The hottest Athletics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Trans People and Sports: Everything You Need to Know

Switch Hitter • 1415 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Transgender rights Athletics Gender identity Social justice
  1. Trans women athletes do not dominate women's sports. Studies show that after transitioning and hormone therapy, they often compete at levels similar to cis women, so claims of unfair advantage are not supported by evidence.
  2. Anti-trans sports bans are part of a broader strategy to restrict the rights of trans people. These bans are not just about sports but aim to undermine trans people's existence in various public spheres.
  3. The controversies around trans women in sports often stem from misunderstandings about gender and biology. Much of the debate is less about fairness in competition and more about protecting an outdated perception of gender purity.

Photographing an Exposé Cover Story on Varsity Cheerleading for The New York Times Magazine

In the Flash • 1638 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Photography Media Sports Athletics
  1. The article reveals that Varsity cheerleading, a major force in the cheer industry, has serious safety issues and has faced accusations of neglecting athletes' health.
  2. Access to photograph cheer events was very challenging, with many restrictions and a PR rep present at all times to control the situation.
  3. Despite frustrations during the photo shoots, creative solutions were found to achieve the desired shots, and everything eventually came together for the article.

Tuesday Shakeout: Shutting Down

Running Probably • 119 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Training Mental health
  1. The author has accepted that their racing season is over and they recognize the need to face this reality. It's tough to let go of something they love, but they understand it’s necessary.
  2. They acknowledge that preparing for a big race like the JFK 50 can't be done without proper training, highlighting that they need to think logically about their situation.
  3. While they are trying to accept this shutdown, they also mention struggling with their feelings and hope that time will help them process everything better.

Playoff Baseball is the Best Baseball

Points And Figures • 719 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Baseball Playoffs Athletics Culture Strategy
  1. Playoff baseball is exciting because of the high stakes. The games feel different and more intense than regular season games.
  2. Anyone can play baseball, no matter their size or background. It’s a sport that allows for dreams and opportunities.
  3. Baseball is deeply rooted in American culture, offering strategy and unpredictability without time limits, making it unique.
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Tuesday Shakeout: Tick, Tick, Tick

Running Probably • 99 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Training Injuries Endurance Coaching
  1. If you're dealing with an injury, it's important to take action to heal. Ignoring it can make your fitness decline.
  2. Training plans are crucial, especially for endurance athletes, to keep progress on track. Sticking to a schedule can help you bounce back stronger.
  3. Listening to your body is key in endurance sports. Being proactive with your health can prevent more serious issues later.

The (Secret) Process To Becoming A Member At Augusta National Golf Club

Huddle Up • 38 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🎾 Sports Golf Membership Athletics Entertainment Business
  1. Augusta National Golf Club has a secretive membership process that's not easy to break into. Getting invited is a big deal and usually involves knowing the right people.
  2. This year, some notable figures joined the club including Eli Manning and the CEOs of Delta and Amazon. These new members highlight the club's allure among influential individuals.
  3. Membership at Augusta is very exclusive and considered prestigious. Being a member comes with a certain level of status in the golfing community.

Irish Dance: Inconveniently, Boys Are Stronger Than Girls

Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) • 2220 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Gender Competition Athletics Inclusion Strength
  1. In Irish Dance competitions, boys have demonstrated superior strength compared to girls.
  2. The governing body allowed a boy to compete in the Girls U14 category based on gender identity.
  3. There is a call for an 'open' category in Irish Dance competitions to ensure fairness for all competitors.

Gamesmanship, Sportsmanship, and the Case of the Giant Boulder

The Leap • 559 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Competition Gaming Culture Strategy
  1. Gamesmanship involves using clever tactics to gain an advantage in a game, sometimes bending the rules. It's important to know when it's okay to be strategic and when it might cross the line.
  2. Sportsmanship is about respect and fairness in competition, focusing on integrity and camaraderie. Good sportsmanship means playing by the rules and being gracious, win or lose.
  3. Understanding the balance between gamesmanship and sportsmanship can enhance how we engage in competitive activities. Finding the right mix helps maintain the spirit of the game and keeps it enjoyable for everyone.

Let’s Use Prediction Markets for Olympic Athlete Selection!

Something to Consider • 139 implied HN points • 01 Aug 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Olympics Competition Betting Selection
  1. Using prediction markets could help select the best Olympic athletes. It lets people bet on who they think will win medals, creating a more informed decision.
  2. A single race can be too random to decide who goes to the Olympics. Markets can help show which athletes have the best chances over time.
  3. This approach could work alongside the current Olympic trials, giving athletes an extra chance to prove themselves. It encourages transparency and competition among the athletes.

13% of British athletes admit to doping, new study finds

Honest Sport • 99 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🎾 Sports Doping Athletics Research Health Policy
  1. A study found that 13% of British athletes admitted to using banned substances. This suggests that doping may be more common in sports than people think.
  2. UKAD, the organization in charge of anti-doping in the UK, needs more responses from athletes to better understand the full scale of the problem.
  3. The study reveals a big gap between how many athletes might be doping and how few get caught. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of current anti-doping efforts.

We Compete With Bodies, Not Identities

ajkay • 1022 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
🎾 Sports Athletics Gender Competition Inclusion Rules
  1. Athletes compete with their bodies' physical limitations, which is a universal constraint in sports.
  2. Competitive sports rely on observable, measurable, and validated parameters for eligibility, like age, sex, and skill level.
  3. Maintaining eligibility requirements in sports is not about exclusion but about upholding the essential principles of physical competition.

Town Square #3: World Athletics to stress test US sprinter's contaminated-oxtail defence

Honest Sport • 19 implied HN points • 16 Aug 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Doping Competitions Regulations News
  1. Erriyon Knighton, a US sprinter, tested positive for a banned steroid but argued it was from contaminated oxtail. He provided evidence that the meat had been purchased for someone else.
  2. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has appealed against Knighton's ruling. If they win, he could be disqualified from the Paris Olympics.
  3. The case is different from another sprinter, Alex Wilson, who had a more dubious defense. Knighton's situation highlighted how contamination can happen with meat raised with growth hormones.

The Town Square: a resource to understand, and discuss doping in sports

Honest Sport • 79 implied HN points • 30 Apr 24
🎾 Sports Doping Athletics Regulations Performance Health
  1. Doping in sports includes the use of drugs like steroids and EPO to enhance performance. Understanding how these substances work can help people grasp the extent of cheating in athletics.
  2. Not all doping cases are made public, even if athletes test positive. Many times, cases are dropped or kept secret, showing a gap in the enforcement of anti-doping rules.
  3. There are many resources available, like documentaries and articles, to learn more about doping. These can provide insights into athletes' experiences and the ongoing challenges in combating drug use in sports.

The sports boom will bust universities

The Recovering Academic • 316 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🚌 Education Athletics Financial impact
  1. The financial pressures of college athletics can lead universities to prioritize branding over their core missions, potentially damaging academic programs and faculty support.
  2. Despite the belief that college athletics bring in profits, most universities actually lose money on athletic programs, leading to subsidies from operational budgets.
  3. The emphasis on branding, particularly through successful sports programs, can overshadow the real purpose of higher education, with financial investments in athletics often outweighing those in academics.

Nearly zero blood tests in La Liga, Thirteen doping positives in Spanish football

Honest Sport • 99 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Doping Football Athletics Regulations Health
  1. Spanish football has had a total of 13 doping positives since 2017, but only two players have faced bans. This suggests there might be issues in how doping cases are handled in the sport.
  2. La Liga players have been subjected to almost no blood testing for several years, which is concerning. Effective testing for substances like Human Growth Hormone only happens through blood tests, and the lack of these could mean many doping cases go undetected.
  3. The treatment of doping violations seems unequal, with Spanish footballers facing fewer sanctions compared to other athletes in Spain. This raises questions about fairness in how doping rules are enforced.

My First Ironman 70.3

Venture Prose • 219 implied HN points • 21 May 23
🎾 Sports Athletics Training Mindset Endurance
  1. The struggle in a challenge helps you grow and reach new levels of achievement.
  2. Facing constraints can actually push you to achieve more than you thought possible.
  3. It's important for entrepreneurs to spend wisely and maintain a high rhythm, even when they have a large budget.

Town Square #2: Kipchoge training partner caught blood doping

Honest Sport • 39 implied HN points • 18 May 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Doping Coaching Training Regulations
  1. Rodgers Kwemoi received a six-year ban for blood doping, marking him as the first Kenyan athlete to be disqualified from the Olympics due to doping.
  2. He was coached by Patrick Sang, who has had multiple athletes caught doping, raising questions about coaches' awareness of their athletes' actions.
  3. Doping continues to be a serious issue in athletics, damaging the sport's credibility and the reputation of Kenyan athletes.

Six British cyclists were investigated for banned testosterone use

Honest Sport • 99 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Doping Cycling Athletics Regulations Health
  1. Six British cyclists were investigated for using banned testosterone, which raised concerns about doping in the sport. Elevated testosterone levels were found in their tests but could not confirm illegal use at the time.
  2. A doctor for British Cycling ordered testosterone to the Manchester Velodrome, claiming it was for an unnamed rider, raising further questions about the integrity of anti-doping measures.
  3. Doping cases in British cycling are not widely shared anymore, making it hard to know how many cyclists have faced similar investigations in recent years. This change in transparency has made tracking doping issues more difficult.

Zane Robertson (13:13/27:33/2:08:19) just got eight years in the athletics cooler; his twin brother and training partner (13:15/27:30/2:08:26) just got nervous

Beck of the Pack • 137 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Running Doping Athletics Coaching Professionalism
  1. Zane Robertson, a New Zealand athlete, got suspended for eight years for doping and lying
  2. Robertson's twin brother and training partner might face consequences too
  3. The suspension reveals a complex web of doping, moral issues, and support systems in athletics

Blame it on the Rain

Splattern • 59 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
🎾 Sports Running Endurance Adventure Fitness Athletics
  1. Running in the rain can be fun, but it's important to keep gear dry. Using dry-bags and garbage bags can help with that.
  2. Managing body temperature is key. A light base layer and gloves can keep you warm while running in wet weather.
  3. Connecting with friends and sharing meals is meaningful. It's great to bond over food, especially when others accommodate your dietary needs.

The Clenbuterol Cloud hanging over British triathlon

Honest Sport • 39 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Doping Athletics Controversies Performance
  1. A British triathlete was found with clenbuterol, a drug often used for performance enhancement. This raises serious questions about doping in sports and how common it might be.
  2. In 2016, a British athlete tested positive for clenbuterol but was cleared due to claims of contaminated meat. This decision has been questioned since it's not as common as suggested.
  3. A recent case of another British triathlete using clenbuterol shows that the drug is accessible in the UK, which increases doubts about the integrity of doping regulations in the sport.

Town Square #1: Chinese swimmers 'seen' injecting themselves before Rio 2016

Honest Sport • 19 implied HN points • 01 May 24
🎾 Sports Doping Athletics Regulations Controversies Olympics
  1. There are serious questions about the integrity of Chinese swimmers who tested positive for banned substances, especially since there are reports of them injecting themselves before past Olympics.
  2. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) insists these swimmers are innocent victims of contamination, but many people find this hard to believe given previous doping allegations against the Chinese swim team.
  3. Doping scandals in sports, like those involving the Chinese swimming team, show the ongoing struggle to maintain fair play and ethics in competition.

King Xi

Diane Francis • 439 implied HN points • 03 Feb 22
🎾 Sports Olympics Athletics China Middle class
  1. China is hosting the Olympics soon, showcasing amazing sports facilities and talented athletes. It's an exciting time for sports fans around the world.
  2. With one in five people living in China, the country has built a huge middle class. This growth is significant on a global scale.
  3. China's achievements go beyond sports; they have made remarkable changes that impact millions of lives, making them a key player in the world today.

Breath of God: Tripping on Xenon Gas

Tripsitter • 77 HN points • 13 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Athletics Chemistry
  1. Xenon gas is unique as a psychedelic because it's a pure element that leaves the body unchanged after use.
  2. The high cost of xenon, around $10 per liter, makes it a luxury reserved for the elite due to its origins in ancient star mergers.
  3. Xenon has potential benefits in medicine, such as being a fast-acting and safe anesthetic, and in sports as a blood doping agent.

Unsportsmanlike China

Diane Francis • 399 implied HN points • 10 Feb 22
🎾 Sports Politics Doping International Athletics
  1. In Russia and China, sports often mix with politics and national pride. This makes fair play difficult in these countries.
  2. Russia has a history of doping in sports, and recent events show they haven't changed. A famous athlete tested positive for a banned substance, raising concerns about their return to international competition.
  3. The Kremlin is trying to influence the situation, pushing for leniency for the athlete involved. This kind of interference highlights the ongoing issue with sportsmanship in these nations.

Olympic Incompetence

Diane Francis • 379 implied HN points • 17 Feb 22
🎾 Sports Olympics Athletics International Competition Doping
  1. In 2014, Russian soldiers secretly took over Crimea using fake identities, which went against international laws.
  2. That same year, Russia hosted the Sochi Olympics, where many athletes cheated by using banned drugs.
  3. A whistleblower revealed this culture of cheating in Russia, leading to the country's ban from international sports in 2020.

Spanish Tennis' Long Doping History

Honest Sport • 39 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Doping Tennis Athletics Competitions Health
  1. Spanish tennis has a long history of doping, starting from as early as 1959 when players used testosterone injections. This trend has continued with multiple doping cases over the years.
  2. Since 1996, there have been twelve doping cases involving Spanish players, with some achieving rankings in the top 100. This raises concerns about fairness in competition.
  3. The lack of transparency from tennis authorities regarding doping cases can hurt the reputation of clean athletes in Spain. Many believe that serious issues in the sport need more open discussion and accountability.

Sir Mo Farah's running partner filmed buying EPO in Kenya

Honest Sport • 39 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Doping Training Performance Investigation
  1. Sir Mo Farah trained with a pacemaker who was later caught buying EPO, a performance-enhancing drug, in Kenya. This raises questions about his training environment.
  2. Farah has been linked to controversial figures in athletics, including a coach under investigation for doping violations. This could negatively impact his reputation in the sport.
  3. While Farah has never failed a drug test, the associations with doping-related individuals and suspicious activity concerning blood tests create a cloud of doubt around his career.

Injury-free or it doesn’t count

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Fitness Athletics Injury prevention Mental health Performance
  1. Injuries can be serious for athletes, and pushing through pain isn't always the best choice. It's important to listen to your body and take time to recover.
  2. The culture of 'no pain, no gain' can affect how we think about training and progress. Sometimes, we need to rethink our goals and focus on doing what's safe for our bodies.
  3. Minimizing running miles and accepting help when offered can be a smart way to stay healthy. It's okay to change your approach to fitness to prevent injuries.

The past steroid allegations against McLaughlin, Felix, Mu's coach

Honest Sport • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Doping Coaching Olympics Controversy
  1. Coach Bob Kersee faced steroid allegations in the late 1980s, when an athlete claimed Kersee provided him with banned substances. Even though he denied these claims, they have lingered in discussions about his coaching.
  2. Despite his controversial past, Kersee has trained successful athletes like Sydney McLaughlin and Allyson Felix without significant doping scandals in their careers. His later coaching has been marked by clean performances.
  3. In recent discussions, other coaches have come under scrutiny for doping allegations, suggesting that anti-doping authorities may need to focus on them rather than Kersee, whose athletes have largely passed doping tests.

Up to 103 tennis players failed doping tests and escaped bans

Honest Sport • 19 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🎾 Sports Doping Athletics Regulations Testing
  1. Many tennis players have failed drug tests but faced no penalties. Out of 156 players who tested positive from 2013 to 2019, around 103 didn’t receive any sanctions.
  2. The International Tennis Federation has reduced the testing for blood doping significantly since 2018. This might have allowed players to avoid detection during important tournaments.
  3. The rules around doping cases can be confusing, as some players can continue playing even after testing positive for certain drugs, leading to a lack of transparency about who is really being punished.

The Timeline: Team Sky and British Cycling – when success surpassed ethics

Honest Sport • 19 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🎾 Sports Athletics Cycling Doping Ethics Olympics
  1. Team Sky started as a clean cycling team, but they faced many challenges and made questionable choices on their way to winning major events like the Tour de France.
  2. They experienced controversies related to doping, including secret drug tests and hiring doctors with questionable backgrounds which raised ethical concerns.
  3. Despite achieving significant success at competitions, the team's actions led to scandals that complicated their reputation and the integrity of their victories.