Zoe Doyle is 47 years old, runs the 800m in 2:14, and is a double World Champion (WMA Gainesville) – but her path there is anything but ordinary.

At 35, she was hit by a car during a 10K race. The doctor said: it was a miracle she survived. Instead of stopping, she joined Belgrave Harriers – and began a career that now includes British records.

Then came an autoimmune hepatitis that nearly cost her life. Seven stress fractures. A COVID vaccine reaction. And yet: a British record in Pescara.

In this episode, Zoe speaks openly about:

- Why she only started running seriously at 35

- What's behind her three mantras: "Faith over Fear", "Joy in the driving seat" and "Never give up"

- How 7 stress fractures turned her into a life coach

- The difference between being 17 and 47 – and why she feels stronger today than ever before

- What makes Masters Athletics such a powerful longevity model

- Insider tips for the WMA World Championships in Daegu

Zoe now works as a life coach helping athletes avoid burnout, protect their nervous system and recognise their own worth – well beyond athletic performance.

An episode for everyone who wants to know: what holds us back from giving our best – and what doesn't?

🎙️ MainAthlet – The Athletics Podcast

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The podcast cover was produced by Tim Peters in collaboration with Cortexfilm.

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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.