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<p>E.Y. Zhao is a writer and editor from St. Louis. Her debut novel, <a href="https://astrapublishinghouse.com/product/underspin-9781662603266/"><i>Underspin</i></a>, set in the world of competitive table tennis, is out now. She holds a BA in history from Harvard College and an MFA from the University of Michigan.</p>


E.Y. Zhao

Felix Lebrun of France competes in the Men's Singles Semifinal match against Wang Chuqin of China on day 7 of the United States Smash 2025 World Table Tennis at the Orleans Arena on July 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sweating Through The Existential Angst Of A Las Vegas Table Tennis Tournament

Barry Petchesky

Chris Robinson of the United States stands at the finish line after competing in the Men's 400 Meters Hurdles during the third leg of the Grand Slam Track series at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, on May 31, 2025. (Photo by STR/NurPhoto)

Life's Rich Pageant

Hurdler Wins 400-Meter Race Despite His Dick And Balls Falling Out Several Times

Tom Ley

A woman wearing Save Girls Sport hat records a video of transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (not pictured) during the girls long jump at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet at Moorpark High School on May 24, 2025 in Moorpark, California.

Youth Sports

It’s A Great Time To Be A Pathetic Loser


<p>Jasper Hutson is a lapsed journalist.</p>


Jasper Hutson

Fitness

Any “Halfway Decent Person” Can Join And Own Ireland’s Oldest Gym


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

Alysa Liu of United States competes in the Women´s Free Skating during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at the TD Garden on March 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. She is dressed in gold and pointing toward the sky with a smile on her face.

Alysa Liu’s World Title Is More Than Just A Comeback

Patrick Redford

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Stephen Curry (4) of Team USA in action during Men's Gold Medal game between Team France and Team United States on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images)

‘Court Of Gold’ Is Brilliant When It Gets Specific

<p>Brent Rose covers sports, science and tech, health and fitness, travel and adventure, and more for magazines and websites you have heard of and deeply respect. <a href="http://www.brentrose.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.brentrose.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1740705584988000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3nXxS34PFPs6s9xKFmyn-U">www.brentrose.com</a></p>


Brent Rose

ASPEN, COLORADO - JANUARY 24: Hiroto Ogiwara of Japan competes in the Men's Snowboard Big Air during Day Two of the X Games Aspen 2025 at Buttermilk Ski Resort on January 24, 2025 in Aspen, Colorado.

How Big Can Big Air Go?

Ilia Malinin skates in the Championship Men Free Skate during the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Intrust Bank Arena on January 26, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. The photos shows him leaping and spinning off the ice.

So! Many! Quads!

Then-head coach Rory Dames of Chicago Red Stars looks on against Washington Spirit during the NWSL Championship held at Lynn Family Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. (

Rory Dames Disappeared From The SafeSport Database And SafeSport Isn’t Saying Why

Rachelle Hampton

Brazilian gymnast Flávia Saraiva kisses her medal.

Flávia Saraiva Remains A Star

Jordan Chiles of Team United States is seen prior to competing in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Floor Exercise Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France.

A Documentary About Simone Biles Might Save Jordan Chiles’s Bronze Medal

<p>John Loeppky is a freelance writer and theatre artist currently based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His work has appeared for outlets such as FiveThirtyEight, CBC, and <em>Maclean’s</em>.</p>


John Loeppky

Paris , France - 26 August 2024; A general view of the Agito logo on the Arc de Triomphe in advance of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Why Aren’t Paralympic Broadcasters Better?

A picture taken in Lausanne on February 7, 2024, shows the entrance of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Jordan Chiles Bronze Medal Fiasco Is Even Dumber Than You Imagined

Bronze medalist Jordan Chiles of Team United States celebrates after the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Floor Exercise Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the Bercy Arena on August 5, 2024 in Paris, France.

Gymnastics And IOC Leadership Found A Way To Screw Over Everyone


<p>Patrick T. Dorsey is the writer of and a producer on the feature film FUTURE DATE, which had its world premiere at the 2024 Cinequest Film Festival and won the Audience Award for Best Comedy Feature. You can hear him Thursdays on Defector Trivia, whenever Diana Moskovitz shouts, “Baaaaaaabe!”</p>


Patrick T. Dorsey

Hailey van Lith #9 of Team United States attempts to fight past a screen by Gracia Alonso #44 of Team Spain while Sandra Ygueravide #13 of Team Spain drives past during a Women's 3x3 basketball semifinal game between the United States and Spain on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Esplanade Des Invalides on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France.

Who Is 3×3 Olympic Basketball For?

Giri Nathan

PARIS, FRANCE: AUGUST 11: A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States drives to the basket defended by Valeriane Ayayi #11 of Team France and Janelle Salaun #13 of Team France during the United States of America v France, Women's Basketball Gold Medal Game at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on August 11th, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

The U.S. Women Win Gold In An Unfamiliar Nail-Biter

Lauren Theisen

Imane Khelif and three others pose with their medals at the Olympics

It Doesn’t Matter If The IBA Was Lying About Imane Khelif

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 08: Lebron James #6 and Stephen Curry #4 of Team United States celebrate after their team's win against Team Serbia during a Men's basketball semifinals match between Team United States and Team Serbia on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Steph Curry Kept The U.S. On Top

Naomi Girma #4 of Team United States celebrates victory in the Women's Gold Medal match

The USWNT Is As Golden As Ever

David Roth

Syssy competes during the Breaking B-Girls Round Robin Group B battle between Nicka an Syssy on Day 14 of the Olympic Games Paris.

Lost In The Olympics

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

ans of Team Brazil hold a flag with a picture of Marta prior to the Women's Quarterfinal match between France and Brazil during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Marta’s Last Chance

USA's #11 Joel Embiid celebrates at the end of the men's semifinal basketball match between USA and Serbia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP)

Joel Embiid’s War With The French Nears Its Conclusion

Billy Haisley

US' forward #05 Trinity Rodman (L) and US' forward #09 Mallory Swanson (R) celebrate after US' forward #11 Sophia Smith (C) scored in the 95th minute during the women's semi-final football match between USA and Germany during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon on August 6, 2024.

The USWNT Is Grinding Its Way Toward A Better Future

Luis Paez-Pumar

Kerolin #7 of Team Brazil celebrates scoring her team's fourth goal during the Women's semifinal match between Brazil and Spain during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Marseille on August 06, 2024 in Marseille, France.

Brazil Was Fearless

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Chase Budinger of Team United States reacts during a Men's Preliminary Phase match on day seven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Eiffel Tower Stadium on August 02, 2024 in Paris, France.