“He got a free trip to Disneyland.” That’s how Wally Lewis described the knockout of Nate Myles, from the Gold Coast Titans, during a tackle two weeks ago. Rugby league is a tough game with tough players;…
Children aren't suited to adult-style fitness programs using exercise bikes, treadmills and rowers.
Axel Bu hrmann
With one in five Australian preschool-age children now overweight or obese, it’s no wonder kids' weight is so often in the media spotlight.
While the causes of obesity are complex and multifactorial…
Exercising at a moderate intensity is enough to reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol.
Flickr/dangerouslyfit
You don’t need to follow the “no pain, no gain” mantra to reap the health benefits of exercise, a new study shows.
Military-style boot camps that deliver fast-paced, high-intensity training (and chastise…
Last year's Australian Open women's runner-up Li Na in action at the Sydney International this week.
Australia’s summer of tennis is a great opportunity to see the world’s best players up close, hitting hard and serving big. Many elite players hit first serves at over 200km/h with great precision and…
New Zealand is celebrating the All Blacks' victory over France in the Rugby World Cup.
Over the course of the tournament The Conversation has brought you stories about all aspects of the game.
And with…
The All Blacks' haka is culturally important for everyone in New Zealand.
AAP/AFP pool/Phil Water
RUGBY WORLD CUP – When New Zealand’s All Blacks take on France in the final tonight, they will be proud to perform a haka. They’ve taken some criticism for it in the past, but, as André Brett of the University…
Bryce Lawrence is one of the Rugby World Cup referees who has won few friends in the tournament.
AFP/Marty Melville
RUGBY WORLD CUP – The Wallabies may have the consolation of winning third place in tournament, but their progress has been far from controversial. The Rugby World Cup has been plagued by accusations of…
Diving is an embarrassment to the world game.
seriouslysilly
The year is 1990. For 85 grueling minutes, Italian crowds have watched West Germany battle Argentina in the World Cup Final.
The score is tied, 0-0. The collective breath is held.
Suddenly, the Germans…
All Black Richie McCaw has been accused of routinely cheating in his approach to the game.
AAP
RUGBY WORLD CUP – The athleticism of the players has impressed in this tournament, but is there a whiff of unsportsmanlike behaviour in the air? Brian Stoddart of La Trobe University investigates.
A few…
New Zealand defeated Tonga in the opening game of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
AFP Photo/Franck Fife
RUGBY WORLD CUP – In the latest of The Conversation’s series on the Rugby World Cup, former Wallabies player, James Holbeck and Professor of Sport Science at Victoria University, Damian Farrow, discuss…
Some AFL teams spend the off season at high altitude.
kangaroos.com.au
You might have heard about athletes and other sportspeople absconding to high-altitude locations for training.
Indeed altitude training has become the training-method-du-jour for sporting codes around…
The time trial is critical to Evans' chances in the 2011 Tour de France.
AFP/Pascal Pavani
Following the 18th stage of the 2011 Tour de France last night, the top six riders are within less than four minutes of one another: Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, Ivan Basso, Damian Cunego…
Climbing mountains is all about fighting gravity.
Nicolas Bouvy/EPA
This is the second in a two-part series about the science of Le Tour de France. Part one is here.
After 1,916 kilometres of the 2011 Tour de France we’re starting to see some of the favourites make their…
Since mandatory bike helmet laws were introduced in 1991, researchers, cyclists and campaigners have debated the law’s role in cyclist safety and the desirability of bike riding.
A new analysis reveals…
If helmets protect against brain injury, why not wear them?
Convincing more Australians to get on a bike would undoubtedly deliver health improvements that come with reduced waistlines. But ditching bike helmets isn’t the answer.
The health benefits of more cycling…
The life expectancy gained from cycling to work outweighs the risks of ill health from pollution and injury.
With epidemics of diabetes and obesity threatening to bankrupt state health budgets, governments need to broaden their strategies to encourage physical activity.
Allowing cyclists to ride without a helmet…
