@Lescarpenter

Washington Post sports writer

 Washington, DC
Joined June 2010
  • Tweets6.4K
  • Following1.2K
  • Followers7.9K
334Media
Today is my last at The Washington Post. My job was eliminated in February along with the rest of the sports department, but my layoff was extended through September. The Post had one of the greatest collections of sports journalists ever. Working with each of them was an honor.
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"I get traumatized, bro." Two years after the Paris Olympics breaking is still trying to forget Raygun wapo.st/4x23sgc

Raygun’s Netflix documentary makes (another) mockery of Olympic breakdancing

She infamously stole the show at the Paris Games. Fellow breakers say her fame has lasted long enough.

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His parents named him after a Corvette. Now, he’s a racecar driver. washingtonpost.com/sports/20…

His parents named him after a Corvette. Now, he’s a racecar driver.

The 24-year-old will take his No. 77 Chevrolet to the roads of Washington for Sunday’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix.

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"You've seen girls that are named Porsche or Malibu or something. Well why can't we name a kid Sting Ray?"....the story of Sting Ray Robb, the race car driver named for a car wapo.st/4hODsku

His parents named him after a Corvette. Now, he’s a racecar driver.

The 24-year-old will take his No. 77 Chevrolet to the roads of Washington for Sunday’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix.

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Nico Williams header set up Spain's World Cup winning goal. After the match he presented his gold medal to his mother. This is the story of Nico and his brother Inaki and the perseverance of their parents. wapo.st/45bGac5

For two brothers on different teams at the World Cup, identity is complicated

Spain’s Nico Williams and Ghana’s Iñaki Williams represent their parents’ saga — and how immigration has changed global soccer.

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Soccer bloomed in the U.S. after the 1994 World Cup. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the rise of the MLS, which went from 10 teams in its first season to 30 today. But the impact of the country’s second World Cup is harder to predict. wapo.st/4fmMtye
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With Spain in the World Cup Final today, this is the story of one of the team's stars, Nico Williams, and what it means to play for a country in a world where national identity can mean many things...
Les Carpenter@LescarpenterJul 3
The incredible story of Nico and Inaki Williams playing for different countries at this World Cup and the soccer team that many call a "miracle." @AthleticClub wapo.st/4y7lkbi

For two brothers on different teams at the World Cup, identity is complicated

Spain’s Nico Williams and Ghana’s Iñaki Williams represent their parents’ saga — and how immigration has changed global soccer.

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The incredible story of Nico and Inaki Williams playing for different countries at this World Cup and the soccer team that many call a "miracle." @AthleticClub wapo.st/4y7lkbi

For two brothers on different teams at the World Cup, identity is complicated

Spain’s Nico Williams and Ghana’s Iñaki Williams represent their parents’ saga — and how immigration has changed global soccer.

washingtonpost.com
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The story of two brothers, two countries, one World Cup and the Miracle of Bilbao wapo.st/4xXZKWm

For two brothers on different teams at the World Cup, identity is complicated

Spain’s Nico Williams and Ghana’s Iñaki Williams represent their parents’ saga — and how immigration has changed global soccer.

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Tonight's White House card is the one that UFC fighters have wanted to be on the most. Here's why. wapo.st/49VwdCv

To UFC fighters, the White House’s small, swampy octagon is the perfect venue

The UFC has packed many of the biggest arenas, but the card competitors wanted to be on most was the one with the worst conditions, the smallest crowd and huge logistical nightmares.

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For all the hundreds of thousands of dollars NFL teams spend on video equipment who knew a little camera you can buy anywhere would be a game changer? washingtonpost.com/sports/20…

How a little camera changed the Commanders’ perspective

GoPros, the accessory of choice for mountain bikers, skydivers and skiers, are changing how Washington’s coaches watch practices.

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As fighters arrive for White House UFC event, Trump is the invisible guest wapo.st/4vbFXkM

As fighters arrive for White House UFC event, Trump is the invisible guest

UFC insists Sunday’s event isn’t political, but politics — and the president — were difficult to ignore as fighters gathered in D.C.

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FIFA took his company's name off a stadium, he chose to laugh about it wapo.st/3QzfQ82

As FIFA forces stadiums to change names, one embraces its bland new brand

The great World Cup “debranding” led one stadium sponsor to look for creative ways to shine despite the blackout.

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Les Carpenter retweeted
Stephen Whyno@SWhynoMay 21
Absolutely devastated. All-time writer and person. apnews.com/article/howard-fe…

Howard Fendrich, award-winning AP national sports writer and tennis expert, dies at 55

Howard Fendrich, a longtime national sports writer for The Associated Press, has died at 55. His persistent reporting and detail-rich prose brought readers inside dozens of taut Grand Slam tennis...

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Sonny Styles stands head and shoulders above the rest at Commanders rookie camp washingtonpost.com/sports/20…

Sonny Styles stands head and shoulders above the rest at Commanders rookie camp

Washington’s first-round pick out of Ohio State displayed his preternatural ability and football smarts as rookies convened in Ashburn, Virginia.

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When the call from the Washington Commanders came Thursday night, the screen on Sonny Styles's phone said Spam Risk. He answered anyway... wapo.st/3QXcdsk

Commanders draft Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with No. 7 pick

Washington aims to bolster its defense with the selection of the Ohio State standout, who said he wanted to play for the Commanders more than any other team.

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The forgotten story of the Pittsburgh undertaker who ran the Steelers drafts for several years while also running a funeral home...and may have invented the mock draft as well wapo.st/3OjQxGb

The Pittsburgh undertaker who helped bring the NFL draft to life

Decades before the NFL draft became a multiday mega-event, a local mortician helped the Steelers modernize their operation — and might have invented the “mock draft” in the process.

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Les Carpenter retweeted
Emily Giambalvo@EmilyGiamApr 22
Can confirm! I’ve joined @TheAthletic as a data reporter! Super excited to be part of a talented and ambitious data + visuals team. And I feel so lucky that I’ll get to keep doing work I enjoy and learn new things.
Kevin Quealy@KevinQApr 22
Athletic news! Did you know @EmilyGiam, data reporter extraordinaire, has joined our team? She did. She has. It's only been 3 days and she's already publishing. What did you accomplish today???
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First story in return to @PostSports is about Alex Ovechkin and the complicated decision to keep playing or retire... wapo.st/3OE0Y7q

Before a hockey legend walks away, one last ritual with ‘the boys’

Though he won’t say it, Alex Ovechkin may well retire from the NHL after Tuesday’s finale. That made Sunday’s game of “sewer ball” all the more special.

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Les Carpenter retweeted
Robert Samuels@newsbysamuelsMar 30
so nice to be on! Also I’m seeing a lot of people on figure skating twitter posting snippets of this article written by @Lescarpenter and me. Just wanted to note that one way to support coverage of the sports is citing the link or the byline who wrote it: washingtonpost.com/sports/ol…

Ilia Malinin says person who came to Olympics a few weeks ago is ‘dust’

Gone is the shy 21-year-old who talked effusively about figure skating, replaced by a young man whose words come in measured and concrete thoughts about a larger purpose.

washingtonpost.com
This Week In Skating Podcast@ThisWkinSkatingMar 30
We are releasing our episode a day early & with a special guest! We were excited to recap the World Championships with journalist Robert Samuels (@newsbysamuels) who was in Prague 🇨🇿. 🔗 Tune in now at thisweekinskating.com/episod… or wherever you get your podcasts! #WorldFigure
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