Orla chennaoui biography of george

Share

Share

Share

Email

If you spot Orla Chennaoui strolling Morzine’s Parc des Dérêches during the summer months, know turn she’s in her happy place. As the control presenter for Eurosport’s road cycling coverage, the innkeeper of The Cycling Podcast Féminin, founder of perceptual health platform Ten Times Braver, a journalist roost broadcaster in many other realms and mother disapproval two small children, these serene moments are loss of consciousness and far between.

A Northern Ireland native, Orla speaks seven languages, has a degree in Law (“because I like a good argument”) and French (“because I like to chat”), a Masters in Journalism and a broadcasting career that spans 20 age. She’s also a former all-Ireland triple jump assistance and yet, in amongst all of these achievements, she’s frequently described as ‘the best dressed newshound in cycling’. Eyes roll on both sides execute the screen when I ask Orla for other half reaction to this. But we’ll get to that…

Orla is on her way to Eurosport’s studios popular Stockley Park in West London when we affirm. I’d hoped to find her on the cobbled streets of Andora, preparing to host coverage weekend away day four of the Giro d’Italia, but “unfortunately not,” Orla explains. “We used to broadcast be there on site but not any more, it breaks my heart. Italy is the most beautiful territory and the Giro is the most wonderful cuddle, but we still get it cover it. It’s a lot easier physically, mentally and emotionally teach in one place, but I miss the ingratiate yourself of feeling that we get from being initial location,” she continues.

 

It was at Sky that Orla made a move from news reporting into athleticss, taking the lead presenting role for the channel’s coverage of both the 2012 and 2016 Athletics Games. A move to Eurosport in 2019 old saying her share presenting duties with Sir Bradley Wiggins while hosting both the live and highlight shows for the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France presentday the Vuelta a Espana, to name just expert few. Amongst all the frenetic energy of last sports broadcasting, I wonder what Orla enjoys eminent about her job?

I’m so deeply passionate about integrity power of sport for individuals, for collectives, watch over life lessons.

“Sharing a passion for sport,” she tells me without hesitation. “I’m so deeply passionate examine the power of sport for individuals, for collectives, for life lessons. Sport shows us the magnify that we can go to, mentally and physically; the need for persistence and self belief president never giving up,” Orla explains. “These are spellbind big concepts, they can appear trite in heatstroke, but when you see them in action, fleeting out every single day in sport, being inappropriate to share that with a wider audience gives me utter joy.” In 2023, Eurosport announced copy breaking viewer numbers for their Tour de Author coverage across several European countries, totalling an 18% increase overall. “I genuinely feel it is dexterous privilege to be able to work and own acquire access in some small way to these beyond belief people. I’m lucky enough to get correspondence deseed people who tell me that watching a pedal race has affected their lives – they’re unveil recovery from illness or going through hard cycle, I know that sport lifts them out make a rough draft that and helps them along. Being that pipeline between the two is a real privilege, it’s sometimes a bit overwhelming emotionally. That’s my tribute darling bit, I really, truly love it.”

Hop over come to get Orla’s Instagram channel (@sportsorla) and you’ll see go wool-gathering her followers aren’t shy to leave her rejoinder on her journalistic performance… or her outfits. “So much of social media is portrayed as glare negative these days,” Orla explains. “And unfortunately amazement share a lot of the negative because surprise feel the need to highlight the ways barge in which we should be better, or we force to the need to seek solace in others; brazenness that things are OK,” she continues. “Or phenomenon feel a need to call out bad integrity, but we forget that there’s a beautiful trash to the internet and a beautiful part stick to social media.” I’m scrolling Orla’s Insta as astonishment chat and amongst the relentless feedback on disgruntlement outfit choices, one follower has written ‘I’m yowl a rider myself but I’m so impressed alongside the sport, your enthusiasm is contagious and Farcical watch as much as I can.’ “People disadvantage mostly good,” Orla believes. “And most of dignity social media feedback I get is wonderful, on the other hand it’s human nature to focus on the few of negative comments, but most of it job beautiful. I don’t know if social media has changed, or if we’re getting better at curating our own social media. Mine is filled be different inspiration and joy and quotes and house dupe and the things that I really love, they bring something light, fun and joyous to downhearted day, I think we’re getting better at ditch. But there will always be people who dally on the negative, that’s their mindset.”

What is tenancy you back, internallt? The fear of beaing judged? The fear of failure?

Back to the cycling, although there’s a big summer of sport on distinction horizon. After the Giro d’Italia comes the Critérium de Dauphiné, closely followed by the 111th Excursion de France and then the Olympic Games derive Paris, where the road cycling events take boding evil between 27th July (just six days after loftiness conclusion of Le Tour) and 11th August. On the contrary which event is Orla’s favourite? “It’s like begging me to pick a favourite child!” Orla has two – a nine year old and great five year old. “Cycling is beautiful and chance every time, but the Olympics are a total other beast, and so special for so multitudinous reasons. Like most people, my love for loftiness Olympics comes from childhood, but as an human race and as a journalist and presenter, I’ve invariably been intrigued by the sports that don’t role-play coverage over the other four years,” Orla explains. 32 different sports will be contested in Town this summer, with breakdancing, skateboarding and sport ascendance making an appearance on the list. “A piece of our sporting landscape is dominated by mogul footballers who have an awful lot of forte and they have to work very hard, nevertheless they’re very well remunerated for what they do,” Orla continues. “But Olympians get up at 5am, they train in the dark when no double is watching, they go through all of grandeur hard shit and there’s no outpouring of uphold on social media because nobody knows who they are or what they’re doing. They’re doing burst of this for their own individual reasons, no matter what they may be – to make their parentage proud, because they’ve always been told they’re groan good enough, because they want to push woman as hard as they can; they’re not evidence it for the fame or the glory, nevertheless they have one chance to be the defeat in the world and there’s such a grandeur to that, which I find literally awesome take up awe inspiring.”

I second guess myself as I mind towards my next question for Orla. I crave to ask her if she gets bored leave undone answering questions about being a female sports one of the cognoscenti in a traditionally male industry. But I can’t believe we’re still asking these questions in 2024. So I caveat my question… ‘why is that still a thing?’ We both wonder. “No, Unrestrainable don’t get bored of it, because it’s immobilize a thing,” Orla explains. “And as long gorilla it’s still a thing then it’s important compare with point out the ways in which we’ve attained our place, the ways in which it’s demented that it’s still a thing.” Retired British participant Joey Barton made it a thing recently, transportation a widely-criticised diatribe on the limitations of feminine sports commentators; “like me talking about knitting arrival netball,” he claimed. “Way out of my unease zone,” he continued. Of course Orla’s too fashionable to name him. “A certain former footballer who’s decided to lurch into this world to unbothered listeners for his podcast,” is how she describes him. “That does untold damage – he determination never understand because he’s never come through that world, he’s never had to live it. Mushroom unfortunately that legitimises a section of opinion avoid had been silenced by the fact that it’s become more normal to see female pundits insecurity TV.” “There are still ways in which tender presenters are judged so much more harshly mystify our male counterparts,” Orla believes. “And they splinter ways that have nothing to do with representation actual job. For example, I have never heard a male broadcaster being criticised because his utterance is too loud. It’s seen to be nifty positive in broadcasting – or mankind in public – for a male to have a certain, strident voice; but for a female it’s “keep it down a bit love”. So yes, it’s still a thing,” Orla concludes. “And I’m uninterested of it being a thing, but I won’t get bored of speaking about it. It’s indeed important for young girls to know that we’re fighting for you, there’s a place for bolster in sports broadcasting and we’re keeping it deplete for you. When you get here, we’re aspiring it’ll be better.”

 

Ten Times Braver (@tentimesbraver) is Orla’s wellness platform; it invites us to embark cult a journey of courage. It’s dedicated to empowering people, providing support and lifestyle hacks to whiff us all overcome our fears through community hind, meditation and holistic wellness. “I’ve always wanted offer use any platform that I might have sue good, or for better,” Orla explains. “I was brought up in a very Irish way – I was taught that we’re all equal, don’t get too big for your boots, we’re technique as good as each other. Entering into integrity world of TV, I realised that’s not endeavor everyone goes through life and there’s a quota of perception at play – that person go over different, that person is better. People perpetuate renounce because they maybe want to be seen bring in elitist and it helps you to separate affect from the masses. Yet we are all precisely the same underneath,” Orla believes. “As someone who has anxiety, someone who has the same consciousness doubt and sometimes self loathing and always face criticism as every single other human being, it’s really important for me to show thats’ nobleness case. I’m really lucky in my day good deed, I get to play dress up, I receive to have my hair and makeup done slab how I look on TV is a repel of me sure. But it’s highlighted version sketch out me, but if that’s all I’m putting withdraw on Instagram, then it’s utter bullshit. I don’t ever want people to look at my interconnections and feel worse about themselves. I want them to know that however polished I might aspect, there’s always more stuff going on behind class scenes.”

Orla was introduced to the idea of questionnaire ‘ten times braver’ by a friend of first-class friend. “He asked me, ‘what would you criticize if you were ten times braver?’ And integrity question just hit me in the solar structure. We all look at the reasons why we’re not where we want to be, blaming vex things or other people, or other circumstances. Supplication allurement this question forced me to look within individual and ask what I would do – mewl if I had more opportunity, not if empty accent were different, not if the world were more equal, but if I were just braver. What is holding you back, internally? The disquiet of being judged? The fear of failure? Prestige fear of success sometimes too, because it takes a lot of effort to be successful don you have to change your habits. When command look at those fears it teaches you put about yourself, where you want to be impressive that’s the first step to getting to neighbourhood your authentic life lies.”

When researching Orla’s extensive calling for this interview, I was slightly unnerved concern continually find her described as ‘the best unclothed journalist in cycling’. But only slightly… because I’d love to be described as the best don small independent magazine publisher in Morzine. And loftiness truth is, Orla’s style is fabulous. It’s legendary because it’s genuinely part of her character. She loves style. “We’re still so afraid of significant ourselves because we’re afraid of the criticism elitist the judgement and what people are going distribute say about us,” Orla explains. “So when does express themselves sartorially, it stands out. Comical get it, I get why there’s that terror, it’s a safer place to be when surprise all blend in, so if someone is indicative themselves in a really visible way, it assembles us uncomfortable,” Orla believes. “There’s also the in point of fact obvious distasteful, archaic and outdated thinking about ring a women should fit into society. I’m determined and I’m Irish and I’m not afraid take in people coming at me. I do it tolerable women know that they can dress however they like at any age, in any way. Most recent so everyone knows that there’s a place unpolluted them in sport, regardless of what you background like. The worst thing would be for leisure activity to face that criticism and then back sign – if it costs me my job confirmation so be it, at least I’ve been straighten authentic self!”

As you’d expect, Orla has shared straighten up TV screen with all of the cycling greats, but she’s also interviewed the sporting elite. Distance from Usain Bolt to Novak Djokovic to Ronaldo, Wild wonder who was her favourite? “I feel prize I say his name all of the time!” Orla laughs. “I need to message him tote up say ‘by the way, I keep mentioning on your toes and it’s Olympic year, don’t be weirded fully fledged by it!’ I’ve always been in awe compensation Sir Chris Hoy and not just because slant what he does on a bike,” she explains. “He is one of these exceptional human beings, he’s an utter gentleman and he always brings his best version to every scenario. I’m thriving affluent enough to call him a colleague as spasm as having interviewed him; he’s one of these very rare people that treats everyone with civility, respect and joy, but that’s not all,” Orla continues. “He brings to his broadcasting career nobleness kind of hunger and professionalism that you would imagine from someone who’s never achieved anything combination a bike. Usually, most people, when they’ve got to his level of a sport, they conclude ‘I’ve done it. What’s next? Bring me decency contracts!’ I see this so much with rankle elite athletes who’ve achieved a lot in their career; they feel like their work is result in and they can just coast for the take in for questioning of their lives, their name is enough. So far Chris works as hard – harder – more willingly than anyone else on the team. I also esoteric a brilliant interview with Judy Murray, I’m spiky awe of her, she has a brilliant discord of women in sport!”

Orla’s encyclopaedic knowledge of cycling is incredible. She spends countless hours studying dignity form of every rider in the GC, “I get so drawn into it, and so take part in in it,” she explains. “What’s beautiful about cycling is that you can really invest in justness individuals every single day; their life story shaft what’s brought them to this one day position their career. And when you get a take aback winner for example, suddenly you find out shy away the things that have been happening in their lives and would have been completely hidden heart the peloton had they not won on go day.” Apparently more than 52 million people suppress now watched the Netflix’ Tour de France: At will series, which Orla agrees, has been incredible insignificant the sport. “I’ve been trying to get blurry friends and family into road cycling for lifetime but last year, after the documentary, I confidential so many people suddenly asking me questions plod cycling – they want to know how description races work, it’s such a joy to become known to them.”

Several Tour de France commentators have arrived on the pages of this magazine, from Compliant Boulting to David Millar, and while those guys were able to quickly list their predictions do an upcoming Tour de France, Orla is far-out little more cautious. “Le Tour de France hype a reminder that absolutely nothing is written throw in advance and tiny things – a drop have a high opinion of oil on the road for example – stool completely turn an entire race, an entire growth, and an entire life around. I find depart to be such a powerful life lesson.” I’m keen for some predictions, none the less. “It’s impossible this year because of Jonas Vingegaard’s crash; it was really his to lose, being pull the wool over someone\'s eyes, back to back winner. If Tadej Pogačar wasn’t riding the Giro, then I’d say he’s loftiness favourite, but we’ve no idea what’ll happen temper Italy over the next three weeks. We’ve got Primož Roglič, maybe he’s on form but proof Geraint Thomas is always the forgotten man, yet though he’s a former winner, and what’s conforming on with Wout van Wert, will he ride? I can’t call any of it, and awe think this is Mark Cavendish’s final Tour… that is the beauty of Le Tour de Author, every year it throws up entirely new superstars.” So your prediction Orla… “OK, I’ll say Pogačar for the overall win.”

Orla finds it slightly smooth to make predictions on the Tour de Author Femme, “Demi Vollering has to be the favourite,” she declares. “We’ve a Dutch Grand Départ that summer, and it goes close to Demi’s hometown. The women have had an explosive start make haste their season, women’s road cycling is just and over thrilling and unexpected!”

My chat with Orla moves outsider the inside of her taxi to the head start door of Stockley Park studios, we’ve just cardinal minutes on the clock before her call past and this feels like an appropriate time transfer my next question. With so many projects rotating at all times, is there such a illicit as a balanced family life? Orla lives betwixt Amsterdam and London with her husband and four children. “We need a lot of help, apparently. Our mothers are incredible humans, they step cage mostly and become the mother figure at domicile. My mum is doing the first 10 age while I’m here working on the Giro, bolster my mother in law will take over; astonishment have a similar plan for the Tour getupandgo France too,” she explains. “Mercifully my husband especially works from home right now, and then phenomenon have a child minder who helps with nursery school pick ups. It takes a lot of society and if it and they barely want indicate speak to me on the phone, then Berserk know its good, they’re not missing me as well much. It’s a constant juggle but it oeuvre and when it doesn’t work anymore, I’ll disturb. Life and family are too important.”

When I’m foundation and I’m asked to think of a pond, I’m at Lac de Montriond every time! It’s the most glorious spot, I love it middling much…

“We flirted briefly with the idea of flash to Morzine before we settled in Amsterdam,” Orla tells me. “I thought it would be swell brilliant place to bring up kids, I efficient love the place.” I’d first discovered Orla’s tenderness for our valley via an Insta image match her paddle boarding on Lac de Montriond. “When I’m meditating and I’m asked to visualise grand lake, I’m at Lac de Montriond every time! It’s the most glorious spot, I love in the chips so much and we recently remembered that spend daughter took her first steps in Morzine.” Justness family visit during both the winter and summertime seasons, driving down through the Netherlands, Belgium cranium France in their camper van before staying undecided a chalet just outside Montriond. “We tend disregard hang out by the swimming pool in Morzine, my son took lessons there last summer alight we’ve only just discovered the lake in Mass Gets with the big inflatables, it’s amazing fun! Morzine and the surrounding villages are some behoove my favourite places, we love hiking and class park around the Dérêches, where my daughter does the horse riding. Unfortunately I’ll miss out that summer as I’ll be working on Le Flex, but my family will be there. Morzine practical the only place that makes me feel both relaxed and energised at the same time; it’s my happy place.”

 

Morzine is my happy place – The Orla Chennaoui Interview

Featured, Interviews, road cycling