EPISODE · Jul 4, 2025 · 51 MIN
'W' stands for winner
from Not by the Playbook · host BBC World Service
Our guest this week prove 'W' stands for winners. We hear from Sir Bradley Wiggins, Lori Walton, Jim and Jeff Whitley and Sir Clyde Walcott.As the Tour de France begins we hear from Sir Bradley Wiggins, one of THE stars of the 2012 Olympics. Just a couple of weeks after becoming the first British rider to win the Tour de France, the home favourite won gold on the streets of London to claim his 5th Olympic title and 8th medal in total. Wiggins was a poster boy for cycling, with his popularity transcending the sport. The hip icon of Cool Britannia was knighted in 2013 as Great Britain basked in the glow of a successful London games. So news of his struggles since retirement came as a shock. As if it reminded us that he was after all human. Battles with the bottle caused him to lose his bearings, his business and his wife. What a relief then when Joel Hammer met him to see a fit, healthy and once again Lycra clad Wiggins.WALCOTT: Exactly 75 years ago Sir Clyde Walcott and his teammates won a Test Match on English soil for the very first time. It cemented the West Indies as a force in international cricket and sparked wild celebrations among the newly arrived West Indian immigrant community. Sir Clyde Walcott scored a century in the gameWHITELY: footballers Jim and Jeff Whitley both played in the Premier League for Manchester City. The Zambian born brothers played in midfield and whilst their football careers were interesting, it's what they did off the field that sets them apart. Jeff battled addiction to drinks and drugs that drove his career off the rails. He now works tirelessly helping other professionals to avoid the same mistakes as him. Older brother Jim path has been very different. When his playing days ended, he started a new career as a star of stage and screenWALTON: Bill Walton won two NBA titles before becoming one of the most recognisable faces on American television. To say he was a character is an understatement! He was cult hero. He also lent his voice a new World Service podcast. Sadly, Bill died before he could finish narrating the series. To mark the first anniversary of his death Joel Hammer has speaking to his wife Lori from their "hippy home" in Hawaii about how she marked a year since Bill's passing and why for Lori and the Walton family the podcast has become something very important.(PHOTO: Sir Bradley Wiggins in action on his way to setting a new UCI One Hour Record at Lee Valley Velopark Velodrome June 7, 2015 in London, England. CREDIT: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
What this episode covers
Our guest this week prove 'W' stands for winners. We hear from Sir Bradley Wiggins, Lori Walton, Jim and Jeff Whitley and Sir Clyde Walcott.As the Tour de France begins we hear from Sir Bradley Wiggins, one of THE stars of the 2012 Olympics. Just a couple of weeks after becoming the first British rider to win the Tour de France, the home favourite won gold on the streets of London to claim his 5th Olympic title and 8th medal in total. Wiggins was a poster boy for cycling, with his popularity transcending the sport. The hip icon of Cool Britannia was knighted in 2013 as Great Britain basked in the glow of a successful London games. So news of his struggles since retirement came as a shock. As if it reminded us that he was after all human. Battles with the bottle caused him to lose his bearings, his business and his wife. What a relief then when Joel Hammer met him to see a fit, healthy and once again Lycra clad Wiggins.WALCOTT: Exactly 75 years ago Sir Clyde Walcott and his teammates won a Test Match on English soil for the very first time. It cemented the West Indies as a force in international cricket and sparked wild celebrations among the newly arrived West Indian immigrant community. Sir Clyde Walcott scored a century in the gameWHITELY: footballers Jim and Jeff Whitley both played in the Premier League for Manchester City. The Zambian born brothers played in midfield and whilst their football careers were interesting, it's what they did off the field that sets them apart. Jeff battled addiction to drinks and drugs that drove his career off the rails. He now works tirelessly helping other professionals to avoid the same mistakes as him. Older brother Jim path has been very different. When his playing days ended, he started a new career as a star of stage and screenWALTON: Bill Walton won two NBA titles before becoming one of the most recognisable faces on American television. To say he was a character is an understatement! He was cult hero. He also lent his voice a new World Service podcast. Sadly, Bill died before he could finish narrating the series. To mark the first anniversary of his death Joel Hammer has speaking to his wife Lori from their "hippy home" in Hawaii about how she marked a year since Bill's passing and why for Lori and the Walton family the podcast has become something very important.(PHOTO: Sir Bradley Wiggins in action on his way to setting a new UCI One Hour Record at Lee Valley Velopark Velodrome June 7, 2015 in London, England. CREDIT: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
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'W' stands for winner
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