In the latest episode of the ‘Experts in Sport’ podcast Loughborough University’s Head of Para Sport Nik Diaper looks into evidence-based classification in Paralympic sport and the role that research can play in achieving it.  The group, brought together by Professor Vicky Tolfrey, sees Nik joined by Emma Wiggs MBE, a Paracanoe athlete and 2016 Rio Paralympic Gold Medallist, Iain Gowans, Classification Manager for the British Paralympic Association and Dr Barry Mason, a Senior Research Associate at the University’s Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport – who has since moved to Head of GB Wheelchair Rugby’s Performance team.  The panel discuss some of their own experiences with Classification and evidence-based classification research, highlighting the importance of Classification within Paralympic sport.  

Experts in Sport

Tokyo Talk: Evidence-based classification in Paralympic sport

Para-athlete and research associate Sam Ruddock discusses the Paralympic Games, stigma and changing attitudes around the worlds with a range of guests.  

Tokyo Talk: Para-sports against Stigma

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Sam Winter, Senior Lecturer from Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, and Professor John Dickinson, an established international expert for applied practice and research into athlete respiratory care. Sam, John and Martin discuss a range of topics around respiratory physiology, including the basics of breathing and breathing techniques, the implications of asthma and asthma treatment in elite sport and how research is helping to diagnose and help dysfunctional breathing.  

Tokyo Talk: Dysfunctional breathing, asthma and athletes

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Richard Blagrove and Dr Max Paquette to discuss one of the biggest issues facing elite endurance runners: injury, which can derail training programmes and can prevent runners reaching major championships and achieving success. 

Tokyo Talk: Reducing injury risk in endurance runners

Sport psychologist Dr David Fletcher discusses athlete preparations for an Olympics that may not have taken place due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Tokyo Talk: Athlete psychology at a Covid-threatened Olympics

Host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead), sits down with Simon Bayliff, Founder and Managing Director of ARETÉ, and ex-Arsenal FC and now Beijing FC professional footballer Nico Yennaris, to delve further into the world of talent management in the football industry. 

E28 - The truth behind the role of the sport agent in the football industry

Host Martin Foster is joined by performance analysis (PA) expert Mike Hughes and Donald Barron, Applied Performance Analysis Lead at Loughborough University to delve a little deeper into the subject and discover how performance analysis has grown immensely in sport with data now playing a key role in influencing decisions both on and off the field of play. 

E27 - The power of performance analysis

Within sport, it is well known that recovery plays an important part of any training schedule, but how exactly does this impact team sports? Host Martin Foster (Applied Sport Management Lead) is joined by Dr Tom Clifford, from the University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Lauren Delany, Loughborough University alumna, and Performance Nutritionist for Leeds Rhinos, and Dr Will Abbott, Academy Performance Manager at Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club. 

E26 - The importance of recovery in elite-level sport

Host Martin Foster is joined by Professor JB Morin from Université Jean Monnet and Dr Bill Horg, Strength and Conditioning Lead at Loughborough University, to discuss measuring force, velocity and power in jumping and sprinting. 

E25 - Does stronger = faster?

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Mhairi Morris, Lecturer in Biochemistry from Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. Mhairi and Martin discuss a whole host of topics around cancer, including how the immune system responds to the disease, the potential preventative benefits of exercise, and further advice on physical activity to improve the effectiveness of treatment. 

E24 - Exercise, immune system and cancer

Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Lee Taylor, Reader in Exercise & Environmental Physiology, where they discuss the challenges posed by next summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Japan, which are widely anticipated to be the hottest and potentially most humid to-date.

E23 - Beating the Heat

Experts in Sport: The Loughborough University Sportcast, a podcast which brings together sporting excellence and academic knowledge. Hosted by the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University.