Podcasts
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Welcome to Game On: The Champions of the Streets, London Youth Games’ first ever podcast series. London Youth Games has been a springboard for many Londoners to go on and achieve their potential in life.
Throughout the season, we talk to professional athletes that started their careers wearing their boroughs on their backs at London Youth Games. We find out what took them from playing sport in London’s streets all the way to the world stage.
From hearing about the impact of London Youth Games on their childhood to the legacy they hope to leave, we hope these chats inspire and motivate all ages to get into sport or to keep playing – whatever that game may be!
EP-1
Javier and Joaquin Bello
Javier and Joaquin Bello, aka the Bello Brothers are the British No. 1 ranked team who recently won gold at the highest level of World Tour competition in Brazil.
In this episode, we cover:
- The Bello brothers’ transition from indoor volleyball to beach volleyball and its unique challenges
- Balancing their academic studies with their professional volleyball careers
Building their personal brand as “The Bello Brothers” - Advice for young people interested in the sport
- Their goals and plans for the future
EP-2
Christine Ohuruogu
Christine Ohuruogu MBE is a British former track and field athlete, 4 time Olympian and 2-time World champion.
In this episode, we cover:
- Her experience of competing in East London, near her childhood home, and winning Silver in front of a home crowd.
- How she overcame setbacks and difficult periods of her career and how she picked herself up each time.
- Her life after retiring as a world-class athlete, including her journey studying law, writing two books and her experience of receiving an MBE.
EP-3
Shanice Beckford-Norton
Shanice Beckford Norton is a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, EuroCup Women Champion ‘23-‘24 and mentor.
In this episode, we cover:
- Her experience competing in the Commonwealth Games, and overcoming challenges like stereotypes about her height.
- Her experiences in the London Youth Games, and her journey to becoming a professional athlete.
- Her basketball inspirations, aspirations for the future, and advice for young athletes.
EP-4
Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker
Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker shined at the Commonwealth Games with 100m victory in the T47 100m.
In this episode, we cover:
- How the London Youth Games helped him to develop his skills when he was younger and to gain experience of competitions.
- The incredible experience of representing Team England at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
- Advice he’d give to inspire and motivate younger athletes.
EP-5
Perri Shakes Drayton
Perri Shakes-Drayton is an Olympian and has four European and World Championship gold medals to her name for her achievements on the athletics track. She has also starred on Dancing on Ice.
In this episode, we cover:
- Her experience of competing in the London Marathon, raising money for charity.
- Her journey into a professional athletics career, after originally aspiring to be a computer engineer.
- How she balanced having an athletics career with her social life.
- Her experiences featuring on TV shows including Dancing on Ice.
EP-6
Geoff Thompson MBE
Geoff Thompson is a former five times World Karate Champion with four honorary degrees to his name.
In this episode we cover:
- His journey from winning five gold medals in karate to becoming a world champion.
- How he has dedicated his life to youth development through sport.
- His driving force for founding the Youth Charter charity and how he advocates for using sport as a tool for social change.
EP-7
Deborah Alowade
Deborah Alawode is a GB and Commonwealth Games weightlifting athlete and British record holder.
In this episode, we cover:
- How she fell in love with weightlifting and how she knew she wanted to take it seriously.
- How she deals with tough days, how she overcomes self-doubt and how she motivates herself to keep pushing forward.
- Her experience of getting the Commonwealth Games 2022 call up and what representing her nation meant to her.
