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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.

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Defector

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winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Barry Petchesky

A basalt head portrait of Roman Emperor Nero is pictured at the exibition "Nero" in Rome on April 11, 2011. Nearly two hundred pieces, including sculptures, reliefs, frescoes, paintings and artifacts from recent excavations will be shown during the exhibition from April 12 to September 18. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

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Olympics

Nero Was The Worst Best Olympian Ever

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Samer Kalaf

A photo finish of the 100-meter at the 2024 Olympics, with Noah Lyles winning.

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Noah Lyles Wins The 100-Meter Gold By A Skin Cell


<p>Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.</p>


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Diana Moskovitz

Simone Biles holds up her gold medal in vault at the 2024 Olympics

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Simone Biles Gets Another Olympic Gold With Her Historic Vault

American gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik surrounded by press with cameras at the Olympics in Paris.

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Stephen Nedoroscik Pommeled That Horse

Algeria's Imane Khelif (left) following her victory over Hungary's Luca Anna Hamori in the Women's 66kg - Quarterfinal at the North Paris Arena

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Imane Khelif Clinches Olympic Medal In Cathartic Quarterfinal Win

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Tom Ley

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Media Meltdowns

Bigots Need Their Useful Idiots

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Kathryn Xu

Zhang Boheng of China stands ready to participate in the pommel horse event.

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What’s In An Olympian’s Name?

<p>Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the sports editor at the <em>Columbia Daily Spectator</em>. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.</p>


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Heather Wei-Xi Chen

TEAHUPO'O, FRENCH POLYNESIA - JULY 28: A view of photographers on a media boat during round two of surfing on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 28, 2024 in Teahupo'o, French Polynesia.

Surfing – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 2

Shots

My Favorite Guys In Olympic Surfing Are The Photographers

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In Paris, Simone Biles Made Everyone Stand Up And Take Notice

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David Roth

Former footballer Zinedine Zidane carries the torch during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris.

Opening Ceremony – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 0

Podcasts

Getting Slightly Too French With It, With Patrick Redford

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Billy Haisley

Zambia's forward #11 Barbra Banda shoots to score the first goal for Zambia in the women's group B football match between Zambia and Germany during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne on July 31, 2024.

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Even Perfection Isn’t Enough For Barbra Banda

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Lauren Theisen

Imane Khelif of Team Algeria and Angela Carini of Team Italy exchange punches

Boxing – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 6

J.K. Rowling Invents A Trans Olympian To Get Mad At

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Katie Ledecky of Team United States competes in the Women's 1500m Freestyle Final on day five of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 31, 2024 in Nanterre, France.

Swimming – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 5

Swimming

Not Even The Cameras Can Keep Up With Katie Ledecky

Head coach of Canada Beverly Priestman gestures during Quarterfinals - 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup between Canada and Costa Rica at BMO Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Canada v Costa Rica: Quarterfinals – 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup

Canada Manager Did Not Realize Writing Emails About Her Drone Spying Plot Was A Bad Idea

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
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Charles P. Pierce

Olga Kharlan of Ukraine celebrates as she wins bronze medal after competing against Choi Se-bin (not seen) of South Korea in the Fencing Women's Foil Individual on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Grand Palais in Paris, France on July 29, 2024.

Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Fencing

Olga Kharlan Came All The Way Back In Paris

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Kelsey McKinney

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Peacock Made The Perfect Olympics Experience For Sickos Like Me

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Giri Nathan

US' Coco Gauff speaks with an official after a call goes against her while playing Croatia's Donna Vekic during their women's singles third round tennis match on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Stadium during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on July 30, 2024.

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Coco Gauff’s Olympic Singles Run Ends With An Umpire Argument And Tears

Team USA pose for a photo during the women's gymnastics at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France on July 28, 2024.

Olympic Games Paris 2024, Day 2

Team USA Had To Find Its Steel In Order To Reclaim Its Gold

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Patrick Redford

Japan's #08 Rui Hachimura leaves the court after being sent off for committing to successive unsporting fouls in the men's preliminary round group B basketball match between Japan and France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France, on July 30, 2024.

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Cheating-Ass France Men’s Basketball Needed A Pair Of Miracles To Beat Japan

Alex Sedrick #8 of Team United States scores her team's second and winning try during the Women's Rugby Sevens Bronze medal match between Team United States and Team Australia on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France.

Rugby Sevens – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 4

She Ran! Watch Her Run!

PARIS, FRANCE July 29, 2024-USA's Jagger Eaton falls on his last attempt to win a gold medal of the Men's street skateboard competition at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France Monday. Eaton won the silver medal. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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Explain To Me Your Music Choices, Now

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Israel Daramola

Gold medalist Yuto Horigome of Team Japan (C), Silver medalist Jagger Eaton of Team United States (L) and Bronze medalist Nyjah Huston of Team United States (R) pose on the podium uring the Men's Street Finals on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Place de la Concorde on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France.

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In Street Skateboarding’s Second Olympics, Japan Cements Itself On Top

ELANCOURT, FRANCE - JULY 29: Thomas Pidcock of Team Great Britain competes during the Men's Cross-Country on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Elancourt Hill on July 29, 2024 in Elancourt, France. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

Cycling – Mountain Bike – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 3

Tom Pidcock Scandalizes Delicate French Fans By Being Too Good At Bike Racing

PARIS, FRANCE: JULY 27: Stephen Nedoroscik of the United States prepares to perform his pommel horse routine during Artistic Gymnastics, Men's Qualification at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on July 27th, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

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Stephen Nedoroscik Is The Bespectacled King Of The Pommel Horse

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain, Novak Djokovic of Serbia competing in the Men's Singles Second Round during Day 3 of Tennis - Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Tennis – Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 3

Rafael Nadal And Novak Djokovic Play One More For The Road