Science for Sport Podcast
Behind the Scenes of Elite Performance – Unlocking the Science, Stories, and Strategies That Make the Best Even Better
Displaying Episode 1 - 10 of 21 in total of Science for Sport Podcast with the tag “elite sport”.
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303: Periodised Nutrition in Practice: Delivering the Plan Away From the Club
January 19th, 2026 | 42 mins 24 secs
applied sports nutrition, athlete fueling, athlete recovery, elite sport, high performance sport, interdisciplinary performance teams, macronutrients, matchday fueling, nutrition compliance, performance chef, performance nutrition, periodised nutrition, recovery nutrition, sports science, training load
This episode explores how periodised nutrition is delivered in practice away from the training ground, and the role performance chefs play in translating nutritionist-led prescriptions into compliant, real-world meals. Rachel Muse shares applied insights on macros, culture, and collaboration within elite performance systems.
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302: Creatine and the Evolution of Performance Nutrition
January 12th, 2026 | 32 mins 32 secs
applied sports science, athlete preparation, atp, creatine, elite sport, energy systems, evidence-based practice, exercise physiology, high-performance sport, olympic performance, performance nutrition, performance optimisation, professional sport, recovery, sports nutrition research, sports science, strength and conditioning, supplementation
Creatine is now a staple of elite sport — but its journey began with secrecy, risk, and a race against time ahead of the 1992 Olympic Games. In this episode, Steven Jennings shares the untold story of how groundbreaking research became real-world performance practice.
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300: Training Through Disruption: Managing Load, Time, and Performance in Winter with Michael Fennell
December 29th, 2025 | 26 mins 34 secs
applied sports science, athlete preparation, athletic development, elite sport, high performance, performance coaching, plyometrics, speed training, sports science, sprint performance, strength and conditioning, track and field, training load management, winter training
Michael Fennell joins Richard Graves to unpack how elite athletes and coaches should approach winter training, focusing on maintaining performance, avoiding early peaks, and prioritising fundamentals during a disrupted December. Drawing on experience across athletics and team sports, the episode explores micro-sessions, plyometrics, and why context and coaching judgement still matter in an age of data.
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299: Managing Performance Nutrition Over Christmas with Dan Richardson
December 22nd, 2025 | 29 mins 50 secs
80-20 rule, applied sports science, athlete fueling, athlete recovery, athlete wellbeing, christmas nutrition, cricket performance, elite sport, festive nutrition, football performance, hydration strategies, macronutrients, performance nutrition, professional sport, rugby performance, science for sport podcast, sports nutrition, sports science, travel nutrition, under-fuelling
Dan Richardson joins Richard Graves to break down how athletes can navigate Christmas nutrition, travel and social commitments without compromising performance. Drawing on elite sport experience, Dan shares practical, evidence-based strategies to enjoy the festive period while staying fuelled, recovered and ready for the New Year.
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297: Finding the Competitive Edge: Elite Performance with FC Midtjylland’s Niklas Virtanen
December 8th, 2025 | 26 mins 24 secs
applied sports science, athlete monitoring, catapult, coaching science, data analytics, elite coaching, elite sport, fc midtjylland, football analytics, football performance, football science, gps tracking, high performance, high-speed running, inertial data, injury risk, load monitoring, match preparation, micro-actions, performance coaching, performance data, performance optimisation, player development, scandinavian football, set piece analysis, sports physiology, sports science, sports technology, talent development, trackman
This episode explores how FC Midtjylland punch above their weight using advanced data, inertial tracking, and smart performance processes. Niklas Virtanen reveals how he blends science, coaching, and communication to drive elite on-pitch results.
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296: The Mental Game: What Athletes Really Carry with Them
December 1st, 2025 | 27 mins 36 secs
athlete support, athlete welfare, athlete wellbeing, british basketball, elite sport, high performance, kofi josephs, mental health, performance psychology, preventative mental health, psychology in sport, richard graves, science for sport, sport, sports science, whynoti
Former GB basketball player Kofi Josephs joins Richard Graves to share his powerful journey through elite sport, opening up about injury, pressure, mental health, and the reality behind performance. He also reveals how his platform WhyNotI is helping teams take a preventative, data-driven approach to athlete wellbeing.
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294: The Science Behind England’s Ashes Preparation – with Lead Nutritionist Charlie Binns
November 17th, 2025 | 32 mins 27 secs
ashes 2025, ashes preparation, ashes series, athlete recovery, charlie binns, cricket nutrition, cricket performance, cricket podcast, ecb, elite sport, england cricket, england cricket team, england vs australia, fuelling performance, performance nutrition, richard graves, sports nutrition, sports science, sports science podcast, test cricket
England Men’s Lead Nutritionist Charlie Binns joins the show from Australia to reveal how the team fuels, hydrates, and recovers ahead of the Ashes. From carb-loading strategies to match-day snack tables, Charlie lifts the lid on the science and logistics behind keeping England’s cricketers performing at their peak.
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285: Ellie Wilson: Inside the High-Performance World of Women’s Football
September 15th, 2025 | 35 mins 28 secs
acl recovery, athlete development, athlete mindset, elite sport, ellie wilson, england youth teams, high performance, injury rehabilitation, melbourne victory, performance psychology, player welfare, sports science, strength and conditioning, talent pathways, women’s football
Professional footballer Ellie Wilson joins host Richard Graves to share her journey through elite women’s football — from academy rejection and England youth caps to overcoming a 13-month ACL injury and helping Melbourne Victory break club records. She offers powerful insights into the demands, psychology, and support systems needed to thrive in high-performance sport.
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284: Club Plans & Personal Coaches: Adding An Edge?
September 8th, 2025 | 32 mins 14 secs
athlete monitoring, case studies mahomes lebron brady, central contracts, club vs personal coach, coaching philosophy, collaboration in sport, communication in teams, data sharing, elite sport, external practitioners, football performance, gps tracking, high performance, injury prevention, load management, multidisciplinary teams, olympic sport, performance pathways, periodisation, player availability, player welfare, premier league, programme design, recovery strategies, regeneration, return to play, rugby performance, s&c, sports science, strength and conditioning
Richard Graves and performance coach Daniel Booth debate how clubs, national teams, and personal practitioners can align around “one athlete, one plan” without adding risk—covering communication, data sharing, contracts, and load management. Practical takeaways draw on football, rugby, Olympic sport, and case studies like Mahomes and LeBron to show what good collaboration looks like in practice.
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279: Culture, Consistency, and Coaching Success in Elite Sport with Steve McNamara
August 4th, 2025 | 35 mins 27 secs
athlete development, catalans dragons, coaching, coaching philosophy, elite sport, england rugby league, high performance, performance sport, player development, rugby league, rugby podcast, sports coaching, sports leadership, steve mcnamara, team culture
In this episode, Richard Graves speaks with legendary Rugby League coach Steve McNamara about his 36-year journey through the sport, from playing in Hull to coaching England and Catalans Dragons. Steve shares powerful lessons on leadership, culture, and the evolution of the modern game.