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On the latest Podcast we feature Saracens and Australia Rugby star, Will Skelton, who talks about his thoughts ahead of the Rugby World Cup next year in Japan and he tells us how important his faith in Jesus is to his on-field game.
That’s not all! USA Rugby’s Carlin Isles, the world’s fastest Rugby player, also joins us to play the ‘This or That’ game. Is he as quick with his words as he is with his feet?
Listen to the Planet Sport Rugby Podcast below:
Image Credit: Alasdair Massie
Julius Achon speaking to Planet Sport's Tom Ellis at the 2018 CW Games.
Planet Sport caught up with a Ugandan track legend, Julius Achon to hear about his amazing journey of facing adversity, pursuing his dreams and ultimately becoming an Olympian!
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:
Photo cred: Pierre-Yves Beaudouin
Planet Sport caught up with Canadian basketballer, Ruth Hamblin to talk about what it means to represent her country, the perks of being 6ft 6" and how important her faith is to her.
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:
Credit- British Athletics/ Getty Images
Planet Sport caught up with wheelchair racer Kare Adenegen, who in June, set the British T34 World Record. She tells us how it feels to be a world record holder and how her faith as a follower of Jesus Christ impacts her life on and off the track.
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:
Olympic Hurdler Wenda Nel spoke to Planet Sport's Norman Brierley about what has been a tough season for the South African, but also how despite all of this, she continues to fight, to be an example to others and to 'live out the gift that she has been given'.
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:
Ronnie Baker (pictured centre) has dominated this season's Diamond League circuit in the 100 metres, winning three out of four races with a sub-ten second time. Planet Sport's Norman Brierley caught up with the American on his rapid rise to the top level of world sprinting and asked how he views his success this season.
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:
As the Rugby World Cup Sevens approaches, it seemed only right that we pull aside Kenya's Collins Injera, part of the furniture in the Shujaa changing room and responsible for scoring over 270 tries for his country.
Planet Sport's Norman Brierley spoke to the 31-year-old about how he can use all of his experience to help the young players in the squad, and how big a part 'faith' plays in his rugby. . .
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:
Next week sees the Rugby Sevens world converge on San Francisco for the World Cup, we caught up with Blitzboks' Branco Du Preez and Seabelo Senatla ahead of their involvement at the tournament.
Planet Sport's Norman Brierley spoke to the pair to find out what it means to be a part of this South Africa team and see how their preparations are coming along.
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:
South Africa v New Zealand (Commonwealth Games 2018)
Keenan Horne plays for South Africa's Hockey team. At 26, he has broken into the national side and featured in their recent tournament at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year.
Planet Sport's Liam Flint spoke to the man himself, on Gold Coast, Australia, in amongst the busy competition schedule, to find out more about the number 10 and see what has propelled him to the top of the sport:
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview with Keenan below:
Meet Willy Ambaka, Kenya Rugby's star man in the sevens format. The 28-year-old winger has made over 30 appearances and notched 325 points for the Shujaa National Team and is a central figure in their HSBC Sevens Series campaign.
Planet Sport's Norman Brierley spoke to the man himself, at the HSBC Sevens meet at Twickenham, London, about where his love for Rugby came from and his hopes for Kenya as a rugby nation:
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview with Willy below:
Charl Du Toit with Planet Sport's Tom Ellis
South African Charl Du Toit is a reigning double World and Paralympic sprint champion. Competing in the T37 class for athletes with Cerebral Palsy.
He won gold at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio in the 100m and 400m, before sitting a new world record for the T37 100m of 11.35 seconds at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia!
Planet Sport's Tom Ellis caught up with Charl at the Commonwealth Games in April to find out more about this exceptional athlete and his life, career and faith:
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview with Charl below:
Photo credit- Mark Thor
Planet Sport recently caught up with Orlando Pride striker Chioma Ubogagu to get her take on the health of the women's game around the world, what it means to have a choice of three nationalities and why she recommends that all young players 'seek failure'.
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview with Chioma below:
Jamaica have long been known for producing world-class athletes, one of the current generation is Ronald Levy. The 25-year-old Hurdler came home with Gold from the Commonwealth Games, with his fellow-countryman Hansel Parchment, taking Silver.
Planet Sport caught up with the champion to reflect on what it means to be the best and to pick his brains on how to bounce back from life's challenges.
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview with Ronald below:
26-year-old Scott Sio plays for Australian Super Rugby side, Brumbies, and has also been capped by the Wallabies 43 times to date.
The world-class forward took time out to chat to Planet Sport, about following in the sporting footsteps of his father, what it means to pull on the green and gold and how his faith in God helps him in life.
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview with Scott below:
In interview with USA's Paralympic sprinter, Jarryd Wallace. . .
Speaking to Planet Sport on:
The ultimate career ambition. . . "A Paralympic medal would be nice, I've been fortunate enough to win a gold in every level of competition besides the Paralympics, so I've got eyes on Tokyo 2020. But It's not forever and when the Lord says I'm done, I'm done and I'll go through the next door that he opens."
The message he's trying to display through his athletics. . . "I think the biggest thing as an athlete and a believer is consistency, how we respond to the outcome of a race or how we respond in victory. Also having the opportunities to build and cultivate relationships with fans and room with athletes, it's a great basis to share my faith."
Get to know the story of Jarryd Wallace, @wallace_jarryd, by downloading "The True Gold" devotional today!#FightForTrueGoldhttps://t.co/0yO5xyFCPr pic.twitter.com/vpUXVefKP8
— Josiah Williams (@JDeanWilliams) 13 April 2018
How much his faith impacts his athletic performance . . ."It's a huge part of it, the reality of it is that seven years ago I was told that I would never walk again and had my leg amputated. I had the dream not just to walk, but to run at the highest level and so every day that I get to run is a gift and a blessing. That's what keeps me motivated."
What difference his faith makes to his life outlook. . . "It makes both winning and losing just easier and there is no pressure. Obviously it's fun to win races and it's fun to run fast but at the end of the day I'm not defined by one race or one time. It gives me freedom to enjoy the sport and enjoy the competition, some days it comes together and when it doesn't, that's just part of it."
Gold medalist @wallace_jarryd's journey to the top wasn't easy. 💙 His story is one of perseverance and hope: pic.twitter.com/fTQjViuDBr
— WebMD (@WebMD) 9 February 2018
Getting through the ups and downs. . ."My highs aren't too high and my lows aren't too low. I just maintain purpose, focus and I think my plateau is higher than most which is exciting."
The pattern of Christian athletes in USA Track & Field. . ."It's been really cool to watch my generation stepping out and being bold in their faith. You look at the world and society that we live in and it's based on performance or who can get what. It's a lot about take and not a lot about give but if you look at the gospel, it's our job to love and serve others. The attitude and the basis of faith for us as athletes is a huge part of us finding joy, regardless of the outcome."
On this week's Planet Sport Football Africa, we catch up with current Newcastle United winger, Christian Atsu. After a good end to this year's Premier League Campaign, the 26-year-old tells us about where he currently sees Ghanaian football, his future ambitions on the pitch, and what he makes of Rafa Benitez!
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:
Dyan Buis (L) with Charl Du Toit (R)
Dyan Buis and Charl Du Toit are the epitome of a competitive friendship, the two South African Para athletes, both medaled at this year's Commonwealth Games, running in the same T38 category event. Fierce competitors on the track, they also share a deep friendship off it, where they share a common love for their sport and their faith in Jesus.
Planet Sport's Tom Ellis caught up with the pair, before and after their medal-winning exploits to talk about what it means to represent their country together and how the focus on para-athletes is growing.
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:
South African Rugby pro Tera Mtembu, spoke to Planet Sport about his Super Rugby career with the Sharks, his love for Liverpool FC and what the future holds for him in the game.
Tera speaking on:
What he expects from 2018 . ."Firstly, I am focused on what God wants for me. Every professional athlete goes through ups and downs but what God wants for me is what I am going to achieve. I will take and control what I can control which is keeping my faith strong."
Tera Mtembu https://t.co/25S0iS9ByV pic.twitter.com/vF92rxepee
— Steve Haag Sports (@STEVEHAAGSPORT) April 12, 2018
Representing South Africa. . . "They are memories that I will never forget, I remember playing my first taste of senior rugby and it was definitely a highlight of my career so far. It's something that you can't really explain and I appreciate it more now that I did back then. It was a surreal experience and I'm really grateful."
His drive to still play international rugby. . ."Yes it definitely is, in the situation that I am in now, not many people are giving me a chance which is fine. Since I was young I've always tried to overcome adversity, and ever since I've had the Lord in my life somehow I have proven people wrong. It definitely still is the ultimate but if it doesn't happen then it's not the end of the world. I will never stop working hard and believing."
Adapting from rugby Sevens to Fifteens. . ."It's easier playing sevens and then transitioning to fifteens than the other way round. For me it came at the perfect time, when you go to sevens you sharpen up, you have to be accurate in sevens with your passing and you get drilled. It triggered my rugby to where I am now."
His love for Liverpool football club. . . "Back in 2008 a friend of mine used to talk about Liverpool all the time! The game where they beat AC Milan in the Champions league final, he talked about that game for the whole year. So I started to watch soccer and ended up supporting Liverpool."
Why his Christian faith so important. . . "Because I've had so many miracles in my life. I made a conscious decision to start reading the bible in 2008. I was fortunate to play first team rugby at school for four years, the first two years I played but was pretty average. So at the end of 2007 I needed change in my life, I had been working hard but just wasn't growing. So in January 2008 I just decided to open a bible to just be there with God and hear what he had to say. I started praying each and every day and it's amazing how my life turned, on and off the field. Ever since then, I've had the Lord close to my heart. I've achieved things that I would never have imagined just because of my faith. It's been a tough road but I will just follow His lead and do what He wants me to do."
How that faith changes how he sees sport. . ."I am going on the field and he takes over my body, he is driving the steering wheel. I don't set myself personal goals anymore, I just pray to the Lord and thank Him for the opportunity to do what I love on the stage that I'm on."
Being himself, in the rugby culture. . ."As you get older it does get easier, when you are coming in as a youngster it's tough because you get stuck into a bubble. Once you are in that bubble, you can get stuck and forget your values and identity. I also got stuck in that bubble for a while and so I had to look at myself in the mirror, to find my feet. My faith has just grown stronger but it's what you make of it. Rugby shouldn't define you as a person."
Nicole Seekamp (L) & Cayla George (R)
The Australian women's basketball team, The Opals, took the Commonwealth Games by storm on Gold Coast and cruised through to win outright Gold. Planet Sport caught up with two of their key players, Connecticut Suns' Cayla George & Adelaide Lightning's Nicole Seekamp to talk about their international success, what the secret is and how much it means to compete on home soil:
"Its definitely special and exciting to play on the beautiful Gold Coast. To have an event like this in Australia is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Listen to the full Planet Sport interview below:
