8. Be More Athlete

Are you more of a rhino or a kitten? More like a tortoise or a hare? Listener Ivy wants to know what makes a good athlete and so Hannah and Dara tackle the science of sport.

Our curious duo get to grips with the rigours of training tailored for endurance events vs those based on more explosive bursts of activity. They consider the contribution of genetics, fast vs slow twitch muscle fibres, the unique advantage of Michael Phelps's body proportions and whether butterfly really is the most ridiculous stroke in swimming.

And after a rigorous scientific analysis, Dara turns out to be ideally suited for…netball. Much to his surprise.

Contributors
Dr Polly McGuigan: University of Bath
Dr Mitch Lomax: University of Portsmouth
Professor Alun Williams: Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Josephine Perry: Sports psychologist

Producer: Ilan Goodman
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
A BBC Studios Audio Production