S9 Ep4: Denise Lewis DBE on becoming an Olympic champion, Damehood, and ‘Don’t Rock The Boat’

On this week’s #MondayMile podcast, I have a lovely little chat with Olympian, sports broadcaster and all-round boss lady Dame @realdeniselewis. Denise is a legend of British athletics. She specialised in the Heptathlon, and became the first European to bring home the Gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. She’s received numerous accolades in her lifetime, and became a Dame in the 2023 New Year Honours. We take a rainy walk around Primrose Hill and speak about this impressive career, starting from her humble beginnings in Wolverhampton, to competing at the highest level of athletics. These days you’re more likely to find her in a studio than on the track, and we talk about it feels to commentate on those who have come after her. We also touch on representation, and how important it is to see diversity within sport. I ask Denise about her most satisfying physical challenge – an intense rowing excursion on the TV show ‘Don’t Rock The Boat’. And of course, I couldn’t resist asking the honour of receiving a Damehood. I do agree that Dames should get free parking - seems like a no-brainer. Denise is a pioneer and a complete inspiration to be around - I loved having her on the pod! Check it out on your favourite podcast platform!  #mondaymilepodcast #deniselewis #athletics #olympics #heptathlon

Om Podcasten

Former Team GB double winter Olympian, and no broadcaster and author Aimee Fuller is on a mission to find the secrets for Monday motivation from some of the most successful sports men and women of our time and other well-known celebrities which will drop every week. Aimee will be probing for answers from the full spectrum of routines; the early birds who have finely tuned Monday mornings, to the late risers who struggle to get up before 11am. How do elite athletes find the motivation to kick start their week come rain or shine? How do celebrities deliver no matter what the time of day? What knowledge can they pass on?’ Each episode will drop on a Monday morning and plays out in real time. Aimee will meet each of her guests for a walk and a chat and over the course of the mile she will find out how they cope on a Monday morning - their idiosyncrasies, breakfast routines, alarm noises - and how, when they need to, find the motivation to kick-on through the week. Dropping every Monday as a bitesize 23-35 minute piece of content and weekly dose of motivation - right when you need it - sharing some of Britain's greatest athletes’ secrets on self-motivation, candid thoughts on what they struggle with and a sideways look at some of their more unusual morning habits.