Fascinating Olympians
Stories of some of the world's greatest – and most interesting – sportspeople
Bullied, belittled but indisputably brilliant: how Victoria Pendleton survived everything – and became a cycling legend
She’s one of Britain’s greatest ever athletes – yet has often felt like a failure and fraud. She talks about her Olympic golds, the misery that came with them, and the joy she has found since she retired
Abused, expelled, orphaned at eight months: how athlete Bob Beamon beat the odds – and became a legend
In 1968, in one of the top five Olympic moments of the last century, the long jumper made a leap so jaw-dropping it inspired the superlative Beamonesque. He discusses pride, pressure and the politics of that momentous Summer Games
Secrets, betrayal and shocking abuse: how Greg Louganis survived – and became the greatest diver of all time
On the outside, he was the happy, handsome young athlete who thrilled the crowds. But as the medals piled up, he was having to hide his sexuality, HIV-positive status and the violence meted out by his partner and manager
‘The man who used to be James Cracknell’: the Olympic rower on catastrophe, comas and comebacks
With two Olympic golds under his belt, Cracknell was building a second career as an endurance athlete when disaster struck. He discusses relentlessness, running for the Tories – and his disgust at Partygate
Abandoned, abused and belittled: how Oksana Masters survived a torturous childhood – and became a world-beating athlete
Born with disabilities in the shadow of Chornobyl, she spent her early life in an orphanage that was also a brothel. Then Masters was adopted, and thrived, becoming a phenomenal rower, skier and cyclist
‘I went a bit crazy’: Mo Farah on rebellion, love, ruthlessness – and being forced to live a lie
In the first of a series of interviews with remarkable Olympians, Britain’s most celebrated track athlete opens up about his relentless spirit, his disgraced ex-coach and the terrible secret he kept for 30 years
