Caster Semenya won the Monaco 800m in 1:55.33, at a canter, and is the surest bet for gold in Rio 2016. She’s also the surest bet for controversy, and will kick start an explosive, aggressive debate. This post introduces some of the concepts, and addresses some issues around our approach to this difficult issue.
Physiology
Hyperandrogenism and women vs women vs men in sport: A Q&A with Joanna Harper
Caster Semenya’s likely gold medal in Rio is going to be one of the most controversial stories of the Games, if not the history of the Olympics. She is, unwillingly, the known image of a sex-verification controversy in sport, asking questions over whether a woman should compete against other women. In this piece, I interview Joanna Harper, an expert on matters of transgender science and performance, for her comprehensive views
Low carbohydrate diets: A plea for balance, scientific rigour & death to dogma
After five years of watching bad science, defensiveness from both sides, and extremist advocacy rather than balance, I’ve written an article which is an appeal for nuance on the issue of low carbohydrate diets. The article first appeared in the SA papers, and this is the longer, unedited version.
The 2-hour marathon and the 4-min mile
A recently launched group plans to help runners go under 2 hours for the marathon in five years. is it feasible? For many reasons, I say no. The 4-min mile analogy is often used – here’s my response to that particular thought.
“177” – The Sub-2 hour marathon and East Africa’s super-runners
Marathon running is in a golden era, the 2-hour barrier approaching. Kenyans in particular have led the charge, raising some of the most fascinating physiological questions of the era. This presentation describes the history, physiology, and implications for the 2-hour marathon.