Jodie Ounsley: Overcoming deafness in sport!
Summary
Jodie Earsley, the first deaf woman to play rugby for England and a Guinness World Record holder in coal carrying, joins Jenny Falulconer to discuss her athletic journey and her role as "Fury" on The Gladiators. They explore how running and sport have helped her navigate deafness, build confidence, and process the recent loss of her father. Earsley also highlights the Start Line initiative, a partnership between parkrun and Specsavers that enhances accessibility for participants with hearing or visual impairments.
Topics discussed
Intro: Deaf athlete and Gladiators comeback
Welcome to RunPod and guest introduction
Returning to running after a back injury
Inspiration from marathons and partner's injury
History of the World Coal Carrying Championships
Growing up deaf and blending into environments
Challenges of team sports and cochlear implants
Family legacy and becoming a Gladiator
Origin of the name 'Fury' the Gladiator
Defining fitness across different sports
Parkrun Start Line Initiative for accessibility
Overcoming confidence barriers to start running
Mental health benefits of regular exercise
Favorite track sessions and competitive nature
Training with late father and keeping his legacy
Using running and writing to process grief
Dancing on Strictly Christmas after father's death
Quick fire round: gear, timing, and final thoughts
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