'I wish I could give her a hug and tell her she’s going to be OK' – Mallory Weggemann on her younger self episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 3, 2021 · 48 MIN

'I wish I could give her a hug and tell her she’s going to be OK' – Mallory Weggemann on her younger self

from Not by the Playbook · host BBC World Service

US Paralympic Gold medal winning swimmer Mallory Weggemann joins us to discuss her hopes of competing in Tokyo and reflects on her turbulent journey in the sport following the release of her autobiography. Weggemann – who was 18 at the time - was left paralysed in 2008 after receiving an epidural injection to treat back pain. She went on to win gold at London 2012, before a serious arm injury in 2014 left her contemplating her future in the sport. Weggemann competed in Rio in 2016, but missed out on the podium. She’s since walked down the aisle on her wedding day and is targeting another gold medal in Tokyo. Just over a week on from becoming a two-time Olympian and new dad at the age of 39 Great Britain marathon runner, Chris Thompson, joins us to reflect on clinching his place in Japan, balancing fatherhood with training and the prospect of competing in the Olympic Marathon as a 40-year-old. This week marked World Autism Awareness Day and we hear how the Philadelphia Eagles have been doing their bit to help by hosting a coronavirus vaccination centre for people on the spectrum. Ryan Hammond from the Eagles Autism Foundation explains what went into hosting the event and how difficult the pandemic has been for people with autism. Paris Saint Germain and Denmark forward Nadia Nadim tells us about the research she is conducting on the impact of urinary incontinence on female athletes. Nadim is currently studying to become a reconstructive surgeon and says she has been shocked by how many footballers are affected by the condition. She also says attitudes need to change around players being on their menstrual cycles. We look ahead to the University Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford, with Siobhan Cassidy, who was part of Cambridge women's winning crew back in 1995 and is now a director for the Boat Race Company. She explains why the race has been moved from its traditional route and the importance of it going ahead after last year’s cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic. In Sporting Witness, we tell the incredible story of how two of Ghana’s top sprinting talents defected during the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. The Maori family who helped them forge a new life in New Zealand remember the story for us. Photo: Mallory Weggemann of USA competes in the women's 100m Breaststroke - SB7 at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. (Credit: Getty Images)

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'I wish I could give her a hug and tell her she’s going to be OK' – Mallory Weggemann on her younger self

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