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Artwork for Sporting Witness

Sporting Witness

BBC World Service
Women's World Cup
Manchester United
Alex Higgins
Liverpool FC
Ayrton Senna
Mexico City
Football
Mixed Martial Arts
Geoff Twentyman
Ian Rush
Formula One
Sports History
Italy
Soviet Union
Snooker
Kevin Keegan
Football History
Bill Shankly
Alice Annum
Commonwealth Games

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 shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear f... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes654Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySports

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Artwork for Sporting Witness

Latest Episodes

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 c... more

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 10t... more

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, Ri... more

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 ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Michael Jay
English participant in Soma wild horse chase
Independent participant, UK
Episode: The English samurai
Jay Miron
Canadian BMX rider known for winning gold in the BMX dirt competition at the first Xtreme Games
X Games
Episode: The X Games
Balbir Singh
A legendary Indian hockey player and key member of the 1948 Olympic team
Indian Hockey Team
Episode: India’s 1948 hockey gold medal
Valerie Sinclair
Former Scottish Women's Hockey player and participant in the 1961 match
Episode: A Cold War hockey match
Ron Artest
NBA player known for his physical style of play and involvement in the Malice at the Palace brawl.
Formerly Indiana Pacers, currently retired
Episode: Malice at the Palace
Mira Rai
Nepalese long-distance runner and child soldier turned athlete
Episode: Mira Rai: Child soldier to sky runner
Carlos Padilla
Referee of the Thrilla in Manila fight
Episode: Between two giants: Thrilla in Manila’s referee
Ulrike Meyfarth
Famous German high jumper, Olympic champion in 1972 and 1984
German Athletics Federation
Episode: Second time around
Bula Choudhury
Notable long-distance swimmer and the first woman to complete crossings of the Seven Seas.
Independent swimmer
Episode: Bula Choudhury – India's record breaking swimmer

Hosts

Tim O'Callaghan
Host of Sporting Witness; BBC World Service
Simon Watts
Host of Sporting Witness; BBC
Guy Kilty
Host of Sporting Witness
Marta Medvešek
Presenter of the Sporting Witness podcast

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 160 ratings
  • These are fabulous glimpses of history

    I love these these 10 minute glimpses into history speaking to people there at the time. A fantastic taster to sometimes research certain subjects further and evidence of what the BBC are really good at educating us in an informed way !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jazz Puppy
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Amazon Swimmer

    Loved the interview with the man who swam the Amazon. Great story will listen to more of these.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ItunesDon
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Good but too short

    Plenty of scope for this series, but really, 9 minutes is far too short to cover any topic except in the most rudimentary detail. Half an hour would have been better.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Charlie1745
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • PM

    Love this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PMcFlegal
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Great Podcast

    Have been listening to the podcast for over three years now and really enjoy it. The sporting subjects are such great moments from my past and the pod really brings them to life.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    NakiBrownie
    New Zealand5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Short episodes are perfect for commutes and quick research.
High-quality archival storytelling with credible voices.
Consistently strong for fans of sports history and human-interest angles.
Some listeners wish for longer episodes or deeper dives into topics.
Useful, well-researched history in accessible soundbites.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#105
Singapore/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#158
Ireland/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The English samurai
Q: How did you feel after the three days of racing and training?
Michael describes being totally exhausted yet filled with a sense of accomplishment and relief, recognizing the extreme physical and mental demands of participating in such a perilous, ceremonial event.
Mira Rai: Child soldier to sky runner
Q: Were you scared?
No, I wasn't scared really. I learned a lot with my friends and our leaders.
When Greg Louganis hit his head on a diving board
Q: What sort of scenarios were going through your mind? Were you thinking of the potential that other divers could be infected? What people would say?
I was concerned about that, but you're not going to get HIV through in a chlorinated pool.
When Greg Louganis hit his head on a diving board
Q: How quickly did you then think HIV?
It was pretty quick, when I realized that I was bleeding, I was terrified.
Bula Choudhury – India's record breaking swimmer
Q: How did it feel to be representing your country and winning at such a young age?
Bula expressed immense pride and joy, comparing the experience to being on cloud nine.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Sporting Witness

What is Sporting Witness about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show curates eyewitness accounts and archival material to bring historic sports moments to life in short, narrative-led episodes. Listeners get vivid backstage moments from events ranging from Olympic debuts and groundbreaking women's competitions to pivotal coaching breakthroughs and cultural milestones in sport. The format tends to spotlight personal journeys, rivalries, and the broader impact of sports on society, often through first-person recollections and archive-driven storytelling. Notable strengths include concise, vivid storytelling, access to rare perspectives, and a track record of high-profile historic moments spanning multiple disciplines. Potential listeners who enjoy immersive history, archival interviews, and concise, ... more

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How many listeners does Sporting Witness get?

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How many subscribers and views does Sporting Witness have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sporting Witness has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sporting Witness?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sporting Witness:

1. Witness History
2. Great Lives
3. The History Hour
4. Football Weekly
5. More or Less

How many episodes of Sporting Witness are there?

Sporting Witness launched 14 years ago and published 654 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sporting Witness?

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What guests have appeared on Sporting Witness?

Recent guests on Sporting Witness include:

1. Michael Jay
2. Jay Miron
3. Balbir Singh
4. Valerie Sinclair
5. Ron Artest
6. Mira Rai
7. Carlos Padilla
8. Ulrike Meyfarth

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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