The Ringer Guide to the Summer Games

The idea of flag football in the Summer Games may seem completely absurd. That doesn't mean it won't happen. The push to get this version of the sport in the 2028 Olympic program has already begun. What will determine its success or failure? Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Richard MacLean Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal, Megan Schuster Fact Checker: Kellen Becoats Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There will be 60 gold medals awarded in fighting events in Tokyo. But only one of these events features competitors who fight against nobody. It's time to familiarize yourself with kata—and with a group of Olympians who put the art into martial arts. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Ariel Torres Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal, Megan Schuster Fact Checker: Mike Itchue Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are a few select athletes who've gone pro in both football and baseball. There's a small group of Olympians who've competed in both the Summer and Winter Games. But there's never been anybody like Eddy Alvarez, the speedskating second baseman. And he's about to forever cement his place in Olympic lore.  Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Eddy Alvarez Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Julianna Ress Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Olympics features plenty of remarkable teams, but Team USA women's water polo might just be the best of them. Its success stretches the limits of what's possible … and it could be only the beginning. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Maggie Steffens Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Kellen Becoats Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it look like when all of the best players in a sport are on the same team? Team USA women's hoops can help answer that question. Its dominance is more than just breathtaking. It's a glimpse of a striking reality. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Jordan Ligons Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Kellen Becoats Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Olympics are all about celebrating athletic greatness. But that doesn't extend to equestrian events. It's time to fix an egregious mistake and give the majestic horses in Tokyo the medals they deserve. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Boyd Martin Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Kellen Becoats Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No man has represented Team USA in both the high jump and the long jump since Jim Thorpe in 1912. But that's exactly what JuVaughn Harrison will do in Tokyo. He's not only defying a century of Olympic convention—he's making it seem routine. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: JuVaughn Harrison Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Daniel Chin Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2018, weight lifter Mattie Rogers found out that her weight class wouldn't be part of the Tokyo Games. To chase her Olympic dream, she had to go to extraordinary lengths. Here's her story. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Mattie Rogers Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Dan Comer Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simone Biles withdrew from both the team and individual all-around competitions in the Summer Olympics, telling reporters that she has the “twisties.” What does that mean? We brought on Emily Giambalvo, who's covering gymnastics in Tokyo for The Washington Post, to explain. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Emily Giambalvo Associate Producer: Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The rowers who don't row may seem like the least impressive athletes at the Olympics. But one could be the key to preserving a Team USA dynasty. Welcome to the strange world of coxswains. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Katelin Guregian Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Julianna Ress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 Handball is one of the coolest Olympic sports. But the U.S. is never a medal contender. Why hasn't handball caught on in the States? And what can be done to fix that? Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Ryan Johnson Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Dan Comer Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everyone knows that Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast of all time. But what truly sets her apart? Let's break down everything that makes her so transcendent—both in the Olympic world and beyond. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Danyel Smith Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Daniel Chin Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ledecky is already one of Team USA's most decorated Olympians, but she's never been able to swim her best event in the Summer Games. That's about to change. And the results will be breathtaking. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Danyel Smith Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Kellen Becoats Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carlin Isles had never heard of rugby sevens. Then he clicked a link that changed his life. What happened next could win Team USA a medal—and chart a path for a future generation of Olympians. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Carlin Isles Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Kellen Becoats Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3-on-3 basketball is about to make its Olympics debut. And FIBA wants to popularize the sport worldwide. Will it work? The answer could depend on what happens to Team USA. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Kara Lawson Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Kellen Becoats Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Skateboarding will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo. That's amazing … and somewhat complicated. Does skateboarding need the Olympics? Or does the Olympics need skateboarding? Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Heimana Reynolds Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Kellen Becoats Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Think you know how a sport becomes part of the Olympics? Think again. Let's break down that truly surprising process—and how it could lead to the first ultimate frisbee gold medalists. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Nob Rauch Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Julianna Ress Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Softball is back at the Olympics for the first time since 2008! And the United States is favored to win! But the players aren't just competing for a medal. They're vying for the sport's future at the Summer Games. Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Haylie McCleney Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Kellen Becoats Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Racewalking sounds like the funniest Olympic sport. In reality, it's absolutely brutal. What makes the 50k racewalk so perfect for the Summer Games? And why is the IOC getting rid of it after Tokyo? Host: Rodger Sherman Guest: Evan Dunfee Associate Producers: Erika Cervantes, Lani Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Fact Checker: Julianna Ress Talent Booker: Allyson Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What makes Simone Biles the greatest gymnast of all time? Why is Katie Ledecky set to dominate like never before? Who's chasing history as a two-sport athlete? And how did skateboarding get into the Olympics? In this daily podcast series premiering July 19, we'll talk to future medalists and answer your top questions about the Tokyo games. The Olympics are the biggest, weirdest, and most exciting sporting event on earth—let us show you why. Host: Rodger Sherman Associate Producers: Lani Renaldo and Erika Cervantes Additional Production Supervision: Ben Glicksman, Noah Malale, Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices