The Pool Room with Tony Armstrong
Join Tony Armstrong on a trip through the annals of sports history to uncover some of the most extraordinary, untold tales that will captivate, surprise, and inspire. From footy to Formula 1, this is the show that celebrates the winners, losers, and the weird stuff between.
Episodes
When a 61-year-old potato and sheep farmer from regional Victoria lined up for the 1983 Ultramarathon, the athletic world didn't know what to think. Wearing overalls and gumboots, Cliff Young certainly didn't look the part. But as the race got underway, Cliff's opponents realised they were up against a very serious competitor.
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On the race track, Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger were fierce teammates. But off the track, their rivalry looked a little different. Ayrton was one of the most serious drivers in Formula 1, and when Gerhard joined McLaren, he made it his mission to break down this stone-cold exterior. His weapon of choice? Practical jokes.
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When Eric Moussambani made his Olympic debut in the 100m Freestyle at Sydney 2000, it was also his competitive debut. Eight months prior, Eric didn't know how to swim. Now, he was representing Equatorial Guinea on the world stage. Eric made history that day but the experience also changed the rest of his life.
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Signing a professional contract is an important moment for any athlete, no matter the stage of their sports career. But it always pays to read the fine print. Today on the show, three very real contract stories that you won't quite believe.
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Turning professional in one sport is hard enough. But two? That sort of prowess is reserved for the best of the best. Whether it's cricket in the summer and footy in the winter, or switching from one Olympic sport to another, these all-time legends have truly mastered the art of athleticism.
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What happens when the starting goalie and backup goalie are both injured in the same game of ice hockey? It was just the 1st period of a crucial NHL matchup in February of 2020, when 42-year-old fan David Ayers was plucked from the crowd and thrown into the action. Thanks to a bizarre rule, David was about to play in his first professional hockey game.
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Sports fans are a dedicated bunch. Home or away, rain, hail or shine, they'll do anything for their favourite team. But some can take their fandom too far, and others go on to become just as iconic as the players on the field.
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Bill Fong loves ten-pin bowling. He's pretty good at it too. It's not uncommon for Bill to score a few 300 games here and there - 12 strikes in a row. But that's nothing compared to a perfect series, which is completing three perfect games in succession. In other words, 900 points or 36 consecutive strikes. And one night, Bill Fong is dangerously close to this incredible achievement.
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It's no secret that Australian soccer has had it tough over the years. You only need to look at the 32-year World Cup drought, where Australia failed to qualify again and again…and again. But some people believe there's a simple explanation for those long and painful years. In 1969, a desperate Socceroos team came up with a devious plot to overcome their opposition. But the plan unexpectedly backfired, haunting Australian soccer fo...
If there's one thing that's guaranteed to liven up any dull sporting event, it's a member of the crowd putting on their birthday suit and sprinting across the field of play, pursued by a group of security guards. Streaking, as it's affectionately known, is the art of running around a sports ground completely naked. And Australia has played a special role in its short but amusing history.
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At the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, 20-year-old marathon runner Shizo Kanakuri was one of only two athletes to represent Japan in the nation's first ever Olympic Games. It was a huge occasion for Shizo. But halfway through his marathon event, Shizo disappeared. Olympic officials were baffled. With no sign of him, Shizo was officially reported missing. So, what happened to the Japanese athlete?
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Welcome to The Pool Room with Tony Armstrong, a short-form narrative sports podcast that celebrates the winners, losers, and the weird stuff between.
Join Tony on a trip through history to discover the wildest, most unexpected and inspiring stories; from the Olympic marathon runner who mysteriously disappeared, to the curse that haunted Australian soccer for decades. Every episode is a bite-sized but immersive experience. You’ll c...
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