Three time Olympic swimming champion, Summer McIntosh, says her mentality is one of her greatest strengths. The Canadian made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games aged just 14 and in five short years looks destined to become one of the greatest swimmers of all time. Now 19, and having won four Gold medals at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, she tells BBC Sport’s Sophia Hartley and John Bennett about how she used the disappointment of missing out on a world record in the 200-metre butterfly at the Paris Olympics as motivation.

Leading sports psychologist, Dr. Jim Taylor, explains some of the tools he’s used to help Olympians such as Summer to overcome their fears and reach their goals.

Football video games are huge business, and there are few bigger than the Football Manager series – games where players don’t take to the pitch, but instead pick teams, create tactics and buy and sell talent from global superstars to obscure amateurs. The series has been played by millions worldwide, and the latest edition has added women’s teams to the game for the first time.

But as football video games have grown over the past three decades, have they influenced the way the game is watched, talked about – and even played? Do fans now have a better understanding of tactics and transfers than ever before, and does that affect what they want from the sport?

Dean Gibson is recruitment manager for women’s football at Southampton FC, who are challenging for promotion to England’s Women’s Super League, one of the richest leagues in women’s football. He tells the BBC’s John Bennett what video games do and don’t get right about the realities of football scouting. Games like Football Manager and the Fifa series – now known as EA Sports FC – are packed full of stats on a huge array of players, but how big a part does data play in spotting the next stars? He also shares his thoughts on how the reams of player data accumulated by video game companies relate to the outside world.

John’s also joined by Umir Irfan, the BBC’s tactics correspondent, who discusses how the language we use to talk about football has rapidly evolved. Even a few years ago, terms like xG and low block were almost unknown among football fans, but they’re now commonplace. Have video games turned us all into armchair experts?

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

Some of the most exciting footballers in the world right now are still teenagers. Lamine Yamal has already won La Liga twice with Barcelona and the European Championship with Spain; 17-year-old Lennart Karl has scored in the Champions League and the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich; and Max Dowman has already made his Premier League debut for Arsenal, despite only being 15 years old.

But how do big clubs make sure their young talents fulfil their potential, both on and off the pitch? What are the signs that a teenager's ready to make the step up to first team football, and how do a club's staff help players who are still children face the challenges of a professional career?

Huw Jennings has spent more than 25 years working in youth development, as academy director at Southampton and now head of football development at Premier League side Fulham. In that time, he's worked with the likes of Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw, Theo Walcott and Adam Lallana; in his current role, he's also helped oversee the development of one of the Premier League's most exciting prospects, Josh King.

The BBC's Ed Harry and John Bennett talk to Huw about one of the biggest responsibilities in modern football. He explains how clubs develop players from childhood to adulthood, and the personal qualities that top clubs look for when assessing a young player's potential. He also shares his experiences of what happens when players don't make the grade - how can you support a teenager when things don't go to plan? And he also explains why 'wonderkid' isn't a term he's keen on using.

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

Coaches, physios, nutritionists - many people are involved in helping athletes achieve sporting success. But how important is it to have a good hype man? Well, the US Bobsleigh and Skeleton team have signed a very high profile hype man.

Flavor Flav, the co-founder of Grammy-winning hip hop group Public Enemy, will support the team at the Winter Olympics next year. He's also sponsoring the group. It's not the first time the 66 year-old has been involved in sport - he performed the same role for the United States Water Polo squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

We hear from Flavor Flav after he tried his hand at the skeleton - a headfirst sliding event where athletes can reach speeds exceeding 80mph

Two-time Winter Olympic snowboarder, Aimee Fuller, tells Mani Djazmi that having a hype man in Milan and Cortina can only be a good thing for the Games and winter sport as a whole. Boxing pundit and broadcaster, Steve Bunce, says it's role that's been used in boxing for years - most notably between the great Muhammad Ali and his "hype man" Drew Bundini Brown.

Tennis legend Bjorn Borg says he will "fight every day like it's a Wimbledon final" after being diagnosed with cancer.

The former world number one won 11 Grand Slam titles, including five successive singles Championships at the All England Club, before his surprise retirement aged just 25.

In the last chapter of his new autobiography the 69-year-old revealed he has an "extremely aggressive" form of prostate cancer. The Swede is in remission, having had an operation in 2024, but described the diagnosis as "difficult psychologically".

Borg - who many people consider to be a private person - has spoken to the BBC's Tim Moffett about his life, career and when and where he was when he found out his diagnosis.

If you are affected by anything you hear in this programme, it is important to talk to someone about it and get support. You can find help by visiting the Befrienders Worldwide website: befrienders.org

Victor Wembanyama has long been tipped to become one of the all-time greats of the NBA. The 21-year-old San Antonio Spurs centre was named NBA Rookie of the Year in his debut season and was on course to be named Defensive Player of the Year the following season before a blood clot in his shoulder brought his campaign to a premature end. Now in his third season in the NBA the Frenchman appears ready to fulfil his potential.

BBC Sport's NBA writer Jonty Colman and NBA physio Alex Hubelbank join Mani Djazmi to discuss the literal and figurative growth of 'Wemby' after he returned to the court one inch taller than last season. Alex says some of the elite players she works with are as much in awe of Wembanyama as the rest of the world while Jonty explains how training with Shaolin Monks in China may have helped Wembanyama's game.

He was the youngest MotoGP race winner and champion and remains the only rider to take the world title in his rookie year. Now though, at the age of 32, Marc Marquez may have done something even more spectacular, by winning his seventh Moto GP World Championship. It's his ninth world title overall, bringing him level with his old rival Valentino Rossi, and comes at the end of a frustrating five years.

Marquez has returned to the very top of the sport after recovering from a string of crashes and injuries - including a broken arm which needed four operations over two years. He describes that period as a 'nightmare' but says that becoming a world champion again has brought him inner peace.

BBC Motorsport reporter Victoria Turner and former MotoGP racer James Ellison explain why Marquez's comeback is so remarkable. They also discuss where he ranks among the sport's finest including Rossi and Giacomo Agostini.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is just two wins away from lifting the Women's Cricket World Cup. To do so she must lead the co-hosts past seven times winners and defending champions, Australia.

Ed Harry, India commentator Prakash Wakankar and ESPN Cricinfo's South Africa cricket correspondent Firdose Moonda discuss Harmanpreet's leadership and the pressure she's under being India captain. We also hear from her teammates Sayali Satghare and Saima Thakor. Both describe her captaincy as aggressive and intense but have full respect for what she has achieved in her career and how she leads the team.

The four-time Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Ariarne Titmus has retired, saying "the time feels right to step away". The Australian leaves the sport aged just 25. Ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, she underwent surgery to remove an ovarian tumour. She then returned to the pool to win two gold medals in Paris before taking a break from the sport which has now become permanent.

British double Olympic silver medallist Jazz Carlin and Simon Smale from the ABC, tell Ed Harry that Titmus will go down as one of the greatest distance swimmers of all time. Carlin says the Australian’s impact on the sport has been huge and believes she will continue to inspire.

On 26 July 2025 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat Nigeria defeated the host nation Morocco 3-2 in a dramatic comeback to win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Around 24 hours later in Basel, Switzerland, Chloe Kelly scored the decisive penalty in a shoot-out as England defeated Spain to retain their Women's European championship title. This is the story of two triumphs on two continents told by two players – Lee James gets all the insight as England's Esme Morgan and Nigeria's Ashleigh Plumptre reflect on their triumphs and how many similarities there were as both teams tried to win the titles.

The Rugby League Ashes returns for the first time since 2003 as England's men take on world champions Australia in a best-of-three Test series. It begins at London's iconic Wembley Stadium before matches in Liverpool and Leeds.

BBC Sport's rugby league reporter, Matt Newsum, explains the long history of the series to John Bennett and why it borrows its Ashes title from cricket. Matt also tells us why England men's test cricket captain, Ben Stokes, is throwing his support behind the team.

We hear from England Rugby League Head Coach, Shaun Wane, on why he's re-watching old matches between the sides and how important it is that his side avenge their 3-0 series defeat of 22 years ago. Simon Smale from the ABC says the Aussies are mischievously predicting a repeat scoreline but may not be averse to this series going all the way to a decider for the good of the game.

It's become known as the football "bomb squad." When a player or group of players aren't wanted anymore, their clubs stop them from training with the first team squad and make them work with the youth team or in extreme cases, on their own.

Raheem Sterling is part of a group working separately to the Chelsea first team. Manchester United had Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, and Marcus Rashford all exiled before they secured moves away. They're not the only clubs who freeze out players they no longer want but how damaging is it for the players involved?

Former Manchester City and Real Salt Lake defender Nedum Onuoha tells John Bennett that being frozen out at City was the toughest period of his career and more consideration should be given to how it may affects players' mental health. We also hear from former Fortuna Dusseldorf and St Louis City Sporting Director, Lutz Pfannenstiel. He says he'd never separate a player completely from the first team squad without reason but accepts it can be a difficult situation for everyone involved.

Voting for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2025 award is now open. Fans worldwide can vote from the five-player shortlist of Aitana Bonmati, Hannah Hampton, Mariona Caldentey, Alessia Russo and Patri Guijarro.

This will be the 11th year of the award, having been first presented in 2015. Voting closes at 09:00 GMT on Friday, 31 October and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, 25 November on BBC World Service and the BBC Sport website and app.

The five contenders for the accolade were chosen by a panel of experts, including coaches, players, administrators and journalists. WFOTY presenter, Maz Farookhi and Catalunya Radio’s Rut Vilar, join Ed Harry to discuss the nominees.

Cecilia Braekhus is the first woman in history to unify all four belts, the first to headline a professional show in Norway and a fighter whose influence helped scrap a 33-year ban on boxing - for both men and women - in her homeland. Her achievements have earned her the nickname of the "The First Lady" of boxing. The 44 year old tells BBC Sport's Kal Sajad that becoming world champion helped change attitudes towards the sport in Norway.

We also hear from her fellow trailblazer in women's boxing, Natasha Jonas. The former two-weight world champion joins John Bennett and Ade Adedoyin to discuss the Norwegian's legacy and the changes she's personally lived through in the sport.

Valentin Vacherot joins Ade Adedoyin to reflect on making history in China. Going into the final he was ranked number 204 in the world and he came from a set down to beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech. It’s his first ATP title and with it comes winnings of over one million dollars – that’s more than the double the amount of money he had previously won across his entire professional career. Vacherot reflects on his emotions around the match, gives us an insight into the family group chats and discusses what he hopes the win can now do for his career.

There are more Japanese players in the Women's Super League than ever before so why is England's top flight signing up the best that Japan has to offer? Japan's assistant coach, Leah Blayney, says the technical ability of the likes of Manchester City's Yui Hasegawa and Hinata Miyazawa of Manchester United make them attractive to clubs. BBC Sport women’s football news reporter, Emma Sanders, tells Maz Farookhi that investment in the women's game means more resources for expert analysts and scouting networks while, Japanese football expert, Dan Orlowitz, says the WE League - established in the 2021–22 season as Japan's first fully professional women's football league - has played a big part in the players we see in England today.

According to the financial information and media firm Bloomberg, the 40-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, now playing his football in Saudi Arabia, has a net worth of $1.4bn. It places the Portugal captain among a rare group of athletes that includes basketball greats Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and LeBron James as well as golfer Tiger Woods and tennis player Roger Federer. But what makes an athlete marketable?

SportsPro produce a list of the top 50 most marketable athletes every year. Their Head of Editorial, Sam Carp, tells Ade Adedoyin and John Bennett how stars such as Simone Biles and Ilona Maher use their platform to speak up on social issues can be attractive to big brands.

Cape Verde have defied the odds to qualify for their first ever Fifa World Cup. The Blue Sharks are the second-smallest nation - after Iceland - to reach a World Cup after they beat Eswatini 3-0 at home in the decisive group game.

We hear from Cape Verde defender, Roberto 'Pico' Lopes. He says it's a dream come true for a nation which is made up of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean with a population of just over half a million people. We also hear from former Cape Verde international, Georges Santos, and journalist, Ali Howorth, who is in the capital Paraia and was in the stadium as they sealed qualification for the World Cup. They tell John Bennett they both shed tears following the nation's qualification and the team could cause more surprises at the tournament in 2026.

Collen Kebinatshipi became the first man from Botswana to win a world title at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, clocking a time of 43.53 in the 400m.

The 21-year-old was also part of the team that beat USA to win the men's 4x400 metres, becoming the first African nation to win the event. This a year after Letsile Tebogo won individual Olympic gold in the 200m at Paris 2024. Kebinatshipi says the southern African country can dominate track sprinting for the next 10 years. Calistus Kolantsho tells Isaac Fanin and fellow Athletics commentator, Ed Harry, athletics is growing all the time among Batswana and the country's success in recent years is built on a strong foundation built at primary school level.

Real Betis defender and former Arsenal player Hector Bellerin says with power comes responsibility after he was named Global Champion at the annual BBC Green Sport Awards. Now in their fourth year, the awards were presented to those who have shown an inspiring commitment to making a difference to sustainability in sport.

We hear from Bellerin as well as Lew Blaustein and Pragnya Mohan. Blaustein is the founder of Eco-Athletes while Mohan is India's top ranked triathlete and helped set up the not-for-profit "Ek Beti, Ek Cycle" (one daughter, one bicycle). They tell John Bennett that athletes are the most influential people in the world but often feel uncomfortable at the thought of talking publicly on environmental issues due to a fear of being branded a hypocrite.