Calling a time out to disrupt rivals, just like going down with cramp, is perfectly within the rules, even if it’s annoying as hell to opponents and many others.

‘Pre’, as he was known, was the first star runner ever signed by Nike, which was founded by Bill Bowerman and one of his running alumni, Phil Knight.

Is it OK to tell a sportsperson they must lose weight to achieve their potential?

The roots of China’s sports system are found in the Soviet model, which could be best summed up as throwing a bunch of eggs against the wall and keeping the ones that don’t crack.

In her childhood, she juggled various sports but drifted away from running in her late teens. It was only in 2015, as her father struggled with severe health issues, that she found her way back.

When Peter Lynch met the Puma reps last year, he could sense the excitement. “They said they thought the results were wrong at first, it was so much better than literally any other shoe they tested.”

Elizabeth Egan, who has spent two decades working with sportspeople on their lifestyle and personal development, would like for those around athletes to "see them as people first".

Lowry is right that from their perspective, it'd be better to give them time, to let that molten pot of emotions simmer. And while that would result in a calmer, more clinical reflection, what audiences want most is the immediate, visceral, filter-free reaction. 

There was something deeply unsettling about seeing Gatlin trackside in the VIP area at athletics' newest event. 

Scanning the details in the annual Irish Sports Monitor, not everything is rosy in Irish sport. But in terms of participation, the picture is improving year on year.