Episode 37 – Holly Thorpe: Changing Toxic Elite Sport Cultures and the Passing of Olympic Cyclist Olivia Podmore

This episode covers the serious issue of suicide in elite sport. We're joined by Holly Thorpe to discuss her recent article in The Conversation, 'The price of gold — what high-performance sport in NZ must learn from the Olivia Podmore tragedy'. Holly highlights the costs of elite sport culture, mental health, and the urgent need for institutional change to better protect the well-being of athletes.

She makes the case that sociological critique can only get us so far when faced by a tragedy such as this one. Next steps include ongoing dialogue with other disciplines, members of the elite sport community, and the wider public. 

We offer our sincere condolences to the Podmore family, her friends, team-mates, coaches and others who knew Olivia, as well anyone at all who has been impacted by news of her death.

If this discussion raises issues for you, or if you’re concerned about anyone you know, please contact Lifeline in Australia or Aotearoa/New Zealand, or their equivalents around the world depending on where you are listening.