https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/sports/RSS feed for SportsenTue, 01 Sep 2026 18:24:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-91-year-old-man-fell-71-times-while-hiking-appalachian-trail-he-just-became-oldest-person-complete-2190-mile-trek-180989428/Dale Sanders finished the hike in just under a year. Nicknamed "Grey Beard," he's no stranger to age-defying feats of enduranceTue, 01 Sep 2026 18:24:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-91-year-old-man-fell-71-times-while-hiking-appalachian-trail-he-just-became-oldest-person-complete-2190-mile-trek-180989428/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/rocky-story-underdog-created-underdog-spawned-box-office-champions-half-century-180989274/Sylvester Stallone was a struggling actor when he was inspired by a real boxing match to write the film that became a legend. This year, the origin story of the franchise turns 50.Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/rocky-story-underdog-created-underdog-spawned-box-office-champions-half-century-180989274/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/at-least-one-in-four-former-nfl-players-who-died-between-2016-and-2021-had-the-progressive-brain-disease-cte-study-suggests-180989406/The true prevalence of the neurodegenerative disease—which is associated with repeated head injuries—among the deceased football players might be much higher. CTE affects other athletes too, including hockey players, soccer players and wrestlersThu, 27 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/at-least-one-in-four-former-nfl-players-who-died-between-2016-and-2021-had-the-progressive-brain-disease-cte-study-suggests-180989406/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/tennis-matches-are-heating-up-literally-heres-how-the-court-became-a-living-laboratory-for-managing-extreme-temperatures-180989399/The sport’s hard-court surfaces can reach some 30 degrees hotter than the surrounding air. With elite players suffering heat illness on the world stage, athletes are following personalized cooling plansThu, 27 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/tennis-matches-are-heating-up-literally-heres-how-the-court-became-a-living-laboratory-for-managing-extreme-temperatures-180989399/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/soccer-ball-used-for-diego-maradona-hand-of-god-world-cup-goal-sells-at-auction-180989392/Despite its role in one of the most famous games in soccer history, the historic piece of sports memorabilia fell short of its $10 million pre-sale estimateWed, 26 Aug 2026 17:02:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/soccer-ball-used-for-diego-maradona-hand-of-god-world-cup-goal-sells-at-auction-180989392/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/pack-baseball-cards-included-mickey-mantle-corner-store-today-probably-sothebys-180989281/The rookie card of the future Yankees legend once sold for pennies. But, even with garish colorization, it became a treasured symbol of the golden age of the sport that is now valued in the millionsWed, 26 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/pack-baseball-cards-included-mickey-mantle-corner-store-today-probably-sothebys-180989281/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/big-waves-meet-biodiversity-why-surfing-paradises-could-offer-a-key-opportunity-for-marine-conservation-180989119/A recent mapping study examines places in northwestern Africa where coastal ecosystems overlap with surf breaks, highlighting areas that could support recreation, the environment and local economies, if protectedThu, 06 Aug 2026 19:32:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/big-waves-meet-biodiversity-why-surfing-paradises-could-offer-a-key-opportunity-for-marine-conservation-180989119/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-world-record-in-the-greased-pole-walk-brought-extra-excitement-to-this-years-world-eskimo-indian-olumpics-in-alaska-180989164/A 45-year-old record fell at the annual sporting event, which celebrates Indigenous athleticism and culture with events including the knuckle hop and the Alaskan high kickWed, 22 Jul 2026 13:42:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-world-record-in-the-greased-pole-walk-brought-extra-excitement-to-this-years-world-eskimo-indian-olumpics-in-alaska-180989164/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-womens-pro-baseball-league-teams-are-named-for-these-pioneering-women-giving-female-players-another-league-of-their-own-180989159/The Firebells, Heights, Queens and Hunters—of San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Boston—were inspired by an honorary firefighter, a civil rights activist, a first basewoman and a physicianMon, 20 Jul 2026 19:34:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-womens-pro-baseball-league-teams-are-named-for-these-pioneering-women-giving-female-players-another-league-of-their-own-180989159/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-the-first-time-in-27-years-a-man-set-a-new-world-record-for-fastest-mile-people-have-chased-the-goal-for-centuries-180989154/British runners in particular have long tried to cross the finish line in less than 4 minutes, records show, sometimes running in the nude or trying to win a betMon, 20 Jul 2026 18:04:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-the-first-time-in-27-years-a-man-set-a-new-world-record-for-fastest-mile-people-have-chased-the-goal-for-centuries-180989154/