Rob Heffernan speaks after winning the 50k walk at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow. He is Ireland's third world outdoors champion after Eamonn Coghlan and Sonia O'Sullivan. Speaking to Will Downing.

World Athletics MOSCOW 2013 Day5 Rob Heffernan GOLD

Commentary on the closing stages of the men's 50k walk at Moscow 2013, won by Ireland's Rob Heffernan. Commentary from Will Downing.

MOSCOW2013 Men's 50k Walk Rob Heffernan Commentary

Fionnuala McCormack has finished seventh in the marathon at the European Championships in Munich.

The twice European Cross-Country champion was in the lead group all the way through until the final five kilometres - she led at various points of the race.

Fionnaula has told Will Downing she's happy - but could be even happier.

(Pic - Athletics Ireland)

Euro Champs 2022 - MON 15/8 Fionnuala McCormack

Fionnuala McCormack has finished seventh in the marathon at the European Championships in Munich.

The twice European Cross-Country champion was in the lead group all the way through until the final five kilometres - she led at various points of the race.

Ann-Marie McGlynn was 28th, with Aoife Cooke 34th, and both have different reasons to be satisfied with their displays in the high noon Munich heat.

(Pic - Athletics Ireland)

Euro Champs 2022 - MON 15/8 Aoife Cooke & Ann-Marie McHugh

Brendan Boyce has scored a creditable tenth place at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.

It continues his run of top-ten finishes at every Championships he has competed in, but Boyce feels he is capable of medals.

He's been speaking to Will Downing:

Euro Champs 2022 - TUE 16/8 Brendan Boyce

Rhasdiat Adeleke has got through to the women's 400m final at the European Athletics Championships in Munich, finishing third in her semi-final.

She's told Will Downing it's a lot about self-belief, after not originally planning to be at the Euros.

Euro Champs 2022 - TUE 16/8 Rhasidat Adeleke

Ireland has a new sporting hero - Israel Olatunde has broken the Irish 100m record in finishing sixth at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.

His time of 10.17 seconds is 0.01 faster than the mark from 2007 of Paul Hession.

Israel has been speaking to Will Downing.

(PIC: Athletics Weekly)

Euro Champs 2022 - TUES 16/8 Israel Olatunde 100m Irish Record

Ireland's two finalists in the men's 5000 metres have been enthusing about their European Championships experience in Munich.

Brian Fay of Raheny Shamrock came eighth, while European cross-country silver-medallist Darragh McElhinney of UCD and Glengarriff  was 16th.

Fay is keen to keep competing in front of huge crowds like the ones seen in Munich, as he's told Will Downing.

Euro Champs 2022 - TUES 16/8 Brian Fay

Ireland's two finalists in the men's 5000 metres have been enthusing about their European Championships experience in Munich.

Brian Fay of Raheny Shamrock came eighth, while European cross-country silver-medallist Darragh McElhinney of UCD and Glengarriff  was 16th.

Speaking to Will Downing, McElhinney says he can only prosper by competing against the biggest names.

Euro Champs 2022 - TUES 16/8 Darragh McElhinney

Rhasidat Adeleke has made more history for Ireland, taking fifth place in the 400m final at the European Championships in Munich, breaking her own Irish record in the process.

50.53 seconds is Adeleke's new milestone, taking 0.17 off her previous mark set in the Big 12 Championship in May.

She's been telling Will Downing about the significance of her display.

Euro Champs 2022 - WED 17/8 Rhasidat Adeleke

Ireland have taken gold in the mixed 4x400m relay at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.  Chris O'Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley were in contention all the way, and a final kick in the closing straight from Mawdsley earned Ireland only a fourth all-time European Championships gold. Sonia O'Sullivan won the previous three in 1994 and 1998.  All four have been speaking to Will Downing.

TASCAM DR-40

Euro Athletics 2024: Ireland Mixed 4x400m Relay GOLD

Nicola Tuthill is into the womens' hammer final at the European Athletics in Rome.

The UCD AC thrower from Kilbrittain near Bandon produced the second-longest effort of her life to do it - 69 metres 85 to make it into tomorrow's final.

She's been speaking to Will Downing:

Euro Athletics 2024: Nicola Tuthill, Hammer Qualifying

There's been a lifetime best for Kelly McGrory in the womens' 400 metres hurdles at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.

She clocked 57-point-10 seconds in her heat and was eliminated in 19th overall, but the Tir Chonaill AC athlete is still very satisfied.

Euro Athletics 2024: Kelly McGrory 400m hurdles

reland didn't have much success at the European Athletics Championships overnight, but one race did provide a double Irish connection.

Sweden's Perseus Karlstrom, coached in Cork by former world champion Rob Heffernan, won the men's 20k walk by fighting off Spain's Paul McGrath, whose grandparents are Irish.

Speaking to Will Downing, Karlstrom says Ireland can claim more than a small piece of his gold medal.

Euro Athletics 2024: Perseus Karlström 20k Walk GOLD

Ciara Mageean has achieved a lifetime's ambition of being crowned European 1500 metres champion in Rome.

The Portaferry athlete won a thrilling sprint finish to claim continental honours at the Stadio Olimpico.

It's Ireland's second gold of the week, and she's been telling Will Downing it has been a long time coming:

Euro Athletics 2024: Ciara Mageean 1500m GOLD

Thomas Barr has bowed out of the 400 metres hurdles at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.

That's after coming third in his semi-final.

He missed out on a spot in the final by four-hundreths of a second and felt more was possible today.

He's been speaking to Will Downing:

Euro Athletics 2024: Thomas Barr 400m Hurdles SF

Phil Healy is out of the women's 200 metres at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.

She came fifth in her heat and 15th overall with only the fastest twelve going through.

The Bandon athlete feels a qualifying place was well within her grasp:

Euro Athletics 2024: Phil Healy

It's silver for Rhasidat Adeleke in the European Athletics 400m in Rome.

A silver this time for Rhasidat Adeleke in the women’s 400m final, beaten in a long head-to-head sprint to the line with Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek, at one stage edging marginally in front, but when Kaczmarek got her nose in front she kept it there. A world lead and Polish record of 48.98, 49.07 Adeleke’s new Irish record and Euro U23 lead, she’s now seventh fastest European of all time. Adelek breaking her Irish record set a year ago to the day, the Polish record had been set at the 1976 Olympics.

Adeleke has been speaking to Will Downing:

Euro Athletics 2024: Rhasidat Adeleke 400m SILVER

Nicola Tuthill has finished ninth in the women's hammer final at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.

The 20-year-old was the youngest in the field, and has been speaking to Will Dinwing

Euro Athletics 2024: Nicola Tuthill

There's potential of another medal for Ireland at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.
The Irish womens' 4-by-400 relay team have recorded the fastest time in qualifying for the final, winning their semi.
Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Lauren Cadden and Sharlene Mawdsley producing the goods, Mawdsley with a brilliant surge in the closing straight to send Ireland up from fourth to victory.
All four have been speaking to Will Downing:

Euro Athletics 2024: Ireland Women's 4x400m Semi-Final

Bori Akinola, Mark Smyth, Colin Doyle and Israel Olatunde on their European Athletics Championship campaign in Rome, speaking to Will Downing.

Euro Athletics 2024: Ireland Men's 4x100 Relay

Jack Raftery, Chris O'Donnell, 17-year-old Sean Doggett and Callum Baird on finishing 5th and being in the hot seat temporarily in the men's 4x400m relay semi-final at the European Athletics Championships in Rome, speaking to Will Downing.

Euro Athletics 2024: Ireland Men's 4x400m Relay

It's a historic fourth medal for Ireland at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome - beating the previous record from 1998.  Sophie Becker, Rhasidat Adeleke, Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley speak to Will Downing - but not necessarily in that order.

Euro Athletics 2024:  Ireland Women's 4x400m SILVER

It's been a week of history for Ireland at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.

Ireland came away with a record haul of four medals - two gold and two silver.

Looking back on the week of glory, and speaking to all the athletes involved, here's Will Downing:

Euro Athletics 2024 - The Week's Wrap

Boxing legend George Foreman has died at the age of 76.

Olympic champion in Mexico in 1968, he defeated Joe Frazier to become world heavyweight champion in 1973, losing his crown to Muhammad Ali in the legendary "Rumble in the Jungle" the following year.

A comeback in the 1990s saw him crowned WBA and IBF world heavyweight champion at the age of 45, before becoming a world famous name all over again thanks to the Foreman grills.

On a visit to Ireland, George Foreman spoke to Will Downing about his long and colourful career.

George Foreman

Football news and opinions during the sport's shutdown with commentators Mark Rodden, Will Downing, Stephane Jauny and Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай).

In this edition - 
- Eredivisie cancelled with no champion
- French football wants to resume with both Cup Finals
- Newcastle United's Saudi takeover bid
- England boss Phil Neville to leave before women's Euros
- Football books for an overseas audience

Lockdown Football 4: Newcastle's Saudi takeover, Dutch season ends, Neville's had his Phil

Korea's K League becomes the largest league to return since the coronavirus shutdown, and Paul Williams of The Asian Game joins the usual crew after the opening game got five million worldwide viewers on Twitter and YouTube.

Also this week
- Premier League invited to play in Australia
- Bundesliga to resume next weekend
- Belgium on the brink of shutting down
- Derby County's Ireland U21 international Jason Knight
- Ireland's Italia 90 draws with Egypt and the Netherlands 

With Will Downing, Mark Rodden, Stephane Jauny, Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай)

Lockdown Football 8: Korea choice, ON-desliga, G'day Premier League, Italia90: Ireland v Egypt&Dutch

Which commentators have you enjoyed listening to down through the years?

Football commentators Will Downing, Mark Rodden, Stephane Jauny and Dmytro Dzhulai discuss their choices, including Jimmy Magee, Barry Davies and John Motson (none of whom are guests)

Plus a look at the epic 1982 World Cup semi-final between France and West Germany - the Night of Seville.

Lockdown Football 10: Classic commentators, The Man They Call The Monster, France-WGermany WC82

Lisa Fallon reacts after being named the new manager of London City Lionesses.... Ireland international Claire O'Riordan is hoping to keep MSV Duisburg up in the Frauen Bundesliga, while fellow ex-Wexford clubmate Eric Molloy is looking for promotion in Poland with Stomil Olsztyn.... And we hear from Søren Højlund Carlsen about how AGF Aarhus brought thousands of virtual fans into their empty stadium as football resumes in Denmark.

With Will Downing, Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай), Mark Rodden and Stephane Jauny.

The full 45-minute interview with Eric Molloy will run next week.

Lockdown Football 15: The new Manageress, Lisa Fallon, Eric Molloy, Claire O'Riordan, Aarhus' Zoom

With the Portuguese Primeira about to resume with a tight title race, Lisbon-based Tom Kundert of PortuGOAL.net joins us to look forward to the concluding rounds, and why Portuguese sides have slipped in Europe recently.

And Dmytro Dzhulai (reluctantly) recalls Shakhtar Donetsk's weekend win over Dynamo Kyiv to go 16 points clear in Ukraine, their ninth title in 11 seasons within grasp.

With Will Downing, Mark Rodden, Stephane Jauny and Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай).

Lockdown Football 16: Portu-Goals, Liverpool take a knee, Neymar's cousin, Shakhtar trump Dynamo

This week, Eric Molloy and Markus Poom on their footballing adventures in Poland and Estonia, as Stomil Olsztyn push for promotion to Poland's Ekstraklasa and Flora Tallinn look to retain their title in a top-flight where half the teams are from the capital.

Eric Molloy grew up in Carlow, and after spells at home with FC Carlow, Arklow Town and Wexford FC, won the OFC Champions League and played in the FIFA Club World Cup with Team Wellington, before this season's move to Poland.

Born in Derby, Markus Poom followed his legendary goalkeeping father Mart Poom while playing at the Rams, Sunderland, Watford and Arsenal. Now 21, the next gen Poom has already won the Estonian League crown twice with Flora, and is a full international.

Both speak about how the coronavirus crisis has upset their season.

With Will Downing, Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай), Mark Rodden and Stephane Jauny.

Lockdown Football 17: Eric Molloy's Ekstra Polish push; Markus Poom: From Derby to Tallinn derbies

Portuguese Liga commentator Con Murphy joins the crew at the end of the first week back in the Primeira, ponders the future of Irish clubs in the League of Ireland including his beloved Shamrock Rovers, and recalls the dynamic 90s radio football coverage of Century Radio and Capital Gold, with a look at Poland's Ekstraklasa too.

With Will Downing, Mark Rodden, Stephane Jauny and Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай).

Lockdown Football 18: Not "the Greatest League in the World Podcast", with Con Murphy

Conor McGregor is the subject of a new biography just released in France.

"Conor McGregor: Obsessions" is written by Irish-based French journalist Charles Thiallier, who has previously reported on McGregor for L'Equipe.

On the eve of the announcement of McGregor's third retirement, Thallier has been speaking to Will Downing about how the project came about, the many interviews performed for the book, and what picture emerges of the man himself.

Lockdown Extra: Conor McGregor's French biography

As the Turkish SuperLig comes to British and Irish television for the first time in the throes of a thrilling four-way title race, Emre Sarigul of Turkish-Football.com joins us to run the rule over this season's Championship contenders.

And with Bayern Munich claiming their eighth Bundesliga title in a row, how healthy is that for German football?

With Will Downing, Mark Rodden, Stephane Jauny and Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай)

Lockdown Football 21: Turkey's exciting title race, Bayern's title trot

The Premier League's back like it's never been away.  Controversy! Intrigue! David Luiz! Roy Keane being angry!

Will Downing and Stephane Jauny cast their Hawkeye on the opening weekend of the Premier League's big comeback.

Lockdown Football 22: (Hawk)Eye on the Premier League

On June 25th 1982, Northern Ireland scored their famous victory over Spain at the World Cup in Valencia.

38 years on, Gerry Armstrong reflects on the famous night on the Med, Northern Ireland's run to the second phase, his playing days at the top of the First Division with Watford and in Spain with Real Mallorca, plus the La Liga greats he commentated on with Sky Sports.

With Will Downing, Mark Rodden and Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай)

Lockdown Football 23: Gerry Armstrong - The Man with the Goalscoring Touch

European football news, interviews, retro and whimsy from football commentators Will Downing, Mark Rodden, Stephane Jauny and Dmytro Dzhulai, plus regular guests looking at the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, La Liga, Serie A, Belgian Pro League, Eredivisie, League of Ireland, women's football, the world game... and even the Premier League.

Added countries covered so far have been Korea's K League, Estonia, Denmark and the Faroes.  Come on in, you might enjoy it...

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