8. Be More Athlete

Curious Cases

BBC

Technology, Science

4.8 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 30 November 2024

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Are you more of a rhino or a kitten? More like a tortoise or a hare? Listener Ivy wants to know what makes a good athlete and so Hannah and Dara tackle the science of sport.

Our curious duo get to grips with the rigours of training tailored for endurance events vs those based on more explosive bursts of activity. They consider the contribution of genetics, fast vs slow twitch muscle fibres, the unique advantage of Michael Phelps's body proportions and whether butterfly really is the most ridiculous stroke in swimming.

And after a rigorous scientific analysis, Dara turns out to be ideally suited for…netball. Much to his surprise.

Contributors Dr Polly McGuigan: University of Bath Dr Mitch Lomax: University of Portsmouth Professor Alun Williams: Manchester Metropolitan University Dr Josephine Perry: Sports psychologist

Producer: Ilan Goodman Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem A BBC Studios Audio Production

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy.
0:05.4	My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds.
0:10.8	The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that.
0:17.5	With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to
0:22.4	helping you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all put
0:28.3	together by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your life,
0:35.0	check out BBC Sounds.
0:41.3	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:46.1	I'm Hannah Frye.
0:47.2	And I'm Dara O'Brien.
0:48.8	And this is Curious Cases.
0:51.0	The show will we take your quirkiest questions?
0:52.5	Your crunchiest conundrums.
0:53.4	And then we solve them.
0:54.9	With the power of science.
0:56.0	I mean, do we always solve them?
0:57.9	I mean, the hit rate's pretty low.
0:59.6	But it is with science.
1:00.7	It is with science.
1:06.4	Welcome back to another episode of Curious Cases.
1:08.6	We've got a sporty question today.
1:09.4	Oh, see, okay.
	...

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