Sporting Witness

At 60m, Nelli Cooman is a former indoor world record holder, running 7:00 seconds in 1986. It was the first time that indoor times were considered official records. Born in Suriname, she moved to the Netherlands aged eight. She was initially a football player, until her sprinting talents were discovered in high school. She became the first Dutch athlete to get sponsorship and go full time, becoming a superstar in the 1980s winning five European Indoor titles in a row. Part of her success is down to her coach who was with her from the start, and now coaches her daughter. She tells Matthew Kenyon how she became an indoor track specialist.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the

In 1976, a group of friends invented a game at a rehab hospital in Canada, which they called "murderball". It was debuted at the World Wheelchair Games in 1990 and called wheelchair rugby. It became a full Paralympic Sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Duncan "The Quadfather" Campbell was one of the 'founding fathers' of the game after a diving accident caused a spinal cord injury. He tells Megan Jones about why they wanted to create something new and what inspired them.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.Recent episode

In the 1997 European Cup Winners’ Cup, FA Cup champions Chelsea played part-timers Tromsø at home – high in the Arctic north of Norway. The match was at times reduced to a farce as the two sides struggled to cope with heavy snow. Chelsea's manager Ruud Gullit argued the game should have been stopped.Tromsø defender Steinar Nilsen speaks to Lars Bevanger about the match - and the tricky conditions.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, i

In 2000, a Canadian diver became the first person to explore the underwater caves of a giant iceberg.Jill Heinerth was already renowned for her exploits mapping vast underground cave networks in Florida. But when a vast iceberg known as B-15 broke away from an ice shelf in Antarctica, Jill was given a unique challenge.Braving sub-zero temperatures and the treachery of constantly shifting ice, she became the first person to ever enter one of these caves - a historic milestone in diving. She spoke to Emily Finch in 2022. A Whistledown production.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there

In 1978, Naomi James became the first woman to sail single-handedly around the world via Cape Horn.At the time, Naomi had had only six weeks of sailing experience and had never been on her own on a boat. She also suffered seasickness, and struggled with navigation.But with the encouragement of her husband Rob James, a professional sailor, she set off from Dartmouth, England, in her yacht, the Express Crusader.During the 43,000km journey, the boat capsized and she had to sail through a hurricane. But after 272 days, she arrived back in Dartmouth to a hero’s welcome. In 1979, she was given a damehood. She tells Jane Wilkinson about her epic adventure.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from

In the final minutes of Super Bowl 42, the trailing New York Giants pulled off a move later described as “an insult to physics and Albert Einstein”. Quarterback Eli Manning sent the ball hurtling forward towards wide receiver David Tyree. As he leapt to make the catch, Tyree was under such intense pressure from the New England Patriots’ Rodney Harrison, that it was nearly impossible to get both hands on the ball. Instead, he used one hand to grab it, then pressed it tightly against his helmet as he fell, twisting his body as he did so the ball didn't touch the ground as he landed.The ‘helmet catch’ changed the game and two minutes later, the underdog Giants had won.Osi Umenyiora was part of the winning team. He tells Patrick Kiteley about that incredible play.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you

On 7 February 1970, footballing legend George Best returned from a month-long ban to score six goals in one game.The striker wanted to prove the critics wrong who said Manchester United had been playing better without him.Ray Fairfax, from Northampton Town, was tasked with marking the Ballon d'Or winner.He tells Vicky Farncombe the unusual methods his side used to prepare for the match – including drinking sherry and eggs - and how it felt to face Best’s skill.“It seemed as though he was destined for everything that had gone before to say: ‘I'm here, this is what I can do.’,” says Ray.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved spo

At the 1948 Olympics, one Dutch athlete showed that being a housewife and mother was no obstacle to Olympic glory.Fanny Blankers-Koen won gold in four events: the 100m and 200m sprints, the 80m hurdles and the 100m relay.But not all the attention was positive. Fanny got letters telling her she should be doing the housework and not running around stadiums in shorts.Vicky Farncombe tells her story through archive interviews.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who

In 2009, Ram Barkai, a swimmer from Cape Town, in South Africa, broke the world record for the longest swim in freezing cold water. He completed the endurance feat wearing only a cap, goggles and standard swimming costume.Delighted with his achievement, he had a ‘Mandela moment’ and began promoting a new extreme sport which he called ice swimming. Within a few short months, the ice mile was born.Ram tells Hunter Charlton about the brutal challenge. An Ember production.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.Recent episodes explore the forgotte

In 1983, the ultra-runner Ron Grant took on an epic challenge - to became the first person to run around Australia. The 13,383 kilometre jog took him seven months.Grant overcame injuries, crew mutinies and serious financial debt, before being greeted by huge crowds at the finish line in Brisbane. He spoke to Ashley Byrne in 2019. A Made In Manchester production.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever

In 1987, Colonel Gaddafi, sponsored a struggling German ice hockey team called ECD Iserlohn. The Libyan dictator paid a million dollars for the team to wear an image of his infamous “Green Book” on their kits, but the sponsorship deal outraged fans and became a media scandal. In 2017, David Prest spoke to former Iserlohm player, Early Spry, and the writer, Gabriel Luis Manga. A Whistledown production.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legen

In 2005, British motorcycle rider, Maria Costello, became the first ever woman to reach the podium at the infamous Isle of Man TT course.In doing so, she also became the fastest woman ever around the course.The Isle of Man TT is one of the most challenging and unforgiving motorsport events in the world, the ultimate test for both riders and machines.Maria was awarded an MBE in 2009 in recognition of her career as one of Britain's leading female racers.She shares her memories with Artemis Irvine.A Whistledown production for BBC World Service.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as

In March 1975, West Germany – the newly crowned world champions – came to London’s Wembley Stadium for a friendly against England.Among the German squad was a 28-year-old striker who’d already attracted a lot of attention from the British media: not because he’d been hailed as the new Gerd Müller, Germany’s legendary goal scorer, but because of the colour of his skin.Erwin Kostedde was the son of a white German mother and a black US soldier, and he had been on the receiving end of racism for most of his life – even during what he considered to be the best years of his career, at Kickers Offenbach. He talks to Kristine Pommert about how racist taunts from supporters and even fellow players affected his game – and how he feels about being a trailblazer for young black players today. A CTVC production for the BBC World Service. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world

In 2014, fighter Cecilia Braekhus helped end Norway’s 33 year ban on professional boxing, thanks to a parliamentary points decision. The so-called ‘knockout’ law had been in place since 1981 because the Norwegian parliament thought professional fights - lasting up to 12 rounds and with no helmets - were too dangerous. It meant that Cecilia and other Norwegian boxers had never been able to fight professionally in their home country. They also had to train abroad.Despite the ban, in September 2014, Cecilia became the first undisputed world champion in women’s boxing after unifying the welterweight titles. She then turned her attention to securing another victory, and three months later, the Norwegian parliament voted 54 to 48 to lift the ban on boxing. Cecilia Braekhus spoke to Jane Wilkinson about being able to fight professionally in Norway for the first time.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events

In 2004, the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico went into their opening basketball game of the Athens Olympics as massive underdogs against the USA. The Puerto Rican side had lost five consecutive games by double digit points to the USA's star-studded squad in qualifiers and warm ups. But the unfancied team defied the odds with the performance of a lifetime, led by their own inspirational star, Carlos Arroyo. Robert Nicholson hears his story in this Whistledown production.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.Recent episodes explore the forgott

The Norwegian chess grandmaster, Magnus Carlsen, has been known as the "Mozart of chess" since childhood. In 2014, he became the first player ever to win all three world chess titles in one year, achieving the highest official rating of any player in history. He speaks to Ben Henderson.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some

In 1992 history was made at the Olympics in Barcelona as 12 former Soviet republics competed for the first and only time as the Unified Team. It was the final time the countries who had been part of the USSR took part in sporting events as the same team. And it marked a revolution for athletes who had been part of the Soviet athletics machine like World Champion Ukrainian fencer Sergei Golubitsky. He speaks to Ashley Byrne about the mixed feelings he and other athletes had as their countries turned their back on communism and gradually embraced a new way of doing elite sport. A Made in Manchester production.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from peopl

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were the undisputed King of Clay and King of Grass respectively. But who would win on a hybrid court made up of half grass and half clay? That was the idea from Argentinean creative entrepreneur and tennis fan Pablo del Campo, who wanted to stage the exhibition match which would be watched by millions. As Rafael Nadal retires from professional tennis, Pablo tells Uma Doraiswamy how he made the iconic court possible in May 2007 in a bid to find out who would win the Battle of the Surfaces.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting mo

In November 1973, Netherlands women’s football team lined up for their country’s first official international. It was a major step on the road to the development of the game, both in the Netherlands and in England, who were their opponents that day. Now over 50 years on from that game, with the two countries both now powerhouses in women’s football, Matthew Kenyon speaks to one of the players from the Dutch team who was just 16 years old at the time, Ellen Popeyus, for whom the game was another chance to prove the doubters wrong.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible

In 2008, Union Berlin played in the third division in German football. They were best known for the extraordinary atmosphere at their unique stadium, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, which is surrounded by forest in East Berlin. But long term financial challenges for the club meant the stadium was becoming too run down to use. The team was at risk of having to move, until fans volunteered in their thousands to take on the renovation work themselves. Lifelong Union fan Sylvia Weisheit oversaw the project, and she tells her story to Kit Holden. This is a Whistledown production for the BBC World Service.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people wh