Ignite: A European Athletics Series

He's one of the stars of Great Britain's sprint team, but Zharnel Hughes knows the challenges that face any elite athlete. From the pain of Amsterdam 2016 when injury impacted his competitive spirit, to bouncing back to be crowned Euroepan champion for the 100 metres in Berlin 2018, Hughes is a man full of character and endeavour. His success has been defined by effort and application, utilising a friendship with sprint legend Usain Bolt to drive him to glory. And he he has manifested it all, so what is he conjuring up for the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships? This is Zharnel's story. In his words. – – - Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes Produced by: Garry Hayes Series mix: Teyler Hayes Our series music is released under license For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/

For every elite athlete, there's one rival they must all overcome: their own self-doubt. And Dutch 400-metre sensastion Femke Bol is no different, despite her dominance on the track. Bol has broken world records and stunned those competing against her, but to do it all she needed to defeat those inner thoughts that made her question if she had the ability to do it at all. How does one do that? Where does the courage come from? And how to keep overcoming it to remain at the top of your sport? This is Femke's story. In her words. – – - Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes Produced by: Garry Hayes Series mix: Teyler Hayes Our series music is released under license For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/

When Keely Hodgkinson steps onto the track inside Rome’s Olympic Stadium this summer, she’ll be carrying the weight and expectation of a nation on her shoulders.  The reigning 800 metre European champion is fully aware that she enters the arena with all eyes on her, but remains unfazed by what lies ahead. But how did she get here? What are the challenges she faced? And who inspired the British athlete to lace up her running spikes once more after she gave up on athletics in her formative years? This is Keely's story. In her words. Ignite is a HWY61 production for European Athletics Written by: Peter Sanderson and Garry Hayes Produced by: Garry Hayes Series mix: Teyler Hayes Our series music is released under license For tickets to the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, visit https://roma2024.vivaticket.it/

Known as a master tactician of middle distance running, Jake Wightman is a man who comes steeped in athletics tradition and culture. He's watched the Olympics from afar, even been a fan in the stadium... and now he's in Tokyo to finally get his shot at Olympic gold. This is his story, told in his words.

From the small Caribbean island of Curacao to the Olympic Games, Liemarvin Bonevacia's story is one that shows every underdog can have their day. Liemarvin was a late adopter of track and field, training on the single athletics in Curacao before earning a scholarship to move overseas and start building his career. The Olympics was Liemarvin's dream. He's worked hard, sacrificed and dedicated himself to achieving it... and now he's living it! This is his story, told in his words.

Belgium's Nafi Thiam was just 21 years old when she took Olympic gold in the heptathlon in 2016. She's since gone on to become world and European champion, dominating her sport. To the concern of her rivals, Thiam says she's only now entering her peak. So can she go all the way at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games? Can she becoem the first heptathlete to defend her Olympic crown since 1992? From competing to win pots of jam to gold medals, this is her story, told in her words.

From his first race around his local town hall in jeans and an over-sized t-shirt, Karsten Warholm has come a long way to breaking the 400m hurdles world record. From the tracks of Norway to the Land of the Rising Sun in Tokyo, Japan for the 2020 Olympic Games, can he make another mark on history? This is his story, told in his words.

How do you shut out the voices of 60,000 athletics fans when you are chasing a gold medal? Malaika Mihambo has the answer... she meditates! It's the process that has helped deliver the talented German a European and world crown in long jump. And now she's chasing Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020. With the whole world watching, can she succeed on the biggest stage? This is her story, told in her words.

At just 17 Jakob Ingebrigtsen was a European champion, taking gold at the Berlin 2018 European Championships. The Norwegian sensation has gone on to be a leading figure in middle distance running ever since and now, along with brothers Filip and Henrik, is chasing glory at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. How did this youngster discover his talent at a such young age? Is it Norwegian nature or nuture that has delivered him to the very top? This is his story, told in his words.

No woman in the history of the Olympic Games has ever completed a gold treble in the discus throw.  Evelyn Jahl first came closest in 1976 and 1980, but her back to back victories went unmatched for 36 years... until Sandra Perkovic won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, adding to her gold from London 2012. Now the woman they call the "Discus Queen" is ready to beat Jahl's record and take her third consecutive gold in Tokyo 2020. A date with history awaits the great Sandra Perkovic. This is her story, told in her words.

How does a 19-year-old take over his sport in one evening of pole vaulting in Berlin? For Sweden's Mondo Duplantis, it was a 14-year journey that made him into an overnight success as he took gold at the 2018 European Championships. He hasn't looked back since, smashing world records and dominating the pole vault. Now the Swede from Lafayette, Louisiana has his eyes set on another world record and gold at Tokyo 2020. This is his story, told in his words.

The Olympic Games are where dreams come true... legends are born... history made. Sports journalist Peter Sanderson has spent years tracking Europe's brightest track and field athletes up close and personal as they matured to reach Tokyo 2020. Now the delayed Olympics are upon us, we finally get to hear their personal stories on the road to glory, featuring Mondo Duplantis, Sandra Perkovic, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Nafi Thiam, Malaika Mihambo and many more. Track + Field is the narrative podcast that tells the full and authentic story of the road to success in athletics. This is a HWY61 production for European Athletics