Sporting Witness Podcast
Eye-witness accounts from sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped sport through the eyes of the people who were there.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.
Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created.
Episodes to download
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The Greatest Long Jump Competition Ever
Sun 28 Jun 2015
In 1991, Americans Mike Powell and Carl Lewis took on the Long Jump world record.
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US Wrestlers in Iran
Sun 21 Jun 2015
In 1998, Iran invited an American wrestling team to Tehran as a goodwill gesture.
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Renee Richards: Transgender tennis star
Sun 14 Jun 2015
The transgender player who fought for the right to compete in tournaments as a woman
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Le Mans Disaster
Sun 7 Jun 2015
How a crash at a motor race in France in 1955 killed 83 spectators and a famous driver.
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Bert Trautmann: From Hitler Youth to the FA Cup
Sun 31 May 2015
The former Nazi paratrooper who became a hero to Manchester City fans in the 1950s
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Wheelchair Racer Tanni Grey-Thompson
Sun 24 May 2015
How the British wheelchair racer won her greatest victory at the 2004 Paralympic Games
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Haile Gebrselassie
Sat 16 May 2015
The legendary Ethiopian distance runner recalls winning the Olympics by one second.
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Tito and Yugoslav Football
Sun 10 May 2015
How the death of the Yugoslav dictator made fans and players cry at a top game in 1980.
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The Petty Family: Kings of Nascar
Sun 3 May 2015
How tragedy struck one of the most famous dynasties in American motor sport
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Alberto Juantorena: Cuba's 'White Lightning'
Sun 26 Apr 2015
The Cuban runner who won a unique double at the 1976 Olympics and became a national hero
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Judit Polgar - Chess Prodigy
Sun 19 Apr 2015
How the chess prodigy overcame sexism in her sport and defeated the all-time greats.
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Yale Women Rowers Protest
Sun 12 Apr 2015
In 1976, the Yale rowing team stripped naked to demand equal treatment for women's sport
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Black Golfer at the Masters
Sun 5 Apr 2015
In 1975, Lee Elder became the first African-American to play the prestigious tournament
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Rwanda v Uganda: The Match that Made History
Sun 29 Mar 2015
The historic Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between footballing rivals Uganda and Rwanda
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India's World Cup Cricket Triumph
Sun 22 Mar 2015
The unexpected victory at Lord's in 1983 which put Indian one-day cricket on the map
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Barry Sheene Crashes
Sun 15 Mar 2015
The playboy British motorcyclist who suffered the fastest crash in motorcycling history
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Socceroos in Vietnam
Sun 8 Mar 2015
How Australia's footballers won their first international tournament in Saigon in 1967.
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Boat Race Mutiny
Sun 1 Mar 2015
In 1987, a group of Oxford University rowers led a famous rebellion against their coach.
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Beryl Burton - The Yorkshire Dynamo
Sun 22 Feb 2015
The story of one of the best woman cyclists of all time and a record that still stands.
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Surfing Mavericks
Sun 15 Feb 2015
The Californian who pioneered one of the most famous surfing breaks in the world in 1975
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The Black Stars of Ghana
Sun 8 Feb 2015
How the Ghanaian football team won a famous Africa Cup of Nations victory in 1965
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The Ice Bowl
Sun 1 Feb 2015
How the coldest game in American Football made the reputation of the Green Bay Packers
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Skating's Battle of the Brians
Sun 25 Jan 2015
The 1988 Winter Olympic showdown between American Brian Boitano and Canadian Brian Orser
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South Africa win the Africa Cup of Nations
Sun 18 Jan 2015
How a football victory in 1996 helped South Africa heal the wounds of Apartheid
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The Harlem Globetrotters in the Soviet Union
Sun 11 Jan 2015
How the American showmen won over basketball fans in Moscow during the Cold War
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FA Cup Giantkillers
Sun 4 Jan 2015
How tiny Hereford United won a famous FA Cup victory over Newcastle in 1972
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The Indomitable Lions
Sun 28 Dec 2014
How Cameroon shocked Maradona's Argentina at the 1990 World Cup
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Wimbledon Pioneers
Sun 21 Dec 2014
The women's doubles partnership who broke new ground for Jewish and Black players
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Signing Michael Jordan
Sun 14 Dec 2014
How the Chicago Bulls managed to pick the basketball legend in the 1984 NBA draft.
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Pakistan's First Women Cricketers
Sun 7 Dec 2014
The two Karachi women who blazed a trail for women's cricket.