The Sam Oldham Podcast

In 2026, we’re launching a brand-new monthly gymnastics show on The Sam Oldham Podcast. Across the year, you can expect deep dives into the biggest names in the sport, the major storylines building toward championship events, and post-competition debriefs featuring some of the most passionate experts and analysts in artistic gymnastics.
In this week’s episode, we look ahead to the start of the competition season for both the British and American MAG teams, highlighting the athletes to watch as the year unfolds. Max Whitlock announced his comeback at the end of 2025, and we discuss how he could factor into the three major championships taking place in 2026.
The NCAA season is now underway, with major stars such as Asher Hong and Frederick Richard aiming to lead their teams toward a national title this spring. We also discuss two of the biggest names in men’s artistic gymnastics currently in the process of switching nationalities. Manrique Larduet, the 2015 World All-Around silver medalist and horizontal bar bronze medalist for Cuba, is hoping to represent Italy going forward. Meanwhile, Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist Ilia Kovtun, formerly of Ukraine, is now based in Croatia with ambitions of competing for them at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
This year, we plan to continue sharing the incredible stories of the very best athletes in the sport of gymnastics. A huge thank you to our listeners, sponsors, and supporters for being part of the journey.
Welcome to Episode 1 of the Gymnastics Show.

In 2014, Stacey Ervin Jr was part of the Michigan men's gymnastics team that won back to back NCAA championships titles. Alongside World championships medalist Sam Mikulak, Stacey Ervin was a key member of the Michigan gymnastics program under head coach Kurt Golder throughout the 2016 Olympic cycle. Stacey Excelled on the floor exercise winning fifteen event finals on the apparatus during his collegiate career including National honours at the US championships. Tragically Stacey's mother passed away just before he started University but ultimately his dedication to the sport is what helped him manage his grief and find a way to keep moving forwards. Since retiring from gymnastics Stacey spent time coaching men's gymnastics, had a contract with the WWE and is now personal trainer. And this is his story.

2025 has been an amazing year in sport of Artistic gymnastics and for me personally. On the Sam Oldham Podcast we released our 100th episode with the great Fabian Hambuchen. We've interviewed nine Olympic medalists and self produced three short films in the past twelve months. I was given the opportunity to share my expertise as part of the BBC broadcasting team's coverage of the European and World gymnastics championships. I've continued to share my Olympic story with schools across the country delivering 35 gymnastics events and inspiring thousands of young people. Recently I passed my level 3 men's artistic gymnastics coaching assessment and have started representing athletes with ambitions of building a professional career in sport. And this is my story.

In 2021 Megan Kealy became the individual World champion at the tumbling World championships and throughout the course of her career she has now won a total of fifteen World championships medals in the sport. This summer she took gold at the World Games in Chengdu China and most recently at the 2025 World tumbling championships Megan won silver and bronze medal with the British team. Just a few weeks ago she suffered an ankle injury whilst training and our conversation took place the day before her ankle ligament reconstructive surgery. I'd like to thank Megan for being incredibly generous with her time just a day before she was due to have surgery to repair her injured ankle. And this is her story.

In 2022 at the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, Clay Stephens finished 11th in the all around final, 4th with the Australian men's gymnastics team snd qualified for two individual apparatus finals. Clay has battled against insurmountable adversity throughout his career which has resulted in him undergoing six surgeries. As a child he was diagnosed with Poland syndrome which for him means he was born with only one pectoral muscle. Early in his adult life Clay was diagnosed with bowel cancer which was removed following multiple incidents of server stomach pain. After embarking on his senior international career for Australia in men's artistic gymnastics in 2017 he suffered the first of three knee injuries that took him out of the sport for significant periods of time. During this time Clay was awakened a full sports scholarship at the University of Illinois and became the team captain of the men's college gymnastics team. All together he underwent five separate knee surgeries to reconstruct his ligaments on both legs but incredibly Clay was able to find the mental strength to return to elite competition. Most recently he travelled to Nepal to build a new classroom and spend time trekking in the Himalayas. And this is his story.