Les Carpenter

Washington, D.C.

Olympics reporter

Education: University of Missouri, BA in political science, BJ in magazine journalism

Les Carpenter returned to The Washington Post in 2018 and writes about the Olympics and Olympics-related issues. Previously, he was a sports enterprise writer at The Washington Post from 2005 to 2010, focusing on the NFL, baseball and the Olympics. He also has been a columnist and feature writer at the Seattle Times, Yahoo! Sports and the Connecticut Post. Prior to coming back to the Post he covered American sports for the Guardian.
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Latest from Les Carpenter

The famed Mavericks surfing contest drowned in acrimony. Can it be saved?

After finances and a gender equity battle killed the event, a 24-year-old woman who doesn't surf wants to bring it back. And not everyone is happy about that.

May 8, 2023

U.S. leads break from IBA in forming new organization called World Boxing

In an attempt to save the sport's place in the Olympic program, the U.S. and other countries are breaking from the scandal-plagued IBA.

April 13, 2023

Lawsuit claims Dwayne Haskins was drugged, blackmailed before his death

The lawsuit was filed by Hawskins's wife and parents and also names the driver who hit Haskins and several businesses he visited in the hours before his death.

April 10, 2023

IOC moves closer to letting Russians compete in 2024 Paris Olympics

The IOC has not decided to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris Games, but it has opened the door to let them qualify — an important first step.

March 28, 2023

Barry Goldberg, who built American University into a volleyball power, dies

Barry Goldberg, who built American University into an unlikely volleyball power, died at 61 a year after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

March 26, 2023

Ilia Malinin lands quadruple axel, wins bronze at world championships

American skating star Ilia Malinin won a bronze medal at the world championships, the next step for the 18-year-old toward a run at the 2026 Olympics.

March 25, 2023

World Athletics votes to ban transgender athletes from women’s events

The World Athletics Council will ban transgender athletes from women's events and restrict the eligibility of athletes with sex development differences.

March 23, 2023

Ilia Malinin, figure skating’s quadg0d, stars at world championships

American skater Ilia Malinin, known for his spectacular quadruple jumps, nailed his short program at the world figure skating championships and is in position to medal.

March 23, 2023

ISU joins WADA in continuing to seek ban for Russian skater Kamila Valieva

Latest appeals dispute the Russian agency's ruling that the figure skater bore no fault for her positive test for a banned substance before the Beijing Olympics.

February 22, 2023

Ukrainian president makes passionate plea to ban Russian athletes from Olympics

Ukrainian President Volyodymyr Zelenskiy urged representatives from 35 countries to push the IOC to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Olympics.

February 10, 2023