Sporting Witness
Sporting Witness brings eye-witness accounts of historic sporting moments to life through archive recordings and personal testimony. Each nine-minute episode transports listeners to events that shaped the sports world, from memorable victories to agonizing defeats. The podcast covers a wide range of sports, including football, boxing, swimming, F1, tennis, and Paralympics, featuring stories of athletes and pioneers. Recent episodes explore the forgotten Women's World Cup, a plasterer who fought a boxing legend, and the man who swam the Amazon river.
Episodes
Nadal describes his historic Wimbledon win over Federer
Rafael Nadal was known for being one of the best clay court tennis players but, ever since he started playing at four years old, it was his ambition to triumph on grass and win Wimbledon. After losing twice in the final to his great rival, Roger Federer, they played one of the longest finals - finishing just before nightfall.Rafael Nadal describes how winning Wimbledon in 2008 was the catalyst to
The making of West Germany’s iconic 1990 football shirt
In July 1990, West Germany won the World Cup for the third time, beating Argentina 1-0 in Rome. The shirt the victorious players were wearing that night has become one of the most sought-after by classic kit collectors. With its distinctive black, red and gold zigzag across the chest, West Germany’s 1990 shirt was a game changer in the world of football kits and helped usher in a new era of bold
Rebuilding Ronaldo’s knee
In 2000, Brazilian footballer Ronaldo Nazario, known as Ronaldo, suffered a career-threatening knee injury whilst playing for Inter Milan at the age of 24. His physiotherapist, Nilton Petroni, said it was the ‘worst football injury’ he had ever seen. Over the next two years, Nilton worked with Ronaldo to rebuild his knee so that it could withstand the pressure of playing football again after surg
Brazil 1-7 Germany: Brazil's heaviest defeat
Host nation Brazil were World Cup favourites in 2014, but the German team dismantled Brazil's defense and spirit by scoring five goals in 29 minutes.Germany's Thomas Müller tells Uma Doraiswamy how they inflicted Brazil's heaviest defeat.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 s
Pickles the dog finds the World Cup trophy
Pickles the dog became an unlikely hero before the 1966 World Cup when he found the stolen Jules Rimet trophy on his daily walk. Stardom beckoned as he was honoured with a medal and a role in a film, even becoming part of England's celebrations when they won the tournament. Uma Doraiswamy tells the story using archive recordings.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporti
When Diana Ross missed a penalty at the World Cup
In 1994, the USA hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time. The choice of host nation was a controversial one because, at that time, the US didn't have an active professional football league. Alan Rothenberg was the man in charge of organising the competition. He decided to book Motown legend, Diana Ross, to headline the opening ceremony in Chicago. Her penalty miss in front of 67,000 fans beca
Mexico’s Cachirules scandal
In 1988, a scandal took place in Mexican football, which saw the men’s team banned from the 1990 World Cup. Mexico had fielded over-age players for the under-20s CONCACAF tournament, which was discovered by sports journalist Antonio Moreno. When he published his findings, it led to the banning of all international teams from tournaments for two years. It gave birth to a theory that Mexico have be
Shakhtar Donetsk win the UEFA Cup
When Shakhtar Donetsk won the UEFA Cup in 2009, it was meant to be the start of a new chapter for independent Ukraine. However, when war broke out in 2014, the team's ambitions were put on hold. The captain, Darijo Srna, tells Andy Brassell how he and his family coped in the aftermath. A Stak production.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fa
Leicester City’s Premier League win
In 2016, Leicester City pulled off one of football’s greatest shocks. The club won the English Premier League despite starting the season as 5000:1 outsiders. Just a year earlier, they had narrowly avoided relegation. Captain Wes Morgan looks back on that title-winning season, from the the now-famous celebrations at the home of star striker, Jamie Vardy, to the moment he lifted the trophy in front
Nigeria’s 12-year wait for gold
At the Sydney Olympics in 2000 the Nigerian 4x400m relay team surpassed expectations by winning silver in dramatic fashion. But, in the years that followed revelations about doping in the winning USA team began to emerge. Twelve years after the original race, Nigeria were officially declared the Olympic champions. Enefiok Udo-Obong ran the final leg of the relay in 2000 for Nigeria, he has been s
The Juventus match-fixing scandal
In 2006, Italy's most successful team, Juventus, were relegated from the Italian top division due to their involvement in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal. The decision to demote Juventus came just days after Italy had won the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Journalist Paddy Agnew covered the case extensively from his base in Rome. In 2023 he shared his memories of that time with Matt Pintus. Eye
Making Escape To Victory
The 1981 film Escape To Victory is a World War Two tale of a football match in a prisoner of war camp in Nazi Germany starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and Max von Sydow. The climax of the movie is the match between the POWs and the Germans. In the prisoners' team against the Nazis, Caine and Stallone play alongside actual footballers including Bobby Moore, the legendary Pele and former E
The Fabiola Rule
In the 1990s, rollerblading had separate competitions for men and women. That changed in 2000, when the two were combined into one mixed competition. Brazilian Fabiola Da Silva was so good against the men that the change became known as the "Fabiola Rule". For more than a decade, she consistently finished in the top 10 against the men, defying expectations, and winning silver at the 2002 Latin X G
International football's biggest ever beating: 31-0
In April 2001, the small island nation of American Samoa took on Australia in the World Cup qualifiers. You could only play for the team if you held an American passport, which automatically ruled out the majority of the American Samoans, leaving them to resorting to picking schoolboys to play for them.What followed was the biggest defeat in international football – 31-0.In 2024, goalkeeper Nicky
'Fan man' crashes heavyweight championship
In November 1993, James Miller interrupted the highly anticipated world heavyweight championship rematch between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe. He crashed onto the boxing ring ropes after parachuting into the outdoor arena in Las Vegas.The media dubbed him the "fan man" because of the propeller in a cage strapped to his back.Marc Ratner, who was executive director of the Nevada State Athletic
The Czech Republic at Euro 96
In 1996, the Czech Republic played in their first major football tournament since the country's formation three years earlier. The unfancied team went on an unexpected run in the competition. One of the stars of the team, Patrik Berger, tells Guy Kilty how it all happened.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We
The first Women’s Six Nations Rugby Championship
Nathalie Amiel was a star of French rugby for more than fifteen years, from when she started playing internationally aged 15. She was part of the team which won the Five Nations, as well as the European Championship four times. In 2002 Nathalie crowned her long career with a win in the first ever Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship. Nathalie spoke to Laura Jones in 2023. Eye-witness accounts
The English samurai
In 1977, Michael Jay from England becomes the first foreigner to take part in the Soma Nomaoi which celebrates classical martial arts and military horsemanship.
The Soma wild horse chase in Japan is an annual three day event and dates back to the 10th Century.
Michael participated for 17 years, earning the rank of group commander.
He speaks to Jen Dale about the honour and challenges of taki
Emil Zatopek at the Helsinki Olympics
In 1952, the Summer Olympics took place at the height of the Cold War in Helsinki, Finland.Czechoslovak army officer Emil Zatopek achieved a unique feat in athletics by winning gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m and the marathon.Zatopek's biographer, Richard Askwith, speaks to Simon Watts about the athlete's incredible achievement.This programme was first broadcast in 2016.Eye-witness accounts brought to
The X Games
In 1995, Canadian BMXer Jay Miron took part in the first ever Extreme Games. A celebration of action sports like skateboarding and BMXing, the event - now rebranded the X Games - has been held every year since and become a global phenomenon. Jay Miron, known in the sport as 'The Canadian Beast', tells Guy Kilty how one US TV network's decision to televise the first ever Extreme Games changed his
The split in darts
In the 1970s and 80s the sport of darts was booming in the UK. It was on TV almost every week and the sport’s stars were household names. But by 1989 the sport was in decline, and the world championship was the only event that was still televised. The sport’s top players blamed the British Darts Organisation for failing to keep the game on TV and broke away to form their own competitions in 1993
Sibling success on the slopes
In 2003, skiing history was made when Croatian siblings Janica and Ivica Kostelić became the first sister-brother duo to win World Cup Alpine slalom races on the same day. Despite coming from a country with limited skiing facilities, the Kostelić siblings managed to make it to the pinnacle of the sport. They would both go on to win again at the World Championships a month later - although this t
Playing rugby during Syria’s civil war
In 2004 a rugby union team was formed in the Syrian capital Damascus. It consisted of British and French players working in the country, and one Syrian: Mohamad Jarkou. As protests against Syria’s government in 2011 were met with violent crackdowns by the authorities, foreign workers began to leave the country. But it didn't spell the end for the sport, in that same year a team formed exclusivel
India’s 1948 hockey gold medal
In 1948, London hosted the first Olympic Games after World War Two, but when it came to the hockey final, it was newly independent India who won gold, beating Great Britain. In 2014, Ashley Byrne spoke to one of the stars of the Indian team, Balbir Singh, about the victory at what became known as the ‘Austerity Games’.Singh died in 2020. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimon
Senna’s first Formula 1 win
At the Portuguese Grand Prix in 1985, three-time Formula 1 World Champion Ayrton Senna won his first race. In torrential rain, Senna dominated the race, leading from the start and winning by more than a minute and lapped nearly every other driver. Whilst other drivers were crashing out, the Brazilian kept his cool and took the chequered flag after 67 laps. Senna’s mechanic at Lotus, Chris Dinn
The Nasa swimsuit that rocked the 2008 Olympics
Imagine creating a swimsuit so good it would have to be banned. That's what Jason Rance and his team at Speedo did ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008. Wearing the LZR Racer swimsuit, United States swimmer Michael Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the Water Cube. Athletes wearing the swimsuit would shatter 30 world records in the space of three months.The reduction in skin fri
Football's Next Star
In 2009, British 17-year-old Ben Greenhalgh won a reality TV show called Football's Next Star, earning him a six-month contract to play for Italian champions Inter Milan. During his time in Milan, the club enjoyed the greatest season in its history - winning the treble of Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League. He trained alongside star players including Patrick Vieira, Samuel Eto'o a
ProZone: football's data revolution
In the 1990s, businessman Ramm Mylavaganam created a new way to analyse football matches, which would change how managers and coaches saw the game forever. Whilst trying to sell some high-end massage chairs to Derby County, he found their assistant manager Steve McClaren watching hours of footage of opponents, trying to gain an advantage. This gave him an idea – filming every minute of a match a
A Cold War hockey match
In August 1961, the Soviet Union began building a wall between East and West Berlin. Weeks after construction began, the Scotland international women’s hockey team were invited to play against West Germany. They travelled by plane and coach, getting stopped at Checkpoint Charlie, before arriving for the match at the Olympic Hockey Stadium in West Berlin. Although they didn’t win, Valerie Crombie h
Afghanistan’s international ski scene
How an international skiing scene developed in the mountains of Bamiyan province in 2011. Long: In 2011, the rugged mountains of Bamiyan Province in central Afghanistan became the backdrop of something as unlikely as it was uplifting-an international ski scene. As Bamiyan was then relatively safe for tourists, a new travel agency, supported by a development NGO, started offering holidays to skier
Nigeria at the first Women’s World Cup
The Nigerian national women’s football team were the first African team to reach the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup Tournament in China in 1991. In 2023 Justice Baidoo spoke to Nkiri Okosieme – who captained the hastily assembled squad – and hears how they overcame opposition to claim their tournament spot. This programme is a Made in Manchester Production for the BBC World Service. Eye-witnes
The Premier League’s first female photographer
In 1986, Magi Haroun began her career in football photography. She would become the first female photographer in the Premier League in the 1990s. She grew up with close connections to Manchester United. Her uncle was the club’s chairman from 1965 until 1980, and she had a good relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson during his tenure as manager. She speaks to Tim O’Callaghan and tells him about embark
2005 Ashes: Pratt runs out Ponting
In the 2005 Ashes series in England, substitute fielder Gary Pratt grabbed the headlines when he ran out Australian captain Ricky Ponting in the fourth test. Ponting questioned England’s use of a substitute fielder. It was a pivotal moment which turned the game in England’s favour and they went on to lead the series 2-1. Gary Pratt tells Uma Doraiswamy how it all played out.Eye-witness accounts b
Malice at the Palace
On 19 November 2004, a heated NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons spiralled into one of the most infamous brawls in sport's history. What began as a hard foul escalated into chaos as players clashed with fans in the stands, leaving a lasting mark on the league’s image. Mark Boyle, a veteran radio broadcaster known as 'the voice of the Pacers’ was there that night. Speaking to H
Colonel Gaddafi’s son plays in Italy’s top football league
In 2003, Italian top-flight side Perugia made an unusual signing: Al-Saadi Gaddafi, the son of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. It was seen as a publicity stunt by headline-hungry Perugia owner Luciano Gaucci, with Gaddafi making just one Serie A appearance, as a substitute in a win against Juventus in 2004. But Gaddafi made a big impression off the field and was renowned for his playboy lifesty
The race that stops a nation
Ahead of Australia's most famous horse race, the Melbourne Cup, we go back 10 years to when Michelle Payne was the first, and so far only, female jockey to win the title.Michelle, the youngest of 10 children, came from a racing family with seven of her siblings becoming jockeys. Throughout her career, she suffered a series of serious injuries that nearly forced her to retire, but her perseverance
Sofia Mulanovich’s first world surfing championship win
With both her parents and brothers surfing, it was natural that Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich got into the sport at the age of three. As a teenager she competed in the US Open surfing competition, where she made the quarter-finals. But it was in 2004 when she made history by becoming the first South American woman to win the World Surfing Championship. She tells Rachael Devine about the waves she had
Mira Rai: Child soldier to sky runner
In 2015 Mira Rai took the international sky running scene by storm, winning gold medals in ultra-endurance running events ranging from 50-150 kilometres.At first, little was known about this young competitor whose grit and determination were unparalleled. But behind her calm demeanour was a personal story which would shock the ultra-running world. She tells Hunter Charlton how she began life in a
When Greg Louganis hit his head on a diving board
At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, in South Korea, Greg Louganis hit his head on the springboard. It was during the preliminary rounds while he was attempting a reverse 2½ pike.It caused a gash to his head, with blood trickling down his head. At the time, only he and his coach Ron O'Brien knew he was HIV positive.In 2012 he spoke to Peter Bowes about that moment. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by a
The first Esports tournament
In October 1972, the first ever Esports tournament was held at California's Stanford University. Now a multi-billion dollar industry, thousands of people watch tournaments all around the world, but competitive video gaming was in its infancy in the early 70s.Called the 'Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics', it was organised by a Rolling Stone magazine journalist who was documenting the early days of c
Between two giants: Thrilla in Manila’s referee
On October 1 1975, the third and final fight between bitter rivals Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, known as the Thrilla in Manila, took place in the sweltering heat of the Philippines’ capital. The bout went down in history as one of the most brutal and dramatic in boxing. Carlos Padilla, the match referee, tells Jay Behrouzi what it was like to watch the two heavyweight fighters push through exhaus
Second time around
At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, the final of the women’s high jump came down to two world record holders. One of them was already an Olympic gold medallist and one of West Germany’s most famous athletes. Ulrike Nasse-Meyfarth had been a celebrity since surprising the athletics world by winning her first gold medal at the age of 16, 12 years earlier.After suffering a decline in her career and
Bula Choudhury – India's record breaking swimmer
In 2004, the Indian long-distance swimmer Bula Choudhury became the first woman to complete the challenge of crossing straits of the world’s Seven Seas. Choudhury is a former Indian national swimming champion in the pool, who was inspired to switch to the ocean by a traditional Bengali folk tale. Her challenge took her to five continents. She says that one of her hardest swims was in the cold wa
Oscar De La Hoya: ‘I knocked him down, he knocked me down’
In 1999, reigning WBC welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya - the “golden boy” of boxing – was facing criticism over the quality of the opponents he fought.One match changed all that – a Las Vegas showdown with Ike Quartey, from Ghana. “My strategy was solely to make it a dogfight, to make it entertaining, to shut up the doubters all over the world,” said La Hoya. The Mexican American champ reliv
The photo which exposed a goalkeeper's fake injury
In 1989, Chile faced Brazil in a crucial World Cup qualifying match at the iconic Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro.During the game, a flare was thrown onto the pitch, appearing to seriously injure Chile's goalkeeper Roberto Rojas. Football photographer Ricardo Alfieri was watching with 129 other photographers.He was the only one who captured the moment the flare landed - behind Rojas. Days later
Organising the first Women's Rugby World Cup
In 1991, English players wanted the first Women's Rugby World Cup to be close to home because of travel costs. With little help from the sport's governing body, Deborah Griffin, Alice D Cooper, Sue Dorrington and Mary Forsyth organised it themselves.Alice D Cooper tells Uma Doraiswamy about how they planned and paid for it, getting teams from across the world to sign up and come to Britain for wh
The referee who invented the red card
It was during the 1966 World Cup match between England and Argentina that one of England’s leading professional referees, Ken Aston, had an idea that would revolutionise football. Aston, who was watching the game from the stands, was concerned over apparent language barriers between players and officials. His solution was to recommend referees be given red and yellow cards, as way of cautioning an
Shuttlecock scandal
At the London 2012 Olympics, a women’s doubles badminton match between China and South Korea caused controversy when the four players were disqualified for deliberately underperforming. This incident, which marred the spirit of the games, saw the players serving into the net and hitting shots out of bounds in a blatant effort to manipulate the draw for the knockout stage. The sound of the shuttlec
Jack Brabham: A champion in his own construction
Australian driver Jack Brabham was a pioneer in the 1960s, winning an Formula 1 world title in1966 in a car he built himself – a remarkable feat that has never been matched. His son, David Brabham, speaks to Jarek Zaba about Jack’s incredible journey – from racing in his native Australia - to starting an F1 revolution and becoming the first person knighted forservices to motorsport. A 2 Degrees We
The first Women's Euros
Between 1982 and 1984, UEFA held the first European Competition for Women's Football. Sixteen teams battled it out across Europe.The final was between Sweden and England.Rachel Naylor spoke to the Swedish captain Anette Börjesson in 2022.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 s
Irish hurling legend Christy Ring
Christy Ring was one of Ireland’s greatest hurling players. His career spanned three decades and he achieved many accolades including eight All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship titles. In 1956, he played in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final. Christy Ring’s Cork were hoping to beat Wexford to not only secure the championship, but for him to also achieve a record ninth title. Crai
West Germany 1990: The making of an iconic football shirt
In July 1990, West Germany won the World Cup for the third time, beating Argentina 1-0 in Rome. The shirt the victorious players were wearing that night has become a design classic and is now one of the most sought-after by classic kit collectors. With its distinctive black, red and gold zigzag across the chest, West Germany’s 1990 shirt was a game-changer in the world of football kits, helping to
Arthur Ashe wins Wimbledon
It's been fifty years since Arthur Ashe beat defending champion and fellow American Jimmy Connors to become the first African-American man to win Wimbledon.The final in July 1975 was called one of the most remarkable in the history of The Championships. At 49, Ashe died from Aids-related pneumonia.His former agent, Donald Dell, spoke to Louise Hidalgo in 2011 about what his friend might have gone
World Cup whisky
In 1974, East Germany beat West Germany in a World Cup match in Hamburg. Afterwards, on a flight, the West German Finance Minister, Hans Apel, found himself sitting next to one of the East German players, Hans-Jurgen Kreische. Apel was so despondent that he told Kreische West Germany could not win the World Cup. Kreische disagreed and the pair had a bet. They tell Mani Djazmi about that fateful mo
South Africa’s unifying Rugby World Cup win
In 1995, post-apartheid South Africa hosted, and won, the Rugby World Cup. It was a hugely unifying moment for the country.In 2013, Rob Bonnet heard Francois Pienaar, the captain of the victorious Springboks, explain what the triumph meant to the nation. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the e
Eric Murangwa Eugene: How football saved the goalie’s life
In 1994, as the genocide in Rwanda against the Tutsi minority unfolded, goalkeeper Eric Murangwa Eugene’s life was in danger. Being a Tutsi, Eric had to beg for his life when five armed men showed up at his house to kill him. It was only when they recognised him as a footballer, and saw his photos as proof, that they left. Eric tells Jake Warren about spending the following months trying to evade
Goalie v Gull
Dutch goalkeeper Eddy Treijtel played for Rotterdam giants, Feyenoord, more than 300 times. But one of his most talked about moments happened during a game against city rivals Sparta Rotterdam, in 1970. His goal kick, meant to pick out a striker, instead hit and killed a seagull. The dead bird was later stuffed and now resides in the club’s museum.Eddy tells Johnny I’Anson about the moment that wo
Bayern Munich's Champions League redemption
Bayern Munich were minutes away from winning the Champions League in 1999, before two late Manchester United goals. In 2001, they had a chance at redemption. To do this they had to beat Spanish side Valencia, who were in the final for the second year running after losing to Real Madrid in 2000. In a match with 17 penalties, it would ultimately be Bayern who won the title in dramatic fashion. Mic
Revolutionising sumo: The Mongolian influence
In 2000, Mongolian wrestlers began to transform the traditional Japanese sport of sumo, introducing innovative techniques and reshaping the competitive landscape. Mokonami Sakae, one of the pioneers, overcame cultural and physical challenges to make his mark in the ring. But the rise of Mongolian sumo wrestlers was not without controversy. A Made in Manchester production presented by Ashley Byrne.
The 5-19 football riot in China in 1985
In May 1985 Hong Kong inflicted an unexpected footballing defeat on their neighbours and rivals China in a World Cup qualifying game in Beijing. The disappointed Chinese fans rioted and the Hong Kong team had to flee to the safety of their hotel. They later returned home to a hero's welcome. In 2017 Ashley Byrne spoke to former Hong Kong manager, Lawrence Yu Kam-kee. A Made in Manchester product
Creating Hawk-Eye and goal-line tech
In 2000, keen cricketer Paul Hawkins wanted to turn his passion into innovation when he created the technology we now know as Hawk-Eye and goal-line technology. It was first used in cricket in 2001.Then, after several controversial sporting moments, involving Serena Williams and Frank Lampard, it was introduced in tennis and football. Now it’s used in more than 25 sports around the world. 50-year-
The Flying Mother and the first Giro D'Italia Femminile
The story of the longest consistently run cycling grand tour for women. Now known as the Giro Rosa, the Giro D'Italia Femminile was first raced in 1988. The race featured a total of nine stages with an average of 87km per day. The winner was Italian Maria Canins. When she started cycling, she was nicknamed ‘Mama Volante’ – ‘The Flying Mother’ – as she was a 32-year-old mother who was originally an
Kwame Nkruman-Acheampong: The Snow Leopard
In 2003, Kwame Nkruman-Acheampong put skis on for the first time. Seven years later, he was competing in slalom at the Vancouver Olympics, the first Ghanaian to ever qualify for the winter games. Kwame grew up in Ghana, but in 2002, at the age of 28, he moved back to UK. To support himself through his masters degree, Kwame decided to get a job and ended up working at the local indoor ski centre in
The woman who faked her Boston Marathon win
In 1980, Rosie Ruiz was crowned the female winner of the Boston Marathon.But the Cuban runner was not known in marathon circles and her victory instantly raised eyebrows.Men's champion Bill Rodgers was there when Rosie was crowned at the finish line with laurel leaves."I became suspicious of Rosie pretty quickly," he said. "A really fit, strong, marathoner, woman is pretty tough. Rosie was not tha
Surfing the biggest waves in the world
The story of how the legendary surfer, Garrett McNamara, pioneered riding the colossal 100ft waves at Nazaré on the Portuguese coast. At Nazaré in 2011 he broke the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed at the time, officially judged to be 78ft (23.8m). Nazaré has since become a centre of big wave surfing. Garrett McNamara spoke to Alex Last in 2020 about how he first came to surf at Naza
Minda Dentler - Ironman World Championship
On 12 October 2013, American Minda Dentler became the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the super-endurance Ironman World Championship race, over 226km. Born into poverty in India, Minda describes how she overcame serious physical illness to realise her athletic dream in Hawaii. Presented by Ashley Byrne. A Made in Manchester production.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and
WWE’s youngest female champion
In 2014, English wrestler Saraya-Jade Bevis became the youngest female champion in WWE history.Her life story – growing up in in a wrestling family – was turned into the Hollywood film Fighting with My Family, starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.She tells Vicky Farncombe about her extraordinary rise to fame.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those
Why I designed the prosthetic running leg
When sport enthusiast Van Phillips lost his foot in a water-skiing accident, he decided to design a prosthetic leg that allowed him to keep running.In 1984, he made the first prosthetic running leg using carbon graphite, which was light, flexible and strong.Rebecca Kesby spoke to Van Phillips, the inventor of the first carbon graphite prosthetic running leg. This programme was first broadcast in 2
Becoming the 60m fastest woman in the world
At 60m, Nelli Cooman is a former indoor world record holder, running 7:00 seconds in 1986. It was the first time that indoor times were considered official records. Born in Suriname, she moved to the Netherlands aged eight. She was initially a football player, until her sprinting talents were discovered in high school. She became the first Dutch athlete to get sponsorship and go full time, becomin
Murderball: Inventing wheelchair rugby
In 1976, a group of friends invented a game at a rehab hospital in Canada, which they called "murderball". It was debuted at the World Wheelchair Games in 1990 and called wheelchair rugby. It became a full Paralympic Sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Duncan "The Quadfather" Campbell was one of the 'founding fathers' of the game after a diving accident caused a spinal cord inj
When Chelsea took on Tromsø in an Arctic blizzard
In the 1997 European Cup Winners’ Cup, FA Cup champions Chelsea played part-timers Tromsø at home – high in the Arctic north of Norway. The match was at times reduced to a farce as the two sides struggled to cope with heavy snow. Chelsea's manager Ruud Gullit argued the game should have been stopped.Tromsø defender Steinar Nilsen speaks to Lars Bevanger about the match - and the tricky conditions.
Exploring the caves of the world's biggest iceberg
In 2000, a Canadian diver became the first person to explore the underwater caves of a giant iceberg.Jill Heinerth was already renowned for her exploits mapping vast underground cave networks in Florida. But when a vast iceberg known as B-15 broke away from an ice shelf in Antarctica, Jill was given a unique challenge.Braving sub-zero temperatures and the treachery of constantly shifting ice, she
The woman who sailed solo around the world
In 1978, Naomi James became the first woman to sail single-handedly around the world via Cape Horn.At the time, Naomi had had only six weeks of sailing experience and had never been on her own on a boat. She also suffered seasickness, and struggled with navigation.But with the encouragement of her husband Rob James, a professional sailor, she set off from Dartmouth, England, in her yacht, the Expr
The Super Bowl helmet catch
In the final minutes of Super Bowl 42, the trailing New York Giants pulled off a move later described as “an insult to physics and Albert Einstein”. Quarterback Eli Manning sent the ball hurtling forward towards wide receiver David Tyree. As he leapt to make the catch, Tyree was under such intense pressure from the New England Patriots’ Rodney Harrison, that it was nearly impossible to get both ha
George Best scores a double hat-trick
On 7 February 1970, footballing legend George Best returned from a month-long ban to score six goals in one game.The striker wanted to prove the critics wrong who said Manchester United had been playing better without him.Ray Fairfax, from Northampton Town, was tasked with marking the Ballon d'Or winner.He tells Vicky Farncombe the unusual methods his side used to prepare for the match – including
How Fanny Blankers-Koen became the 'flying housewife’
At the 1948 Olympics, one Dutch athlete showed that being a housewife and mother was no obstacle to Olympic glory.Fanny Blankers-Koen won gold in four events: the 100m and 200m sprints, the 80m hurdles and the 100m relay.But not all the attention was positive. Fanny got letters telling her she should be doing the housework and not running around stadiums in shorts.Vicky Farncombe tells her story t
The Ice Mile
In 2009, Ram Barkai, a swimmer from Cape Town, in South Africa, broke the world record for the longest swim in freezing cold water. He completed the endurance feat wearing only a cap, goggles and standard swimming costume.Delighted with his achievement, he had a ‘Mandela moment’ and began promoting a new extreme sport which he called ice swimming. Within a few short months, the ice mile was born.R
Ron Grant: First man to run around Australia
In 1983, the ultra-runner Ron Grant took on an epic challenge - to became the first person to run around Australia. The 13,383 kilometre jog took him seven months.Grant overcame injuries, crew mutinies and serious financial debt, before being greeted by huge crowds at the finish line in Brisbane. He spoke to Ashley Byrne in 2019. A Made In Manchester production.Eye-witness accounts brought to life
The ice hockey team sponsored by Colonel Gaddafi
In 1987, Colonel Gaddafi, sponsored a struggling German ice hockey team called ECD Iserlohn. The Libyan dictator paid a million dollars for the team to wear an image of his infamous “Green Book” on their kits, but the sponsorship deal outraged fans and became a media scandal. In 2017, David Prest spoke to former Iserlohm player, Earl Spry, and the writer, Gabriel Luis Manga. A Whistledown producti
Maria Costello: the record-breaking female motorcyclist
In 2005, British motorcycle rider, Maria Costello, became the first ever woman to reach the podium at the infamous Isle of Man TT course.In doing so, she also became the fastest woman ever around the course.The Isle of Man TT is one of the most challenging and unforgiving motorsport events in the world, the ultimate test for both riders and machines.Maria was awarded an MBE in 2009 in recognition
