Backstraight Boys (& Girl) Athletics Chat
Join Jody, Bayo, and Claire each fortnight as they discuss athletics' hot topics, cover live events, and host stars of the sport in longer interview specials. Hit 'subscribe', give us a rating, and join in the conversation on Twitter: @BackstraightB and @Claire_GThomas.
- Update frequency
- every 10 days
- Average duration
- 58 minutes
- Episodes
- 184
- Years Active
- 2017 - 2025
All the gear, plenty of ideas, and tonnes of noteworthy results: a real round-up of a pod
We're back in the same room! We've got amazing new recording equipment! Katie Snowden's run 4:02! The women's 100 metres at Gateshead is going to be incredible! 'Sarah' actually exists!…
Extraneous Events, Priceless Experience, and Bra Malfunctions: it's Mr Relay himself - Martyn Rooney
The World Relays were a funny old meet, but - as per - we were just thrilled to have athletics to watch, and used it as an opportunity to *finally* welcome along Martyn 'relay' Rooney: …
High Hopes, Closed Honey, and Dipped Sheep: What To Do About British Javelin Throwing, feat. Goldie Sayers and Steve Backley
British javelin throwing is not in a good place right now. The days of Fatima, Tessa, Steve, and Goldie feel long gone, and it's not entirely clear why that is.
Lack of coaching or compe…
Gardens, Gout, and Gunning for Second: Marathon & Race Walks Trials with Tim, Tom, and Tom
Tom Bedford made it happen. Tim Hutchings will be on the mic. Tom Bosworth will be doing all that he can to finish... second? Intriguing.
This one came together very last minute, but we …
Lego Vikings, Leif Life, and Going Out Hard: Karsten Warholm Interview Special
The second fastest of all time, and - if we're going by performances - the third, ninth, and tenth, too. Norway's all-conquering Viking horn-adorned superstar, Karsten Warholm, only too…
Tactics, Bar Stools, and (alleged) Gingerbread: Our European Indoor Champs Review - feat. Holly Archer
You could be forgiven for thinking that this is the second instalment of our women's middle distance special - 70% of this episode is either us waxing lyrical about the tactical excell…
Jemma Reekie, Sarah McDonald, and Melissa Courtney-Bryant: Our British Women's Middle Distance Special
We say it so often, we might as well replace that part where Jody and Bayo forget their social media handles at the end of each episode with this refrain, but: the British middle dista…
Competition, Charisma, and Consistency: Indoors So Far, feat. the World-Leading Trayvon Bromell
There's regular athletics back on our screens, which is heaven (cheerless cheerleaders in Lievin aside). With Euros just around the corner, we take a deep - far deeper than planned, as …
Equality vs quality, innovation vs tradition, and everyone vs pacing lights: Cross Country and distance running with Paula Radcliffe
Earlier this year, UKA announced that they were going to consult clubs, athletes, and competition organisers about cross country race distances. A host of GB runners, including three-ti…
Unrecognisable Olympics, Unmissable Events, and an Abundance of Stars: Getting Excited for 2021 with the Wonderful Kath Merry
2021 is upon us. Covid’s still here. Winter training is well underway. The calendar is teeming (but for how long, we don’t know). And - most excitingly - Backstraight is back.
In their f…
Impossible Games, Unthinkable Rule Changes, and an Impressively Great Season: Our 2020 Review Pod
2020: the year that we witnessed garden-staged pole vault AMRAPs and a London Marathon consisting of 19 laps of St James' Park. A season that brought us world records, empty stadia, and…
All Hail Harry, Peerless Pratt, and the Bright British Future: the Delightful Surprise Package of the 2020 British Championships
One left with a national record, one left not a dry eye across the land, but both Harrys were stars of the show at last weekend's British Championships. Alongside the now world-leading …
Cheptegei's Heroics, Karsten's Commitment, and World-Class Brits: Jody and Bayo's take on a diamond-standard Monaco
Safe to say we all had *big* Friday nights... from our sofas... drowning in world record attempts, huge performances, and that ubiquitous green-and-blue Nike race kit.
That's right: athl…
Car Parks, Fist Fights, and More Champagne than Sense : Our 'Fast Girls' Special with Dina Asher-Smith and Amy Hunt
'One Dream, One Team, One Chance', reads the tagline of Regan Hall's 2012 masterpiece, 'Fast Girls'.
Those of us at Backstraight HQ suggest the following might be more accurate: 'a pleth…
Inspiration Games, Backstraight Film Club, and Athletics Baby Royalty: July's Lockdown Ramblings
Athletics is creeping back - from the Showdown in Otown to the Inspiration Games. In the former, Noah Lyles beat Justin Gatlin over 100 metres. In the latter, Noah Lyles beat no one ove…
Christmas Shopping, Sourdough Starting, and Adapting as Athletes: Our Lockdown Chin-wag with Morgan Lake and Jazmin Sawyers
Sprint queens, step aside (for one week only, please; we still adore you): the jump queens are in town, and it's been a total hoot.
When we say 'in town', we mean on a Zoom call with us,…
Listening, Learning, and Changing: Black Lives Matter
It would be remiss to talk about anything else right now, so - here it is - a Backstraight episode with neither bells nor whistles: just a discussion of this essential global movement a…
On Top of the Podium, Next to Dolly, and in Front of Camera: Denise Lewis Interview Special (Part II)
WHAT a cliff-hanger that was. Aren't we wicked?
But - great news - Bayo is back, and so is Denise, and we're ready to pick up where we left off: approaching the 2000 Olympic Games.
Just i…
Starting Out, Breaking Through, and Seeking Gold: Denise Lewis Interview Special (Part I)
From Wolverhampton to the top of the podium in Sydney - via a handful of Commonwealth titles and records, a pair of World silvers, a couple of take-off leg changes, and the opportunity …
Triple Jump, Quarter Miles, and Much More Say for Athletes: Christian Taylor on his Career and The Athletics Association
We say this with love - enormous amounts of it - but Christian Taylor is a serious over-achiever.
Double and reigning Olympic Champion, four-time and reigning World Champion, seven-time…