The Mettleset is back, We have an amazing array of guests lined up, and kicking off this new era is a guest who is simply remarkable.

Moroj Adil is Saudi Arabia’s first pro cyclist and you’d be forgiven for not knowing her name yet as she only started cycling two years ago. Yes, that is right, from not knowing how to ride a bike, to being on the Liv Alula Jayco Continental team, her story is one that needs to be heard and what’s most exciting is that it's just getting started.

In this episode, we chat through

• 🚲 How Moroj got started
• 🚲 Her first race
• 🚲 Her first mountain bike race, The Neom Titan Desert Race
• 🚲 The AlUla Tour
• 🚲 The Traka
• 🚲 Joining the Liv AlUla Jayco Continental Team
• 🚲 Her Olympic aspirations

Moroj’s story highlights what’s possible when you don’t put limits on yourself. It’s a story of taking - and making - opportunities, working hard and then letting the magic happen. It’s a story of heart, self-belief and the support you receive along the way.

Find Moroj on Instagram at @moroj.adi

I hope you enjoy the episode!

Dawn

This is the fourth episode in a series to commemorate International Women’s Day because for us, every day is International Women’s Day, as we work to help create a more welcoming, equitable and just sports industry for all athletes.

We’ve taken some of the best moments from the 50+ episodes that we’ve recorded to share with you tales of joy, mettle, courage and wisdom from an amazing array of women in sport from across the region.

If you haven’t checked out the first and second in the series, Episode 57, 58 and 59, please go do that HERE and HERE and HERE!

In this episode, you’ll hear stories from:

• 🇴🇲🏔️ EP 48 - Nadhira Al Harthy, the first Omani woman to summit everest
• 🇸🇦🎿 EP 32 - Sharifa Al Sudairi , the first woman on Saudi Arabia’s alpine skiing team
• 🇸🇦🏃🏽‍♀️ EP 46 - Jude Jamjoom - the Co-Founder of Jeddah Tribe, a thriving Tri community in Saudi Arabia
• 🇬🇧🤸🏻‍♀️ EP 23 - Sarah Mercer, a UAE Based Olympic gymnast for team GB who’s Olympic journey to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics was far from linear

This episode series is dedicated to the memory of Palestinian Karate Champion, Nagham Abu Samra (1999-2024). For more information on Nagham, please visit the following articles HERE and HERE.

If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.

Please also leave a review - 5 ⭐ only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Dawn & Afshan

This is the third episode in a series to commemorate International Women’s Day because for us, every day is International Women’s Day, as we work to help create a more welcoming, equitable and just sports industry for all athletes.

We’ve taken some of the best moments from the 50+ episodes that we’ve recorded to share with you tales of joy, mettle, courage and wisdom from an amazing array of women in sport from across the region.

If you haven’t checked out the first and second in the series, Episode 57 & 58, please go do that HERE and HERE.

In this episode, you’ll hear stories from:

• 🇩🇪 🐪 EP5 - Linda Krockenberger - the UAE’s first female camel jockey trainer
• 🇦🇪 🚴🏽‍♀️ EP28 - Safiya Al Sayegh - the first Emirati woman on the Women’s WorldTour and first Emirati woman set to compete in Cycling at the Summer Olympics
• 🇮🇷 🚵🏽‍♀️ EP20 - Faranak Partoatozar - an Iranian Mountain BIke champion, who recently became the first woman to podium in cycling at the Asian games for Iran
• 🇦🇪 🏋🏽‍♀️ EP3 - Amna Al Haddad - a barrier breaking Emirati powerlifter who’s many accomplishments paved the way for future generations of emirati athletes
• 🇦🇺 🏊🏼‍♀️EP28 - Jessica Smith - a UAE based Australian who uses her experience as a Paraolympian and personal story of to drive home the importance diversity and inclusion

This episode series is dedicated to the memory of Palestinian Karate Champion, Nagham Abu Samra (1999-2024). For more information on Nagham, please visit the following articles HERE and HERE.

If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.

Please also leave a review - 5 ⭐ only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Dawn & Afshan

This is the second episode in the Women of Wisdom, a series to commemorate International Women’s Day. For us, every day is International Women’s Day, as we work to help create a more welcoming, equitable and just sports industry for all athletes.

We’ve taken some of the best moments from the 50+ episodes that we’ve recorded to share with you tales of joy, mettle, courage and wisdom from an amazing array of women in sport from across the region.

If you haven’t checked out the first in the series, Episode 57, please go do that HERE.

In this episode, you’ll hear stories from:

• 🇲🇦 EP 45 - Moroccan Golfer, Maha Haddoui, the first Arab women on the Ladies European Tour
• 🇸🇦 EP 15 - Saudi Triathlon Trailblazer, Dina Al Tayeb, the first Saudi National and first Arab woman to complete the Ironman World Championships in Kona
• 🇧🇭 EP 44 - Bahraini Ultra-Runner Fatema Husain, the first Bahraini man or woman to finish UTMB, the world’s toughest ultra race and last but not least
• 🇮🇳 EP 4 - UAE Based Anisha Shetty of India, A two time UAE Muay Thai Champion and three time national Muay Thai champion for India

This episode series is dedicated to the memory of Palestinian Karate Champion, Nagham Abu Samra (1999-2024). For more information on Nagham, please visit the following articles HERE and HERE.

If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.

Please also leave a review - 5 ⭐ only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Dawn & Afshan

This is a very special edition of The Mettleset Podcast, the first of a series, with episodes going live daily next week as well.

For us, everyday is International Women’s Day as we work to help create a more welcoming, equitable and just sports industry for all athletes. Since our first episode went live in October 2022, we’ve had the opportunity to speak with an amazing array of wise women in sport - from across the region, and beyond it - who were kind enough to share their stories, their insights and advice and throughout it all, their strength.

In honour of our many guests, we wanted to compile some moments to share with you these stories of mettle, friendship, fun, identity, purpose, new beginnings, and big accomplishments from athletes all across the region.

This episode features:

• EP 19 Guest - Lebanese Mountaineer - Nelly Attar
• EP 10 Guest - Saudi Motorsport Star - Dania Akeel
• EP 2 Guest - UAE-Based Endurance Athlete - Ivana Kolaric
• EP 9 Guest - Afghan Triathlete - Zeinab Rezai
• EP 27 Guest - Guest Emirati Crossfitter Shahad Budebs

This episode series is dedicated to the memory of Palestinian Karate Champion, Nagham Abu Samra (1999-2024). For more information on Nagham, please visit the following articles HERE and HERE.

If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.

If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.

Please also leave a review - 5 ⭐ only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Dawn & Afshan

Today’s episode is a continuation of our discussion on female athlete health with Dr Kate Jordan, a sports and exercise medicine physician at based in Dubai.

The first part of this REWIND episode came out last week, and you can access it directly from here: EP55: Part 1 Female athlete health: Sports and Exercise Medicine doctor Kate Jordan on common injuries, LEA and right fuelling for performance.

In this episode, we go deeper into our discussion on training on your menstrual cycle, hormones, the importance of supplements, and strength and resistance training as we age.

We would like to add that this is a general discussion on athlete health and any information in this podcast is for educational purposes only, and does not intend to substitute a personal consultation with a physician, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any health concerns, please speak to your doctor.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

To know more about Dr. Kate Jordan, visit find her on LinkedIn.

Today’s episode was supported by the awesome and adventurous team at Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest pool. Check them out for some truly awe-inspiring scuba and freedive experiences. Visit www.deepdivedubai.com

For more info, visit www.themettleset.com , and follow us on @themettleset

Dawn

Concussions, shoulder troubles, ACL tears, low bone density, Low Energy Availability, menopause …

Sports, and injuries from it, tend to impact female athletes in a different way to their male counterparts. 

Yet, it is only now that awareness and medical research has ramped up around the gender differences in sports medicine. 

Joining us on today’s show to discuss some of the most pressing issues in female athlete health is Dr Kate Jordan, a sports and exercise medicine physician at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Dubai.

Dr Jordan has worked with elite athletes throughout her career. She’s been with international teams at the London 2021 Olympics, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games,  She has also been with the British Olympic team, Scottish Rugby and Football, and at the Scottish Institute of Sports.

Dr Jordan is currently working with British Swimming, for World Rugby as a tournament doctor and a medical educator, and in anti-doping. 

Having treated a wide range of illnesses and injuries in elite sports, Dr Jordan shares insights from her personal experiences with patients and current research around female health. She also demystifies female health concerns and talks about the need to look closely at the performance vs long-term health balance. 

This is the first or our two part interview with Dr Jordan where we explore common injuries in female athletes, Low Energy Availability, disordered eating and the right fuelling for performance and health. 

Tune in next week for Part 2 where we discuss training, the menstrual cycle, hormones and menopause, as well.

We would like to add that this is a general discussion on female athlete health and any information in this podcast is for educational purposes only, and does not intend to substitute a personal consultation with a physician, diagnosis or treatment if you have any health concerns. 

Enjoy!

To know more about Dr. Kate Jordan, find her on LinkedIn.

Today’s episode was supported by the awesome and adventurous team at Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest pool. Check them out for some truly awe-inspiring scuba and freedive experiences. Visit www.deepdivedubai.com

For more info,  visit www.themettleset.com , and follow us on @themettleset

Dawn

@dawnable 

It is sport event season in the Middle East and one event that we’re super excited to see roll into Abu Dhabi for its second edition is The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open which is taking place 3-11 February at the International Tennis Center, Zayed Sports City. 

In today’s episode, we speak to one of the unsung heroines of the event, Vickie Gunnarss, Senior Director, Global Partnerships and Business Development for IMG Tennis Events.

Our Vickie  provides many lessons and learnings for any of our listeners who want to work in sport and perhaps is very relatable to those who do work in sport. We also cover: 

 🎾 Vickie’s own path into sport which started in childhood in Sweden

🎾 Tennis School and how she became a scholarship athlete in the USA 

🎾 Representation in Tennis, 

🎾 How Tennis is moving towards pay equity,  

🎾 The role of Tennis great Billie Jean King and what it means to all women in sport 

🎾 How she made the transition from athlete to sports management. 

Last but certainly not least, we chat through all the anticipated action of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open and why you must go. We get a little explainer on what it means for this event to be a WTA 500 event, we talk about the stars of the event, which this year will include World No 6, Tunisia’s own Ons Jabeur, Naomi Osaka, and Emma Raducanu just to name a few. Buy your tickets here: https://www.mubadalaabudhabiopen.com/tickets/

Another cool event that Vickie played a key role in bringing to life is the Jasmin Open in Tunisia which you can read all about HERE. 

Please also leave a review - 5 ⭐ only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests. 

Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore. 

We hope you enjoy the episode! 

Dawn & Afshan