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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Tom Ley

Olympics

French Marathoner Is Either Extremely Evil Or Just Kind Of Clumsy

Laura Wagner

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 07: Sajad Ganjzadeh (R) of Team Iran lays on the tatami after being struck by Tareg Hamedi of Team Saudi Arabia during the Men’s Karate Kumite +75kg Gold Medal Bout on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Nippon Budokan on August 07, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

Unconscious Man Wins Karate Gold

Giri Nathan

Indian Field Hockey Is Back

Why Do Table Tennis Players Yell “Cho!” All The Time?

Lauren Theisen

The U.S. Men’s Relay Woes Continued

Patrick Redford

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 04: Lasha Talakhadze of Team Georgia competes during the Weightlifting - Men's 109kg+ Group A on day twelve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo International Forum on August 04, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Defector Up All Night

Big Guy Lifts Big Weight

Albert Burneko

What Kind Of Toilet Destruction Are We Talking About, Here?

Kalyn Kahler

I Will Explain This New Olympic Sport To You: Karate

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 03: Mickael Mawem of France celebrates during the Sport Climbing Men's Combined, Bouldering Qualification on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Aomi Urban Sports Park on August 03, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

The Mawem Brothers Are Olympic Climbing’s Charming Crushers

Simone Biles Won A Medal For Herself

<p>Dvora Meyers is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn. She writes about gymnastics and other topics in her newsletter, <a href="https://dvora.substack.com/">Unorthodox Gymnastics.</a></p>


Dvora Meyers

Russian gymnast Viktoriia Listunova competes at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo

Gymnastics

The Case Against Sticking The Landing

I Will Explain This New Olympic Sport To You: Climbing

Canada Finally Got One Over On The USWNT

Suni Lee’s Off Day Was Still Bronze-Worthy

The Ghosts Of 2012 Haunt This Year’s U.S.-Canada Semifinal

MyKayla Skinner’s Long And Rocky Comeback Ends With A Surprise Silver Medal

Bobby Finke Pulled Off Another Unbelievable Comeback

Billy Haisley

Crystal Dunn #2, Rose Lavelle #16, Christen Press #11, Megan Rapinoe #15 and Alex Morgan #13 of Team United States celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot out after the Women's Quarter Final match between Netherlands and United States on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at International Stadium Yokohama on July 30, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.

The USWNT Struggled, Scrapped, And Survived

German Cycling Coach Ousted From Olympics After Calling African Cyclists “Camel Drivers”

What It Feels Like To Have The Twisties


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Ryan Crouser throws. Dan McQuaid insert photo. Dan McQuade insert photo.

An Interview With Throwing Expert Dan McQuaid, By Me, Dan McQuade

Sunisa Lee Fixed The Vibes

Paula Badosa retires from her quarterfinal match in a wheelchair.

Tennis Can’t Handle The Heat In Tokyo

OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 19: Katie Ledecky and Katie Grimes react during the Women’s 800m freestyle medal ceremony during Day Seven of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CHI Health Center on June 19, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Katie Grimes Is USA Swimming’s Next Big Katie

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Yui Ohashi of Team Japan celebrates after winning the Women's 200m Individual Medley Final on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 28, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

The Spotlight Found Yui Ohashi

2020 olympics