Claudia Hollingsworth is the kind of person who would excel at anything she put her mind to. The 19-year-old Australian is already an Olympic semi-finalist, World Under-20 silver medallist and Australian Champion in the 800m, and she’s just getting started.

In this conversation, we delve into Claudia’s incredible year, what it’s like to train with On Athletics Club Oceania, and how she’s ready to go all in as a professional athlete (with uni studies on the side). You’ll also hear a few quirky facts about Claudia’s passions off the track (hint: pinecones and dead bugs).

Claudia first captured attention at primary school when she was selected for the Pacific School Games and competed at the National Primary Schools Cross Country. But it was when world 5000m bronze medallist Craig Mottram became her coach that her track-and-field career really started to gain momentum. While still at high school, she earned selection for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon.

This year in a highly competitive 800m field at the Paris Olympics, Claudia wowed the world with a mature, clinical and confident run that saw her come 2nd in her heat and sail straight through to the semi-finals. Sport has always been part of Claudia’s DNA, having been an avid Australian Rules football player with the East Brighton Vampires and the Sandringham Dragons. Although she considered applying to the AFL Women’s draft, ultimately track and field won her heart. --

Claudia's instagram: @claudiahollingsworth_ Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom Graphic design by Kate Scheer

Ed Goddard is the kind of guy who draws cherry blossoms on his Asics prototype shoes (I know because he showed me on our Zoom call). At 26, the Australian distance runner with a mullet and love of rock and roll has been on the rising star list for a while now.

In this conversation we talk about Ed’s triangle of fun – running, swimming and music (in no particular order), the importance of relishing the little things in life (sandwiches), and how to keep running fun (even when it’s your job). We also speak about broken bones, the stress of hunting Olympic qualifiers, and Ed’s experience with relative energy deficiency in sport.

Ed Goddard is from Mossman, New South Wales. He has a 10,000m PB of 28:23 and a half marathon PB of 62:16, and has his sights set on bringing those times down so he can convert to a faster marathon (current PB of 2:12:52). Ed loves music from bygone eras and has about 800 vinyl records in his collection. If he’s not running with his phone in his hand blasting tunes, he’ll be swimming at the beach or watching the Chicago Cubs. Ed spent a brief stint running for Iona College in New York and has degrees in Property Economics and Sports Communication. --

Ed's Instagram: @edgoddard3k Ed's Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/26943045

Ed's Spotify playlist: Songs to crash your car to

Run With It Instagram: @runwithit.pod

Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom Graphic design by Kate Scheer

If you have a tattoo bet for Mitch Dyer, he’ll take it on. The sports journalist has forgotten exactly how many tattoo bets he’s lost, but they’ve resulted in everything from a seahorse, to a choice phrase on his butt cheek.

Mitch is the founder of Straight At It, a media company devoted to athletics news and content on social media. This year he’s been reporting at the Olympics and US Olympic Trials for Citius Mag and chasing summer Diamond League races in Europe with photographer Jacob Gower. He’s also shared the commentary box with the likes of legends Bruce McAvaney and Tamsyn Manou. Next up for Mitch? Expanding his social media model to include more sports!

His early days starting Straight At It looked very different. First, he quit his job as a sports reporter with a News Corp newspaper in Mackay and sold most of his possessions to report on athletics as a freelancer in Europe. When he got there, he was sleeping in 8-10 bed dorm rooms, calling in favours from friends and living on the smell of an oily rag.

But he burnt for it, and it burnt him out.

Mitch has some valuable lessons to share from those experiences, from taking time out to eat cheese (not chicken!) twisties, to separating who you are as a person from what you do, there’s laughter and frivolity and wisdom in equal parts in this episode.

Mitch Dyer is an Australian sports journalist, with a focus on broadcasting, social media, hosting events and commentating. He was formerly a carpenter, marketing employee and US college athlete. He is the founder of Straight At It, which is part of the At It network.

-

Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer