The New Zealander Jonah Lomu was the first superstar of international rugby. A virtually unstoppable combination of strength and speed, he burst on the scene in 1995 with a four-try demolition of England at the Rugby World Cup. But although he seemed invincible, Lomu was already sick with the kidney disease that led to his early death at the age of 40. The BBC's Rob Bonnet spoke to Lomu in 2004.



(Photo: Jonah Lomu steams past the England defence in 1995. Credit: Getty Images) Published on November 21, 2015.

Jonah Lomu

In the 1980s, the American boxer, Gail Grandchamp, launched a long campaign for the right to take part in amateur competitions in the USA. Representing herself and raising money through part-time jobs, Gail was eventually successful in 1992  - blaising a trail for women boxers the world over. She talks to Rebecca Kesby.



PHOTO CREDIT: Gail Grandchamp in 2007 (The Berkshire Eagle) Published on March 5, 2016.

Women's Boxing

In 1976, the 14-year old Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, achieved the first "Perfect 10" at the Olympic Games. Nadia scored six more 10s in Montreal and became an international celebrity. In 2011, she spoke to Madeleine Morris.



PHOTO: Nadia Comaneci at the 1976 Olympics (Getty Images) Published on August 6, 2016.

Nadia Comaneci

The Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell, is famous for refusing to run on a Sunday in the Paris Olympics of 1924. But, as depicted in the film Chariots of Fire, he went on to win Gold in a different event - the 400 metres. After the Olympics, Eric Liddell became a Christian missionary in China, where he died in an internment camp during World War Two.



Simon Watts tells the extraordinary story of Eric Liddell's life using archive material and an interview with Steve Metcalf, a survivor from the camp. The programme was first broadcast in 2011.



(Photo: Eric Liddell. Credit: Getty Images) Published on August 20, 2016.

Eric Liddell

In 1972, war veteran Murlikant Petkar won India's first ever Paralympic gold medal at the Heidelberg Games. Petkar had been shot and paralysed seven years earlier in a battle during the war with Pakistan, but then took up sprint swimming.  He talks to Adrian Moorhead. The programme is a Sparklab Production for BBC World Service.



(Photo: Murlikant Petkar with his medals) Published on September 10, 2016.

India's First Paralympic Hero

In the Roaring Twenties, women's swimming was a glamorous sport and the best athletes were household names around the world. In 1928, three British swimmers - Joyce Cooper, Jean McDowell and Cissie Stewart - took the Amsterdam Olympics by storm. They shared their memories with the oral historian, Anita Tedder. The programme is a Whistledown Production. It was first broadcast in 2011.



Photo: The British women's team in Holland. Published on September 24, 2016.

Lady Swimmers of the 1920s

In October 1968, two American sprinters, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, staged one of the most iconic protests in sport at the Mexico City Olympics. The two athletes raised their gloved fists in the air at the medal ceremony for the 200 metres as a way of protesting against racism. Simon Watts reports.



PHOTO: Tommie Smith, centre, and John Carlos, right, on the Olympic podium (AFP) Published on October 15, 2016.

The Black Power Salute

At the 1956 Olympics, political tension between Hungary and the Soviet Union boiled over during the water polo semi-final.

The confrontation became known as the 'Blood in the Water' match. In 2011, Witness spoke to the late Ervin Zador, the star player on the Hungarian side. 



(Photo: Ervin Zador. Credit: AFP/Getty Images) Published on October 22, 2016.

Blood in the Water

In November 1986, aged just 20, Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight boxing champion of all time. Tyson came from a troubled upbringing in New York and only found a direction in life when he met the legendary trainer, Cus D'Amato. But, after D'Amato's death, Tyson's career was marred by a rape conviction and an ongoing battle with drink and drugs. He talks to the BBC Boxing Correspondent, Mike Costello.



PHOTO: Mike Tyson on the way to his first world heavyweight title (Getty Images) Published on November 19, 2016.

Mike Tyson

In 1996, England won the inaugural Home Nations championship in women's rugby. It was a major victory in the English players' fight for official recognition for their sport. Robert Nicholson talks to Gill Burns and Nicky Ponsford about how the women's game overcame entrenched sexism and official indifference. The programme is a Whistledown Production.



PHOTO: The England women's team in action in the 1990s (Getty Images) Published on November 26, 2016.

Women's Rugby Pioneers

At the 1956 Olympics, the Czechoslovak discus thrower, Olga Fikotova, caused a scandal by falling in love with an American hammer thrower called Harold Connolly. Despite winning her country's only gold medal, Olga was treated as a potential traitor by the communist government and her achievements were ignored. A few months later, Harold Connolly visited Prague to marry Olga and take her back to America with him. Olga Fikotova tells her story to Claire Bowes.



PHOTO: Harold Connolly and Olga Fikotova on their honeymoon in 1957 (Associated Press) Published on December 17, 2016.

Love at the Cold War Olympics

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