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From the military to sport – the veteran giving back to UK athletes

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Tell us about you 

Steve Thornton served with 4 Regt, 669 Sqn, Army Air Corps for 5 years until 1995, service number  24901176, completing a tour of Operation Granby during the first Gulf War in 1991.

After leaving the military and a few years of working as a military car salesperson in Germany, Steve returned to the UK and set up Forces Cars Direct in Lincoln with his former employer (also a veteran) in 2001 to do more for military personnel, offering a vastly improved service and savings for not just personnel serving overseas, but UK personnel both serving and veterans. The business was also developed further with the launch of Motor Source Group in 2013 to aid emergency services personnel and teachers.

 

Tell us about why you launched Black Gold Vehicles?

With the long-standing partnerships we have made within the motoring industry we have pioneered a unique programme for our public service workers, of which we are very proud.

Working with the manufacturers, we then launched Black Gold Vehicles to offer the same streamlined, 5-star rated service to professional sports stars, celebrities and high-net worth individuals, who appreciate a service that will look after them, saving them both time and money.

Why are you supporting sports stars & others in entertainment?

Steve’s love of business and golf has presented him with many opportunities to meet and play with many high-profile sports stars whom expressed a desire for a concierge service to aid them in their car purchases. Something that would genuinely look after them and offer the service levels all customers deserve, so Black Gold Vehicles was really born from this need.

 

What sort of vehicles do you source and supply?

We source and supply all types of vehicles from a Fiat to a Ferrari, a city run around to a performance sports car. As we are independent, we are able to advise and source any vehicle for our client without bias.

We are also able to offer all forms of funding should anyone wish to take advantage of this, but there is no obligation to use this and their own funding or cash sales are welcome too.

What sort of benefits do athletes get from Black Gold Vehicles?

Not only can our clients benefit from great savings with Black Gold Vehicles, but our concierge service means that we take care of everything throughout the order and delivery process; making your purchase as smooth and hassle-free as can be, saving time as well as money.

 

Do you help athletes in any other ways? (eg: partnership / sponsorship)

Yes, we love getting involved with communities and events through partnerships and sponsorship too. For example, we are currently supporting golfer Liam O’Neill and sponsoring him through his progress towards the main PGA tour.  Through Forces Cars Direct we also support the GB Bobsleigh team, led by Royal Marine Adam Baird, and Motor Source Group are the title sponsors of the Emergency Services Football League. For us, it’s about much more than just car sales.

Who’s the biggest athlete you’ve worked with?

At Black Gold Vehicles we really do value our clients and a big part of our service is being discreet so we won’t comment too much on that.

 

What sports are the athletes in that you have been able to support?

All sports – our service is available for athletes in all sports, and so far we have been able to assist those in football, rugby, cricket, golf and much more.

 

Tell us about your work with the military

During my military service I was proud to be a member of the armed forces and was grateful to travel the world. I learned a lot from my experiences and made many friends. It tought me a lot about team work and allowed me to mature from a boy to a man. Having been based in Germany I was not only  lucky to travel around Europe but also Canada.

It wasn’t just about working with attack helicopters though, I was also lucky to be able to learn how to ski, paraglide, and glider training. Something I don’t think I would have done in as a civilian. Sport was also really important for the military. I played football as a goalkeeper for my regiment and played rugby and golf too.

My time came to an end after 5 years with great sadness but set me upon another road in my life, for which I am ever grateful.

For more information on Black Gold Vehicles please visit www.blackgoldvehicles.com.

Putting British beach volleyball on the map | Biakoloz-Batrane

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Olympic-level beach volleyball is a relatively new competition compared to other Olympic sports such as athletics, cycling and swimming, having only being added as an official sport at the 1996 games in Atlanta. Perhaps this is why it is yet to enter mainstream sports in the UK, despite an increase in facilities since its Olympic debut. Britain’s first beach volleyball team to make the Olympics, Audrey Cooper and Amanda Mo Glover, had to train in Amsterdam as the UK had no beach volleyball courts at the time. Fast forward to 2020 where there has been considerable uptake on beach volleyball, with team Biakoloz-Batrane looking to put the sport firmly on the British map by becoming the first British men’s volleyball team to qualify for the Olympics.

Having played with seasoned beach volleyballer Chris Gregory for some time, Issa Batrane was looking for a new partner to match his hunger for future competition. Batrane had recently moved to The Netherlands, not knowing who his partner was going to be for the upcoming seasons. He and his coaches created a spreadsheet listing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of potential teammates to analyse who would be the best fit. They wanted a good blocker who was smart – “and basically every single box Freddie [Biakoloz] checked”. After the “no brainer” decision to form a team, the duo competed in France before deciding that the coupling would be a long-term decision.

According to recent statistics[1] volleyball is one of the less popular sports, with reports estimating that 47,000 Brits participate in the sport compared to the  2.1 million who play football and 224,400 that play rugby. Regarding the fact that beach volleyball is a small percentage of the overall volleyball number, it is arguable that the sport is somewhat niche. It is surprising that the uptake is not larger considering the advantages of playing the sport. Batrane became involved in beach volleyball as he was looking to keep off the summer pounds and “[trying] to stay in shape” when he wasn’t playing indoor volleyball. Later he won the junior British Beach Championships and decided to stick with it. Biakoloz came about the sport differently. His parents both being volleyball players, he naturally followed in their footsteps and was the sole junior member at Crystal Palace Club at the age of 14.

The pair have found stark benefits in playing beach volleyball, both physically and mentally. The additional challenge of playing in sand contributes to the athlete’s aerobic capacity and strength ability which Batrane enjoys: “ I do feel the benefits because when I do get a little bit of time off, my body kind of feels good just to get on with everyday life”.  Nonetheless, it would appear that the most salient feature of beach volleyball is the effect on the athlete’s psychological wellbeing. Both Biakoloz and Batrane cited the tight-knit spirit of the sport, the “community aspect” being something which they found great solace in: “we rely on each other to be able to talk and mentally feel well enough to be able to talk about whatever it is that could be bothering us at the time, so you kind of feel in a really good, close group”. Playing out in the sunshine is also a constant factor of the sport, and one which Batrane suggests contributes to the good-vibe feel of the sport as “it always makes people smile”.

Despite volleyball being generally non-mainstream in the UK, the statistics[2] reported by governing body Volleyball England suggests that the sport is highly diverse with “63% of the 6000 participants in the [Higher Education Volleyball Officer] programme being from a BAME background and 51% of the registered players in the National Volleyball League being from a BAME background”. The Volleyball England board is also diverse “with a 50/50 gender balance with BAME, LGBTQ and disability represented on the board”. However, these statistics are not reflective of beach volleyball itself. Batrane estimates that “the percentage of those from the black community [that play beach volleyball] is pretty much under 20 people in the country”, as well as his team being the “only British pairing that has a player…from the BAME community”.

Because of this, AMG and Biakoloz-Batrane discussed the recent movements of the Black Lives Matter campaign (also known as #BLM). Batrane is a vocal supporter of BLM, and a firm believer that athletes have a level of responsibility when it comes to supporting these causes. Elite athletes are making their stance known more and more in the fight for equality. Most recently, US Open grand-slam winner Naomi Osaka wore a mask naming different victims of racial injustice – specifically Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile, and Tamir Rice – for each of her appearances. Batrane echoes Osaka’s involvement: “For me, I think that being able to speak, to express why equality is important in all aspects of life, whether you’re black or white or wherever you’re from. That shouldn’t be a political statement”. Other athletes involved with BLM such as Lewis Hamilton are role models for society argues Biakoloz, adding that their position and platform gives them a real ability for “championing these positive messages”.

“Everybody deserves to be on that even playing field” Batrane comments, which highlights the profoundness of his plight in tackling racial inequality from within the sport. Beach volleyball’s global popularity provides great promise for diversification in the sport, as well as the appeal of the beach-party atmosphere coupled with intense competition. The duo hope that more people can get involved with the game – not only because “People have so much fun playing”, but because the sport is so inclusive. Greater exposure, Batrane says, would strongly improve British beach volleyball as we know it: “I feel like everybody should have a chance to play it”.

[1] Statistics provided by www.statista.com

[2] https://www.volleyballengland.org/~media/docs/Diversity%20Volleyball%20England%20-%20updated%20January%202019.pdf

Mum’s The Word – how elite mothers are shaking up the sporting world

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Prominent sportswomen who have chosen to be parents mid-career include Olympian and world champion 400m runner Allyson Felix, the decorated track and road cyclist Laura Kenny, and world number-1 tennis player Serena Williams to name just a few.  This is not to say that balancing motherhood and a career in elite competitive sports is plain sailing though. According to a study conducted by the University of the West of England, all athletes experienced a cut in or removal of funding or a loss of sponsorship during pregnancy, forcing them to return quickly after childbirth. In athletics, becoming pregnant has been called ‘the kiss of death’ for a woman’s career.

In 2019, The New York Times investigated the maternity policy of world-famous brand and athletics sponsor, Nike, with three runners – Alysia Montaño, Allyson Felix and Kara Goucher – breaking their nondisclosure agreements in an effort to show the discrimination athlete mothers were facing. Wavering their anonymity, the athletes revealed that their sponsorship incomes and even health insurance were to be heavily cut, or even entirely stopped, surrounding their pregnancies.

Due to the protests of the athletes Nike changed their maternity policy, writing into the contracts that Nike-sponsored female athletes would be supported before and after their pregnancy. Issuing a statement on their website, it stated: ‘We want to make it clear today that we support women as they decide how to be both great mothers and great athletes. We recognize we can do more and that there is an important opportunity for the sports industry to evolve to support female athletes.’ Perhaps this is reflected by Nike’s new maternity clothing range which launched in the last week.

What seems to be overlooked by many sponsors and the media is how there are stark benefits for athletes to have children mid-career, compared to waiting until their competitive careers have finished. Although pregnancy will often hinder performance, it doesn’t necessarily require the athlete to stop altogether. Montaño famously ran races whilst pregnant and was actively encouraged by her midwife and physician: “What I found out mostly was that exercising during pregnancy is actually much better for the mom and the baby. I did all the things I normally do, I just happened to be pregnant. This is my normal this year.”

AMG recently interviewed Olympic snowboarder and snowboard-cross athlete Zoe Gillings-Brier on her thoughts about being a mother in sport. Despite always wanting to be a parent, Zoe didn’t immediately see her sporting profession and being a mother as compatible until she talked to friend and Olympic skeleton bobsleigh athlete Shelly Rudman. Rudman advised her on motherhood as a snow sport athlete “from getting fit after pregnancy to what push chair works in 1-foot deep snow.” This was not to say that motherhood was an easy feat: balancing training, eating, sleeping and caring for a baby needed “about an extra 3 hours” per day according to Zoe, who accredited her grandparents for an extra helping hand.

Some athletes also prefer the benefits of being younger parents. Speaking to the BBC, Laura Kenny stated “I always wanted to have a baby in the middle of my career, I wanted to be a young mum and so I was willing to hang up my wheels for a year”. Not only does the feat show that it can be done, the sporting lifestyle of a professional athlete allows women to positively influence their children. Zoe also supports this sentiment, adding that the physical and mental health benefits are key to parental influence, adding “This doesn’t have to be high level sport though, just joining in on a football game with friends twice a week would be fine.” Admittedly the balance is tricky, but Kenny says that the addition of her children changes her perspective and “it shows that you do not have to be as completely wrapped up in it to be successful”.

Though the toll of pregnancy can be tough on many women, some professional athletes have found that with the inclusion of rest and physiotherapy, their performances have been just as strong post-partum compared to prenatal performance. In 2019, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the 100m at the IAAF World Athletics Championships with a world-leading time of 10.71s, becoming the oldest woman ever and first mother in 24 years to win a 100m global title. You could say she bounced back pretty hard. Fathers have seen a bounce-back too, particularly in golf. A book published known as the ‘The Golf Form Book 1996’ stated that ‘Becoming a father, especially for the first time…can really have a profound effect on any sportsman’. As Rory McIlroy welcomes a new born daughter, he may be able to add himself to the list of those who have benefitted from the aforementioned Diaper Dimension. A study in 2017 also suggested becoming a father in elite golf increases sporting performance, with earnings rising by at least 10% during the infant years of the child.

Progress for sporting parents, particularly sporting mothers, is beginning to gain momentum. Three mothers have reached the US Open final sixteen out of the nine which started the women’s singles draw. In The Telegraph, former world number 1 tennis player Victoria Azarenka was quoted “Even when I was No.1, when I was winning grand slams. I was never able to reach such a level of happiness on the court”. There is inevitable pressure for parents in sport, not only to balance childcare duties but also to show that having a child doesn’t need to bifurcate one’s career into ‘pre childbirth’ and ‘post childbirth’. Female parental visibility is something which needs greater advocacy in sport. As Zoe Gillings-Brier rightly commented, “If we want more young girls to get into sport we need them to know it’s not sport or motherhood, that you can do both”.

The Perfect Storm – how covid has given new perspective to endurance sport

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During a global pandemic, sport is sadly one of the less prioritised areas of human socialisation with most events being postponed or cancelled altogether. However this has not stopped endurance athletes from using the stillness created by lockdown, the results being an unprecedented amount of broken records. Whilst the world almost ground to a halt, the bodies of ultrarunners especially have been working at full tilt.

Statistics show that ultrarunning is continuing to grow, especially over the past few years. According to the study The State of Ultrarunning 2020, participation has increased significantly, with ‘a 1676% increase in participation since 1996’ globally. Not only this, but the report found that more women were engaging with ultrarunning. Participation numbers for women increased from 14% in 1996 to 23% in 2018. Naturally, the demand for events has increased too.

Sports marketing agency OC Sport reported in 2019 that ‘there are now 4,300 races recognised and certified by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), and there are an estimated 10,000 events worldwide’. Sponsorship opportunities for endurance sports have consequently risen, with sponsorship spends reaching $118.8 million in 2015 according to the US-based IEG Sponsorship report.  Although the data is limited at present, the trends suggest that the sport is gaining a great deal of momentum.

2020 has (so far) been a memorable year for endurance sport.  A notable record which was set during the pandemic was by ultrarunner and paediatrician, Beth Pascall, who finished the Bob Graham Round in 14 hours 34 minutes in July. To contextualise this feat, Pascall ran 106km and up 42 peaks (27’000ft elevation) in the Lake District only to beat the previous women’s fastest known time by 50 minutes. According to irunfar.com, Pascall was only aiming to beat the previous time by 1 minute but a combination of adrenaline and hard training saw her through to a blinding finish.

Also in late July, Damian Hall broke the previous Pennine Way record by over 3 hours, setting a time of 61 hours and 34 minutes for a course stretching just over 431km. Hall also completed the run whilst cleaning litter off the trail, making his feat not only one of stupendous effort, but also carbon negative.

3 weeks ago, team GB ultrarunner Carla Molinaro ran the length of Great Britain (1406.57km) in a new record time of 12 days, 30 minutes and 14 seconds, thus beating Sharon Gayter’s previous record by 10 hours.

Many ultrarunners, along with other athletes, found their racing calendars cancelled and their seasons prematurely cut short. Pascall planned to go on a 6-month sabbatical with competing in mind, only to go back to work when Covid-19 struck. Day-dreaming ensued, leading to alternative methods of achieving some mileage. It could be argued that with the flurry of record-breaking ultra-running attempts July has seen, the pandemic created the perfect storm for some lonely training runs and re-focussing the athletic mind. This attitude has not been limited to ultra-runners either, with other athletes breaking records in their own domains: 25-year old Tom George broke the men’s 2km ergo British record with a time of 05:39.6, only to be beaten by teammate Moe Sbihi the following month with a time of 5:39.4. Both records were broken whilst training at home. Sbihi told Row360 that the lockdown provided him with a “great opportunity” to attempt the challenge.

What is particularly unusual about ultra-sports / endurance sports is the narrowness of the gender gap. Whereas many sports are divided by sex to ensure fairer competition, endurance sports such as ultra-running regularly find that the female athletes are just as fast, if not faster, than the male athletes. A recent case study is that of Jasmin Paris, who broke the Montane Spine Race record by more than 12 hours with a time of 83 hours, 12 minutes and 23 seconds. The men’s record for the race is held by American athlete John Kelly, whose time is 87 hours, 53 minutes and 57 seconds. To top it off, Paris was expressing breast milk at the checkpoints for her young daughter, along with the usual changing of her head torch battery lights and picking up a new map. What are the reasons for this closed gender gap, and why is it specific to ultra-sports?

It would firstly appear that although the male physiological advantages generally give men the upper hand in many areas of sport (larger heart, lungs, higher testosterone), this matters less when a sport event has a huge demand for psychological discipline. Studies have shown that women are better at pacing themselves and have a diminished ego when applying themselves to a race. After completing her Bob Graham Round record, Pascall responded that she “can’t complain” with how she felt. The combination of humility and determination often sees women such as Paris and Pascall not only turning the tables, but overturning them altogether.

Due to how the past few months have unfolded in the sport industry, more extreme sports are beginning to step into the limelight whilst mainstream sports remain more hushed. As a consequence, businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the sponsorship opportunities which ultra-athletes may hold. A prominent example of such is long range fuel brand, Resilient Nutrition, sponsors of Atlantic world record-holding rowers Dave Spelman and Max Thorpe, ground-breaking sailor Pip Hare and ‘Brutal’ Claire Smith, who set off on a self-supported run from John O’Groats to Land’s End on the 16th of August 2020.

Ultra-athletes are keyholders to what the human body can achieve, embodying discipline, determination, and an extraordinary strength to go against the grain. 2020 has been an exciting year so far for endurance sports, and the future of these events are looking brighter than ever.

Research Source: https://runrepeat.com/research-women-are-better-runners-than-men 

 

NOTE:  AMG are proud to be supporting Jake Taplin on his world record JOGLE attempt in 2021.  Visit www.jtaplin.com for more information and to pledge your support.  We are also pleased to be supporting the brilliant Nikki Love who is running ‘virtually’ across Australia at the moment.  Super-humans, the pair of them!

“The most fun in 60 seconds you could ever have!” | Adam Baird, GB Bobsleigh

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Where do you work & as what?

I am a Royal Marine Commando currently working in Royal Navy HQ as a logistics manager with the rank of sergeant.

Describe the sport of bobsleigh for those who don’t know.

Fast, hard, rough or smooth, exhilarating and the most fun in 60 seconds you could ever have.

What attributes do you need to be good at bobsleigh?

Power, speed, strength, team cohesion, willingness to fail and the strength of mind to succeed

How did you get into competitive bobsleigh?

Royal Navy team which then lead to GB trials

Where in the world do you race? What’s your favourite track & why?

Konigsee is my favourite track, very technical, fun to drive, and the most scenic

Who are the world leaders in bobsleigh?

Germans by far, they have all the best kit and they have 4 ice tracks on their doorstep

Are the Brits good at bobsleigh?

YES,  and we have the potential to podium at the Olympics given the right backing we will be up there!

What are your bobsleigh ambitions?

One word: OLYMPICS

Is British bobsleigh funded at the moment?

No, all of the teams are privately sponsored

How creative have you been at finding brand partners?

I have a sponsorship package which ranges from logos on Van, kit, sled to visiting us at a European race and jumping in a sled with us.

What next for Team Baird?

Full European circuit (5 races, leading to World Cup and hopefully world championships 21/22 season)

 

The charity using boxing to tackle knife crime | Gloves Up, Knives Down

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What is the Gloves Up Knives Down charity?

GUKD is a Community Interest Company charity, dedicated to engaging with youngsters at an early enough age to present a worthwhile alternative to a life on the street, in a safe, supportive and nurturing ‘family’ environment. We are passionately driven by what our exclusively written treatise refers to as Preventative Intervention.

Why was it established?

GUKD was originally established as an awareness initiative by the five founders Joe, Finn, Dane, Ian and David, following a relative being stabbed amidst the increasing prevalence of knife crime in London. We sought to capitalise on the trust, goodwill and contacts within the boxing fraternity to back us, and we set about spreading the message on social media platforms. We started with a striking graphic on Tee shirts, that have now become a prestigious badge of honour due to the take up of high profile boxers such as Tyson Fury.

Who is involved?

There are many people that have helped, and continue to support us, and are involved to varying degrees to help spread the message. Without doubt, the best young boxers in the country who attended our formal launch at the Repton Club are amongst the most high profile both actively boxing and ex boxers. In fact, we have recently conferred our first ambassadorial appointment on Isaac Chamberlain, and we are very proud to have done so. We have a very special relationship with The Repton; Johnny Nelson in the media is a big banner waver, as is Mayor Elect of London Shaun Bailey. We are indebted to Mercieca for their support communicating with the media. We cannot forget Son Of for writing and performing our anthem ‘Put the Glove on’…which is the soundtrack to ‘The Gift’.

Where & when did you launch?

After 9 months developing our offer with product, gaining traction on our social media platforms and formalising our structure, identifying our objectives and achieving academic veracity from Prof Joana Costa, a noted United Nations Child Psychology consultant…we launched at the world famous Repton Boxing Club in Feb 2020. It was very well attended by boxers, backers and the media.

What difference have you made to date?

We are without doubt the benchmark for launching a charitable initiative of this type. We have inadvertently spawned a number of limited company copyists with close name variations to GUKD. I guess that’s something! That aside, we have hosted a number of community events at local gym throughout London and the South East, that have been well attended particularly by families who are very keen on what we are trying to do for youngsters. For every youngster that is the recipient of the offer of a free starter kit and two lessons, we estimate the viral effect will grow exponentially.

Who are your ambassadors?

Our first young ambassador was, whilst he was initially within our targeted age range, and remains so now he has turned 14, Kye Didloff-Lacy. He features in our promo video ‘The Gift’.  Our first professional ambassador is Isaac Chamberlain. We are working toward nominating a wide ranging raft of ambassadors later this year.

Why did you choose to partner with Isaac Chamberlain first?

Isaac is a rising star, with a bright future. He attended our launch event, and engaged with us in a very profound, sincere and humble way. He has a compelling back story of his own to tell, and appreciates the efforts we are making for youngsters. He is an excellent communicator and a talent for youngsters to look up to. We very much hope, in the post virus world, to have a fruitful and long-lasting collaboration with Isaac.

How did you cope as a charity in lockdown?

It has been very tough for us, the lockdown coming within weeks of our launch. The launch was obviously intended to present us to serious donors both in and out of the boxing world…including the government obviously. That having been said we collaborated with Isaac for a nationwide poster campaign that consolidated our relationship with him for all to see, and contextualise us within the broader sports framework. Naturally with clubs closed, we have not had the same amount of events or new social media posts as previously. Happily, we have been approached-sorry I can’t divulge by whom, to work together which will consolidate our close ties with boxing at large, and get our kits out nation-wide.

What are your future plans for GUKD?

Well, we now have a financial objective, whereby 95% of our income goes to providing the kits and lessons for youngsters. We are now actively seeking donors, and our proposition for them factors in the number of clubs, schools and potential beneficiaries of our offer. We want to achieve sustainable growth in the UK, and with the correct partners, make GUKD a global success.

In closing, if for any reason just ONE young beneficiary of GUKD has been able to practically handle themselves as a result of what we have provided, avert a violent conflict and walk away,  GUKD will have been a success.

Please visit www.glovesupknivesdown.co.uk for more information on the charity.

More details on the launch can be found in the below World Boxing News article:

‘Gloves Up Knives Down’ scheme aims to tackle UK crime

The champion windsurfer reducing plastic pollution in sport | Saskia Sills

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When did you last windsurf competitively & how did you get on?

I last competitively windsurfed in September 2019 at the 2019 RSX World Championships in Lake Garda. I finished 9th overall, out of a strong fleet of 106 woman, and first British girl which was I am immensely proud about, having finished 23rd at the 2018 Worlds. I was placed 6th overall going into the last medal race just 1 point off 5th which was the highlight of my week. Unfortunately, my inexperience in Medal Races (the final race where only the top 10 girls qualify for and its double points) showed and the more experienced girls shone, and I dropped to 9th. I was pretty upset about that but once I took a step back and realised what I had achieved I became incredibly happy and I still am.

Tell us about the exciting & revolutionary changes happening to windsurfing?

In November 2019, the future of Olympic Windsurfing was reshaped – The IQ Foil was selected to become the new Olympic equipment for Paris 2024 and beyond. The IQ Foil is a new class of windsurfing which is revolutionary in the fact that it is a hydrofoil windsurfer as well as a class that is striving to be environmentally sustainable. We reach higher speeds with lower wind strengths; the racing is challenging and dynamic for the athletes as well as exciting and engaging for the media and public. Its full speed and scary but unbelievably exhilarating.

The sustainability of the new equipment is also very exciting, the manufacturer of the boards have committed to carbon offset each board 10x by planting 1 mangrove tree per board as well as using carbon offsetting sponsors to make each event carbon neutral with the hope to become a carbon net positive manufacturer. The IQ Foil class’ environmental policy includes lots of other cool sustainability initiatives such as abolishing all single use plastics at their competitions which is a great step towards reducing plastic pollution. There is nothing that compares to the feeling that the IQ Foil class gives you on the water.

Traveling above the water at a high speed, knowing that you are the one in control of the equipment and the limits you are going to push to be fastest and the best. To me, its complete freedom. With its added environmental credibility, I honestly believe that it was the best change for the future of our sport.

How are you involved in 2021 Olympics?

I am the training partner for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics representative, which I am honoured and feel fortunate about. The changes to our sport means that between now and Tokyo 2021 I will be splitting my time between training on the IQ Foil equipment and the RSX equipment to fulfil my role as a training partner.

What do the changes to your sport mean for your Paris 2024 Olympic ambitions?

I am really excited for the future of our sport with the change of equipment for Paris 2024. My goal of winning an Olympic Gold Medal remains the same. In fact, the change of equipment has only increased my motivation.

How have you coped with illness during lockdown?

I have had a hard time with two viruses that are non covid-19 related since last November. I was diagnosed with glandular fever as well as another virus that started to attack my liver. I had to stop training and pretty much everything else straight away to rest. I remember for about 3 weeks I didn’t even have the energy to get out of bed to make a cup of tea. You hear horror stories of glandular fever in athletes and how it can ruin careers, I was so determined not to let that happen to me, however some days I really felt like it could have.

In total I spent 3 months at home in Cornwall resting and then I moved back up to Weymouth to start some light exercise in February. I literally had to start from the beginning again and so I started off with 15 minutes cycling every other day and have very gradually increased the amount of exercise since then. Lockdown presented some challenges in the fact that I couldn’t get out on the water or go abroad but that was ok. The importance of lockdown was far greater than me getting back out on the water. I am proud that we could all to do our bit by reducing the pressure on our NHS by staying indoors. Rather than getting frustrated about it I tried to turn it into a positive and see it as a good opportunity to train (cycling and running) rest and learn as much as possible so that I could get better as soon as possible.

I experienced post viral fatigue which has been quite intense and something I have had to be extremely careful with, by not adding too much load and intensity in my training too soon. It’s a complex illness and so everyone is different in their recovery which has meant that it’s been a lot of trial and error – I have had to learn a lot about myself in order to get better as well as a lot about health, nutrition and rest. It has been a tough time physically and psychologically but the support I have received from the British Sailing Team as well as my family and friends has been great and I will be forever grateful for it.

Tell us about your passion for sustainability in sport. 

I studied Economic Geography at University. As I learnt more and more about Our World and the anthropogenic threats it faces, as well as seeing issues such as plastic pollution in our oceans first hand at competition venues around the world, I was inspired to look to Sport and investigate how as athletes we can change our habits and behaviours to help to preserve our beautiful Oceans and Earth.

I believe that sport has the power to unite people to make positive change and so I thought a great way to start change is to look at myself, my peers and my sport and to see what I could change to move towards a more sustainable future.

How are you campaigning for positive change? 

I am an ambassador for The Big Plastic Pledge (BPP). It’s a global campaign founded by Rio 2016 Gold Medallist Hannah Mills. It highlights plastic pollution in our oceans and aims to reduce it by using athletes to drive change in behaviour.  As athletes, I believe that we have a responsibility to inspire change and implement it.

What were you doing in Lausanne last year?

On behalf of The Big Plastic Pledge, I presented and spoke about the BPP movement at an International Olympic Committee forum on Sustainability in Sport. It was inspiring and motivating to be there and see the change that the IOC is wanting to implement in order to make Global Sport more sustainable.

Who are you most excited about at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics?

It’s always really special to see Team GB athletes win medals and achieve their goals. I am really looking forward to seeing my British Sailing Team teammates out there competing in Tokyo. In the Rio cycle I wasn’t as involved in the Olympic team as I will be this time around and so it’s going to be really cool to see them having known them for a few years. Saying that, I would also love to see my international friends from all around the world achieve their goals and dreams too.

The About The Big Plastic Pledge

Our Mission:  Eradicate single use plastic in sport.  Led by the athletes, driven by the fans, supported by the International Olympic Committee.  Sports stars and fans unite together.  FIND OUT MORE

 

This article is in partnership with Castore, the premium performance sportswear brand that exists to make athletes better.  

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Avanti Communications partners Walking With The Wounded for Oman trek

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The partnership will enable the team to communicate throughout the gruelling mission, keeping them connected and safe. The satellite capacity will also be used to share live updates and videos of their progress with the world.

WWTW supports injured veterans who have served in the Armed Forces and their families, empowering them to regain their independence and contribute across all communities. This trek pays homage to the inspiring travels of British Military Officer, Wilfred Thesiger who took across the Arabian Peninsula in the 1940s and part of the Empty Quarter— the world’s largest sand desert, which the team will follow suit, before bringing the arduous trek to a close on Oman’s Armed Forces Day.

The expedition will consist of a 6-man team of ex-service personnel, trekking 400km over the course of 21 days. The team will endure temperatures as high as 95°F as they pull their custom-built cart, weighing in excess of 300kg, across the unforgiving Omani desert.

The defence and security sector is one of Avanti’s key client segments, as they aim to connect those who protect by providing resilient and secure satellite communications for military and government users in the most challenging locations. This partnership builds on Avanti’s support for the sector in an entirely new way, by helping WWTW to provide the tools ex-servicemen and women need to be reintegrated in society.

Kyle Whitehill, CEO of Avanti Communications comments, “We’re very happy to be providing satellite communications coverage to the formidable expedition team and their supporters in Oman, which will enable them to remain connected and stay safe, even at the most remote points of their journey. As a company that works closely with governments and peacekeeping forces around the world, we are keen to show our thanks and respect for those who put themselves on the frontline to protect others. Walking With The Wounded is a fantastic charity that highlights the resilience and strength of the men and women who have been wounded at war.”

WWTW’s CEO Ed Parker added, “Without the generous support of our partners, The Grenadier Walk of Oman wouldn’t be achievable. The support these organisations provide WWTW has been pivotal to the progression of the expedition and the generous sponsorship cements these long-standing relationships even further. We look forward to building an exciting and enduring legacy with INEOS, Craghoppers, Avanti Communications, Monster Energy and The Invictus Games Foundation.”

Starting on November 20th 2020 and ending on December 11th 2020, The Duke of Sussex will support the challenge as the official Expedition Patron along with generous support from the Royal Office of HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq’ and in partnership with the Omani Armed Forces. In 2019 WWTW supported 1,906 ex-servicemen and women and delivered 2,671 mental health therapy sessions.

 

About Avanti Communications
Avanti Communications is the leading Ka-band high throughput satellite capacity partner to the communications industry in EMEA – extending and guaranteeing coverage for defence missions, enterprise solutions and critical public services. Through the HYLAS satellite fleet and partners in 118 countries, Avanti provides dedicated fixed and flexible-beam satellite connectivity, with extensive coverage across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Group has invested $1.2bn in a network that incorporates orbital slots in Ka-band spectrum, satellites, ground stations, datacentres and a fibre ring. www.avantiplc.com

 

About Walking With The Wounded:

Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) is a charity established to support the employment aspirations and vocational outcomes of our wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, those who have been physically, mentally and socially disadvantaged by their service.

WWTW recognises the inherent skills of our armed service personnel and wants to compliment these qualities, as well as provide support to transfer their skills into the civilian workplace.  We offer assistance through our programmes to those vulnerable veterans who have been physically, mentally or socially disadvantaged by their service and assist them in gaining independence through new long-term careers outside of the military.  This includes providing support to homeless veterans and veterans in the Criminal Justice System; areas which are too often ignored.

The outcome? Sustainable employment and independence for them and their families.  Find out more at www.wwtw.org.uk

“Bravery Is The Biggest Challenge To Women’s Rugby.” | The Women’s Rugby Pod

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Why did you launch the Women’s Rugby Pod? 
We were sick of there only being podcasts about men’s rugby. Seriously, women’s rugby is one of the fastest growing team sports in the world. A huge 29% of all rugby players are now women. Since being announced as an Olympic sport in 2009, global participation has gone from 200,000 to 2.6 million. Surprise then that no podcast is out there to reflect that…………..until now!!!   The aim of the WRP is to promote the women’s game and expose it to new audiences. We want to excite women, men, girls and boys about this amazing game of ours; which is at such a critical phase of its development. 
Why has it become so popular? 
There is certainly the demand for the pod, as we are finding out. But we truly believe the quality of the product, week in week out is very good. Top class guests from all nations, up to date news and debates; plus exploring lesser known rugby nations who are just starting out on their journeys. We like to think we, as hosts, have a great rapport. We are fortunate to have the relationships we do with most of our guests; that there is a an ease and familiarity to the pod. This always gets the best out of the guests too!
Who is the most inspiring rugby player you’ve interviewed to date? 
That is a really tough question, we have had so many guests that inspire in very different ways. From Heather Fisher and her journey alongside professional rugby. But, of late, we have toured around the world discovering countries that are new to rugby and fall outside of the known and traditional rugby nations. From Malaysia, Ana  Farahanaaziz and her story of being a part of the first women’s club and international teams.  Nahid BirBiyarjomandi, Head of the Development Committee (for Women’s Rugby) in Iran, having driven rugby from basically nothing to where it is now. But Sarah Abd Elbaki, Head of Women’s Rugby in Syria, also one of the men’s national team coaches and the first Asian female referee was truly uplifting, amongst the backdrop of war in her country. True, humbling stories.
What sort of audience are you attracting? 
Around 27,000 and increasing by around 1,000 a week.  70% of listeners aged 18-27, 65% of listeners are female. Our combined social media following is around 60,000.  So we have a growing, thriving and increasingly influential audience across multiple channels.
What sort of sponsor/s are you looking for on the podcast?
It would great to have one of the big hitters that have involved themselves in rugby (men’s!) already.   Simply to show that the women’s game is on an equal footing. HSBC, Investec, Guinness, Canterbury, Natwest, Gallagher, Allianz, Adidas, Nike, Quilter, Land Rover, Mini, Pol Roger!  
What are your future plans for the Women’s Rugby Pod?   
We have only just scratched the surface with the pod really, having just finished our 43rd consecutive week; airing 52 podcasts including 76 guests. There are plans to have a website, which could be a central hub for women’s rugby. A Facebook page, a YouTube channel, more live events after the success of our inaugural live pod (supported by Fullers). Instagram lives, panel discussions live or recorded. All these in the run up to the Olympics and World Cup would great a tremendous buzz.  There has also been the idea of widening out to other sports; so The Women’s Football Pod, The Women’s Netball Pod, Rowing, Cycling, Cricket the list goes on……
What do you see as the biggest challenges for women’s rugby in the UK and globally moving forward? 
Bravery! And by that I mean broadcasters, journalists, administrators and investors putting women’s rugby on a level footing to the men’s game; why shouldn’t it be?  The repost is an obvious one but there is no doubt, the statistics tell us, that women’s rugby is on a step upward curve, whereas men’s is in the opposite direction.   Once Sky Sports took the plunge to televise club rugby (knowing the return would be minimal if anything) and for that matter European rugby and look at the growth. Girls and women’s have to see it to be it. 
Other countries have equal pay in their national sports teams.  When will it come to rugby union? 
It can’t be reality until the women’s game starts generating an income…. but we need sponsors, broadcasters to get behind the game first… build it and they will come!  
What is the most supportive brand involved in women’s rugby today? 
New Zealand has women-only sponsors involved across various sectors.   But there is literally nothing here in the UK, nothing!  Tyrrells was involved in the Premier XV with a very different agenda to supporting the women’s game. 
Who is going to win the Women’s RWC in 2021? 
New Zealand.  Just joking…. well…. England or New Zealand – France will push these both though! 
A-List Testimonials
“Women’s Rugby Pod – an amazing addition to the podcast world this year! They bring you everything from the world of women’s rugby be it on field, off field, current or past that any rugby fan could ask for! Johnnie and Rachael are fantastic hosts and have a brilliant way of interacting with their guest to bring their stories to life.  I feel very honoured to have been on the show and look forward to seeing what and who they have lined up for next season!” Sarah Hunter, England Rugby Captain 2020

“I love this podcast! A real must for anyone who is interested in women’s rugby. Current, engaging, informative and entertaining. Covers all areas of women’s rugby across the globe. Great work and thanks Jonny and Burf.”  Liza Burgess, former Wales captain, Barbarians coach and first female ember of the WRU Executive Committee 

“What a brilliant listen. I’ve enjoyed every episode, learnt lots about the Women’s game and loved the mini series with legends of the game. Johnnie is such a great host and Burf is so in touch with the current game and players; it’s a delight. Thank you 5🌟pod♥️.”  Gill Burns MBE, Former England captain and World Cup winner 

“Lifting the profile of women in rugby is critical to stimulating new fans, players and investors in the game. The Women’s Rugby Pod is fantastic, informative, entertaining and inspiring programme. Johnnie and Rachael’s commitment to bringing such a variety of extraordinary stories covering global leaders and their wisdom and commentary on current on field performance is exceptional. Continuously forging a growing audience of passionate engaged fans and players… The Women’s Rugby Pod is simply made of great stuff! Two talented professionals making a big difference to women’s rugby. Thanks”. Katie Sadlier, GM Women’s Rugby at World Rugby.

“I love listening to the women’s rugby pod because it is one of the only podcasts that actually interview female players. They give great insight into the people who play our game throwing around some great banter too. One of my favourite listens 😊.”  Sarah Hirini (Goss) New Zealand 7s captain and World Cup winner

To listen to the brilliant Women’s Rugby Pod click below…
The Women’s Rugby Podcast Dream Team
Rachael Burford has won 79 caps for England, competing in 4 World Cups, including victory in 2014. She is the first female on the Rugby Players Association, Burf is also on the International Rugby Players Association.
Johnnie Hammond has been the voice of Womens rugby for over a decade. Commentating on virtually every club and international game in England, in that time. From inaugural league and Premier XV’s finals to the World Cup Final of 2014. Johnnie is regarded as one of the driving forces for the game within the media.
If you’d like to sponsor the Women’s Rugby Pod

This article is in partnership with Castore, the premium performance sportswear brand that exists to make athletes better.  

Visit https://www.castore.com and use discount code ANDYCOLE for 10% off chosen items. #betterneverstops #poweredbypurpose

AMG Signs Armed Forces Covenant Pledge

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As the son of a former Royal Artillery officer our CEO & Founder Mark Middlemas is proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of The Athlete Media Group.

We will honour the pledge to:

✅ promote the fact we are an armed forces-friendly organisation
✅ support the employment of veterans & service leavers
✅offer flexibility in leave for service spouses & partner before, during & after deployment
✅ support reservist employees, allowing leave for training & deployment

👍👍🏿Now more than ever is a time to demonstrate our support for the Armed Forces Community.

Interested parties can lend their support here: https://lnkd.in/deuwM_F

#forourforces #covenant #purpose #promise #heroes #neverforget #always

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