Supporting Champions

153: Chris Shambrook on Lessons from Sport and Business

Today I’m delighted to welcome a legend in the world of sports psychology, Chris Shambrook. With over two decades of experience in high-performance psychology, Chris has worked with elite athletes, including the GB Rowing Team, where he’s been pivotal in helping athletes achieve their peak performance on the world stage.
In this episode, we dive into Chris’s unique approaches to mental resilience, the subtle art of supporting champions through their highs and lows, and the practical tools he uses to help athletes maximize their potential. We explore how the mind can be a tool for excellence, rather than a barrier, and dig into Chris’s insights on the traits and habits of truly successful athletes.
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, sports psychologist, or just fascinated by the psychology behind elite performance, this conversation will offer valuable perspectives to elevate your own journey.
 
Find more on Chris' current work here:
https://www.planetk2.com/team/chris-shambrook/
 
Keep up with Chris via Social Media here: https://www.instagram.com/drchrisshambrook/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisshambrook/
 
Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses
https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/
 
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into the world of sports performance and support! #sports #psychology #business

152: Shona Halson on the Realities of Recovery

This week, I’m thrilled to have the brilliant Dr. Shona Halson join me. Shona is an expert in athlete recovery and a former Senior Physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where she spent over 15 years researching and shaping the field of athlete recovery. She has worked with elite athletes, including the Australian Olympic team, to optimize their performance through evidence-based recovery strategies.
In this episode, we dive deep into the science of recovery—what actually works, the myths that still exist, and how the elite get it right (or wrong). Whether you're an athlete, coach, or sports science enthusiast, you'll want to hear Shona’s insights on sleep, fatigue management, and recovery technologies that are reshaping the way athletes train and perform.
Join us as we explore the crucial role recovery plays in achieving success and what the latest research is telling us about how to help athletes recover smarter, not harder. 
Find more on Shona here:
Shona Halson | ACU Researcher
Read more on her current research here:
SPRINT Research Centre (acu.edu.au)
Find her on social media here
(5) Shona Halson (@ShonaHalson) / X
 
Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses
https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/
 
#recovery #myths #olympics #podcast

151: Bryony Page on Olympic Gold

In this episode of The Supporting Champions Podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Olympic gold medallist and trampolining sensation, Bryony Page! Bryony's journey from overcoming self-doubt to standing atop the podium in Tokyo is nothing short of extraordinary. We dive deep into her mindset, training approaches, and the resilience it took to become a record breaker in her sport.
Join me as we explore how Bryony turned her dreams into reality, the highs and lows of elite competition, and what drives her to keep pushing boundaries. Whether you're an aspiring athlete, a coach, or simply fascinated by what it takes to reach the pinnacle of success, this episode is packed with insights that will leave you inspired.
 
Watch Bryony's gold medal winning performance here:
https://youtu.be/ky89WzzvRM8?feature=shared
 
You can follow more of Bryony's Journey through her social media:
https://www.instagram.com/bryony_page/?hl=en-gb
 
If you're inspired to get into trampoline, take a look here;
https://www.british-gymnastics.org/england/trampoline
 
 

150: Ben Rosenblatt on Elite Physical Performance

In this week’s instalment I speak with Dr Ben Rosenblatt, founder of 292 performance and former S&C coach for England men’s football and GB women’s hockey. 292 performance is a multidisciplinary performance consultancy that offers support to elite athletes across a range of facets such as S&C, nutrition and psychology. Through his career, Ben has consulted and imparted his knowledge on individuals and organisations such as the premier league, Olympic associations and international military services. Today we are fortunate to sit down with him and discuss his experiences and key philosophies surrounding physical performance.
If you would like to to find more about Bens current work or get into contact to collaborate/work with Ben follow this link:
292 Performance – Elevate Your Game
You can also find Ben via social media at:
(9) Dr Ben Rosenblatt (@ben_rosenblatt) / X
(1) Dr Benjamin Rosenblatt | LinkedIn
Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses
https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/
-
Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you.
I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse
 
If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/ Links https://x.com/ingham_steve https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions www.x.com/support_champs www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

149: Paolo Menaspa on Applied Research in Elite Sport

This week on the podcast I sit down with Paolo Menaspa. Paolo is the Chief Science Officer at the Australian Institute of Sport, where he has led teams responsible for research & development, quality assurance, athlete performance health, and REST. 
 
Palo has a vast experience in the world of sport, supporting athletes through multiple Olympic cycles across multiple events. With a focus on cycling, Paolo has supported the national coaches and the performance support team developing solutions across multiple disciplines
 
This conversation will give you an insight across Paolo's career thus far, as well as the exciting research and developments he and his team continue to make. 
 
Links
 
Current research agenda: 
https://www.sportaus.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1048268/National-High-Performance-Research-Agenda-2022.pdf
 
And the HP 32+ strategy, with measures of success defined at page 12.
https://www.winwell2032.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1083742/Australias-2032-High-Performance-Sport-Strategy.pdf
 
Use code APPLIED for 50% off all Supporting Champions Courses
https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse/
 
 

148: Jo Harrison on performance lifestyle, transitions and well-being

In this week's episode I speak with Jo Harrison, the Head of Performance Lifestyle Services at the UK Sports Institute and Founder of WinWell.org
Jo plays a pivotal role in athlete welfare and life beyond sport, and has been a key influence in this shift of focus over recent years. Jo possesses over 20 years worth of experience at the elite level of British sport and has consistently championed the holistic approach to athlete support. 
From her experiences within sport, Jo has co-founded 'WinWell', an organisation set out in the aim of applying the teachings from elite level sport into the world of business. - https://www.winwell.org.uk/
Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you.
I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse
If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/
Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/
Links
https://x.com/ingham_steve
https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions
www.x.com/support_champs
www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions
https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/
 

147: Stafford Murray on analysis and innovation

On this week’s podcast I speak to Stafford Murray
Stafford is the former Head of Performance Analysis at the English Institute of Sport, Director of Innovation at High Performance Sport New Zealand and now Head of Analysis at England and Wales Cricket Board.
Stafford is a true pioneer in the world of performance analysis and innovation, having been at the forefront of evolving the discipline from match analysis and notation analysis to carving out the discipline of performance analysis. He has successfully stayed at the cutting edge by not only using data and analytical techniques to gain insight and blend with innovation and now embracing data science teams, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
What you’ll hear in this conversation is a heady mix of how world-class practitioner and leader is able to keep difficult concepts simple, balance the hardcore elements of mathematics but ground them in reality and someone who is able to balance the IQ elements with EQ - keeping the coach and the performer at the heart of everything he does.

146: Mark England on Leading at the Olympics

In this episode of the Supporting Champions Podcast, we sit down with Mark England, Director of Sport Services at the British Olympic Association and Chef de Mission for Team GB across multiple Olympic Games. With a storied career that includes leading Britain to historic successes at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, Mark shares his extensive experience in Olympic leadership and team preparation.
Show Notes:
Introduction to Mark England: Introduction to Mark’s role with the British Olympic Association and his impact on Team GB’s success over multiple Olympic cycles.
Journey to the Olympics: Mark discusses how he first got involved with the Olympics and his initial roles within the organization.
Evolution of Roles: An exploration of how Mark’s responsibilities have evolved over the years and how he has shaped his leadership style to meet the changing dynamics of Olympic competition.
Impact of Hosting the Games: Insight into how hosting the Olympics in London 2012 changed the landscape of British sports and influenced Mark's work leading up to subsequent games.
Leadership as Chef de Mission: Mark details his approach to leading Team GB, including how he supports the team and starts the preparation process for the Olympics.
Leadership Observations: Reflections on the qualities of effective leaders during the Olympic cycle and the unique pressures of the Games.
Coaching Insights: Mark shares his observations on what makes an outstanding Olympic coach and how the best coaches extract peak performances from their athletes.
Future of the Olympics: Mark offers his thoughts on how the Olympics might evolve in the coming years and the potential impacts on how nations prepare for the Games.
Mark England's leadership has been pivotal in navigating Team GB through the highs and lows of Olympic competition. His insights provide valuable lessons not just for those in sports but for anyone interested in leadership and team dynamics under pressure.

145: Geir Jordet on the pressure and performance of penalty shoot-outs

Today, I’m joined by Geir Jordet, the world's leading expert on the psychology of penalties and author of "Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shootout." Geir brings an extensive background in sports psychology, with a focus on high-pressure performances in football. He has studied and published analyses on every major penalty shootout in soccer since 1976, so is ideally placed to  offer insights into the critical moments that define sports outcomes, and how these insights apply across different sports and high-stress professions.
Show Notes:
Introduction to Geir Jordet: Learn about Geir's extensive background in sports psychology, focusing on high-pressure performances in football, and how it applies across various high-stress fields.
Euros Enthusiasm: Geir shares his thoughts on the ongoing Euros competition and his personal enjoyment of the games.
Origin of Interest: Discover how Geir's fascination with penalty shootouts began and what drove him to focus his career on this niche.
Understanding the Psychobiological Model: Geir explains the cognitive and emotional interactions that occur during high-pressure penalty shootouts and how these can affect performance.
Research Revelations: Insights from analyzing over 700 penalty kicks, highlighting surprising patterns and findings from historical data.
From Theory to Practice: How Geir’s research has been translated into practical strategies for coaches and athletes preparing for penalty shootouts.
Historical Impacts: Discussion on instances where psychological factors have decisively influenced the outcomes of penalty shootouts.
The Role of Mental Fatigue: An in-depth look at how mental fatigue can impair players during the crucial moments of a shootout.
Addressing Critiques: Geir responds to critiques about the limitations of theorizing human behavior in unpredictable high-pressure situations.
Future of Sports Psychology: Geir's perspective on the next advancements in sports psychology, especially concerning high-pressure scenarios.
Technology in Training: How virtual reality and biometric monitoring could revolutionize training for high-pressure situations.
Cultural Variations: Exploration of how athletes from different cultures perceive and manage the pressures of penalty shootouts.
Anecdotal Evidence: Geir shares a personal story illustrating the significant impact that understanding psychological pressure can have on athletic performance.
Misconceptions in Training: Geir discusses common misconceptions coaches and players have about preparing for high-pressure situations and what the research really says.
Challenging Training Norms: A critical look at whether current training practices adequately address the psychological aspects of sports performance and what improvements are needed.
Connect with Geir Jordet:
Geir's book, https://www.geirjordet.com/book
https://twitter.com/GeirJordet
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IZOfHx8AAAAJ&hl=en
https://www.geirjordet.com/
Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed  and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. 
I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse
If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here - https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/
Listen to the podcast https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/
Linkshttps://x.com/ingham_stevehttps://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampionswww.x.com/support_champswww.linkedin.com/company/supporting-championshttps://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

144: Tim Jones on performance coaching and leadership

In this insightful episode I speak to with Tim Jones, the Associate Performance Director at British Swimming. A former Olympic athlete in the grueling 200m butterfly, Tim has transitioned from elite swimming to coaching, and now to a leadership role that spans multiple sports disciplines. With extensive experience across swimming, athletics, and gymnastics, Tim discusses his journey and the critical elements of leading high-performance teams in today’s competitive sports environment.
Show Notes:
Introduction: Overview of Tim Jones’ background as an Olympic swimmer and his roles across various sports.
Athlete to Leader Transition: Tim shares how his experiences as an athlete informed his approach to leadership and the motivations behind his career transition.
Leadership across Disciplines: Insights into the universal leadership principles Tim has applied across different sports and the unique challenges of managing diverse teams.
Philosophical Shifts: Discussion on how Tim’s personal philosophy has evolved from his time as an athlete to his current role.
Programme Development: An exploration of the strategic changes Tim has implemented in British Swimming and how these align with both new trends and traditional practices.
Key Performance Factors: Tim outlines the essential elements of a successful performance programme and his approach to balancing innovation with proven methodologies.
Balancing Act: Strategies for managing the pressures of high-performance sports while supporting athlete well-being.
Looking to Paris 2024: Tim’s focuses and goals for the upcoming Paris Olympics and the preparations underway to ensure peak performance and team resilience.
Legacy and Impact: A look into the legacy Tim hopes to leave and the impact measures he values most.
Hi, I'm Steve Ingham Sports and Performance Scientist co-founder at Supporting Champions. I have the privilege of supporting over 1000 athletes of which over 200 have gone on to win World or Olympic medals. For the last 25 years I've been fascinated by, researched and applied innovative ideas to help people succeed and now I want to share those performance strategies with you. I help aspiring and professional Performance Science and Support Staff improve their skills, experience and mindset for working with sports performers through a range of online courses and an exclusive community hub https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/onlinecourse If you're working in sports performance or business and want to get support to develop your team and systems - take a look at what I offer here -
https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/speaking/ Listen to the podcast
https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk/category/podcast/
 
Links
https://x.com/ingham_steve
https://www.tiktok.com/@supportingchampions
www.x.com/support_champs
www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions
https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/