Experts in Sport

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.

Experts in Sport is a health podcast hosted by Loughborough University, with 132 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Loughborough University hosts Experts in Sport, a health show with 132 episodes published.

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  Episode #117

  E117: The Evolution of Wheelchair Tennis - From Day Chairs to Wimbledon Champions

  Jul 24, 202659 min

  In this episodeof the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by former British No.1 and Wimbledon champion Jayant Mistry, Professor Vicky Tolfrey, and Dr Thomas Rietveld to explore how athlete experience, research and technology have driven the sport's evolution. From custom-built chairs and performance science to Wimbledon and the future of the game, discover how innovation continues to shape wheelchair tennis. 01:00 Wimbledon reflections and how the sport has evolved 05:00 Jayant Mistry's journey from local courts to Wimbledon champion 08:50 Vicky Tolfrey's introduction to parasport research 13:45 How Thomas Reitveld became a wheelchair tennis researcher 16:45 The evolution of wheelchair tennis chairs 21:00 Science meets sport: Optimising wheelchair performance 27:20 Customised chairs, technology and performance gains 32:20 Turning athlete ideas into research questions 36:40 Court surfaces, Wimbledon grass and equipment regulations 38:30 Accessibility, participation and getting started in wheelchair tennis 44:20 Emerging research: surfaces, sensors and performance analysis 46:20 Classification debates and inclusivity in wheelchair tennis 53:50 The future of wheelchair tennis over the next decade

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  Episode #116

  E116: The World Cup Effect - Fans, Finance and Football's Future

  Jul 15, 202648 min

  Recorded in the week before England's World Cup quarter-final win over Norway, host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Johan Rewilak (Loughborough University) and Ambar Ferra (Houston Dynamo) to discuss the 2026 FIFA World Cup from the heart of the host nation. From packed fan festivals and record attendances to ticket prices, the Messi effect and the future of soccer in the USA, they explore whether this tournament can create a lasting legacy for fans, clubs and communities. Plus, their World Cup predictions before the knockout stage drama unfolded.

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  Episode #115

  E115: Performance Analysis at the World Cup - Data, Decisions & Marginal Gains

  Jun 24, 20261h 8m

  In this episode of Experts in Sport, we explore the hidden world behind World Cup success — performance analysis. From data and video to real-time decision-making, discover how analysts and coaches use cutting-edge technology to gain a competitive edge when margins are razor-thin. Host Martin Foster is joined by Brad Pryjmachuk (Hudl) and Donald Barron (Loughborough University) to unpack how teams prepare for major tournaments, adapt under pressure, and translate complex data into winning strategies. They discuss everything from analysing opponents and managing player performance in extreme conditions, to the psychology of penalties and the evolving role of AI in sport. 05:01 What Performance Analysis Looks Like at a World Cup 11:31 Pre-Tournament Prep vs In-Tournament Adaptation 14:41 Data Overload & Decision-Making 20:31 Individual Players & Tactical Game Plans 26:31 Technology & Evolution of the Analyst Role 30:31 Penalties, Psychology & Marginal Gains 42:00 Tactical Trends at This World Cup 57:11 Future of Performance Analysis 01:04:31 Predictions

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  Episode #114

  E114: The FIFA 2026 World Cup - A Challenging Environment and How Players should Prepare for it

  Jun 17, 20261h 4m

  What does it take to perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? In this episode, host Martin Foster is joined by experts Dr Lee Taylor, Dr Chris Esh, Professor Christa Janse van Rensburg, and Dr Valérie Bougault to break down the science behind competing across extreme heat, altitude, long-haul travel, and challenging environments. From heat acclimation and recovery strategies to jet lag and air quality, this is a behind-the-scenes look at how teams prepare for football’s biggest stage. 2026 World Cup 3:46 Heat Preparation 5:45 Travel and Sleep 19:51 Altitude 29:11 Air Quality 40:07 Working together 49:21 Who is going to win? 54:35

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  Episode #113

  E113: Building the Global Game - FIFA, Football Development, the World Cup, and the Future of Football.

  Jun 10, 20261h 4m

  In this episode of the Experts in Sport, we explore the global role of FIFA as the world builds towards the FIFA World Cup. Host Martin Foster is joined by FIFA high-performance specialists Richard Allen and former international footballer Philippe Senderos, the discussion goes beyond the tournament itself to examine how football is developed worldwide—from grassroots talent pathways to global policy, investment, and opportunity. Blending personal insight with expert analysis, the episode offers a unique look at how the World Cup shapes the game on and off the pitch. What does a World Cup feel like? 5:54 Philippe's highlights 13:14 What has changed? 20:39 FIFA's role 23:18 Development worldwide 28:01 This World Cup 49:33 Who's going to win? 55:56

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