SportSpiel

Ellie Harber: Muay Thai, overcoming bullying and controlling her anger

On the final episode of this series of SportSpiel [https://sportspielonline.com/] we cross into the world of Muay Thai and speak to recently-crowned WBC world champion Ellie Harber. That victory was the 12th title claimed by the 18-year-old from Watford in a variety of martial art disciplines and was her first success in an adult tournament, which saw her win four fights in four days as she went on to secure gold in her maiden senior world championships. Despite her young age Ellie has come a long way since her first venture into a gym. Not only has the sport provided her with a platform to excel it has proved to be a vital way for her to control her anger and find a way of expressing herself. What’s more, she’s also let her sport do the talking to quieten the bullies who tried to ridicule her earlier on in life. Quite simply Ellie is one of an exciting generation of young female athletes proving sport is for them – and for everyone. No doubt she is a superstar in the making. DISCLAIMER: The audio at the beginning of this interview is unfortunately low quality but improves just after the two-minute mark. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en [https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en] Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/] Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/] Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com [http://sportspielonline.com/] Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ [https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/] Credits Additional thanks to the Athlete Media Group [https://athletemedia.co.uk/] for helping to organise this interview Music: Otis McDonald

Laura Gallagher and Jo Pinner: Becoming a mum during your athletic career

This episode of SportSpiel is a very special one, as we delve into an important subject that is still in its infancy in terms of understanding – becoming a mum during your athletic career. Taking part in the discussion is long-time friend of the podcast [https://sportspielonline.com/2019/11/24/laura-gallagher-meets-bryony-page-kat-driscoll-and-izzy-songhurst/], British Trampolinist Laura Gallagher, as well as England [https://sportspielonline.com/tag/england-hockey/] and GB Hockey star Jo Pinner who have both done just that, given birth to their first child in the last 14 months. With both now on their way back to the top of their sport, they explain just what it takes to become a mum while competing as an athlete – from deciding when to have a child during your career, to the physical toll pregnancy, giving birth and raising a newborn takes on the body. The pair also explain how inspiration from other athlete mums has helped them on their individual journeys and they delve into how they balance training and childcare. There’s also the very non-linear process of returning to sports in the first place, essentially having to start again after becoming mums, and so much more more. Both Laura and Jo talk incredibly openly about their experiences on a topic that still requires plenty of discussion – for context UK Sport’s maternity policy was only introduced in the last year. We hope you enjoy listening and learning from this very special podcast. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en [https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en] Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/] Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/] Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com [http://sportspielonline.com/] Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ [https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/] Credits Image: Getty Images Music: Otis McDonald

Helen Nelson: Scotland’s progress, the Six Nations and the importance of role models

Scotland Rugby’s vice-captain Helen Nelson is one of the most crucial individuals in the squad. With 55 appearances for the national team to her name she’s been a vital cog as the team looks to progress and improve – striving for bigger goals each time. With the latest edition of the Women’s Six Nations [https://sportspielonline.com/tag/six-nations/] soon to get underway – with Scotland [https://sportspielonline.com/tag/scotland-rugby/] playing Wales on March 23rd – it’s another opportunity to put that progress to the test. In this episode of SportSpiel we look ahead to the upcoming Six Nations with Helen – who plays her club rugby with Loughborough Lightning – as well as talking about the journey this Scotland team has been on. But there’s also a chance to look at Helen’s own journey – from first trying out rugby [https://sportspielonline.com/tag/rugby-union/]at the age of six, to becoming a member of the Scottish Alpine ski team, as well as returning to rugby at university after being turned down for football. As so happened, that university experience helped set her up on the path she’s currently on – and now it’s just as much inspiring the next generation in rugby as it is trying to improve in the here and now. That’s also something Helen knows all too well – the absence of any true female sporting role models when she was younger was, in her mind, something that could well have had an impact on her as she struggled with body image issues. It’s another lesson in just how important seeing women’s sport can be. After all – seeing it is believing it. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en [https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en] Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/] Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/] Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com [http://sportspielonline.com/] Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ [https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/] Credits Image: With thanks to Claire Jones [https://www.instagram.com/redhatphoto.co.uk?igsh=MWcyZG95dWEwaHhsYw%3D%3D] Additional thanks to the Athlete Media Group [https://athletemedia.co.uk/] for helping to organise this interview Music: Otis McDonald

Lilli Ives Campion: ‘The next 10 years are really pivotal in that growth of the game’

Aged just 20, Lilli Ives Campion is widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in English women’s rugby. And if it hadn’t been for one seemingly innocuous moment, she might never have even tried the sport to start with. Ever since then Lilli has gone from strength to strength within the game, making her Premiership Women’s Rugby debut for Loughborough Lightning at just 17 years old. Now her prospects are continuing to look up as she has joined the senior England [https://sportspielonline.com/tag/england-rugby/] squad for training camps this season, including ahead of the upcoming Women’s Six Nations [https://sportspielonline.com/tag/six-nations/] – with England’s first game against Italy on Sunday, March 24. In this podcast episode Lilli tells us all about her journey so far in rugby, including leaving home at 16 so she could combine her studying with playing. She also talks about being an ambassador for rugby’s leading mental health charity LooseHeadz and also why she is so excited about what is to come in the sphere of women’s sport – including why the next 10 years are so crucial. With women’s rugby making its own waves in recent years, the potential is vast for the future, as well as other areas of women’s sport. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en [https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en] Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/] Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/] Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com [http://sportspielonline.com/] Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ [https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/] Credits Image: With thanks to Loughborough Lighting and Talent Athlete Group Music: Otis McDonald

Liv Thomas: Lacrosse, battling back from an ACL and Olympic ambitions

Despite being in her early 20s, Liv Thomas has already experienced a lot in her sporting career. The GB [https://sportspielonline.com/tag/british-sport/] and England lacrosse midfielder had to wait two years for her England debut, thanks to the Covid pandemic, but after finally earning that first cap she would go on to win a World Cup bronze in triple overtime. But the difficulties would rear their head again, with Liv rupturing her ACL and tearing her meniscus. From the second she felt it, she knew something bad had happened – and it’s an injury she is still working to come back from eight months on. That brings in one of the most challenging aspects of being an athlete in her position, as she manages the physical, financial and organisational demands of trying to be at the top of her sport but also needing to have a full time job. For some athletes an injury like that is devastating enough in terms of severity. But many are able to be afforded much more regular time with physios than someone needing to work at the same time. But Liv’s motivation is still as strong as ever and there’s another carrot driving her on for more in the future – the 2028 Olympic Games [https://sportspielonline.com/tag/olympic-games/]. Lacrosse will be returning to the Olympic stage for those Games in Los Angeles with the IOC approving its inclusion back in October 2023. For someone like Liv that represents an incredible opportunity and the chance to fulfil a dream, to become an Olympian. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en [https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en] Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/] Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/] Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com [http://sportspielonline.com/] Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ [https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/] Credits Image: With thanks to Liv Thomas Music: Otis McDonald