In this podcast series, lawyers from Penningtons Manches Cooper speak to international sports stars and industry experts to discuss various aspects of their sporting career.

Season two

Going for gold – what does it take to compete and succeed at elite level sports?

In the second season of our podcast, lawyers from Penningtons Manches Cooper and international sports stars discuss the road to being an elite athlete and what it takes to compete at the highest level of sport. From the discovery of talent, getting the backing needed to train and develop, qualifying for a team, and overcoming bumps in the road, we’ll discuss the journeys of various athletes.

Episode one – Adapting to life's moving goalposts: Alistair Patrick-Heselton's journey of resilience

In this introductory episode, we are joined by Alistair Patrick-Heselton to discuss his inspiring story of resilience, from overcoming severe head trauma as a result of a car crash to representing ParalympicsGB at the 2012 London Paralympic Games in the 7-a-Side Cerebral Palsy (and Brain Injury) team.

Hosts: Tom Pimenta and Louise Taylor.

To watch this episode in video format click here.

Episode two – Raising the bar: A conversation with Jenny Tong

GB weightlifter Jenny Tong joins us for a conversation on her life before finding weightlifting, her journey as an athlete and battle with injuries to become English and British champion in 2022, and her roles in governance, safeguarding, coaching and as a board member.

Hosts: Andrew Haywood and Eva McHale.

To watch this episode in video format click here.

Episode three – Overtraining and under-eating: Bobby Clay's cautionary tale

We are joined by Bobby Clay, a once rising star in British athletics whose Olympic dreams were shattered by a diagnosis of osteoporosis at just 19 years old. In this episode, she shares her journey from being a top 1500m runner to facing the realities of overtraining and under-eating.

Host: Tom Pimenta.

To watch this episode in video format click here.

Episode four – Shooting straight: the archery career of Pippa Britton OBE

In this episode, we speak to Pippa Britton OBE to explore her incredible journey in the world of archery. Pippa shares her experiences, challenges, and triumphs, offering a unique perspective as both a Paralympian and able-bodied competitor for Wales. We delve into her major surgeries, her experience at the Paralympics, classifications, the importance of inclusivity, her board level roles in the governance side of sport and the upcoming Paralympics in Paris.

Host: Tom Pimenta and Eva McHale.

To watch this episode in video format click here.

Season one

The life of a female athlete - how does sport need to change to present more opportunities to women?

In this first season, lawyers from Penningtons Manches Cooper and guests, including international sports stars and industry experts, discuss the challenges faced by women in sport, explore the inequality between men and women competing at the elite level and provide some insights on how rules could be changed to better promote success for female sports stars.

The episodes will follow the stages in a career of a female athlete as set out below:

Episode one – The challenges to become an elite sportswoman

In this introductory episode, we are joined by Baz Moffat (CEO of The Well HQ and former Team GB rower) and Naida Hutchinson (former England and Superleague netballer) to discuss what it takes to reach the top of your sport and how this is different for women.

Hosts: Tom Pimenta, Rachel Spruce and Eva McHale.

Related article: How sport is missing a trick for female athletes

Episode two – From girls to women: safeguarding risks and issues as an athlete grows

We are joined in this episode by Milly Wildish (safeguarding expert consultant who recently advised British Gymnastics) and Baz Moffat (CEO of The Well HQ and former Team GB rower) to explore how best to train a child prodigy to become a sports star whilst also considering the risks of over-training and various safeguarding considerations for young female athletes.

Hosts: Tom Pimenta and Rachel Spruce.

Related article: Safeguarding of athletes – lessons to be learned from the education sector

Episode three – Mother and athlete: how can governing bodies help athletes excel at both roles? 

Alex Newman and Andri Rauber of UK Sport join us to discuss the key concerns and rationale they had when writing UK Sport’s pregnancy guidance. They look at the concerns athletes have when wanting to start a family and set out some of the solutions that their guidance hopes to achieve across such a diverse range of sports.

Host: Tom Pimenta and Eva McHale.

Related article: Life of a female athlete: raising a child whilst competing

Episode four – How can coaches assist a female athlete when planning her career and pregnancy?

In this episode, we discuss the relationship between coaches and athletes when discussing career goals alongside planning a pregnancy. Alex Newman and Andri Rauber of UK Sport provide insights gained from coaches and athletes during their research and Baz Moffat (CEO of The Well HQ and former Team GB rower) explains how she advises clients who seek guidance about returning to sport after pregnancy and discussing this with their coaches.

Hosts: Tom Pimenta, Eva McHale and Rachel Spruce.

Related article: Elite female athletes - competing for maternity rights on the largest playing fields

Episode five – Retirement and career planning for elite athletes

Naida Hutchinson (former England and Superleague netballer) joins us to discuss how she decided the time was right to end her netball career and the difficult choices women face in planning a family when they are often at the peak of their career by comparing decisions taken by notable netball players.

Hosts: Eva McHale and Tom Pimenta.

Episode six – Women in football: a conversation with Monique Choudhuri

We are joined by the brilliant Monique Choudhuri (former NED, Brentford FC; current NED, Women in Football) to discuss women in football, WiF’s “Open Doors” agenda, the alarming events surrounding Jenni Hermoso and the future of sponsorship/broadcasting in the female game.

Host: Eva McHale

Episode seven – She can play: what needs to change to boost female participation in sport?

Gemma Johnston (CEO and co-founder of She Is Action) joins us to discuss what needs to change to boost female participation in sport. We look at the barriers to entry at various stages of life, some perceptions and misconceptions that are depriving women and girls of their chance to compete and how Gemma and her business hope to implement change.

Hosts: Tom Pimenta and Eva McHale.