It's a bumper Spotlight in a bumper week of big sports news. To cover it comprehensively, Ross & Gareth are joined by Sean Ingle of The Guardian to discuss the election of Kirsty Coventry to lead the International Olympic Committee. We explore her path to victory, enabled by Thomas Bach's support, and how she might lead the organization through looming challenges, including the integrity of the IOC's bid/host city selection process, and women's sport. On the subject of women's sport, Sean also chats to us about World Athletics' announcement that it will introduce pre-clearance screening for athletes wishing to be eligible for the women's category. It's a move that forms part of Sebastian Coe's declaration to 'doggedly' defend women's sport. We explore how sex screening works, and issues it may raise, and solve.

We then shift to cycling to discuss a remarkable Milan-San Remo performance by Tadej Pogacar, showcasing superiority and versatility not seen in cycling for a very long time. It tees up the compound score, accounting for power output and performance in both absolute and relative terms. A few odds and ends thrown in wrap up a big show.

Show notes

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• Article by guest Sean Ingle on the big issues facing Kirsty Coventry as she enters the IOC fray
• Another by Ingle, this time on the process and dealings behind the IOC Election, including Thomas Bach's role
• Article on Sebastian Coe's announcement of World Athletics' introduction of pre-clearance testing for female eligibility
• Some analysis of the power numbers at the Milan San Remo race, as discussed on the podcast. Take the estimates with a pinch of salt - the high speeds introduce a lot of error
• Brief abstract that introduces the Compound Score in cycling, and how it has the best predictive power for race results
• More comprehensive research article on the compound score (needs access to journal for full read)
• The paper asking the question about "lactic acidosis", to which we all should know the answer
• The answer to the lactate question

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In this Spotlight, Gareth and Ross kick off by looking back at teen sprint phenom Gout Gout's latest performances, which continue to project a spectacular yet unknowable future. Across the Ocean, a young South African put down a teen-sprint marker of his own with a sub-10s performance, and we use those performances to discuss the nuanced, fluid and undefinable element of super-talents in sport. What matters, what doesn't, what is required for entry into the elites, and what makes a difference once there?

We also discuss whether the addition of the Sydney Marathon (among others) to the prestigious World Marathon Majors dilutes their equity, which presents a chance to discuss heat and performance related to both marathons and the currently ongoing Cape Epic. Finally, we chat concussion in the community game, in the aftermath of some misinformed perspectives raised by politicians in the UK about the concussion risk with lower tackle height in the game.

Show notes

Mel Breen wins the 2012 Stawell Gift race from scratch

Bayanda Walazas asymmetric running style

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In this week's Spotlight, we swing the light from cycling to doping, via trans news updates and some success stories from our Discourse members. We kick off with a chat about whether we've been too obsessed with power numbers, and not talking enough about speed, as pointed out by Christoph Roodhooft of Alpecin's pro-cycling team. We discuss what it means to be an "economic cyclist", which allows Gareth to propose the concept of "physiological frugality", which we are 100% sure will take over from "durability" as the next-big-thing in elite cycling by 2027!

We also chat briefly about positive fuelling experiences shared with us by Discourse members, who've managed to push their energy intakes up thanks to the experts we've heard from on the pod. We check in on some controversial topics, including the transgender athletes in sport debate, where a new paper, a legal decision and an imminent IOC election are all in the spotlight, and finally, we briefly discuss Shelby Houlihan's own words about her doping defence in an interview with Letsrun.com.

Show notes

As mentioned, Discourse is our VIP Community where you can share bicarb recipes, tales of fuel success, and a whole lot more! You become a member by pledging a small amount on Patreon, which you can access here, and that will give you access to all the chat and sports science insights from members.

Links

• The GCN segment discussed on the show, giving rise to Gareth's concept of "frugality"
• The Handelsman & Bermon paper that is discussed briefly
• Full Decision in the Hamilton vs Telegraph press complaint
• This is the full, in-depth analysis I did for Letsrun on the Shelby Houlihan decision, including the wrong application or misunderstanding of the Technical Document, and the carbon isotope ratio analysis that refuted Houlihan's arguments
• The interview Houlihan did last week with Letsrun, as alluded to by Gareth in the podcast

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