Experts in Sport: The Loughborough University Sportcast, a podcast which brings together sporting excellence and academic knowledge. Hosted by the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University.
E117: The Evolution of Wheelchair Tennis - From Day Chairs to Wimbledon Champions
In this episodeof the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by former British No.1 and Wimbledon champion Jayant Mistry, Professor Vicky Tolfrey, and Dr Thomas Rietveld to explore how athlete experience, research and technology have driven the sport's evolution. From custom-built chairs and performance science to Wimbledon and the future of the game, discover how innovation continues to shape wheelchair tennis.
01:00 Wimbledon reflections and how the sport has evolved
05:00 Jayant Mistry's journey from local courts to Wimbledon champion
08:50 Vicky Tolfrey's introduction to parasport research
13:45 How Thomas Reitveld became a wheelchair tennis researcher
16:45 The evolution of wheelchair tennis chairs
21:00 Science meets sport: Optimising wheelchair performance
27:20 Customised chairs, technology and performance gains
32:20 Turning athlete ideas into research questions
36:40 Court surfaces, Wimbledon grass and equipment regulations
38:30 Accessibility, participation and getting started in wheelchair tennis
44:20 Emerging research: surfaces, sensors and performance analysis
46:20 Classification debates and inclusivity in wheelchair tennis
53:50 The future of wheelchair tennis over the next decade
15 Jul 2026
E116: The World Cup Effect - Fans, Finance and Football's Future
Recorded in the week before England's World Cup quarter-final win over Norway, host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Johan Rewilak (Loughborough University) and Ambar Ferra (Houston Dynamo) to discuss the 2026 FIFA World Cup from the heart of the host nation. From packed fan festivals and record attendances to ticket prices, the Messi effect and the future of soccer in the USA, they explore whether this tournament can create a lasting legacy for fans, clubs and communities. Plus, their World Cup predictions before the knockout stage drama unfolded.
24 Jun 2026
E115: Performance Analysis at the World Cup - Data, Decisions & Marginal Gains
In this episode of Experts in Sport, we explore the hidden world behind World Cup success — performance analysis. From data and video to real-time decision-making, discover how analysts and coaches use cutting-edge technology to gain a competitive edge when margins are razor-thin.
Host Martin Foster is joined by Brad Pryjmachuk (Hudl) and Donald Barron (Loughborough University) to unpack how teams prepare for major tournaments, adapt under pressure, and translate complex data into winning strategies. They discuss everything from analysing opponents and managing player performance in extreme conditions, to the psychology of penalties and the evolving role of AI in sport.
05:01 What Performance Analysis Looks Like at a World Cup
11:31 Pre-Tournament Prep vs In-Tournament Adaptation
14:41 Data Overload & Decision-Making
20:31 Individual Players & Tactical Game Plans
26:31 Technology & Evolution of the Analyst Role
30:31 Penalties, Psychology & Marginal Gains
42:00 Tactical Trends at This World Cup
57:11 Future of Performance Analysis
01:04:31 Predictions
Who has been a guest on Experts in Sport
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Ed Smith
Dr Ian Taylor
Dr Daniel Read
Prof Daniel Rhind
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
4,791,575
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
22 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
50
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
90
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