Zack Pierce

Minneapolis

National Managing Editor at The Athletic

Senior managing editor @TheAthletic. Olympics and more. “I don’t know who this individual is.” — @danbarreiroKFAN

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Articles

Katie Ledecky breaks her own nine-year-old world record in 800-meter freestyle

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Zack Pierce

The world record in the women's 800-meter freestyle has been untouchable for nearly nine years since Katie Ledecky swam it in 8:04.79 at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. No one had come within two seconds of that time since. That all changed Saturday. And Ledecky, naturally, was the one to do it. The American swimming legend broke her own record in the event at the TYR Pro Series in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., finishing in 8:04.12 to beat her previous unmatchable time by over a half-second.
Masai Russell sets U.S. record in 100m hurdles, gives jolt to Grand Slam Track

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Zack Pierce

Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell set an American record in the 100-meter hurdles on Friday, running 12.17 seconds for the second-fastest time in world history and giving a boost to the nascent Grand Slam Track league. On a sunny day in Miramar, Fla., Russell edged fellow American Tia Jones, who finished in 12.19 seconds, the third-fastest time in history.
Dodger Stadium to host baseball and more venues confirmed

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Zack Pierce

Dodger Stadium will host the Olympic baseball tournament in Los Angeles in 2028, the Games' organizing committee announced Tuesday, one of several newly confirmed venues that are set to embrace the city's sprawl. The 2028 Olympic program will stretch 80 miles from the Sepulveda Basin south to San Clemente and 50 miles from Venice Beach east to Pomona, encompassing a wide swath of Southern California.
IOC approves more women's teams, new swimming events in adds to L.A. Olympics

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Zack Pierce

The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday approved several adds to the Olympic program for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, including more women's teams in soccer and water polo and new events in swimming and other sports. The women's soccer tournament will expand from 12 teams to 16, making it larger than the men's tournament for the first time in Olympic history. The men's tournament - which is for players under 23 years old, with three exceptions per team - will stay at 12 teams.
Grand Slam Track debuts with some solid moments and one big lingering question

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Zack Pierce

How deep is your appetite for track competition? That's the question at the heart of Grand Slam Track, American Olympic legend Michael Johnson's new venture. Johnson, who founded Grand Slam Track (GST), is among those who believe that there's a demand for more top-quality racing in a world that craves more sports.
As Alpine skiing World Cup season ends, stage is set for a star-studded Olympics

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Zack Pierce

KETCHUM, Idaho - The top three finishers in the women's super-G at the Alpine skiing World Cup finals have combined for 323 podium spots on the sport's top circuit, along with 167 wins and eight overall season titles. That's all to go with 22 world championship medals and nine Olympic medals.
Mikaela Shiffrin, with Olympics on deck, puts an emphatic stamp on her season

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Zack Pierce

KETCHUM, Idaho - Mikaela Shiffrin was standing at the start gate before the second run of Thursday's final World Cup race of the season. The American Alpine skiing great had a strong lead after the first run, but still, she said, the thought crossed her mind that maybe she should just play it safe, employ a "get to the finish" strategy, and not risk pushing too hard for a win that ultimately didn't mean much.
Lindsey Vonn earns 138th World Cup podium to cap comeback season

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Zack Pierce

For Lindsey Vonn, it's all about being in top form for next year's Olympics in Italy. On Sunday, the American Alpine skiing legend sent herself to the offseason before the Games looking her strongest yet. At the year-end World Cup finals, the 40-year-old Vonn finished second in the super-G behind Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami - who produced a sparkling run to take the season title in the discipline away from Italian star Federica Brignone - the best result yet in her comeback to the sport.
Jessie Diggins clinches third overall World Cup cross-country title, extending her U.S. record

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Zack Pierce

American cross-country skiing star Jessie Diggins clinched her third overall World Cup title on Sunday, extending her own U.S. record and adding another major accolade to her decorated career. Diggins, 33, finished sixth Sunday in a 10-kilometer skate race on the Holmenkollen mountain in Oslo, Norway, to extend her lead over Germany's Victoria Carl in the overall standings - which combines performances in the sprint and distance events - to 430 points.
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Norway's cross-country king, completes historic feat at world championships

Mar 8, 2025 | nytimes.com | Zack Pierce

Heading to the final turn, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo took the lead one last time, passing Sweden's William Poromaa. The Norwegian cross-country skiing great had turned the sport's marathon race into a sprint. And there's no beating Klaebo in that. Klaebo raced to the finish, and just before he crossed the line, he peeked back at the other contenders who had faded over the final kilometers of Saturday's men's 50km mass start at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.