The Pool Room with Tony Armstrong

We wanted to share the return of the podcast ‘Two Good Sports” with you to enjoy. Join acclaimed journalists Abbey Gelmi and Georgie Tunny every week, as they take on the biggest stories from the world of sport and peel back the layers. Whether you’re a sports fanatic or you just want to feel part of the conversation, you’ll get a fresh perspective on the stories that matter. It's sports news, told differently. Follow the show: https://lnk.to/TwoGoodSports On this week’s Two Good Sports episode, we’re back for a brand-new season! And what better way to kick things off than with our official ins and outs for the year? We’re setting the tone, making some big calls, and let’s be honest — probably regretting a few of them later. What’s in? What’s out? And where do we land on the great sporting debates of the year? This episode is bought to you by Harvey Norman. It’s time to upgrade your TV and appliances for footy season! Ask a specially trained Harvey Norman staff member for advice. Go Harvey Norman! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the year 1990, in the small town of Vinton, Louisiana, where a horse race is about to get started. A thick fog has settled on Delta Downs Racecourse. Visibility for this one-mile race is almost zero. It seems like winning is going to be a close-your-eyes-and-hope situation. But jockey Sylvester Carmouche has a sneaky plan to take them all by surprise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long before Serena, Ash and Naomi, women's tennis was dominated by one name. Known as “la Divine” - The Goddess - Suzanne Lenglen was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. Not only was she an unstoppable force on the court, but she was also a pioneer of fame, fashion and celebrity in women's sport. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's nothing wrong with a little sibling rivalry. But if you can't back it up in the sporting arena yourself, maybe don't provoke your brother or sister. When Maria Teresa de Filippis took an interest in motor racing, her brothers mocked her. They didn't think she stood a chance. Well, that was all the inspiration Maria needed to prove them wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justine Blainey was playing ice hockey as early as 7 years old. She loved it so much that she was determined to go pro, but her aggressive style of play often got her into trouble with the referee. So, she opted to join the boys team, where bodychecking was allowed. But that move was far easier said than done. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us, if we're lucky, will get the chance to grow old. It's a time for retirement and relaxation, for slowing down and watching the world go by. But that wasn't the case for Man Kaur. In 2009, aged 93, she spontaneously decided to take up running. And then, she took on the world.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nineteen boxers competed in the 1960 Olympic Games. And after three rounds of wins, Australian Tony Madigan reached the semi-finals, looking for a place in the gold medal bout. His opponent? A promising but little-known amateur, boxing in his first ever Olympics: Cassius Clay. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's human nature to want to push the limits of our capabilities. But it's easy to forget that some things, which seem ordinary now, weren't so simple until we achieved them. Midway through the 20th century, running a mile in under 4 minutes seemed impossible. But one man dared to try: a medical student from London named Roger Bannister.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dakar Rally is one of the world's toughest motor races. Since the late 70s, the globe's best rally drivers have competed in the off-road endurance event. But prior to 2001, the race had only seen male champions. Then came Jutta Kleinschmidt, who was determined to shake things up a bit.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians practically wrote the book on how to do cricket right - from the backyard to summer afternoons at the 'G. But even in this sunburnt country, we still needed a Plan B for a rainy day. So we headed indoors to invent a whole new kind of game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climbing Everest is an adventurer's dream. But for Spanish mountaineer, Edurne Pasaban, it wasn't enough. She wanted to become the first woman to climb all “eight-thousanders”, the world's highest peaks, above 8,000 metres. So, one down and thirteen more to go... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CrossFit is like regular gym, but faster and with more handstands. It requires all-round body strength and incredible willpower. It probably helps to have a good sense of humour too, because the sport certainly has its critics. It's no wonder then, that an Aussie has won more CrossFit world titles than anyone. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all knew that one kid in PE class that was good at every sport they tried. Well, Peter Mullins was that kid. He was sport-obsessed and had a natural ability to pick up new skills like it was nothing. So much so, that Peter became a champion athlete in many of them, earning him the unofficial title of Australia's greatest all-rounder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1980 Olympics in Moscow were defined by controversy, even before the Games had begun. More than 60 countries had staged a boycott. But it also had a direct impact on competition. The men's triple jump was fiercely contested but the results were hotly disputed, and would change the rules of the event for good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia loves its athletes, especially our women's Olympic swimming team. As is now tradition, they're quickly labelled “ours”. Our Shane. Our Libby. Our Arriane. But where did it all begin? Meet Mina Wylie and Sarah “Fanny” Durack, the Australian women who dived into the history books more than 110 years ago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane Kelly is one of Australia's cycling greats. Throughout his incredible career, he won it all. Everything, that is, except for a gold medal at the Games. Considered the greatest cyclist in the world in 1996, one split second mistake in Atlanta set Shane up for a life lesson in failure, and how to overcome it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pistol shooting is a sport that takes a very particular set of skills. But for Karoly Takacs, a sergeant in the army, it came naturally. He was so good that he dominated national championships and had set his sights on his ultimate goal: to win a gold medal. That was until a tragic accident during an army training exercise threatened to destroy his sporting dream. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has always been a sporting nation, but the green and gold wasn't always synonymous with winning. This is the story of how our greatest failure on the world stage gave rise to new a generation of athletes and put Australia on the path to Games glory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States absolutely dominated the 1904 Summer Games in St. Louis, claiming over 200 medals. Their closest competitors, Germany, won just 15. But it turns out, some of those medals attributed to the USA weren't actually won by Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Games in Sydney was full of memorable moments for Australia, like Cathy Freeman's 400m Gold, and Ian Thorpe's dominance in the pool. But for one athlete, it's a Games they'd rather forget. Jane Saville was on the brink of a historic result for her country, competing in front of a home town crowd, when everything changed in an instant. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a small town in the north of France, stands a statue - a monument honouring a fallen hero. A plaque carries the name of a soldier, but this isn't a regular war memorial. It recognises a once forgotten Australian champion athlete who embodied sportsmanship and made history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't miss Find and Tell, the search for the next generation of Australian storytellers. Think of it like one of those TV talent shows... but for podcasting! You'll hear from four Australians as they go head-to-head to Find and Tell unique and interesting stories from around the country, based on a new theme each episode. Follow along each Wednesday as host Jamila Rizvi decides which storyteller will take home the grand prize and be crowned the Find And Tell champion. Search Find And Tell on your podcast app or click here lnk.to/kScAUl!_general_use Meet the storytellers at findandtell.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the last Grand Prix of the 1959 Formula 1 season and Jack Brabham is on the verge of his first Driver's Championship. He only needs to finish ahead of his two closest rivals to secure an F1 crown. But on the final lap, every driver's worst nightmare becomes Jack Brabham's reality.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To put it bluntly, English football in the 1970s was a boys club - to the extent that stadiums didn't even have women's toilets. Even the media rooms were full of male journalists. That was until one woman looked to challenge the status quo. A photographer named Hy Money had a passion for taking pictures, and nobody was going to stand in her way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick Mills is one of our country's greatest athletes. He's a star on the basketball court and an NBA Champion. But the secret to his success stems from his childhood, and a very special junior b-ball club that shaped Patty into the player he is today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The winter of 1954 saw one of the most gruelling motor racing events in history: an 18-day, long-distance rally around Australia. And the man tipped as favourite, turned up to the start of the race wearing a gorilla mask and driving a car full of explosives. This is the story of “Gelignite Jack”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Les Darcy was a boxing champion and a national hero…until he wasn't. At the height of the First World War, he secretly boarded a ship to avoid impending military conscription. His destination? The glitz and glamour of New York's professional boxing scene. But by the time he arrived, the world had turned its back on this rising star. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dennis Bergkamp was one of the greatest footballers of his generation. By his early 20s, he was a star in the making. But in 1995, Bergkamp's contract negotiations with Arsenal hit a snag when the club learned about his greatest fear - a serious phobia that threatened to disrupt Dennis' football career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being called "the Lionel Messi of…" anything is a badge of honour. To be that good at your chosen sport is an incredible achievement. But Gary Hunt is the best in the world at a sport so extreme, that one wrong move could cause serious spinal injuries…or even death. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1896, Arthur Richardson became the first person to cross the Nullabor on a bicycle. It was his first taste of the open country and it left him wanting more. Four years later, Arthur set his sights on another record – to be the first person to circumnavigate the entire continent on a bike. But the adventure quickly turned into a race, when three other blokes just so happened to be attempting the same feat, at the exact same time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curling is a sport that's usually associated with cold places, like Scotland, Canada or New Zealand. So, just how did Australia, the driest inhabited continent on Earth, manage to produce an Olympic-qualifying curling team?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 16-year-old Wilma Rudolph was the youngest athlete in the United States Olympic team at the 1956 Games in Melbourne. Representing her country on the world stage was a proud moment for the high school student. Even the bronze medal she took home was a huge achievement, considering Wilma was once told as a child that she would never walk again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1991 Canadian Grand Prix was a race full of surprises. Despite winning the first four races of the season, Ayrton Senna had qualified in third. That made way for Williams duo Riccardo Patrese and Nigel Mansell. By the last lap, Mansell had taken pole position...but a spur-of-the-moment decision would put his entire race in jeopardy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1967, salesman Des Renford is enjoying a few drinks with his mates down the pub, when one of them proposes a mighty dare: to swim across Port Phillip Bay...the very next morning. What happened next, unexpectedly propelled Des into a new athletic career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The name Michael Buffer might not mean much to you, but you definitely know his voice. He's probably the world's most recognisable ring announcer, in boxing and professional wrestling. But the story of how he went from fight night favourite to American cultural phenomenon, is all thanks to a family secret that remained hidden for decades. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is one of the longest of its kind in the world. Sailors from around the globe make the trip to Sydney each year to compete in this iconic event. But when it was first established in 1945, it wasn't supposed to be a race at all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you don't associate squash with sporting legends, you just haven't met Heather McKay. Heather came from a sports mad family and squash wasn't her first choice - she took up the sport to maintain her fitness while playing hockey. But Heather quickly learned that she was pretty good at squash, and after entering her first competition, she never looked back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Roycroft might just be Australia's greatest Olympian you've never heard of. He competed in five consecutive Summer Games, winning several medals. But his debut at Rome 1960 was the scene of a remarkable feat, when not even severe injury could keep Bill down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The name Karl Power is not synonymous with great sporting heroes, and yet, it has graced Wimbledon's Centre Court, the Formula 1 podium at Silverstone, and the hallowed turf of Headingly Cricket Ground. That's because Karl Power is better known as Britain's greatest impostor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say you should never meet your heroes, but what if you beat your heroes? That's the conundrum Mark Taylor faced in 1998, when he became just the fourth Australian to score a triple-century in Test cricket. But dare he surpass the Aussie record of 334 not out, held by Sir Donald Bradman since 1930?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever taken a stroll down the top end of Melbourne's Flinders Street, you might have noticed the Hotel Lindrum, fire-engine red, with fancy swirls and arch windows. The hotel is closed now, but the building was named after a family who became known for their dominance of the local billiards scene. Walter Lindrum, in particular, was so good they had to change the rules to stop him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've heard the stories about Phar Lap. He was Australia's greatest-ever racehorse. A national treasure. So much so, that his unusually large heart, which is thought to be the source of his incredible abilities, is famously on display in Canberra. But the thing is...that heart sitting in a museum might actually be a fake. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's June 12 1970. Pittsburgh Pirates versus San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball. Pitcher, Dock Ellis, is on the mound for the Pirates, but he isn't exactly having his best game. He's throwing pitches in the dirt, he's hitting batters, he's all over the shop. Because right in the middle of a professional baseball game, Dock Ellis is high on LSD. Know a great sports story that you want to hear on The Pool Room? Send Tony an email.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to nicknames, most Aussie sports teams typically choose from one of two options: Animals, which don't play sport, or words to describe great warriors. Like, the Magpies or the Power. The Sea Eagles or the Force. But behind every team name is an origin story that can tell you a lot about their communities and the place they call home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Footy comes from the country. It's a community sport, born and bred in towns where your dad's the coach and your best mate's dad is the umpire. But how it came to be there is another question.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Routine is an important part of being a pro athlete. But sometimes there's a fine line between ritual and irrational. Whether it's Rafa Nadal refusing to walk on tennis court lines or Tiger Woods always wearing a red shirt on Sundays, for some reason, athletes are a superstitious bunch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the 28th of September 1918, Ballarat played host to a historic sporting event. With the end of the First World War in sight, the construction of a commemorative Arch of Victory and Avenue of Honour were proposed to pay respects to all the lives lost. But how to fund such a significant project? That's when a group of trailblazing women came together to stage one of the earliest known women's football matches in Aussie Rules history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Hayes had always loved horses. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming a jockey. At 20, he worked as a stable hand but always longed for the thrill of race day. Then Frank came across a horse that he immediately felt a connection with - an old mare named Sweet Kiss that had never won a race. It seemed like everyone had given up on her…but not Frank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Motorsport is chock full of great rivalries. In Australia, we have cherished decades of Ford vs Holden, with legendary names like Peter Brock, Dick Johnson and Bob Jane. They all had their heated moments but one duo gets pole position when it comes to argy-bargy: Mark Skaife and Russell Ingall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's 1964 and the Tokyo Olympics are drawing to a close. The Aussie team is in party mode and the celebrations stretch into the early hours of the morning. But one Olympic champion isn't having the best night. Instead of enjoying the party, she's being questioned by police. It's gold medalist, Dawn Fraser. Dawn is due to be Australia's flag bearer in the closing ceremony the very next day. But first, she'll have to avoid jail time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Athletes can spend their entire careers in pursuit of medals and trophies…only to misplace them in a moment of excitement or lose them while moving house. And other times, these shiny objects are outright stolen, right under the noses of armed guards. Today on the show, tales of missing medallions, compromised security and lost dreams.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.