Three years ago travel writer Lydia Gard discovered freediving almost by accident. It’s an extreme and beautiful sport defined by one simple objective: to dive as deep as you can on one single breath. Record holders are now routinely diving to more than 120 metres, pushing the sport and their bodies to find out what’s humanly possible.
Through her coach, Lydia was drawn into a small but fanatical community of competition athletes all united in their drive for depth, and that’s where she stumbled on a darker side of the sport. Rumours swirled that a group of top divers were doping to get deeper, faster.
As the community began to turn on each other over the allegations, one prominent diver decided to take the law into his own hands. A secret sting operation was meant to put an end to the problem by bringing the alleged dopers out of the dark, and into the light. But the issue hasn't gone away. And now, a lot of people who’ve been too scared to speak up, are ready to talk.
Episodes 1-4 are available to listen now.
Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series today.
Subscribe to The Observer today and get access to:
Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
بودكاست قصصي، نوثّق فيه قصصنا العربيّة. في هذا الموسم، نبحث لغز اغتيال العالِمة السعودية «سامية ميمني» في أمريكا، ونكشف الغموض الذي يحيط بالقضية وتفاصيل تُعرض لأول مرة.
A window into our world, through in-depth storytelling from the BBC. Investigating, reporting and uncovering true stories from everywhere. Award-winning journalism, unheard voices, amazing culture and global issues.
From China’s state-backed overseas spending, to on the road with Canada’s Sikh truckers, to the frontline of the climate emergency, we go beyond the headlines.
Every week, we take you into the minds of the world's most creative people and explore personal approaches to spirituality. And we bring together people from around the globe to discuss how news stories are affecting their lives.
A new episode most days, all year round. From our BBC World Service teams at: Assignment, Heart and Soul, In the Studio, OS Conversations and The Fifth Floor.
بودكاست تحقيقي يروي في كلّ موسم قصة احتيال جديدة، ويستكشف عوالم المحتالين في رحلة استقصائية.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Global investigations from the BBC. Uncovering gripping stories from around the world and telling them episode by episode. Delve into a World of Secrets.
Latest season: The Child Cancer Scam. Your child is critically ill. It’s the worst news you can get. But to make the situation even more awful, you struggle to afford the care they need. So when someone tells you a foreign sponsor can help raise the money, you’ll do anything. You make a video: your child begs for help from strangers online. But it comes to nothing. You wait and wait for the cash that was donated. It never comes, and all the while your child is fighting for their life.
Previously on World of Secrets:
Death in Dubai. A woman falls from a tower block and her name starts trending. But behind the online rumours lies an even darker reality.
The Abercrombie Guys. Investigating sexual exploitation claims against the former CEO of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch.
And Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape.
يأخذكم بودكاست «ماتريوشكا» في رحلة إلى عوالم ما ورائية وخارجة عن المألوف، عوالم متداخلة ولا متناهية. عالمٌ في قلب عالمٍ يطوي عالمًا، تمامًا كاللعبة الروسية ماتريوشكا، لأن عالمنا هذا ليس الوحيد.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Letting the Guest Tell the Story"
The Unconventional Soldier Podcast explores conflicts from the Second World War, the Cold War, Northern Ireland and the Global War on Terror. Hosted by veterans, it blends personal experience, regimental history, and in-depth analysis of battles, leadership, and military transformation. Episodes feature former soldiers, historians, and defence experts discussing life on operations, lessons learned, and the enduring legacy of British and other Army campaigns. Follow for authentic voices, forgotten conflicts, and sharp insights from those who served.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
