This is Ignite, a narrative podcast series from European Athletics telling the personal stories of athletes as they count down to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.
Throughout this series we will hear the first-person narratives from the likes of Keely Hodgkinson, Femke Bol, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Zharnel Hughes, Yaroslava Mahuchikh and many more.
If you want to see these stars in action in Rome this summer, visit: https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/ (https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/)
Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
In this special bonus episode of Ignite, Grace Davies sits down with Peter Sanderson to discuss her musical career.
After emerging on talent show The X-Factor, Grace's career has taken many turns, leading her to reocrd the official song for the European Championships in Rome.
She'll be performing "Illuminate" at the closing ceremony.
– – -
Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes
Produced by: Garry Hayes
Series mix: Teyler Hayes
Our series music is released under license
For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/ (https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/)
30 May 2024
S2 Ep8: Katarina Johnson-Thompson
This is Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s story. In her words.
She's been one of Great Britain's shining lights in track and field ever since bursting onto the heptathlon scene as a teenager. And now at 31 years old, Katarina Johnson-Thompson's career is reaching its zenith as she embarks on the final frontier - winning European and Olympic gold.
The Liverpool-born star has stood atop the podium at the Commonwealth Games and indoor championships, while she's also been a world champion. So with those final two competitions continuing to elude her, KJT's mission this summer is clear.
If she completes the set, she will emulate her idol Jess Ennis, too, while cementing her own legacy in athletics.
What does Roma 2024 hold for the British star?
– – -
Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes
Produced by: Garry Hayes
Series mix: Teyler Hayes
Our series music is released under license
For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/ (https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/)
23 May 2024
S2 Ep7: Dina Asher-Smith
This is Dina Asher-Smith’s story. In her words.
When the continent's elite athletes arrived at the European Championships in Berlin in 2018, they would have been hoping for personal success that would catapult their careers to new heights.
But what we saw instead was something on a whole other level as Berlin became a Championships for the ages. The likes of Mondo Duplantis and Jakob Ingebrigtsen announced themselves to the world with gold-medal winning performances that are still spoken about today.
And so too did Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who completed a hat-trick of golds in the 100 metre, 200 metre and 4x1 relay.
It was Dina’s moment and now she’s back, this time in Rome attempting to reclaim her European crown as the dominant sprinter on the continent.
She's faced many challenges since Berlin, so what does Roma 2024 hold for her?
– – -
Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes
Produced by: Garry Hayes
Series mix: Teyler Hayes
Our series music is released under license
For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/
16 May 2024
S2 Ep6: Mondo Duplantis
It's been six years since Armand Duplantis - Mondo to his family, friends and adoring fans - burst onto the scene to take pole vault gold at the European Championships in Berlin.
He was just 18 and the world of athletics was blown away by this unassuming teenager who not only took the field by storm that unforgettable night, but has since gone onto to define his sport and send all records before him tumbling.
Mondo has now broken the pole vault world record an incredible eight times, his most recent record-breaking performance coming in China in April this year. For context, the great Sergey Bubka's record of 6m 14cm has stood since 1994 before Mondo come of age to scale heights previously seen as impossible.
Mondo's latest world record is 6m 24, out jumping Bubka by 10cm. He is a sensation and now another European gold in Rome awaits Mondo before he heads to Paris to defend his Olympic title.
This is Mondo's story. In his words.
– – -
Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes
Produced by: Garry Hayes
Series mix: Teyler Hayes
Our series music is released under license
For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/ (https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/)
9 May 2024
S2 Ep5: Yaroslava Mahuchikh
She arrived at Munich 2022 as a dominant force rising through the European ranks, but still in search of a first major crown on the continent. Not every fan of athletics would've known her, yet come the end of the European championships, Yaroslava Mahuchikh made sure she was a known personality on the circuit as she claimed high jump gold.
Fast forward to Roma 2024 and the Ukraine star is the athlete her rivals all want to beat. They have her in their sights, but as she reveals in this open and personal account of her story to high jump domination, Yaroslava's unique approach ensures she's only ever three steps from glory.
This is Yaroslava's story. In her words.
– – -
Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes
Produced by: Garry Hayes
Series mix: Teyler Hayes
Our series music is released under license
For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/ (https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/)
2 May 2024
S2 Ep4: Jakob Ingebrigtsen
Norwegian track sensation Jakob Ingebrigtsen has a love affair with the European Championships. It was six years ago in Berlin when he annoucned himself to the world when, aged just 17, he shocked the field to take 1500m and 5000m gold.
Since then he's added Olympic gold to his record and defended his European titles in Munich in 2022. But it hasn't mean Ingebrigtsen has avoided challenges from a British team determined to match him stride for stride. That culminated in back-to-back defeats at the World Championships as Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr did just enough to squeeze him into second in 2022 and 2023.
But as he heads into Rome, Ingebrigtsen says he is laser focused on completing a "threepeat" to ensure he cements his legacy on the European track. Can he do it?
This is Jakob's story. In his words.
– – -
Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes
Produced by: Garry Hayes
Series mix: Teyler Hayes
Our series music is released under license
For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/ (https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/)
25 Apr 2024
S2 Ep3: Zharnel Hughes
He's one of the stars of Great Britain's sprint team, but Zharnel Hughes knows the challenges that face any elite athlete.
From the pain of Amsterdam 2016 when injury impacted his competitive spirit, to bouncing back to be crowned Euroepan champion for the 100 metres in Berlin 2018, Hughes is a man full of character and endeavour.
His success has been defined by effort and application, utilising a friendship with sprint legend Usain Bolt to drive him to glory. And he he has manifested it all, so what is he conjuring up for the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships?
This is Zharnel's story. In his words.
– – -
Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes
Produced by: Garry Hayes
Series mix: Teyler Hayes
Our series music is released under license
For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/ (https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/)
23 Apr 2024
S2 Ep2: Femke Bol
For every elite athlete, there's one rival they must all overcome: their own self-doubt.
And Dutch 400-metre sensastion Femke Bol is no different, despite her dominance on the track. Bol has broken world records and stunned those competing against her, but to do it all she needed to defeat those inner thoughts that made her question if she had the ability to do it at all.
How does one do that? Where does the courage come from? And how to keep overcoming it to remain at the top of your sport?
This is Femke's story. In her words.
– – -
Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes
Produced by: Garry Hayes
Series mix: Teyler Hayes
Our series music is released under license
For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/ (https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/)
18 Apr 2024
S2 Ep1: Keely Hodgkinson
When Keely Hodgkinson steps onto the track inside Rome’s Olympic Stadium this summer, she’ll be carrying the weight and expectation of a nation on her shoulders.
The reigning 800 metre European champion is fully aware that she enters the arena with all eyes on her, but remains unfazed by what lies ahead.
But how did she get here? What are the challenges she faced? And who inspired the British athlete to lace up her running spikes once more after she gave up on athletics in her formative years?
This is Keely's story. In her words.
Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes
Produced by: Garry Hayes
Series mix: Teyler Hayes
Our series music is released under license
For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/ (https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/)
9 Aug 2021
S1 Ep8: Jake Wightman
Known as a master tactician of middle distance running, Jake Wightman is a man who comes steeped in athletics tradition and culture. He's watched the Olympics from afar, even been a fan in the stadium... and now he's in Tokyo to finally get his shot at Olympic gold.
This is his story, told in his words.
4 Aug 2021
S1 Ep7: Liemarvin Bonevacia
From the small Caribbean island of Curacao to the Olympic Games, Liemarvin Bonevacia's story is one that shows every underdog can have their day.
Liemarvin was a late adopter of track and field, training on the single athletics in Curacao before earning a scholarship to move overseas and start building his career.
The Olympics was Liemarvin's dream. He's worked hard, sacrificed and dedicated himself to achieving it... and now he's living it!
This is his story, told in his words.
29 Jul 2021
S1 Ep6: Nafi Thiam
Belgium's Nafi Thiam was just 21 years old when she took Olympic gold in the heptathlon in 2016. She's since gone on to become world and European champion, dominating her sport.
To the concern of her rivals, Thiam says she's only now entering her peak. So can she go all the way at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games? Can she becoem the first heptathlete to defend her Olympic crown since 1992?
From competing to win pots of jam to gold medals, this is her story, told in her words.
21 Jul 2021
S1 Ep5: Karsten Warholm
From his first race around his local town hall in jeans and an over-sized t-shirt, Karsten Warholm has come a long way to breaking the 400m hurdles world record.
From the tracks of Norway to the Land of the Rising Sun in Tokyo, Japan for the 2020 Olympic Games, can he make another mark on history?
This is his story, told in his words.
14 Jul 2021
S1 Ep4: Malaika Mihambo
How do you shut out the voices of 60,000 athletics fans when you are chasing a gold medal? Malaika Mihambo has the answer... she meditates!
It's the process that has helped deliver the talented German a European and world crown in long jump. And now she's chasing Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020.
With the whole world watching, can she succeed on the biggest stage?
This is her story, told in her words.
7 Jul 2021
S1 Ep3: Jakob Ingebrigtsen
At just 17 Jakob Ingebrigtsen was a European champion, taking gold at the Berlin 2018 European Championships.
The Norwegian sensation has gone on to be a leading figure in middle distance running ever since and now, along with brothers Filip and Henrik, is chasing glory at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
How did this youngster discover his talent at a such young age? Is it Norwegian nature or nuture that has delivered him to the very top?
This is his story, told in his words.
30 Jun 2021
S1 Ep2: Sandra Perkovic
No woman in the history of the Olympic Games has ever completed a gold treble in the discus throw.
Evelyn Jahl first came closest in 1976 and 1980, but her back to back victories went unmatched for 36 years... until Sandra Perkovic won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, adding to her gold from London 2012.
Now the woman they call the "Discus Queen" is ready to beat Jahl's record and take her third consecutive gold in Tokyo 2020.
A date with history awaits the great Sandra Perkovic.
This is her story, told in her words.
30 Jun 2021
S1 Ep1: Mondo Duplantis
How does a 19-year-old take over his sport in one evening of pole vaulting in Berlin? For Sweden's Mondo Duplantis, it was a 14-year journey that made him into an overnight success as he took gold at the 2018 European Championships.
He hasn't looked back since, smashing world records and dominating the pole vault. Now the Swede from Lafayette, Louisiana has his eyes set on another world record and gold at Tokyo 2020.
This is his story, told in his words.
16 Jun 2021
S1: Introducing Track + Field
The Olympic Games are where dreams come true... legends are born... history made.
Sports journalist Peter Sanderson has spent years tracking Europe's brightest track and field athletes up close and personal as they matured to reach Tokyo 2020.
Now the delayed Olympics are upon us, we finally get to hear their personal stories on the road to glory, featuring Mondo Duplantis, Sandra Perkovic, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Nafi Thiam, Malaika Mihambo and many more.
Track + Field is the narrative podcast that tells the full and authentic story of the road to success in athletics.
This is a HWY61 production for European Athletics
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
4.7 / 5
7 ratings
Contact Ignite: A European Athletics Series
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
