Turning obstacles into opportunity episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 6, 2026 · 40 MIN

Turning obstacles into opportunity

from Not by the Playbook · host BBC World Service

When Steve Bate received a life-changing diagnosis he knew there wasn’t much he could do about his condition, but he had total control over what happened next. Making every moment count and taking on his biggest challenges, Bate has gone on to solo climb El Capitan and became a multi-medal Paralympian cyclist for Team GB.Ramiro Mora Romero, a weightlifter who represented the Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024, shares his journey of displacement, determination, and hope on the sport’s biggest stage. Overcoming a lack of access to training facilities and uncertainty over his future to become a champion.Blind colour commentator and broadcaster Allan Wylie shows how a perceived barrier can become a strength; using knowledge, awareness and passion to provide in-depth insight for the sports he loves. Allan's story proves that commentary is less about seeing the game, and more about feeling it.Stories that reveal that mindset, courage and community can turn life’s toughest obstacles into triumphs.(Photo: Ramiro Mora Romero of the Refugee Olympic Team reacts during the Weightlifting Men's 102kg Final at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Credit: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 6, 2026

When Steve Bate received a life-changing diagnosis he knew there wasn’t much he could do about his condition, but he had total control over what happened next. Making every moment count and taking on his biggest challenges, Bate has gone on to solo climb El Capitan and became a multi-medal Paralympian cyclist for Team GB.Ramiro Mora Romero, a weightlifter who represented the Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024, shares his journey of displacement, determination, and hope on the sport’s biggest stage. Overcoming a lack of access to training facilities and uncertainty over his future to become a champion.Blind colour commentator and broadcaster Allan Wylie shows how a perceived barrier can become a strength; using knowledge, awareness and passion to provide in-depth insight for the sports he loves. Allan's story proves that commentary is less about seeing the game, and more about feeling it.Stories that reveal that mindset, courage and community can turn life’s toughest obstacles into triumphs.(Photo: Ramiro Mora Romero of the Refugee Olympic Team reacts during the Weightlifting Men's 102kg Final at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Credit: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

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Turning obstacles into opportunity

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When Steve Bate received a life-changing diagnosis he knew there wasn’t much he could do about his condition, but he had total control over what happened next. Making every moment count and taking on his biggest challenges, Bate has gone on to solo...

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