Big River Man. (CREDIT: John Phillips/UK Press via Getty Images)

Every Hollywood box office success needs a great title track, and that's certainly true of hit 1980's coming of age film St Elmo's Fire. Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Andie MacDowell and the rest of the "Brat Pack" all gave suitably good performances, but the most memorable part of the film was undoubtably the title track, St Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) It reached the top of the US billboard charts in September 1985 and represented singer songwriter John Parr's most successful track. Forty years later people are still singing the song, but most people don't know about the hidden and surprising inspiration behind the song. And it has nothing to do with the film!We hear from both performer John Parr and the man who inspired the song, Canadian para athlete Rick Hansen.Plus other remarkable "Men in Motion" including Olympic medalist Matt Richardson who has just broken the record to become the fastest man on a bike. Janet Guthrie became the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 - the biggest race in American motorsport. Guthrie, a former aerospace engineer, had faced opposition and scepticism from male drivers and some sections of the press.Photo: A view of the Original Motion Picture title track of Columbia Pictures movie "St. Elmo's Fire" in 1985. (Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

New Orleans is known as the party capital of the South, synonymous with warm welcomes, Mardi Gras, and all that Jazz. But in August 2005 that all changed, now when people think of New Orleans, they think of Hurricane Katrina. The Super Dome, where the Super Bowl will be played, was the city's “shelter of last resort” in 2005. So, if you did not have the means of escaping, or had nowhere to go, you could find sanctuary at the Super Dome. What happened next at the Super Dome would define the misery, suffering and devastation the hurricane would cause. What happened there just over a year later symbolised the city's resolution, recovery, and rebirth. At the very heart of it would be Doug and Denise Thornton. Doug was, and still is, the manager of the Super Dome, through their eyes we will learn what it was like to be in the Super Dome when Katrina hit and how it was rebuilt. Denise created the Beacon of Hope Foundation and helped reinvigorate and regenerate neighborhoods many thought lost to the flooding.As a photo journalist Ted Jackson has covered everything New Orleans had to throw at him. He'd also covered the devastating earthquakes in Mexico in 1985, but nothing prepared him for the devastation of his own city. He tells us about what he saw and the difficult decision to put his camera downPhoto: A woman screams for help during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Credit: Ted Jackson www.tedjacksonphoto.com)

Not by the Playbook is celebrating the start of the Women's Rugby World Cup by hearing from two people who know what it's like to compete on the global stage and the impact and legacy it can have.Legacy is often talked about when it comes to tournaments like this and what impact the global exposure can have on future generations. This has been at the forefront of former French international Lénaïg Corson's mind ever since she retired as a player. The World Cup bronze medallist from 2017 is now developing the next generation of players through the “Rugby Girl Academy” she founded, and she tells Katie Smith how carrying the Olympic torch last year was symbolic in handing over the baton once her playing career had ended.One player who is hoping for success this year is England's Ellie Kildunne who says this tournament is “going to change rugby”. Last year's World Rugby's Women's 15s Player of the Year wants to make sure she captures as many moments as she can. She explains why her camera was one of her must have items for this World Cup - and why she's even bought a new one especially for the occasion.Former Scottish pole vaulter Henrietta Paxton speaks to Sophia Hartley about how her life changed forever after a gym accident left her paralysed from the waist down. Henrietta had competed at two Commonwealth Games, but she slipped while doing a squat, causing a barbell to fall on top of her. She explains how she's having to use all her tenacity and resilience to adapt to life.We're also finding out about the World Egg Throwing Championships from the president of the world federation, Andy Dunlop. What is egg throwing and what does it take to become world champion?Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media.Image: Lenaig Corson of Barbarians passes the ball during the Killik Cup match between Barbarians Women and Springbok Women's XV at Twickenham Stadium on November 27, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Could there be a bigger contrast? As the richest soccer league in the world, the English Premier League, gets it new season underway we are on the streets of Oslo meeting the players of the Homeless World Cup and how they are using soccer to turn their lives around. David Duke is the chief executive and founder of Street Soccer Scotland, the charity which transforms lives through football. Fourteen years ago, he was sleeping rough and living in hostels when he saw an advertisement for Homeless World Cup. He was selected to represent his country and three years later, in 2007, he managed the Scottish team who lifted the trophy. Have you, or your child got what it takes to be a Premier League footballer? The fact is that most players are recruited by the age or 8. So how can you spot who is going to make it to the top at such a young age? Chris Robinson knows, he spent twelve year as part of the recruitment team at Chelsea's academy. He tells us what it's like trying to spot talent, the massive names he helped find, and some he rejected but that went on to become world class.For Keith Salmon going to watch his beloved Liverpool is about more than just the game. For him it's about friendship and community Keith's is a story about so much more than just supporting the champions home and away, it's about what the sport of football gives him and his familyIn May 2012, Manchester City won their first Premier League title with a nail-biting injury time victory in the last game of the season. In a goal that made football history, Argentine striker Sergio Agüero rocketed the ball past the QPR keeper in the 94th minute. We hear from former Manchester City defender Micah Richards about his memories of the match.Photo: A detailed view of the Premier League trophy, dressed in red ribbons, prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield on May 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (CREDIT: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

In 2001 Wojtek Czyz had just signed his first professional contract with the German football side Fortuna Köln. His career was set for take-off but in his very first season he suffered an injury which ultimately resulted in the amputation of his left leg. Determined to stay active Wojtek trained hard and became one of the leading lights of the Paralympic movement. He won seven track and field medals, including three golds at the Athens games of 2004. When his athletics career came to an end, the question like for so many was what next ? For Wojtek that was settling sail on a boat with cargo of prosthetic legs handing them out to anyone in need. His destination was New Zealand, where he was struck by the lack of support for para sport. So, by the time of the Paris Games in 2024 Wojtek had qualified to represent his new country in Badminton. Why? Well, to prove a point and change people's views on disability rights! Cheering from the stands was his good friend and former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp no less. In 1992, the Algerian runner, Hassiba Boulmerka, won gold in the women's 1500m at the Barcelona Olympics. Before the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, her success had made her a political opponent for extremists. An imam had told her that running in shorts was anti-Islam. "My image didn't fit in at all with their ideology," is how she describes it. She was forced to do all her training abroad. She defied death threats from Islamist extremists to win one of the best women's middle-distance races of all time.Laurence Fisher is a former world karate champion who hung up her black belt and medals years ago, but she is now using the sport to help women who are survivors of sexual and physical violence re-discover their self-respect and confidence. The karate lessons they attend are not about self-defence but re-appropriating their bodies after years of abuse. We went to one of the classes in the southern French city of Toulouse.The perfectly manicured fairways of Augusta National - the home of golf's Masters - with its rolling greens and vibrant colours of the azaleas, is one of the perfect images of sport. Contrast that with poverty and struggle experienced by some residents of Sand Hill, just a long drive off the tee from the exclusive golf club. That's where Carl Jackson grew up, but he would go onto experience the highs of Augusta National, winning The Masters twice whilst caddying for Ben Crenshaw.If you're affected by any of the issues raised go to befrienders.orgPhoto: Wojtek Czyz of Team New Zealand and Jürgen Klopp poses for a picture on day one of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games (CREDIT: Kevin Voigt/GettyImages)

We meet the ultra-marathon runner with a love of breaking records and taboos. As side from breaking the two treadmill World Record, Sophie Power has completed some of the toughest, longest and energy sapping races. It was whilst doing one of the world's most famous, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc that a picture of her breastfeeding her second child went viral. It raised all sorts of questions about the lack of equity between male and female competitors and forced the sport to rethink its attitude to womenLife in the mountains is both a dazzling display of nature with a twist of constant danger. Free ride skier Kim Vinet spent many years competing and then more than a decade guiding others on and around the pristine and untouched snow of British Columbia. She explains the dramatic views and exhilaration of skiing these untouched paths, and the difficulty of loss all too often experienced in mountain communities. Kim is also part of the EcoAthletes collective, a non-profit that inspires and coaches athletes to lead climate action.Emma Pooley enjoyed cycling up mountains so much, she eventually moved to Switzerland! The Olympic medallist in the Beijing time trial is now a triathlete and she's being powered by her own recipes! Having looked at what was available and how it didn't meet her needs, Emma has developed more than 50 recipes for a new cookbook for aspiring and actual athletes attempting to climb their own mountainsIn 2013, Arunima Sinha became the first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest - just two years after suffering an horrific accident during an armed robbery on a train in the north of India. The accident robbed Arunima of a promising career in volleyball, but she was determined to prove to herself that she could still do anything.Photo: A young mother carrying her little child in a child carrier rucksack on her back. Kangtega Mountain can be seen in the background. (CREDIT: Frank Bienewald/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Not by the Playbook's Katie Smith is in Switzerland venue of the 2025 Women's European Championship final.Our first guest couldn't be further from Switzerland if she tried, and sadly the national side she represented is a long way from being able to play competitive matches. Born in Afghanistan, Mursal Sadat played football for her country. Then in August 2021 the Taliban returned and Mursal had to make a chaotic and emotional escape. She now lives in Australia where she tells us about how much she owes to the football family, how she misses her mum, dad and brothers immensely and how she hopes once again to represent Afghanistan on the highest level.Switzerland has been a great host nation. Enthusiastic crowds, city centre's bedecked in the colours of those competing and, of course, it's being watched by millions of people all over the world. It's all a far cry from the very first European competition for women's football. In 1984, 16 teams battled it out across Europe, before the final was between Sweden and England. We hear from the winning Swedish captain Anette Börjesson.Maria Karlsson De Cecco has been keeping a close eye on the Euro's here in Switzerland, not least because she has many of her clients involved. The football industry is made up of not just players and coaches, but support staff, trainers, journalists and even football agents. Maria Karlsson De Cecco was a top-flight footballer in many European countries but after she hung up her boots she became a football agent, with a difference. She only deals with people in the women's game, and her goal is dedicated to enhancing and empowering all those involved in the women's game.Photo: Elisabetta Oliviero of Italy looks dejected and is comforted by Alex Greenwood of England after the teams defeat and elimination from the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 on July 22, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. (CREDIT: Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)

LA is the spiritual home of skateboarding. But it has come a long way from its past as “counterculture” and is now part of the Olympic games which return to Los Angeles in 2028. When Skateboard Hall of Fame inductee, Jaime Reyes started out in the 1990's she was all alone in a man's world. Her rise to the top of the sport was as much about her own personal success as it was about getting other girls to see what is possible.When we play a board game, we can get 5 or 6 friends around the board at the most but imagine playing your favourite game with 20,000 others. You need somewhere pretty big for that. So how about the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York? Brennan Lee Mulligan did just that with his version of the game Dungeons and Dragons. Simon Parker heads to Hawaii, the birthplace of surfing, to find out how the sport developed into an Olympic discipline. And we hear from Garrett McNamara of the who broke the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed officially judged to be 78ft.And how do you go about creating a new board game? Well Professor Mary Flanagan has a Games Lab at Dartmouth University* to research board games! She explains the hidden messages in every one we play. Katie Smith provides the weekly brain teaser from the Women's Euros in SwitzerlandPhoto: (Original Caption) 2/16/1965-New York, NY-Alfred Hitchcock won't reveal the subject of his next movie, but he's obviously bored with the former friends who starred in his scare-film "The Birds." The maestro of mayhem was caught in the "ho hum" mood when he dropped in at the Rizzoli Bookstore on New York's Fifth Avenue, to check on the latest "Ghoulology." CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES*We incorrectly stated in the podcast the university that Professor Mary Flanagan has her Game Lab. It is in fact located at Dartmouth.

Roger Taylor was the British tennis number one who fell out with his contemporaries while coming tantalisingly close to winning Wimbledon. He found himself engulfed in controversy through his defiance of the 1973 Wimbledon boycott, which almost tore his world apart. He tells us about his near Wimbledon misses and how he was a leading contender to replace Sean Connery as James Bond. Fifty years ago Arthur Ashe pulled off an amazing feat, upsetting the odds and becoming the first black man to win the Wimbledon Men's final when he beat fellow American Jimmy Connors - but it was not something he wanted to define his life. His fight to break down barriers around racial discrimination was closer to his heart - and apartheid South Africa became one of his battle grounds. Though his agent Donald Dell and tennis writer Richard Evans we tell the story of Ashe's controversial visit to South Africa in 1973 and how a tennis academy in his name now thrives in Soweto. We meet Rufus the hawk who serves as Wimbledon's "chief pigeon deterrent," flying around the grounds each morning to scare away pigeons and other birds, ensuring they don't interfere with play or disrupt the spectators. He's been patrolling the skies at Wimbledon for 15 years. And new balls please ! 60,000 are used during the Championships each year. They are replaced every seven to nine games during matches to maintain optimal playing conditions. But are they really stored in a fridge? The head of balls Andy Chevalier reveals all. Plus the story of how a Wimbledon first round tie between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in 2010 became the longest tennis match in history, stretching over three days.

Our guest this week prove 'W' stands for winners. We hear from Sir Bradley Wiggins, Lori Walton, Jim and Jeff Whitley and Sir Clyde Walcott.As the Tour de France begins we hear from Sir Bradley Wiggins, one of THE stars of the 2012 Olympics. Just a couple of weeks after becoming the first British rider to win the Tour de France, the home favourite won gold on the streets of London to claim his 5th Olympic title and 8th medal in total. Wiggins was a poster boy for cycling, with his popularity transcending the sport. The hip icon of Cool Britannia was knighted in 2013 as Great Britain basked in the glow of a successful London games. So news of his struggles since retirement came as a shock. As if it reminded us that he was after all human. Battles with the bottle caused him to lose his bearings, his business and his wife. What a relief then when Joel Hammer met him to see a fit, healthy and once again Lycra clad Wiggins.WALCOTT: Exactly 75 years ago Sir Clyde Walcott and his teammates won a Test Match on English soil for the very first time. It cemented the West Indies as a force in international cricket and sparked wild celebrations among the newly arrived West Indian immigrant community. Sir Clyde Walcott scored a century in the gameWHITELY: footballers Jim and Jeff Whitley both played in the Premier League for Manchester City. The Zambian born brothers played in midfield and whilst their football careers were interesting, it's what they did off the field that sets them apart. Jeff battled addiction to drinks and drugs that drove his career off the rails. He now works tirelessly helping other professionals to avoid the same mistakes as him. Older brother Jim path has been very different. When his playing days ended, he started a new career as a star of stage and screenWALTON: Bill Walton won two NBA titles before becoming one of the most recognisable faces on American television. To say he was a character is an understatement! He was cult hero. He also lent his voice a new World Service podcast. Sadly, Bill died before he could finish narrating the series. To mark the first anniversary of his death Joel Hammer has speaking to his wife Lori from their "hippy home" in Hawaii about how she marked a year since Bill's passing and why for Lori and the Walton family the podcast has become something very important.(PHOTO: Sir Bradley Wiggins in action on his way to setting a new UCI One Hour Record at Lee Valley Velopark Velodrome June 7, 2015 in London, England. CREDIT: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Climber Janja Garnbret is one of the best examples of how easy becoming an Olympic champion can look. In both Tokyo and Paris she seemingly effortlessly ascended her way to gold. They sit alongside her eight World Championships. At 26 she is still young enough to continue to dominate for some time. From her home Slovenia, where she is a mega star, she joined Katie Smith to talk about just how much effort goes into making the very difficult look like a walk in the park, what it felt like to become a two-time Olympic champion and body image.Some say silver is "first looser" and there is no doubt a bitter sweet feel to coming second, even if you are considered one of Africa's greatest Olympic sprinter. Sadly for him there no better person to speak about what it feel like to land a silver, he won four Olympic silvers. We hear from for Namibia's Frankie Fredricks on how it felt to never make it to gold.We meet the Bronze who is a born winner. This bronze is about to set off to defend her gold medal winning performance of four years ago, because this Bronze is England footballer Lucy Bronze. She is part of the England squad looking to defend their Women's Euro title in Switzerland. So if we cannot talk to Lucy about what it is like to finish with a bronze (and yes, we know she won bronze in 2015 at the World Cup) we might as well ask her about the secret to her success, and it turns out that is a small dog called Nala.It seems more than a bit unfair to have our final guest, our guess that fits the theme because it's the "no medal at all" section of the show. Not least because Justin Phongsavanh won Paralympic bronze in the javelin in Tokyo. But with a chance to compete in front of his home crowd at the Games of LA in 2028 his dream appears to have been ripped away from him. Justin has been explaining what has happened and how he is coping. He also tells us about one night in 2015 when his life changed forever.(Photo: Janja Garnbret of Slovenia competes during the women's lead climbing qualification of the Climbing World Cup 2023 in Innsbruck, Austria. Credit: Marco Kost/Getty Images)

Not by the Playbook comes from The Queen's Club in London where Katie Smith is unboxing her pack of cards.British para standing tennis player Nicky Maxwell has always had a sporting ace up his sleeve, including now as President of the International Para Standing Tennis Association, but his life in sport hasn't been without its challenges. The former Harvard University sprinter shares what life was like as a para athlete in the US collegiate system and his Paralympic ambitions for para standing tennis.The US queen of Mexico's rodeo, Paola Pimienta tells us all about the Mexican tradition of charrería and its all-female synchronised team equestrian competition, escaramuza. It's a traditional sport which can be adrenaline-fuelled, so what's it like to take part and how has it helped Pimienta connect with her Mexican heritage?After former England cricketer David “Syd” Lawrence was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease last year, it led to a race against time to tell his story in an autobiography. It's a life which has seen Syd become the first English-born black cricketer to represent his country in 1988, before injury brought an end to his international career at age 28. He's now been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours. Cricket journalist Dean Wilson helped Syd put the book together and he talks about the process and Syd's life both on and off the cricket pitch.Every pack of cards needs a Jack so hear the story behind Jack Nicklaus' record sixth Masters win, plus there's a spade on hand for trip to the farm which supplies strawberries to Wimbledon.Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media.Image: Magician Jeff Thomas, Manager of Hollywood Magic on Hollywood Boulevard does some magic with deck of playing cards, November 12, 2001 in Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)

Sir Roger Bannister is most famous for being the first man to ever run a sub 4 minute mile. He once said "The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win". This week, guests who have displayed the drive needed to overcome the most serious challenges life can throw at you. The word "drive" can have many different meanings. From maneuvering a car, to pushing a cause and making positive change... Carol Glenn does all three! A Motorsport fanatic, she has successfully done many roles within the sport. She's been a race marshall, secretary of the meeting, championship co-ordinator and a clerk of the course. All roles dedicated to ensuring events run smoothly and safely. To hold those positions is rare for a woman in a male dominated sport... even rarer as a woman of colour! In fact she was the first black woman to become a licensed race official in the UK. Her latest endeavour might just be her boldest yet as she sets about changing the face of the sport to ensure those who want to take part, regardless of colour or background, are given an opportunity. She has set up the Next Racing Generation Academy and so unsurprisingly is a very busy woman.We meet a father and son duo completely driven to be the best in the business! The business of boxing promotion. Not since Don King has a promoter achieved the same level of fame as their boxers. And you can add Barry and Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Promotions to that list. How have they got to such a place? Well by being driven of course.The majority of boxers only fight a few times each year. It's not only extremely physically demanding, but mentally challenging too. But Londoner Johnny Greaves arrived late to the professional ring just before his 30th birthday ... he had one goal ... one hundred professional fights. So driven was he, that he achieved this rare feet by the time he was 34. Averaging a bout every other week, for four years straight. And what makes his journey even more unusual is that Johnny lost ninety-six of those fights, but as you'll hear for him - his record of wins and losses is nothing compared to challenges he overcame just to step in to the ring. Johnny's is a remarkable story, he's detailed it all in a new book, Bright Lights and Dark Corners(Photo: Carol Glenn with Sir Lewis Hamilton. Credit: Carol Glenn)

Basketball pioneer Paoline Ekambi's changed the perceptions of women's basketball in the 1980's when she played in the USA. She introduced a style of play off and on the court that broke new ground. In turn she also aided the path for French stars likes Tony Parker and Victor Wembanyama to make it in the NBA. In fact Paoline knows Victor very well indeed! But sporting success and the glory it brings can often mask the pain of an athletes life away from the track, field or court. After her career ended Paoline has worked tirelessly as an advocate for those who have survived child sexual abuse. WARNING: Paoline's story is deeply upsetting, a story of the most awful betrayal of trust and how sport was her route to what she calls "freedom" We're not too far away from the first anniversary of the Paris Olympic's. In what was a return to normality for the Games following the sterile and spectator free games in Tokyo three years before. The crowds were so enthusiastic, none more so than in the coastal city of Marseilles where the sailing took place. Australian sailor Matt Wearn won gold at the last two Games in the "Lazer class", that's a single handed sail dingy, not much bigger than a bath! So what was it like to compare and contrast a gold medal winning experience at the two Olympics so drastically different from each other? Matt is also part of the EcoAthletes collective, a non-profit that inspires and coaches athletes to lead climate action.When the French sports TV channel L'Equipe - the broadcast arm of the famous French newspaper bought the rights to the world darts championship - little did they think 18 million viewers would dip in and out of the game. It's now one of the most popular sports on the channel and the number of players and clubs in France is on the rise. Chris Bockman reports from FranceAhead of the French Open tennis finals at Rolland Garros we hear from 1989 winner Chinese-American player Micheal Chang. He became the youngest male winner of any tennis Grand Slam, and it all happened just days after the Tiananmen Square massacre. Michael Chang was gripped by TV coverage of the killings and dedicated his only major win to the people of China. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this show, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of emotional help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide. Head to befrienders.org. They will listen to anyone who feels they have nowhere else to turn. All contact is anonymous if you prefer.Photo: Paoline Ekambi on the front cover of L'Equipe in the 1980's (Credit L'Equipe)

Not by the Playbook's Mani Djazmi speaks to the World's Strongest Man after South Africa's Rayno Nel became the first champion from outside of Europe or North America. Nel is a former rugby player who has a day job as an engineer, so what does it take to become the world's strongest man and how has his life changed?Mauritius isn't known for producing world class cyclists, but Kimberley (Le Court) Pienaar is certainly going a long way to change that view. The three-time Mauritius national road race champion won the prestigious Liège-Bastogne-Liège, just 18 months after emailing World Tour teams to give her a chance. Pienaar speaks ahead of competing at the Tour of Britain for the first time in 10 years when things looked very different for the Mauritian. Boxing pundit Steve Bunce has been ringside for many of the world's greatest fights and he shares what makes a champion from what he's seen and from the many champions he's spoken to. Plus, he looks back on some of his most memorable boxing memories.This week's Not by the Playbook is all about champions and Hayley McAuley explains what becoming the first ever flatpack world champion involved and what it means, so if you need any DIY tips you're in luck.Listen to Not by the Playbook on the BBC World Service every Saturday at 0900 GMT, or find it as a podcast wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Get in touch with us via email and use the hashtag #NBTP on social media.Image: Rayno Nel of South Africa lifts a 154kg (340 lbs) circus barbell for two reps, during the Overhead Medley event on the first day of qualifying at the "World's Strongest Man" competition on May 15, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images)