Sarah Shephard

Staff Writer

Sarah Shephard spent 10 years at Sport magazine before becoming Deputy Head of Content at The Coaches' Voice. She has also written for publications such as The Times, The Guardian and The Sunday Times Magazine, among others.

How it felt as a woman in sport reading about David Sullivan allegations

The allegations against the West Ham owner - all of which he denies - cast a dark cloud over how football operates.

Sarah Shephard

Christian Eriksen: How do 'heart starter' ICDs work? And are athletes more at risk?

Sarah Shephard Comments count 3

FIFA's flip-flop over 'Watergate': Can fans bring bottles to stadiums after all?

Jessica Hopkins and Sarah Shephard Comments count 12

Katie Taylor to face unbeaten Flora Pili in retirement fight at Croke Park in Dublin

Sarah Shephard Comments count 6

Streams of mucus, inflammation and broken sleep: How hay fever affects elite sports performance

Sarah Shephard Comments count 13

Muhammad Ali died 10 years ago. His widow wants you to know why he still matters

Lonnie Ali says her late husband's legacy of compassion is more important than ever in a polarized world

Sarah Shephard Comments count 36

The making of England's World Cup squad video: Sweating on Toney and a Beatles song debate

From shutting down a New York street to late-night fretting over shock call-ups, this is how England revealed their 2026 squad to the world

Sarah Shephard Comments count 12

Anthony Joshua says he wants to ‘show how good I am’ as he prepares for boxing return

The 36-year-old will fight Albanian Kristian Prenga on July 25 in an event titled 'The Comeback'.

Sarah Shephard Comments count 7

PSG vs Arsenal: Who makes it into our writers’ combined Champions League final XIs?

Ousmane Dembele, David Raya, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Declan Rice... there will be plenty of talent on display on Saturday night

Nick Miller, Carl Anka and more Comments count 107

Premier League roundtable: The best and worst of 2025-26

The Athletic's writers review a rollercoaster Premier League season, filled with highs, lows and set-pieces

Michael Cox, Oliver Kay and more Comments count 157

Oleksandr Usyk survives scare, stops kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in 11th round

The Ukrainian heavyweight champion had a harder time with kickboxing champion fighting than expected in front of the pyramids of Giza.

Sarah Shephard Comments count 79

Hull City win £200m Championship play-off final to secure promotion to the Premier League

Oli McBurnie scored in the 94th minute at Wembley to win the final against Middlesbrough and seal promotion to the Premier League

Tom Burrows and Sarah Shephard Comments count 138

Fabio Wardley activates Daniel Dubois rematch clause: 'I'm coming for you and my belt'

Promoter Queensberry confirmed in a statement Wardley had activated the clause that was specified in the contract for their first fight

Sarah Shephard and Chris McKenna Comments count 14

How Rousey and Carano fought 'ring rust' with saunas, red light therapy and brain scans

MMA superstars are back fighting this Saturday but how they have prepared for their returns - and is it safe?

Sarah Shephard Comments count 40

Multi-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko announces return one year after retiring

Lomachenko, a three-weight world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, is a promotional free agent and aims to fight this year.

Chris McKenna and Sarah Shephard Comments count 21

Wardley vs Dubois was hailed as a boxing classic. It made me feel sick to my stomach

The all-British bout in Manchester on Saturday should have been stopped well before the 11th round

Sarah Shephard Comments count 234

Champions League final roundtable: What is the one thing that decides Arsenal v PSG?

Our experts break down where the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain will be won and lost

Carl Anka, Oliver Kay and more Comments count 248

Do multiple London derbies make it harder for Arsenal in Premier League title race?

Arsenal have three London derbies in their remaining Premier League fixtures. Whether this will help or hinder them depends on many factors

Sarah Shephard Comments count 71

Karren Brady's exit means the Premier League lacks senior women. And that's a problem

The departure of the West Ham chair means the top flight is dominated by an almost all-male chorus of voices

Sarah Shephard Comments count 157

Arsenal, Tottenham and the 'amoral' but 'delicious' art of rubbernecking

Taking glee in a rival's misfortune is rooted deep in the psychology of football fans - and humankind

Sarah Shephard Comments count 69

Man City vs Arsenal: Does Guardiola have the edge? Will this decide title? Predictions?

Our writers on what they expect to happen in City's title showdown with Arsenal at the Etihad

Oliver Kay, Nick Miller and more Comments count 33

Why footballers fear Achilles tendon ruptures more than any other injury

It is a long road back to the top for players who damage their Achilles. We spoke to experts about the injury, the surgery and the rehab

Sarah Shephard Comments count 70

Conor Benn signs new multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing

Benn left Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport to sign with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing in February.

Sarah Shephard and Chris McKenna Comments count 7

How to fuel a heavyweight like Tyson Fury: 3,500-calorie days, blended veg, and secret salmon

Can a heavyweight fighter eat whatever they want? Nutrition experts explain the science behind fuelling the likes of Fury and Anthony Joshua

Chris McKenna and Sarah Shephard Comments count 14

Lamine Yamal's pass vs Atletico was outrageous, but which is the best you have ever seen?

Inspired by Yamal's show-stopping assist against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, The Athletic's writers pick the best passes they've seen.

Sebastian Stafford-Bloor and more Comments count 237

Sarah Shephard

How it felt as a woman in sport reading about David Sullivan allegations

More Stories

Muhammad Ali died 10 years ago. His widow wants you to know why he still matters

The making of England's World Cup squad video: Sweating on Toney and a Beatles song debate

Anthony Joshua says he wants to ‘show how good I am’ as he prepares for boxing return

PSG vs Arsenal: Who makes it into our writers’ combined Champions League final XIs?

Premier League roundtable: The best and worst of 2025-26

Oleksandr Usyk survives scare, stops kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in 11th round

Hull City win £200m Championship play-off final to secure promotion to the Premier League

Fabio Wardley activates Daniel Dubois rematch clause: 'I'm coming for you and my belt'

How Rousey and Carano fought 'ring rust' with saunas, red light therapy and brain scans

Multi-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko announces return one year after retiring

Wardley vs Dubois was hailed as a boxing classic. It made me feel sick to my stomach

Champions League final roundtable: What is the one thing that decides Arsenal v PSG?

Do multiple London derbies make it harder for Arsenal in Premier League title race?

Karren Brady's exit means the Premier League lacks senior women. And that's a problem

Arsenal, Tottenham and the 'amoral' but 'delicious' art of rubbernecking

Man City vs Arsenal: Does Guardiola have the edge? Will this decide title? Predictions?

Why footballers fear Achilles tendon ruptures more than any other injury

Conor Benn signs new multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing

How to fuel a heavyweight like Tyson Fury: 3,500-calorie days, blended veg, and secret salmon

Lamine Yamal's pass vs Atletico was outrageous, but which is the best you have ever seen?