For athletes at the top of the game it is mind and body
Decoder Replay: After the Olympics, what then?
The Olympics are the pinnacle of an athletic career. But after athletes step off the podium a deeper challenge awaits. Who are they when the uniforms come off? Olympic rower Christine Roper (frontside) hugging her teammate as they celebrate their gold medal victory....
Decoder Replay: Covering the Olympics is a marathon
Journalists don’t win medals. But to cover the Olympics takes extraordinary stamina. You don’t want to let down the team. The author (left) before tackling the Beijing velodrome. (Photo courtesy of Deborah Charles) Editor’s note: The 2024 Summer...
Decoder Replay: A torch ignites Olympic fever in France
Millions of people will cheer their nation at the Paris Summer Olympics. Others shake their heads at its cost. Do the Games still serve a purpose? Torchbearer Didier Drogba of France holds the Olympic torch to light the cauldron at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille,...
In soccer, the goal posts are closer for those with green
To succeed in the “beautiful game” in much of the world, you just need to prove yourself on the field. Not so in the United States, where you pay to play. The author driving the ball during a soccer game. (Photo courtesy of Gabe Stryker) This article, by...
From hero to zero: Overcoming post-Olympic blues
The Olympics are the pinnacle of an athletic career. But after athletes step off the podium a deeper challenge awaits. Who are they when the uniforms come off? Olympic rower Christine Roper (frontside) hugging her teammate as they celebrate their gold medal victory....
When a win in the stadium transcends the sport
For South Africans, winning the Rugby World Cup united a nation torn by politics, race and inequality. That’s the power of sports. South Africa’s Siya Kolisi lifts the trophy after the Rugby World Cup final match between New Zealand and South Africa at the...
Decoder Replay: Let’s demystify rugby
New Zealand plays South Africa in our home base of Paris this weekend for the Rugby World Cup. To many, rugby is incomprehensible. Here’s all you need to know. Players scrum during the Rugby World Cup semifinal match between England and South Africa at the Stade...
Both brains and brawn: The world’s toughest sports
Picking the world’s toughest sport is a tough game to play. Let’s see if you agree with our correspondent’s conclusion. Spoiler: It’s not football. A traceur leaps in the air practicing parkour. Photo by TIGER500 courtesy of Parkour...
Participating in sports by remote control
There are health benefits to an active lifestyle. But if you like to sit in the stands or watch from the sofa, perhaps a different kind of workout takes place. A man watches a football game on television. (Credit: Tarik Kızılkaya Getty Images Signature) This article,...