Elladj Baldé - The figure skater trying to change perceptions of his sport

Elladj Baldé - The figure skater trying to change perceptions of his sport

Canadian professional figure skater Elladj Baldé tells us how he’s bringing the sport to a new audience through social media. Videos of Baldé performing unconventional routines to artists including Rihanna and Labrinth, have been viewed millions of times. He was born in Moscow to a Russian mother and a Guinean father and tells us he hasn’t always found it easy to express himself in the sport. Baldé also explains how we was once told to cut his hair to fit in with perceptions of how a figure skater should look and about his hopes for increasing diversity in skating. Gerda Steyn joins us to reflect on breaking the South Africa national marathon record, which had stood for twenty five years. The 31-year-old confirmed her place at a first Olympic Games, with her performance in Italy last week. We’re live at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on the opening morning of the World Snooker Championship. The BBC’s Jamie Broughton brings us the latest action and we hear from the world number three, Neil Robertson. The Australian tells us how a second world title could cement his legacy in the sport and why superstition means he’s keeping his lockdown hair for the tournament. In the week that marked 100 days to go until the Tokyo Olympics, we speak to New Zealand rugby sevens star Tyla Nathan-Wong. She explains how she battled perceptions about her height and heritage to make it in rugby and how her Chinese grandfather is her inspiration. Nathan-Wong also tells us about chasing the gold medal in Tokyo and why she couldn’t turn down the chance to be featured on postage stamps ahead of the games. In Sporting Witness – we tell the story of the Spanish hurdler - Maria Jose-Patino - who was forced to quit the sport in the 1980s after a test found she had male chromosomes due to a rare genetic condition. Maria fought a two year legal battle, successfully proving it did not improve her athletic performance. The case is seen as a milestone in the debate around genetic variation in sport. And the BBC’s Vicki Sparks joins us live from St James Park ahead of the early game in the Premier League between Newcastle United and West Ham United. (Credit: Getty Images)

The world of sport remembers Prince Philip

The former England cricket captain David Gower, the BBC’s racing commentator John Hunt, the five time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft and Andrew Counsell from British Carriage Driving reflect on Prince Phillip’s life through his love of sport. The Duke of Edinburgh passed away at the age of 99 this week. Gower recalls his many meetings with Prince Phillip, while Cockroft tells us just how much she gained by completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Andrew Counsell discusses how Prince Phillip internationalised the sport of carriage driving and John Hunt informs us of the Grand National’s plans to mark his passing. Maddie Phaneuf joins us to discuss how she balances life as an Olympic Biathlete and an environmental advocate. The American tells us she’s come under heavy criticism on social media for her stance on climate change and explains how poor air quality can affect an athlete. Phaneuf is hoping the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing could act as a catalyst for China to clean up their air. In Sporting Witness - we go back to the 1982 football World Cup and the first - and only - appearance by Kuwait. The Kuwaitis made a big impression at the tournament in Spain, because they had of the most memorable mascots in sporting history. The BBC’s John Murray joins us to reflect on the first two rounds of the Masters at Augusta National and the BBC’s John Bennett joins us live from the Etihad Stadium ahead of Manchester City’s game against Leeds United in the Premier League.

'I wish I could give her a hug and tell her she’s going to be OK' – Mallory Weggemann on her younger self

US Paralympic Gold medal winning swimmer Mallory Weggemann joins us to discuss her hopes of competing in Tokyo and reflects on her turbulent journey in the sport following the release of her autobiography. Weggemann – who was 18 at the time - was left paralysed in 2008 after receiving an epidural injection to treat back pain. She went on to win gold at London 2012, before a serious arm injury in 2014 left her contemplating her future in the sport. Weggemann competed in Rio in 2016, but missed out on the podium. She’s since walked down the aisle on her wedding day and is targeting another gold medal in Tokyo. Just over a week on from becoming a two-time Olympian and new dad at the age of 39 Great Britain marathon runner, Chris Thompson, joins us to reflect on clinching his place in Japan, balancing fatherhood with training and the prospect of competing in the Olympic Marathon as a 40-year-old. This week marked World Autism Awareness Day and we hear how the Philadelphia Eagles have been doing their bit to help by hosting a coronavirus vaccination centre for people on the spectrum. Ryan Hammond from the Eagles Autism Foundation explains what went into hosting the event and how difficult the pandemic has been for people with autism. Paris Saint Germain and Denmark forward Nadia Nadim tells us about the research she is conducting on the impact of urinary incontinence on female athletes. Nadim is currently studying to become a reconstructive surgeon and says she has been shocked by how many footballers are affected by the condition. She also says attitudes need to change around players being on their menstrual cycles. We look ahead to the University Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford, with Siobhan Cassidy, who was part of Cambridge women's winning crew back in 1995 and is now a director for the Boat Race Company. She explains why the race has been moved from its traditional route and the importance of it going ahead after last year’s cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic. In Sporting Witness, we tell the incredible story of how two of Ghana’s top sprinting talents defected during the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. The Maori family who helped them forge a new life in New Zealand remember the story for us. Photo: Mallory Weggemann of USA competes in the women's 100m Breaststroke - SB7 at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. (Credit: Getty Images)

From tackling strikers to tackling cancer – Rebekah Stott’s off pitch challenge

We hear from New Zealand and Brighton defender Rebekah Stott in the week she started chemotherapy for Stage 3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Stott tells us she’s undergone IVF treatment to give her the option of having children in the future, given the severity of the treatment she’s facing. She tells us about having learned of her diagnosis while in hotel quarantine in Australia and discusses her plans to take control of the situation by shaving off her hair for charity. Stott is hopeful of playing again for Brighton in January and reveals her aim to play in the 2023 World Cup on home soil. We look at the rise in violence against Asians and Asian Americans in the United States during the Coronavirus pandemic. Cynthia Choi from the group, Stop Asian American and Pacific Island Hate, and Tim Kawakami from the Athletic join us to discuss the situation. Tim has written a column entitled “The Attacks on Asian Americans are attacks on us all,“ and he explains the significance of basketball star Jeremy Lin speaking out on the issue. Cynthia’s group was formed in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, and they documented almost 4,000 hate crimes against their community in the past 12 months. American football cornerback Josh Norman joins us to discuss his charitable works and whether he has a future in the NFL. Norman – who played for the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 – is currently a free agent, having spent last season with the Buffalo Bills. He’s raised over a million dollars to open a youth centre in his hometown in South Carolina. In addition to his work at home, he raised money to support business hit by the covid pandemic in Buffalo and visited camps housing migrant children at a detention centre in Dallas. The BBC’s Jennie Gow joins us on the opening weekend of the new Formula One season, and former England defender Lindsay Johnson joins us as Manchester United’s women’s team prepare to make club history playing on the hallowed Old Trafford turf for the first time. Photo: Canberra United and Sydney FC players pose with a banner supporting New Zealand defender Rebekah Stott ahead of her treatment for cancer. (Credit: Getty Images)

“I’ve proved the people I care about right” – Josh Nisbet on making it as the shortest player in the A-League.

Josh Nisbet is the shortest player in the A-League, standing at 160 centimetres tall or just under 5 feet and 2 inches. He tells us about how he dreaded getting his height taken as a child and how a team in Spain suggested he take growth hormone as a teenager. He also recalls making his debut for the Central Coast Mariners alongside Usain Bolt and tells us of his hopes of playing for Australia. The UK's first female Muslim referee - Jawahir Roble - joins us to look ahead to the female only taster session she’s running for aspiring referees on Saturday. The session – which will be held via Youtube - will see women from all over the world take part. Roble tells us what participants can expect, how she deals with sexism on the pitch and how becoming a referee can help empower women and girls. British Bangladeshi - Ruqsuana Begum - tells us about her remarkable life story, which includes becoming a kick boxing world champion, an arranged marriage that ended in divorce, a battle with depression, training in secret and her move into boxing. In Sporting Witness – we tell the incredible story of when Italian football club, Perugia, shocked the world by signing Al-Saadi Gaddafi, the son of the Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi. Former India cricketer Snehal Pradhan joins us ahead of the decisive Twenty20 International between Virat Kohli’s side and England. And the BBC’s Mark Scott is at the Vitality stadium ahead of Bournemouth’s game against Southampton in the FA Cup. Photo-Josh Nisbet. Credit- Getty Images.