I really enjoyed interviewing Jayèma, the footballing hairstylist who had not heard of Messi & Haaland until this World Cup. But she hangs out with Lamine Yamal & his family & works with Raphinha, Rashford, Madueke etc. She's authentic, hardworking, funny & great www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Thanks to the great Sarah Storey for sharing the news of her retirement in our interview. What an athlete...74 major medals, including 19 golds at nine Paralympics. What a woman....who is also the chair of Lancashire Cricket & works with Andy Burnham in Manchester www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...

It was good to interview Tim Henman about his BnB days in Earls Court when he was starting out as a pro on his way to becoming World No4. We also spoke about his best man and BnB pal, Andrew Richardson, coaching Emma Raducanu again, and Alcaraz, Draper & Sinner. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...

Thanks Lewis Moody for a special interview as he spoke so openly about dealing with MND. The disease is harsh and cruel but Lewis, who turned 48 yesterday, is full of hope as he made this telling point: “MND is not incurable; it’s just underfunded.” www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...

As Mexico and South Africa prepare to kick off another World Cup, I went back over my history dissertation from 2022. I looked at how the tournament in 2010 helped fuel xenophobia in the country and the failures of FIFA. 16 years on, little has changed. jackimmcrae.com/2026/06/11/h...

Thanks Matty Lee for talking so honestly about life after winning Olympic gold with Tom Daley - from financial problems and a loss of purpose to depression, panic attacks and IOC President Kirsty Coventry now saying that Olympians shouldn't win prize money... www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...

It was good to talk to Kelly Cates about presenting the World Cup and why, despite the many concerns, the old fever is starting to kick as she plans to "get in Irn-Bru and Tunnocks Caramel Wafers and Teacakes and make it a party atmosphere" in the BBC studio... www.theguardian.com/football/202...

My son Jack and I were in Budapest for the Champions League final. I think this is a pretty good account of his weekend

A few of us spoke to Anthony Joshua today as he explained how he has had to bury his emotions since the car crash which took the lives of his two close friends last December. He also spoke about his friendship with Oleksandr Usyk and his disdain for Tyson Fury www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...

This is a little self-indulgent and very personal but it's been a long old time for me and Arsenal: from apartheid to Budapest, Swindon to Soweto and somehow ending up here, in Hungary for the CL final tonight, with my Arsenal-crazy son @jackimmcrae.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/football/202...

I have just landed in Budapest on a plane full of fellow Arsenal fans as they crooned their way through the Gooners songbook. Tomorrow the Guardian are running a very personal piece about Arsenal and me, from apartheid to Budapest. It's been quite a trip...

Four and a half months ago I interviewed João Fonseca and felt sure that he was on his way to a special career. Today, he came back from two sets to love down to beat Novak Djokovic in Paris. This could be the start of something for the great young Brazilian. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...

Thanks Sol Campbell for talking about Arsenal finally winning the league again, Saturday's game against PSG, scoring in the CL final 20 years ago, just months after his psychological collapse and why only Timber & Saliba make his combined XI with the Invincibles www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The Arsenal. Champions of England. Best night of my life. #Arsenal #AFC #COYG

I am biased, but I think this is a pretty good, heartfelt and personal piece on a day of county cricket at Lord's

Fight Like a Girl is a raw and moving new feature film about a women's boxing team in Congo. It's based on a true story about Clarck Ntambwe and her inspirational trainer Kibomango. Thanks to the great Ama Qamata, Clarck and Matthew Leutwyler for our interviews www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

I liked interviewing Zak Chelli, a supply teacher by day and a KO artist by night, after he shocked David Morrell. Rocky steeled himself for unlikely glory by pounding slabs of meat in a slaughterhouse. Mr Chelli, instead, was teaching in a school near Heathrow. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley both won new respect for their courage and resolve after a fight which captured the glory and the damage of boxing in equal measure. Dubois, Don Charles and Frank Warren spoke to us in the early hours of Sunday morning... www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

“Howard Foster’s pale blue shirt turned crimson as if he worked in an abattoir rather than a boxing ring as a referee” @donmcrae.bsky.social for @theguardian.com on the brutal battle that took place between Daniel Dubois & Fabio Wardley in Manchester last night. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

It was a privilege to be ringside for Daniel Dubois v Fabio Wardley. Such courage and resolve from both of them in this blood-soaked epic. Look at Andrew Couldridge's incredible pic above my piece. Amid a blurring deadline I tried to write about the fight. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

This week I watched table tennis. Marty Supreme may have been the sport’s main talking point earlier this year, but China’s men’s defeat to Sweden on Sunday was a shock. Elsewhere, China’s women were flawless and there was disappointment for England. jackimmcrae.com/2026/05/05/t...

Wardley v Dubois has enough intrigue and jeopardy to make it more interesting than Fury v Joshua. A little preview of tomorrow night's fight between two powerfully destructive punchers - who are both clearly vulnerable in different ways. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

I enjoyed interviewing Fabio Wardley about his testing fight against Daniel Dubois this Saturday, the rise of Moses Itauma, Fury-Joshua being years too late, his concerns about doping, his punditry sideline and tattoos www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

I liked listening to Joe Johnson relive becoming world snooker champion 40 years ago as a 150-1 outsider. He spoke about growing up as a mixed-race kid, overwhelming fame, an invitation from Princess Diana and his seven heart attacks. But Joe's doing well today. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/a...

Years in the making, and coming far too late in the faded careers of both former world heavyweight champions, the much-delayed showdown between Joshua and Fury will be a guaranteed money-spinner for them & their backers. But it's not too excting for the rest of us www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/a...

I interviewed Gianluigi Buffon. He spoke with intelligence and warmth as he reflected on the fleeting "death" of retirement, winning the World Cup, Zidane's headbutt, being part of Italy's failure to qualify again for the World Cup, depression, scandal and more www.theguardian.com/football/202...

This week I watched Aussie Rules. Australians may seem as if they are taking over London, but they have been playing sport in the capital for almost four decades. The North London Lions have built a special community and play a sport that is a joy to watch. jackimmcrae.com/2026/04/21/t...

I interviewed Lando Norris and the world champion was open, honest and articulate. And then his management stepped in to police and muzzle him in an attempt to "control the narrative." From then on it did not go too well....this is what happened. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/a...

I interviewed Nicky Henderson about the extraordinary story of Constitution Hill, the wonder horse who forgot how to jump. Constitution Hill continues his comeback on the flat and, after two stunning races without jumps, the great old boy is flying again... www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/a...

Late last night Tyson Fury threatened to eat a thousand Easter eggs if Anthony Joshua doesn't take a fight which has been hyped, delayed, postponed, cancelled and hyped again more times than many of us care to remember.  Boxing? Yep, as surreal as ever... www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/a...

A preview of Fury v Makhmudov. Fury’s last dance might have a few laps to run but it could be more of a farewell tour for a great fighter who, without boxing, still can’t fill the gaping hole left inside him. It also feels like the looming end of an era... www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/a...

I interviewed Arslanbek Makhmudov as he looked ahead to fighting Tyson Fury, whom he calls "the professor." He also spoke about Dagestan, moving to Canada, dealing with defeat and why he found it so "terrible" to fight a bear... www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/a...

Thanks Lauren Price for explaining that boxing is never simple or easy. A year on from a brilliant performance against Natasha Jonas she finally fights again on Saturday. We spoke about boxing politics, her wedding & her hopes of facing the great Claressa Shields www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/a...

I interviewed Derek Chisora and we spoke about his 50th and last fight against Deontay Wilder, the dangers of boxing, brain damage, buying burgers after his fights, racism and Reform and his friendship with Nigel Farage who then briefly, bizarrely, joined us... www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

This week I watched squash. I saw one of the openings rounds of the Optasia Squash Championships, which reaches its conclusion today. The screech of trainers and the knockings of the rubber ball whizzing around the glass walls have echoed in my head all week. jackimmcrae.com/2026/03/29/t...

Moses Itauma doesn't like interviews but he gave one to me. He's a potentially great heavyweight and he's got a real story...Slovakia, Nigeria, Chatham, identity, racism, poverty, fragility, sparring world champions as a 15-year-old and avoiding nicknames www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

The paperback of The Last Bell: Life, Death & Boxing has just been published. Thanks to @amandakelley.bsky.social for the brilliant cover painting and to Simon & Schuster for publishing the book. Here's how it looks

I was at the Emirates for that Reiss Nelson goal and for those Declan Rice free-kicks – special moments that ultimately led to nothing. I was there again on Saturday when Max Dowman scored another magic goal, but maybe this time it is different. #AFC jackimmcrae.com/2026/03/17/n...

Tony Powell was a secretly gay footballer for Norwich City in the 1970s. He was team-mates with Justin Fashanu, the first English footballer to come out, but Tony had to abandon his family for 35 years. I interviewed Tony & Robbie Rogers about his incredible story www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The extraordinary story of Tony Powell. By @donmcrae.bsky.social

Thanks Sean Bowen, the champion jockey, for talking so openly about his hopes for the Cheltenham Festival, past disappointments, why he loves winning so much and yet remains relaxed, his similarities and differences to AP McCoy and being allergic to horses www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

Thanks to Jennifer Shahade, the former US chess champion, for her powerful story about how life has changed since her allegations of sexual assault...in a brave decision which allowed so many other women to share their stories about abuse and prejudice in chess. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

James Vowles is one of the most interesting men in F1 and I really enjoyed interviewing him about his work as team principal of Williams, how he got into the sport, overcoming adversity, winning multiple world titles and his challenges and hopes in a new season www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

This week I watched hurling. South Ruislip was transformed as Westmeath travelled to take on London. Other sports have seen money and fame warp its sense of purpose, lost in a greedy pursuit of revenues. Hurling makes a nice change. jackimmcrae.com/2026/02/25/t...

It's almost 20 years since I took my son @jackimmcrae.bsky.social to see his first Arsenal game. He has just rewatched it and written about it as the familiar old nervy Arsenal tremors are endured again before today's #NLD. But so much has changed since 2006 and Wenger's 10th anniversary...

Keith Wood was special, again, as we spoke about life, death, sons and fathers, the Six Nations and the lessons of the last thirty years and more... www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...

This week I watched American Football. It is almost a decade since Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the US national anthem and his words still ring true. With the FIFA World Cup around the corner, Superbowl LX gave a glimpse into what could happen. jackimmcrae.com/2026/02/10/t...

I was really impressed by Hollie Davidson when we met in Edinburgh. This week she makes history by becoming the first woman to referee a Six Nations game and she reflected with powerful honesty about the kind of abuse she has had to overcome to reach this point www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...

Thanks Matt Weston for talking about being the favourite to win the skeleton at the Winter Olympics next week. Matt also spoke about what it's like to race down a thick sheet of ice on a high-tech version of a sled at 90mph – headfirst and with no brakes... www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...

This week I watched ice hockey. The Haringey Huskies won 6-5 against the Chelmsford Warriors. The hosts had former #AFC and #CFC goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank for his efforts in goal as a strong home crowd cheered the Huskies on to victory. jackimmcrae.com/2026/01/27/t...