Power Of Sport Podcast

Two Springbok rugby legends, one goal, to use the Power of Sport to change young lives! In this episode Jean Smyth chats to Bryan Habana as his foundation finds root in South Africa while former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers is part of the Coolplay and Laureus initiative in which 12 youngsters will be travelling to one of the greatest rugby spectacles of them all - the Hong Kong Sevens.

Fancy trekking through the Himalayas? You do? How about aiming to traverse the entire area, in just 28 days? Impossible, surely? Well not if you’re ultra-distance legend Ryan Sandes who tells Jean Smyth about his mind-boggling upcoming attempt that’ll be the toughest challenge he’s ever faced. His words, not ours. Plus Power of Sport hears from another man out of his comfort zone, football manager Andre Villas Boas, who explains why he decided on a break from football to drive in the Paris-Dakar rally. Yes, really :)

In this first episode of 2018, 800m star Caster Semenya gives Jean Smyth her exclusive reaction to being nominated as Sportswoman of the Year at the upcoming Laureus World Sports awards. Cycling sensation Nic Dlamini gets his career underway on the sport's biggest stage with Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka's World Tour team and we sit down with Banyana Banyana interim head coach Desiree Ellis who reflects on the team being recognized as the continent's best at the CAF awards, her goals for the year and a personal message from a 10-year-old aspiring footballer that's kept her grounded.  

In the final episode for 2017 sprint superstar Akani Simbine joins Jean Smyth to reflect on the year, the influence Usain Bolt played in his career and his goals for 2018; we travel to East London as the Youth Empowerment through Sport (Yes) leaders graduate and we pick out the best moments across the series in our journey to highlight the Power of Sport.

2017 has been among the most successful for Laureus SA. In this podcast Jean Smyth speaks to Executive Director Brett Graham to unpack the highs - and how that strategy will inform an equally exciting 2018.

Jean Smyth sits down with the World Sevens Series Champions Blitzboks to gain an understanding of what made them South Africa's most succesful sports team on the international stage last season. And (we had to do it) they play Blitz, on one another; you don't want to miss out on this from Kyle Brown, Phillip Snyman and coach Neil Powell. We also wrap the series of hugely succesful sporting-themed breakfasts with partner Mercedes-Benz, we hear from Indian cricket superstar Yuvraj Singh who has joined the Laureus family and Luvo Manyonga, along with the Longest Hole, can be voted for in the current batch of Sporting Moment's of the Year. The long jump star talks about his leap from drug addiction to global athletics glory. You don't want to miss it!

In this episode Jean Smyth hears about the big themes at the annual Laureus Summit held recently in Mauritius. Jean also chats to former Protea Jacques Kallis and to Ron Rutland, having just returned from the 2000km Longest Hole golfing campaign in Mongolia.

Lynn Naude is one of SA sports most prominent figures and talks us through her remarkable career and what her hopes are for the future. Also, Bafana star Dean Furman picks his alltime #BestXI, Corne Krige is announced as a Laureus Ambassador and we roadtrip with Waves for Change from East London to J-Bay and meet some of the world's best surfers.

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka once again thrilled their fans at the 2017 Tour de France as they continue their meteoric rise within the top division of world cycling. In a unique feature, the Laureus Power of Sport podcast brings you a special edition: the inside story of Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka at the 2017 Tour de France -  presented by Jean Smyth. Smyth also visits the Qhubeka assembly plant at Nederburg to find out just exactly how bicycles are literally changing lives. And, in a truly uplifting story, Nicholas Dlamini, a member of the Laureus YES! Programme, has now taken one step further to realise his dream of riding at the Tour de France after earning himself a contract on Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka’s World Tour team.

Former Proteas captain Graeme Smith joins Jean Smyth in this episode of Power of Sport sharing his thoughts ahead of the upcoming Test series between South Africa and England. Laureus Ambassador and Springbok great Bryan Habana has launched a new Foundation - we hear what motivated him; and we catch up with Ron Rutland, who with Adam Rolston, is walking across Mongolia, playing golf… the 80-something day long campaign is fondly referred to as The Longest Hole.

Sean Fitzpatrick, Brian O'Driscoll, John Robbie, Bryan Habana & Ian Jones reminisce of Lions tours past & outline what it'll take for Warren Gatland's many to have any chance of beating the World Champion All Blacks. 

Power of Sport previews the New Zealand Lions Series 2017 - catch the special episode out tomorrow!

Welcome to Episode 4! In this edition: the Business of Sport. Jean Smyth finds out exactly the state of it as we travel to the Discovery Sports Industry Awards.  Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco touched down in the City of Gold for a whirlwind visit… Jean chats to her and subjects her to Blitz in sunny, suburban Morningside. And, we sat down with Grant Lottering – to hear about his plan to ride nearly 2000kms on a bike – without stopping – literally facing the fears over and over on a piece of road that technically claimed his life less than 5 years ago…

In this episode of the Power of Sport, presenter Jean Smyth joins 13,795 other runners on the streets of Johannesburg for the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge and while there he speaks to local and international football giant Lucas Radebe. Back in Cape Town he travels to Atlantic Beach Golf course to find out more about the awesome Mercedes Trophy and turns the tables on TV presenter Dan Nicholl. We also go behind the scenes at Beyond the River, a new movie on the local circuit that is guaranteed to inspire.

In this episode we catch up with the riders from the Absa Cape Epic - mountain biking's ultimate test. And not one but two special stories for the Laureus Foundation in particular. We'll also take you behind the scenes of Waves for Change, winners of the Laureus Sport for Good award in Monaco...they use surf therapy as a powerful development tool. Our Blitz victim this week is British athletics hero Daley Thompson - in town for the aborted Cape Town Cycle tour.

In this episode we travel to Monaco for the 18th edition of the Laureus World Sports Awards. Expect to hear from the world's fastest man on 4 wheels - Formula One World Champion Nico Rosberg and the fastest on two legs - Usain Bolt. Laureus Academy Chairman Sean Fitzpatrick pays tribute to Springbok great Joost van der Westhuizen AND golfing legend Gary Player reflects on Nelson Mandela's inspired speech that is the core of what Laureus seeks out to achieve. Finally, Ryk Neethling is our first ever Blitz victim.