MainAthlet International – The Track & Field Podcast

What does it take to build a career that peaks at 8.21 metres, lands you in an Olympic final alongside Carl Lewis — and then, two decades later, leads to Masters world records? In this episode of the MainAthlet Podcast, host Boyke sits down with Swedish long jump legend Mattias Sunneborn for a wide-ranging, candid conversation about elite athletics, the realities of ageing as a high-performance athlete, and the mental frameworks that have driven him from a small island in the Baltic Sea all the way to the Olympic final in Atlanta.Mattias grew up on the island of Gotland in Sweden — a place with no indoor track, limited resources, and tough winters. At fifteen, he made a defining choice: football or athletics. He chose the track. That decision led him to a boarding school in Bäckebo with an indoor arena, a great coach, and lifelong training partners — though the journey began under deeply painful circumstances, with his father passing away just one week before he moved.In this episode, Mattias opens up about the moments that defined his elite career: his first jump over eight metres, the 1995 World Indoor silver medal, the 1996 European Indoor Championship gold won at home in Stockholm — he admits he cried — and the 8.21m jump in Malmö where he beat world record holder Mike Powell. Then, just weeks later, standing in the Olympic final in Atlanta alongside Carl Lewis, Ivan Pedroso, and James Beckford — seven of the ten best long jumpers in history.But the conversation doesn't stop at the glory years. Mattias shares the full arc of a life in athletics: how he transitioned into Masters competition at thirty-five, why competing in multiple events (decathlon, 400m hurdles, triple jump) keeps him motivated, and how he coaches a group of over forty Masters athletes together with his training partner Peter Wallin. Their Sunday Zoom sessions cover training loads, sleep, nutrition, and mental strategies — everything it takes to keep performing at the highest level, regardless of age.You'll also hear about the importance of rest and VO2 max for older athletes, the value of low-volume, high-intensity training (maximum five reps in the weight room), and Mattias's genuine enthusiasm for neuro-athletic training methods — using visual tools to activate muscles that most athletes don't even know they have.Whether you're an elite track and field athlete, a Masters competitor, a coach, or simply someone who believes that sport is a lifelong journey — this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and inspiration. Mattias Sunneborn proves that the drive to compete, to improve, and to find meaning through athletics doesn't have an expiry date.The podcast cover was produced by Tim Peters in collaboration with Cortexfilm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What keeps people in track & field for a lifetime — not just for a season?In this episode of the MainAthlet International – Masters Special, host Boyke sits down with Margit Jungmann, President of World Masters Athletics (WMA), for an inside look at what makes Masters Track & Field so unique — and why it’s growing into a truly global movement. Margit shares her own journey from sprinter and heptathlete to international leader, and explains why she never stopped training even when she stepped away from competing. For her, the shift was simple: training became about health, consistency, and community, while her competitive energy moved into building structures that help thousands of Masters athletes thrive.You’ll hear how Margit approached her early years as German team manager with one big mission: turning a collection of individuals into a real team — because representing your club, region, or country changes everything. She also explains the hidden leadership work behind Masters championships: creating clear guidelines, improving consistency from event to event, and balancing decisions that may be inconvenient for one athlete but necessary for the good of the entire field.A major highlight: Margit breaks down the biggest global challenges for Masters athletics — especially travel distances, accessibility, and equal opportunity across continents. What’s “close” in Europe can be a multi-stop journey elsewhere, and that reality affects participation more than most people realize. She also opens up about one of the toughest strategic topics inside WMA: finding host cities and bidders for World Championships in a changing financial landscape — and why Masters events create serious economic impact for host regions through tourism, families, and extended travel.Finally, Margit gets personal: her best experiences aren’t medals or titles — they’re friendships, trust, and the volunteer spirit that keeps Masters athletics running worldwide. The conversation ends with her three wishes for the sport… and for the world.Keywords: Masters athletics, Masters track and field, World Masters Athletics (WMA), veteran athletics, track & field community, team management, championship hosting, global sport, athletics leadership, lifelong training, healthy aging, competitive sport after 35/40/50.The podcast cover was produced by Tim Peters in collaboration with Cortexfilm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this exciting podcast episode, we welcome Alexis Holmes, the inspiring American professional athlete who transformed from a talented college runner into an Olympic gold medalist within just two years. Alexis shares her incredible journey, offering exclusive insights into her successful transition from collegiate athletics to the professional stage.The episode provides a deep dive into the specific challenges and changes Alexis faced, including significant adjustments in training routines, dietary practices, and mindset. Particularly noteworthy is her remarkable transformation in body composition, resulting in a 30-pound weight loss to compete effectively at the professional level. Alexis discusses her nutritional strategy, highlighting her controlled calorie deficit and high-protein diet.Regarding her training, Alexis reveals her preferred workouts, such as tempo 200s and race-model training, as well as her strategies for injury prevention and optimal recovery. Her mental routines and stress management techniques, especially during major events like the 2024 Olympics and the 2023 World Championships, offer valuable insights for athletes of all levels.Additionally, Alexis shares personal advice, emphasizing the crucial lesson of trusting herself and ignoring external doubts. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in understanding how elite athletes train, nourish, and mentally prepare themselves for peak performance.The podcast cover was produced by Tim Peters in collaboration with Cortexfilm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exclusive: Justin Gatlin on Mindset, Speed & the 2017 London FinalWhat does it take to deliver the race of your life when a stadium is against you? In this in-depth conversation, Olympic champion and World 100m gold medalist Justin Gatlin opens up about the 2017 World Championships final in London, how he handled the “mental warfare” of deafening boos, and why believing in the plan—and in yourself—is non-negotiable at the highest level.We dive into mindset, habits, and the training details that kept Justin elite for two decades. You’ll hear how he rebuilt his approach to target the last 20 meters—switching from a start-dominant pattern to top-end speed work (think 120s, overspeed, patience under fatigue) that ultimately flipped the script. Justin shares the cues and structure behind his acceleration and max-velocity phases, why “discipline lies in the mind”, and the small rules he followed (no bending over between reps, nasal breathing, staying tall) to stack winning days.On the strength & power side, Justin breaks down the weight room: sled pulls, progressive overload, heavy squats, bench PR cycles—and how he used them to dominate the first 50–60m. He highlights the triple-extension chain (calves–quads–glutes), explains why quads matter so much for early acceleration, and makes a case most athletes overlook: the shoulder caps and arm cadence are your real “motor” for sprint speed. For common technical issues (e.g., ankle stiffness, early knee extension), he offers practical fixes—from barefoot grass work to single-leg cable patterns—plus the cadence and posture themes that keep mechanics clean.We also zoom out to the bigger picture: Justin shares fresh anecdotes—from a planned Spartan Race with Asafa Powell to how rivalries and friendships shape the athlete journey—and reflects on career highs (Athens 2004) and hard lessons (Beijing 2015).Who it’s for: sprinters, coaches, speed enthusiasts, and any athlete who wants actionable insights on sprint training, acceleration, top-end speed, strength & conditioning, recovery habits, and competitive mindset.The podcast cover was produced by Tim Peters in collaboration with Cortexfilm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From HSI’s legendary sprint group to the Netflix docuseries Sprint, Ato Boldon has seen—and shaped—the sport’s evolution from every angle: Olympic medalist, world champion, and one of track & field’s most influential voices. In this episode, Ato opens up about the training culture that forged champions under coach John Smith, the “iron sharpens iron” reality of daily practice at UCLA, and why starting “late” at 16 may have saved his body and extended his prime.We go deep on the workouts that built his 100/200m speed: high-quality 150s (5×150m with walk-back recovery, chasing 15-low) and the love-hate 300s (and why he still runs them). Ato breaks down the mental game, too—how to stay focused under Olympic-final pressure, why he wishes he’d “enjoyed the journey” more, and the exact conversation that pulled him through his toughest championship (Sydney 2000).Ato also takes us behind the scenes of Sprint (Season 2), where he’s become “almost the voice of the series,” and explains why Paris 2024 felt like a historic high point for the sport. We unpack the sprint landscape ahead: why he’s betting on Julien Alfred to dominate the women’s 100m over the next cycle, what Sha’Carri Richardson must fix in her start, why Noah Lyles remains the man to beat in championship 100s, and how Letsile Tebogo and Kishane Thompson change the equation in the 200m and 100m respectively.Technology matters, but context matters more. Boldon gives a measured take on super-shoes, records, and progress (“every era has its edge”), and shares what truly builds sustainable success: talent ID, the right coach, a real training group, and support systems that let athletes focus on work—not survival. You’ll hear the story that first pulled Ato from soccer to the track (“do you want a sport where you control the outcome?”), plus a Porsche-on-the-Autobahn anecdote from his 19.77 PB in Stuttgart that will make any sprint nerd smile.Whether you’re a sprinter, coach, or fan, you’ll come away with practical takeaways: how to structure quality speed endurance, how to think about training age vs. biological age, how to use group competition without burning out, and how to balance ambition with joy. This is sprint wisdom from someone who’s lived all sides of it—athlete, analyst, and mentor.The podcast cover was produced by Tim Peters in collaboration with Cortexfilm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MainAthlet International – The Track & Field Podcast is the English edition of MainAthlet. Hosts Benjamin Brömme and Linn Kleine talk to world-class athletes, coaches and legends about training, recovery, nutrition, mindset, biomechanics and race preparation—from sprints to distance, jumps, throws and combined events.Past guests include Ato Boldon, Justin Gatlin, Alexis Holmes and Maruša Mišmaš Zrimšek. Expect actionable insights you can use in your own training, plus context on the Olympics, World Championships, Diamond League and national highlights.Subscribe now and leave a rating in Apple Podcasts—this helps more track & field fans discover the show. New English episodes drop regularly. Welcome to MainAthlet International: more performance, more understanding, more track & field.The podcast cover was produced by Tim Peters in collaboration with Cortexfilm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.