Top 2 Inches of Sport

Episode 23 -Kate Veale

This week I spoke to Irish racewalker, Kate Veale.

Kate is a former world youth champion and looked on course for a career that promised so much, with Olympic medals looking like being a genuine possibility. However, things started to go wrong for Kate very suddenly and she ended up completely walking away from the sport she loved, experiencing some really low moments along the way which she speaks about very honestly in this episode.

Kate addressed the issues she was experiencing and has made a very successful return to elite level racewalking and is now in the process of hopefully qualifying for the next Olympic Games.

Kate talks very openly about the mental side of elite sport and discusses how she has overcome the challenges she has faced.

Episode 22 - Joe Duffy

For this week's episode I spoke to former UFC fighter, Joe Duffy.

Joe was a very successful mixed martial artist and competed against some of the best MMA fighters in the world, as well as also going 7-0 as a professional boxer.

Joe talks about his career and the mentality he needed to compete and be successful in such a tough, dangerous sport.

Enjoy.

Episode 21 - Billy Vunipola

This week I spoke to England and Lions rugby player, Billy Vunipola.

Billy is currently one of the best players in world rugby and has experienced huge success with his club Saracens and at international level with England.

In this episode Billy discusses the mental side of elite level rugby and he talks about how he has coped with the highs and lows along the way.

Enjoy.

Episode 20 - Davy Russell

In this episode I spoke to champion jockey, Davy Russell.

Davy has won the Grand National twice, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand-Steeple Chase de Paris as well as much more throughout an incredible career.

In this episode he discusses the mentality needed to be an elite level jockey.

Enjoy.

Episode 19 - Maik Taylor

This week I spoke to former Premier League goalkeeper Maik Taylor.

Maik played for years in the Premier League for clubs like Southampton, Fulham and Birmingham City and he also won 88 caps for the Northern Ireland national team.

In this episode he talks all about the mentality you need to play at the top level in arguably football’s most specialised and mentally demanding position. I enjoyed this one because I was keen to get a top international goalkeeper on the podcast for awhile because it’s a position that requires so much focus, mental strength to deal with high pressure moments and an ability to quickly bounce back from costly errors within games. Maik discusses all of these things plus much more in this episode.

Enjoy.

Episode 18 - Keith Fahey

This week I spoke to former professional footballer, Keith Fahey.

Keith had a very successful football career in the League of Ireland, the English Premier League with Birmingham City and won 16 caps with the Republic of Ireland national team.

In this episode Keith talks very openly and honestly about his life in football and discusses the mental side of elite football.

Enjoy.

Episode 17 - Ian McKinley

This week I spoke to Irish born, Italian international rugby player Ian McKinley.

Ian came up through the ranks at Leinster before a freak accident left him with an injury to his left eye meaning he had to retire from the sport at only 21 years of age.

After 3 years out, he made a return to rugby in Italy and became the first athlete to use custom manufactured protective eyewear on the pitch. He became an Italian international and represented Italy on 9 occasions.

In this episode Ian talks about his career and how he bounced back from losing the sight in his left eye to become an international rugby player.

Enjoy.

Episode 16 -Rob Jones

This week I spoke to former U.S marine and Paralympic athlete Rob Jones.

Rob was wounded in battle in Afghanistan in 2010 when an explosion resulted in him losing both of his legs above the knees. Since that incident he has gone on to win a bronze medal at the London 2012 Paralympics in a rowing event and has also completed extreme endurance challenges such as a 5,200 mile cycle across America and a month of marathons, which saw Rob complete 31 marathons in 31 day.

In this episode Rob tells his incredible story of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity.

Episode 15 - Peter Fury

This week I spoke to professional boxing trainer, Peter Fury.

Peter has trained many great fighters throughout the years including his son Hughie who is a top heavyweight prospect, current world champion Savannah Marshall and he also famously trained his nephew Tyson Fury when Tyson shocked the World in 2015 by defeating Wladimir Klitschko to become world heavyweight champion.

Peter talks about the mental side of boxing and discusses what he thinks is required to become an elite level fighter.

Enjoy.

Episode 14 - Phil Healy

For this week's episode I spoke to Ireland's fastest woman, Phil Healy.

Phil holds the national record in the 100m and 200m events and has also qualified for the Olympic Games next summer.

In this episode she discusses sport psychology and how she ensures she can compete at her very best against the top athletes in the world.

Enjoy.