In this insightful discussion, Ava Wallace, a sports contributor at The Washington Post, chats with fellow reporters Dave Sheinin and Rick Maese. They break down the fierce U.S.-Australia rivalry in Olympic swimming amidst the post-Phelps era. Listeners learn about rising stars like Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand, while also addressing doping concerns that may shadow upcoming competitions. The trio highlights thrilling events to watch, capturing the vibrant atmosphere surrounding the sport as athletes gear up for glory.

Washington Post's sports columnist Jerry Brewer and sports feature writer Rick Maese discuss the Paris Olympics, including the city's readiness, star athletes, unique equipment transportation challenges, financial struggles of athletes, LeBron James as flag bearer, and the anticipation for the upcoming Games.

The PGA Tour wanted nothing to do with a rival Saudi-funded golf tour, but like Silicon Valley and the White House, it couldn’t resist the Kingdom’s influence. A sports guy (Rick Maese of the Washington Post) and a foreign policy guy (Jonathan Guyer of Vox) explain.This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Michael Raphael, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.Read more: How Saudi money returned to Silicon Valley (Vox)Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ava Wallace, a reporter from The Washington Post, is joined by fellow journalists Rick Maese, who covers the Olympics, and columnist Jerry Brewer. They share their favorite moments from the Paris Games, including the emotional closing ceremony and standout performances like those of Katie Ledecky. The trio discusses the revival of Olympic spirit compared to Tokyo, touching on key triumphs and controversies from the event. They also look forward to the excitement building for the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics.

The Washington Post's sports experts, Ava Wallace, Jerry Brewer, and Rick Maese, delve into the excitement and preparations for the Paris Olympics. They discuss the city's readiness, star athletes, 'horsey passport', challenges of transporting equipment, and anticipation for various sports at the games.