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Sports

The big game is about more than winner and losers; it can shape our culture and society. We explain how.

The NFL’s head trauma problem isn’t going awayThe NFL’s head trauma problem isn’t going away
Sports

Concussions — and Brett Favre’s Parkinson’s diagnosis — are putting a spotlight on head trauma.

By Li Zhou
Shohei Ohtani just did something no pro baseball player has ever doneShohei Ohtani just did something no pro baseball player has ever done
Sports

His staggering new record cements his dominance in the sport.

By Li Zhou
How Raygun earned her breaking world champ spot — fair and squareHow Raygun earned her breaking world champ spot — fair and square
Culture

The truth behind the ongoing controversy over the highly memeable dancer.

By Aja Romano
The fight over Jordan Chiles’s bronze medal is barely about gymnasticsThe fight over Jordan Chiles’s bronze medal is barely about gymnastics
Culture

The Olympian was asked to give her medal back — and the racist attacks began.

By Alex Abad-Santos
The case for pole dancing in the OlympicsThe case for pole dancing in the Olympics
Culture

Pole dancing is basically gymnastics. But the world isn’t ready for it.

By Celia Ford
Paris reminded us why we love the OlympicsParis reminded us why we love the Olympics
Today, Explained newsletter

Paris hosted a great Olympics. That’ll probably be the exception going forward.

By Bryan Walsh
Who is Noah Lyles? The star sprinter’s Olympics went perfectly — until it didn’t.Who is Noah Lyles? The star sprinter’s Olympics went perfectly — until it didn’t.
Olympics

The Olympian won gold in the 100 meters, then caught Covid and came up short in his signature event.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Everything you need to know for breaking’s Olympic debutEverything you need to know for breaking’s Olympic debut
Culture

Rule number one: Don’t call it breakdancing.

By Aja Romano
Why India’s star wrestler was disqualified at the OlympicsWhy India’s star wrestler was disqualified at the Olympics
Olympics

Vinesh Phogat was just ounces away from a medal.

By Ellen Ioanes
Those Olympics AI ads feel bad for a reasonThose Olympics AI ads feel bad for a reason
Culture

It’s not just Google’s “Dear Sydney” commercial that feels soulless and strange.

By Rebecca Jennings
Can men’s gymnastics be saved?Can men’s gymnastics be saved?
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Just as the US team enters its influencer era, the sport is in trouble.

By Denise Guerra
The misleading controversy over an Olympic women’s boxing match, briefly explained The misleading controversy over an Olympic women’s boxing match, briefly explained 
Sports

Conservatives are capitalizing on the abandoned Khelif-Carini fight to levy anti-trans attacks.

By Li Zhou
3 unexpected winners — and 1 predictable loser — from the Paris Olympics so far3 unexpected winners — and 1 predictable loser — from the Paris Olympics so far
Olympics

Forget the medals — these athletes won the internet’s love.

By Izzie Ramirez, Meredith Haggerty and 1 more
Simone Biles’s legacy is equal parts dominance and resilience Simone Biles’s legacy is equal parts dominance and resilience 
Culture

The GOAT just took her team to another Olympic gold.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Discrimination against trans Olympians has roots in Nazi GermanyDiscrimination against trans Olympians has roots in Nazi Germany
Culture

The forgotten Olympic history of trans athletes.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Think like an OlympianThink like an Olympian
Even Better

More of a mathlete than an athlete? A gold medal mindset can help you do almost anything better.

By Keren Landman, MD
The good, the bad, and the weird of the 2024 Olympics opening ceremonyThe good, the bad, and the weird of the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony
Sports

Four winners and six losers from the day.

By Alex Abad-Santos and Bryan Walsh
Arson attacks underscore the security and terror threats to the Paris OlympicsArson attacks underscore the security and terror threats to the Paris Olympics
Olympics

Officials say Paris will be the “safest place in the world” for the Olympics. Here’s what they’re up against.

By Joshua Keating
Inspired by the Olympics? You can become an athlete at any age.Inspired by the Olympics? You can become an athlete at any age.
Even Better

It’s never too late to pick up a new sport.

By Allie Volpe
Paris 2024: Olympics news and updatesParis 2024: Olympics news and updates
Olympics
By Gabriela Fernandez
The ugly process of turning beautiful women into Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersThe ugly process of turning beautiful women into Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Culture

Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts is a convincing argument that the organization shouldn’t exist

By Alex Abad-Santos
Can Paris fix its poop problem before the Olympics?Can Paris fix its poop problem before the Olympics?
Play
Video

Paris’s bold Olympic promise to clean the River Seine.

By Coleman Lowndes
Simone Biles is so backSimone Biles is so back
Culture

Biles’s huge win at the Olympic trials sends a big message on mental health.

By Li Zhou
How the UFC explains the USAHow the UFC explains the USA
Audio
Sports

Ultimate fighting and the 2024 election’s connections, explained

By Hady Mawajdeh
People can’t stop being weird about Caitlin ClarkPeople can’t stop being weird about Caitlin Clark
Culture

The backlash to the star rookie’s Olympic basketball snub, explained

By Alex Abad-Santos
The messy discussion around Caitlin Clark, Chennedy Carter, and the WNBA, explainedThe messy discussion around Caitlin Clark, Chennedy Carter, and the WNBA, explained
Culture

A foul from Carter sparked a debate that taps into racist and sexist tropes.

By Li Zhou
The NCAA’s proposal to pay college athletes is fair. That's the problem.The NCAA’s proposal to pay college athletes is fair. That's the problem.
Policy

The end of amateurism finally comes for college sports. Will we miss it?

By Bryan Walsh
The WNBA’s meteoric rise in popularity, in one chartThe WNBA’s meteoric rise in popularity, in one chart
Culture

The WNBA is booming. It’s part of a larger trend in women’s sports.

By Li Zhou
The controversy over Harrison Butker’s misogynistic commencement speech, explainedThe controversy over Harrison Butker’s misogynistic commencement speech, explained
Politics

Butker’s address was a textbook case of conservative sexism and homophobia.

By Li Zhou
Challengers forces us to ask: Is tennis sexy?Challengers forces us to ask: Is tennis sexy?
Culture

An investigation into a sport of short shorts and thrown rackets.

By Alex Abad-Santos and Kyndall Cunningham
Jontay Porter’s lifetime NBA ban highlights the risks of sports gamblingJontay Porter’s lifetime NBA ban highlights the risks of sports gambling
Sports

It’s a case that underscores how betting could continue to threaten the game.

By Li Zhou
Caitlin Clark’s staggeringly low starting salary, briefly explainedCaitlin Clark’s staggeringly low starting salary, briefly explained
Sports

The WNBA draft puts pro basketball’s longstanding pay gap on stark display.

By Li Zhou
Why we never stopped talking about OJ SimpsonWhy we never stopped talking about OJ Simpson
Culture

Long after the Trial of the Century ended, we couldn’t help obsessing over a fallen hero.

By Constance Grady
Why March Madness is all about Caitlin ClarkWhy March Madness is all about Caitlin Clark
Culture

The most exciting player in college basketball, explained.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani has been caught up in a gambling controversy. He won’t be the last.Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani has been caught up in a gambling controversy. He won’t be the last.
Today, Explained newsletter

From baseball to March Madness, how gambling is ruining sports.

By Bryan Walsh
Could a gambling “error” cost you March Madness?Could a gambling “error” cost you March Madness?
Today, Explained newsletter

Sports betting is about the odds, but sports books decide whether the odds are fair.

By Hady Mawajdeh
The real scandal in Formula 1 is its attitude toward womenThe real scandal in Formula 1 is its attitude toward women
Sports

The Christian Horner alleged sexting scandal isn’t just gossip. It reflects the sport’s systemic misogyny.

By Izzie Ramirez
Taylor Swift, the NFL, and two routes to cultural dominanceTaylor Swift, the NFL, and two routes to cultural dominance
Today, Explained newsletter

An extra-super Super Bowl is in store.

By Bryan Walsh
Usher has a Super Bowl-worthy legacy. Why don’t people act like it?
Culture

Put some respect on Usher’s name.

By Fabiola Cineas
Why conservatives are melting down over Taylor SwiftWhy conservatives are melting down over Taylor Swift
Culture

Swift represents a constituency they’re losing big time: Young women.

By Li Zhou