Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale: Revolutionising Women’s Sports Science

The Game Changers

“Women’s physiology isn’t a problem to be solved - it’s an opportunity to innovate.”
In this fascinating episode of The Game Changers podcast, I speak with Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale, one of the world’s leading researchers in female physiology, about the critical need for women-focused sports science.
From her unconventional journey into the field, to leading ground-breaking research, Kirsty challenges outdated approaches and highlights why women’s health must be at the centre of performance science, not an afterthought.
We cover:
➡️ Bridging the research gap – why we must innovate rather than simply adapt male-based models
➡️ The Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport – how the Manchester centre is dedicated to advancing research and collaboration
➡️ ACL injuries in female athletes – does oestrogen play a role, or are we missing the bigger picture?
➡️ Menstrual-cycle-based training – the scientific evidence (or lack of it) behind tailoring training to cycle phases
➡️ Pregnancy & performance – how attitudes are shifting, and why more female athletes are competing as mothers
➡️ The future of women in sports science – how young women can break into the field and drive change
Kirsty’s message is clear: women’s physiology isn’t a limitation—it’s a strength that should be studied, understood, and embraced.
“If we only ever research men, we’ll only ever understand men. It’s time to stop playing catch-up and start leading.”

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.
Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media
A Fearless Women production

فصل ها

1. Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale: Revolutionising Women’s Sports Science (00:00:00)

2. Women in Sport (00:00:03)

3. Advancing Women's Sports Science Revolution (00:11:17)

4. Empowering Women Through Sports Research (00:19:01)

5. Celebrating Female Body and Health (00:26:31)

6. Exploring Female Athlete Research Gaps (00:31:26)

7. Women in Sports Science Attitude Change (00:39:18)

8. Celebrating Women in Sports Podcast (00:51:14)