Sporting Witness

In the 1980s, the Pakistani squash player, Jahangir Khan, became a legend in his sport by going undefeated for five years. But, as Shumaila Jaffery discovers, to become unbeatable, Khan had to overcome childhood illness and family tragedy.(Photo: Jahingar Khan in action. Credit: Steve Line/SquashPics)

Jackie Robinson was a legendary figure in American baseball - the first black player in the professional game and the man who led the Brooklyn Dodgers to their only World Series triumph in 1955. Tim Mansel talks to Robinson's son, David, and to veteran US sports writer, Roger Kahn. The programme was first broadcast in 2011.(Photo: Jackie Robinson in the 1950s. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

In 2002, free diver Tanya Streeter attempted to set a No Limits world record by diving down to 160m and resurfacing, all on a single breath. She would have to survive the pressures of the deep and hold her breath for 3 and a half minutes. It almost went wrong. Hear Tanya's account of the dive. (Photo: Tanya Streeter holds onto the sled as she decends in her attempt to break the "No Limits" world record, AP Photo/Dan Burton)

In 2005, the Ivorian national football team - led by Chelsea superstar, Didier Drogba - began campaigning for an end to their country's devastating civil war. The side insisted on playing their matches across Ivory Coast - including an emotional game in the rebel capital of Bouaké. Robert Nicholson talks to Ivory Coast midfielder, Gilles Yapi-Yapo. The programme is a Whistledown Production.PHOTO: Ivory Coast striker, Didier Drogba, is escorted from the pitch. (Getty Images)

In September 1983, Gerrie Coetzee, nicknamed the Boksburg Bomber, thrilled apartheid South Africa by becoming the country's first world boxing champion. Although an Afrikaner, the mild-mannered Coetzee was popular among all races, and millions stayed up to watch his bout against Michael Dokes of the USA. SABC commentator, Heinrich Marnitz talks to Ashley Byrne. The programme is a Made in Manchester production.Photo: Gerrie Coetzee (Right) in action. Credit: AP)

Faramarz Assef is one of Iran's most famous pop singers. But most of his fans don't know that he used to be an international athlete, who won Iran's first medal in the triple jump in 1974, when the Asian Games were held in Tehran. He discusses his two careers with Golnoosh Golshani.(Photo: Faramarz Assef leaping for Iran in the 1970s. Private Collection)

In 2010, the New Orleans Saints swept to victory in the Superbowl - the biggest prize in American sport. The win came just five years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city and severely damaged the Saints' own stadium, the Superdome. Former Saints player, Jermon Bushrod, recalls how the Superbowl run helped lift the spirits of New Orleans. The programme is a Whistledown Production.(Photo: The New Orleans Saints lift the 2010 Superbowl trophy. Credit: Getty Images)

The black American sprinter made history at the 1936 Berlin Olympics hosted in Nazi Germany where he won four gold medals. By winning gold for the 100m - in a time of 10.3 seconds, and for the long jump, the 200m and the 4x100m relay he made a mockery of the Nazi ideology of Aryan supremacy. Using the BBC Archive, we look back at his remarkable career.With contributions from his wife Ruth Owens, team mate Marty Glickman and Yogi Mayer, a German decathlete who had been excluded from the competition for being Jewish, but had managed to get tickets to see Jesse Owens. Presented by Alex Last. This programme first broadcast in August 2015. Picture: The sprinter and athlete, Jesse Owens. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

In the summer of 1989, the Catholic striker, Mo Johnston, shocked Scotland by crossing the sectarian divide in Glasgow and signing for the traditionally Protestant club, Rangers. His agent, Bill McMurdo, gives Sporting Witness an inside account of the deal.(Photo: Mo Johnston with his Rangers teammates. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1964, the Native American Billy Mills pulled off a shock victory in the Olympic 10,000 metres in Tokyo. Mills was virtually unknown and his chances were written off by the TV commentators. He talks to Ashley Byrne about his life story and his famous victory. The programme is a Made In Manchester Production.PHOTO: Billy Mills leading the field at the 1964 Olympics (Associated Press)

In 1967, the legendary British cyclist Tom Simpson died during a mountain stage of the Tour de France. His friend and team-mate, Vin Denson, remembers that day.(Photo: Tom Simpson (left) with Vin Denson in 1965. Credit: Cycling Weekly)

In 1972, the England women's football team played their first ever international match, following a long campaign for official recognition by the Football Association. Sylvia Gore scored the first goal for the side in a game against Scotland. She talks to Sporting Witness about an era in which women footballers struggled to be taken seriously.Photo: The first England women's team in the dressing-room in 1972 (Getty Images).

In 1998, a doping scandal rocked the most prestigious race in cycling. It centred on the French team, Festina - one of whose riders, Christophe Bassons, resisted huge pressure to take performance-enhancing drugs. Known as 'Cycling's Mr Clean', he talks to Rebecca Kesby.(Photo: Christophe Bassons at the 1999 Tour De France. Credit: Getty Images)

In 1991, Mike Powell and Carl Lewis took on Bob Beamon's iconic Long Jump world record at the World Championships in Tokyo. In an epic battle, both men went further than Beamon, with Mike Powell eventually setting a record that stands to this day. He talks to Adrian Moorhead for Sporting Witness. The programme is a Sparklab Production.PHOTO: Mike Powell (centre) on the winner's podium with Carl Lewis (right). Credit: Getty Images.

In 1998, Iran invited an American wrestling team to a tournament in Tehran as a goodwill gesture.The five Americans were the first to visit the Islamic Republic officially since the two countries had become sworn enemies two decades earlier. Golnoosh Golshani talks to US wrestler Shawn Charles and his Iranian opponent Mehdi Kaveh.PHOTO: Shawn Charles and Mehdi Kaveh after their fight (Reuters)

In the 1970s, the American transgender tennis player, Renee Richards, fought a long campaign for the right to play tournaments as a woman. Despite objections from fellow players and the tennis establishment, she was eventually allowed to play in the US Open. She shares her story with Ashley Byrne. (Photo: Renee Richards prepares for a forearm shot in a match at the professional womens tennis tournament in Seattle, 1978. She defeated Sue Mappin of England, 7-6, 5-1 (tiebreaker), 6-1. Credit: AP/Kerry Coughlin)

In 1955, tragedy struck the prestigious Le Mans 24-hour race in Northern France when a car crashed into the crowd at more than 100 miles-per-hour. The accident killed 83 spectators and the driver, and led to an overhaul of safety rules in motor-racing. In 2010, Claire Bowes spoke to the American driver John Fitch, who took part in the race.PHOTO: The aftermath of the Le Mans disaster (AFP/Getty Images).

In 1956, the Manchester City goalkeeper, Bert Trautmann, became an FA Cup hero by breaking his neck at Wembley but playing on to the end of the final. Trautmann was a former Nazi paratrooper who adopted England as his home country after being taken prisoner during World War Two. Simon Watts introduces BBC archive recordings of Trautmann and speaks to Catrine Clay, author of Trautmann's Journey.(Photo: The injured Bert Trautmann at the end of the 1956 FA Cup Final. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

In 2004, the British wheelchair racer, Tanni Grey-Thompson, faced the toughest challenge of her career at the Paralympic Games in Athens. Suffering from a loss of form, the great champion was humiliated in her best event and had to go for glory in the 100-metre sprint. She tells Lucy Burns about the race and how becoming a mother gave her a fresh perspective on sport.(Photo: Tanni Grey-Thompson at the Athens Paralympics. Credit: Getty Images).

In 2000, the great Ethiopian distance runner, Haile Gebrselassie, won the Olympic 10,000 metres by a single second - beating his closest rival in the process. Gebrselassie, who announced his retirement in May 2015, describes the race to Fred Dove. The programme is a Whistledown Production and was first broacast in 2012.PHOTO: Haile Gebrselassie celebrates (Getty Images).