Tough Guy competition: an extreme fun day out or an expression of masculinity in crisis?

Alexis Petridis goes behind the scenes of America's fastest growing sport to discover why the Tough Guy race – the ultimate obstacle course – looks set to become a global phenomenon

Wild swimming itself isn’t dangerous, but our behaviour around water can be

Daniel Start: The heatwave has seen many drownings, but the more experience our children have of open waters, the safer they'll be

How I train: Gemma Gibbons, judoka

Judoka Gemma Gibbons on breaking her wrist, putting on weight and going for gold at Rio

How I train: Louis Smith, gymnast

Olympic gymnast and Strictly star Louis Smith on avoiding carbs, crisps and chocolate, training twice a day, six days a week, and looking up to his mum

Marathon training: sometimes less is more

James Ruskin: With the London marathon approaching, many runners will see a day off as a wasted opportunity – but remember that the more you train, the more rest you need - it's quality not quantity that counts

Sex work at the Super Bowl: the myth and its makers

Melissa Gira Grant: Marquee sports events attract moral panics about prostitution and trafficking – but little genuine concern for sex workers' welfare

American football or rugby: which is more dangerous?

Barack Obama has said he thinks the sport may be too violent. But, in terms or risk, how does it measure up against the British equivalent?

Cycling in Britain: government to get serious with all-party inquiry

Parliamentary cycling group hopes to build on 2012's track success to get UK pedalling up European tables of bike use

Help for Heroes’ new rehab centre: ‘This is a launchpad for life’

Charity's flagship recovery centre in Wiltshire has all the facilities to help injured soldiers – and could even provide the next crop of Paralympic gold medallists for Rio 2016