Saturday, July 31, 2021

The latest on the Tokyo Olympics

 

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The latest on the Tokyo Olympics

By Joshua BerlingerBrett McKeehan and Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 1:37 PM ET, Sat July 31, 2021
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3 hr 53 min ago

Saturday saw 21 gold medals awarded at the Tokyo Olympics

Qatar's Fares El-Bakh holds his gold medal for the weightlifting 96kg on July 31.
Qatar's Fares El-Bakh holds his gold medal for the weightlifting 96kg on July 31. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Among the gold medal winners Saturday at the Tokyo Olympics were Americans Katie Ledecky, who won the women's 800m freestyle, and Caeleb Dressel who dominated the men's 100m butterfly.

Here's a full list of the gold medal winners from Saturday:

Archery

  • Men's Individual: Mete Gazoz, Turkey

Athletics

  • Men's Discus Throw: Daniel Stahl, Sweden
  • 4x400m Relay Mixed: Poland
  • Women's 100m: Elaine Thompson-Herah, Jamaica

Badminton

  • Men's Doubles: Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin, Chinese Taipei

Fencing

  • Women's Sabre Team: Russian Olympic Committee

Judo

  • Mixed Team: France

Rugby Sevens

  • Women's: New Zealand

Sailing

  • Women's Windsurfer-RS:X: Lu Yunxiu, China
  • Men's Windsurfer-RS:X: Kiran Badloe, Netherlands

Shooting

  • Trap Mixed Team: Fatima Galvez/Alberto Fernandez, Spain
  • Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Nina Christen, Switzerland

Swimming

  • Men's 100m Butterfly: Caeleb Dressel, United States
  • Women's 200m Backstroke: Kaylee McKeown, Australia
  • Women's 800m Freestyle: Katie Ledecky, United States
  • Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay: Great Britain

Tennis

  • Women's Singles: Belinda Bencic, Switzerland

Trampoline Gymnastics

  • Men's: Ivan Litvinovich, Belarus

Triathlon

  • Mixed Relay: Great Britain

Weightlifting

  • Men's 81 kg: Lyu Xiaojun, China
  • Men's 96 kg: Fares El-Bakh, Qatar
4 hr 26 min ago

Japan sees highest daily increase in new Covid-19 infections  

From CNN’s Arthur Syin and Hannah Ritchie 

Japan recorded its highest daily increase in new Covid-19 infections since the pandemic began, reporting 12,341 new cases on Saturday, according to the country’s public broadcaster NHK.  

Ten out of Japan's 47 prefectures recorded their highest new daily cases, NHK reported.  

The Japanese capital city of Tokyo saw a record high 4,058 new cases Saturday, according to Tokyo Metropolitan Government data. 

The number of coronavirus cases linked to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has risen to 241 -- up 21 from the previous day -- according to Games organizers.

This comes as Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday extended the state of emergency for the Tokyo Metropolitan area and Okinawa amid a surge in Covid-19 cases.   

Tokyo and Okinawa were under a state of emergency until August 22, but Suga has now extended it until August 31. 

Suga also expanded a state of emergency to four other prefectures -- Saitama, Chiba, Osaka and Kanagawa -- in effect until August 31. 

4 hr 23 min ago

Fares El-Bakh wins Qatar's first ever Olympic gold medal

Qatar’s Fares El-Bakh celebrates on the podium after winning the gold medal in the 96kg weightlifting event on July 31.
Qatar’s Fares El-Bakh celebrates on the podium after winning the gold medal in the 96kg weightlifting event on July 31. (Luca Bruno/AP)

Qatar’s Fares El-Bakh finished with an Olympic record 402kg to capture the men’s 96kg weightlifting gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The gold medal is the first-ever in Qatar’s history. 

El-Bakh put up 177kg in the snatch, and then set an Olympic record in the clean and jerk with a weight of 225kg. Overall, the Qatari finished with a combined score of 402kg to set his second Olympic record of the night. 

Keydomar Giovanni Vallenilla Sánchez of Venezuela finished in second (387kg) to earn the silver and Anton Pliesnoi of Georgia took home the bronze. 

4 hr 39 min ago

USA men's basketball team thumps Czech Republic to move into quarterfinals

From CNN's Ben Morse in London

Team USA's Jayson Tatum shoots over Czech Republic's David Jelined during their game on July 31.
Team USA's Jayson Tatum shoots over Czech Republic's David Jelined during their game on July 31. (Eric Gay/AP)

The Team USA men's basketball team powered into the quarterfinals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a convincing 119-84 rout of the Czech Republic on Saturday.

Superstar Kevin Durant led the team with 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists and in the process became the US' all-time leading scorer in the Olympics.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum added 27 points for the Americans, while the Czechs were led by 17 points from Blake Schilb.

The win confirmed Team USA would finish at least second in their group, assuring them a spot in the Olympic quarterfinals.

4 hr 51 min ago

Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah says she is grateful to "get back on the track" following injuries

From CNN's Fernando Alfonso in Atlanta

Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah celebrates after winning the gold medal in the 100m final on July 31.
Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah celebrates after winning the gold medal in the 100m final on July 31. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

Elaine Thompson-Herah reflected on her gold medal victory in Tokyo today in the women's 100 meter, saying, "I knew I had it in me, but obviously, I've had my ups and downs with injuries."

“I've been injured so much. I'm grateful I could get back on the track, and get back out on the track this year to retain the title," Thompson-Herah said following her win. "Now, I have one more to go."

Thompson-Herah said she looks forward to competing in the 200 meter and 4x100m relay.

Earlier today: Thompson-Herah defended her women's 100-meter title in Olympic record time of 10.61, breaking Florence Griffith Joyner's 33-year-old mark set in Seoul.

Completing an all-Jamaican podium, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finished second to claim silver in 10.74 and Shericka Jackson finished third in 10.76 -- a personal best -- to earn the bronze.

“I can’t just imagine if we didn’t have the pandemic what would be happening in Jamaica, just speaking about the legacy that we have back home, all the athletes, young and old, you are all inspired by something that happened tonight, we were just really excited that we were able to come and to have a wonderful show tonight," Thompson-Herah said following the medal sweep.

Thompson-Herah is the fourth athlete to win two Olympic gold medals in the women's 100 meter after Wyomia Tyus in 1964 and 1968 for the US, Gail Devers in 1992 and 1996 for the US and Fraser-Pryce in 2008 and 2012 for Jamaica.

This is the sixth straight Olympic Games that the gold medal-winning time was faster than in previous Games. 

4 hr 38 min ago

Poland wins inaugural mixed 4x400 meter relay

From CNN's Ben Morse in London

Team Poland celebrates after winning the 4x400 meter mixed relay final on July 31.
Team Poland celebrates after winning the 4x400 meter mixed relay final on July 31. (Martin Meissner/AP)

Poland won the gold medal in the inaugural mixed 4x400 meter relay in a thrilling race on Saturday.

Made up of two men and two women, the new race has become an immediate favorite with fans at Tokyo 2020.

And Poland had to produce a remarkable late comeback in the final, with the Dominican Republic leading after both 800 meters and 1,200 meters.

However, a brilliant last lap from Poland shot them into the lead and earned them the first ever gold in the discipline with a new Olympic record of 3:09.87.

The silver went to the Dominican Republic and the bronze to the US.

4 hr 38 min ago

Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah defends 100 meter crown with new Olympic record

From CNN's Fernando Alfonso in Atlanta

Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah wins the 100m final on July 31.
Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah wins the 100m final on July 31. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Jamaica swept the top three spots in the women's 100 meter final tonight in Tokyo.

Elaine Thompson-Herah defended her 2016 Olympic 100 meter title with a time of 10.61, a new Olympic record.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce took home silver with 10.74 and Shericka Jackson won bronze with 10.76.

Among those celebrating their win was fellow countryman and Olympic legend Usain Bolt:

5 hr 33 min ago

British star sprinter Dina Asher-Smith withdraws from 200m with hamstring injury

From CNN’s Hannah Ritchie and Amanda Davies in London

Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith reacts after failing to qualify for the 100m final on July 31.
Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith reacts after failing to qualify for the 100m final on July 31. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

British star sprinter Dina Asher-Smith said she has withdrawn from the 200 meter race at the Tokyo Olympics due to a hamstring injury.  

She made the announcement in an emotional interview to the BBC on Saturday moments after failing to qualify for the women's 100m final. 

Asher-Smith, the current 200m world champion, said she tore her hamstring before the Games and has spent weeks trying to recover.  

"I've spent four weeks trying to run again ... It’s the Olympics, but there will be another one,” she told the BBC.  

“I apologize for my tears, I can’t help it,” she added, before briefly breaking down on camera. 

Asher-Smith was a leading contender for an Olympic medal in the 100m sprint in Tokyo but failed to advance through her semifinal round with a time of 11.05 seconds.

7 hr 48 min ago

Olympic village resident has credentials taken away after breaking rules to go sightseeing

From CNN’s Hannah Ritchie in London

The Olympic Village is seen on July 19.
The Olympic Village is seen on July 19. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images)

A resident of the Olympic Village had their credentials taken away after going on an unauthorized sightseeing trip. 

Olympic officials have called the action “unacceptable,” and said the decision to revoke the resident’s credentials was formally made on Friday.

"[The person banned] will not be allowed to enter any Tokyo 2020 venues," Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya told reporters during a press conference Saturday.

Takaya did not provide any details on the nationality of the person involved, or whether they are an athlete or staff member.

Sightseeing is a direct violation of the International Olympic Committees Covid-19 ‘playbook,' as it breaches restrictions on movement which have been placed on participating athletes and staff. 

All Tokyo 2020 staff and participants must follow a series of strict protocols to prevent the Games from becoming a super-spreader event, and it is strictly forbidden to venture outside Olympic venues or use public transport. 

This is the first reported breach of these playbook protocols since the Olympics began.

7 hr 57 min ago

If you're watching the Olympics from the US, here are the key events to catch today

American Katie Ledecky holds her gold medal for the 800-meter freestyle on July 31.
American Katie Ledecky holds her gold medal for the 800-meter freestyle on July 31. Adam Davy/PA Wire/AP

As the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games head into the second weekend of competition, medals will be awarded in swimming, fencing, judo and tennis, to name a few. 

Here are some of the events to watch. Remember, Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of US Eastern Time.

  • Swimming: Medals will be given out in the men's and women's 50 meter freestyle, men's 1500 meter freestyle, and both the men's and women's 4x100 meter medley relay. All the action airs on NBC starting at 9:30 p.m. ET. 
  • Cycling: Finals of both the men's and women's BMX freestyle park will be live on CNBC at 9:10 p.m. ET. 
  • Beach volleyball: Brazil and the US face off in women's beach volleyball at 11:30 a.m. ET on NBC. 
  • Track and field: Events include the women's 100 meter semifinals and round one of the men's 100 meters, with coverage starting on NBC at 9 p.m. ET. The women's long jump qualifying begins at 8:50 p.m. ET, and the women's shot put final begins at 9:35 p.m. ET. 
  • Tennis: Switzerland's Belinda Bencic plays the Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova for gold in the women's singles at 6 a.m. ET. It airs on NBC starting at 11 a.m. ET. Germany's Alexander Zverev plays Karen Khachanov of the Russian Olympic Committee for the gold medal in men's singles, airing at 11 p.m. ET. 
  • Fencing: The women's saber team gold medal match starts at 6:30 a.m. ET. 
  • Water polo: Team USA takes on Hungary at 8:30 a.m. ET on NBC. 
  • Judo: Competition concludes with the finals of the first-ever mixed team event, airing on USA Network at 2:15 p.m. ET. 

Here’s your full guide on how to watch the Olympics and the entire schedule. In between watching events, check out our gallery of the most memorable photos of the Games so far.

4 hr 37 min ago

Two months after not having a place at the Olympics, Mete Gazoz's gold is Turkey's first ever archery medal

From CNN's Ben Morse in London

Turkey's Mete Gazoz celebrates after winning the individual archery final on July 31.
Turkey's Mete Gazoz celebrates after winning the individual archery final on July 31. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Just two months ago, Mete Gazoz wasn't sure whether or not he'd be competing at Tokyo 2020.

And now, he is an Olympic gold medalist and the winner of Turkey's first ever archery medal.

Gazoz beat former Olympic champion Mauro Nespoli of Italy by 6-4 in the men’s individual archery final to claim the gold at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field on Saturday.

The 22-year-old reigning World Cup Champion had trailed to the 34-year-old but rallied to claim a historic medal for Turkish archery.

“Two months ago, I don’t have any quota or team place, but I think it is good because one month ago, I have to make a performance high and I just keep my (performance) up, and it worked," he said afterwards.

The gold is Turkey's first of Tokyo 2020 and their third total medal of the Summer Games.

He is the first archer to win gold at Tokyo who isn't from South Korea.

After competing in 2016 in Brazil -- getting knocked out in the round of 16 -- Gazoz said a promise he made drove him to success in Japan.

“This feels so good, I have been (at) 2016 and I give my promise to my coaches, my mother and my father, I will go to the next Olympic Games and I will win gold medal.”

7 hr 52 min ago

Defending women's 100m champion qualifies for final

From CNN's George Ramsay at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium

Defending Olympic 100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica wins her 100m semifinal on July 31.
Defending Olympic 100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica wins her 100m semifinal on July 31. (Petr David Josek/AP)

It’s the second day of track and field competition in Tokyo at a rather empty Olympic Stadium. Aside from the packed media area, there are pockets of team members dotted around the stands in the absence of fans. Most are clustered around the long jump pit for the men’s qualification.

It is warm inside the stadium -- above 30 degrees Celsius with only a very light breeze. That’s good news for the sprinters who have qualified for the women’s 100m final in roughly two hours’ time. There were some fast times in the heats, where six women ran under 11 seconds.

In the semifinals, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce progressed with the fastest time of 10.73 seconds. Fellow Jamaican and defending Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah also qualified. Perhaps the biggest shock is that Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, the 200m world champion, has missed out on the final.

Here are the athletes that will line up on the start line for the Games’ first sprint final at 9:50pm local time:

Daryll Neita (Great Britain)

Teahna Daniels (USA)

Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica)

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica)

Marie-Josee Ta Lou (Ivory Coast)

Shericka Jackson (Jamaica)

Ajla del Ponte (Switzerland)

Mujinga Kambundi (Switerland)

4 hr 37 min ago

"You just have to believe": New Zealand wins gold in women's rugby sevens after silver in 2016

New Zealand's Stacey Fluhler (C) runs to score a try in the women's rugby sevens final between New Zealand and France at the Tokyo Stadium.
New Zealand's Stacey Fluhler (C) runs to score a try in the women's rugby sevens final between New Zealand and France at the Tokyo Stadium. Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Imag

New Zealand went one step further in the women's Olympic rugby sevens tournament, winning the gold medal on Saturday.

At Rio 2016, the 'Black Ferns Sevens' lost in the final to rivals Australia, earning a silver medal in the process.

However, five years later, they overcame the heartbreak as they won 26-12 against a gritty France team.

Tries from Michaela Blyde, Gayle Broughton, Stacey Fluhler and Tyla Nathan-Wong led them to the team's first ever gold medal, sparking scenes of jubilant celebrations and tears from many of the players after the final whistle.

New Zealand are the reigning women's Rugby World Cup Sevens champions.

New Zealand star Ruby Tui said she was "so happy, so proud" after her side's victory.

“We had a dream and winning silver just didn’t feel the right way for this team to bow out," the 2019 World Rugby women's sevens player of the year told the media afterwards.

“I have looked at my silver medal (from Rio 2016) every day since I have been here. I will never forget the person I was when we won silver because I have had a complete change in the person I was then in order to win this gold.

“The gold is a metaphor for a dream about positive thinking. It is not just the gold medal but how we have grown since. You just have to believe.”

Earlier in the day, Fiji produced an excellent display to beat Team GB 21-12 and earned themselves a bronze medal.

4 hr 37 min ago

Novak Djokovic ends Tokyo 2020 without a medal after losing in singles and withdrawing from mixed doubles

From CNN's Ben Morse in London

Novak Djokovic smashes his racket during his men's singles tennis match for the bronze medal against Pablo Carreno Busta.
Novak Djokovic smashes his racket during his men's singles tennis match for the bronze medal against Pablo Carreno Busta. Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images

After cruising through the opening few rounds of the men's singles competition at the 2020 Olympics, it seemed inevitable that a gold medal would soon be hanging around Novak Djokovic's neck.

However, following a couple of disastrous days in Tokyo, the world No. 1 is returning home without a medal at all after losing to Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta in the bronze medal match on Saturday.

The Serbian lost in three sets 4-6 7-6 3-6 to the world No. 11 at the Ariake Tennis Centre Court.

Coming into the Olympics, Djokovic had been attempting to win what would've been a historic 'Golden Slam' in men's tennis.

A 'Golden Slam' consists of winning all four grand slams and an Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year.

Steffi Graf is the only tennis player -- male or female -- to complete the feat when she did it in 1988.

However, defeat on Friday to Alexander Zverev in the semifinal dashed those hopes.

Djokovic had a chance of taking home some silverware in mixed doubles. However, he and fellow Serbian Nina Stojanovic withdrew, meaning Ashleigh Barty and John Peers of Australia claimed the bronze via walkover.

It is Australia’s sixth ever Olympic medal in tennis -- and first since Alicia Molik claimed bronze in the women’s singles competition at Athens 2004.

4 hr 37 min ago

Tokyo reports its highest-ever number of daily Covid-19 infections

From CNN's Arthur Syin in Tokyo

Japan’s capital city of Tokyo reported 4,058 Covid-19 cases on Saturday, the highest ever since the beginning of pandemic, according to Tokyo Metropolitan Government data. 

The city has seen a rapid surge in the past week, reporting around 3,000 cases every day since Tuesday. Last Saturday, the city reported roughly a quarter of today’s number -- 1,128 cases during a single day. 

On Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced an extension of Covid-19 states of emergency to the end of August, while expanding them to four prefectures, including three surrounding Tokyo.

There have been at least 241 cases linked to the Tokyo 2020 Games, according to organizers.

10 hr 43 min ago

“I’m a champion”: Simone Manuel releases statement after failing to qualify for women’s 50m freestyle final 

From CNN’s Hannah Ritchie

Simone Manuel leaves the pool after the 50-meter freestyle semifinal on July 31.
Simone Manuel leaves the pool after the 50-meter freestyle semifinal on July 31. David Goldman/AP

U.S. Olympic swimmer Simone Manuel released a statement Saturday saying she “gave it her all” after failing to qualify for the women’s 50-meter freestyle final by finishing tied-11th in the semifinal heats. 

“No doubt I’ll remember this point in my career forever. Not the fact that I didn’t make the Olympic final or come home with an individual medal, but the fact that I gave it my all," Manuel said on Twitter. 

“I’m a champion! Not because of the medals I’ve won but because of how I’ve consistently fought for what I believe in, my perseverance, and my fiery passion to always be me! I’m proud of Simone, the 2X Olympian/5X Olympic medalist, but most importantly I’m proud to just be ME,” the statement added. 

Manuel won two gold and two silver medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics: gold in the 100-meter freestyle and the 4x100-meter medley, and silver in the 50-meter freestyle and the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. 

She was the first African American woman to ever win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming. 

In June, leading up to the Tokyo Games, she released a statement revealing she had been diagnosed with overtraining syndrome and extreme fatigue. She has also been openly battling depression and insomnia, which she said caused her to step back from her normal training routine.

10 hr 18 min ago

Japan’s silver surfer says landing aerial 360 in semis was "biggest moment of his life"

From CNN's Amanda Sealey

Kanoa Igarashi completes a huge aerial to find a last minute winning score against Gabriel Medina during the men's semifinal on July 27.
Kanoa Igarashi completes a huge aerial to find a last minute winning score against Gabriel Medina during the men's semifinal on July 27. Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Despite taking home silver for Japan, surfer Kanoa Igarashi knew his Games-defining moment came during his semifinal round against Brazil’s Gabriel Medina.

Igarashi landed an aerial 360 earning him a 9.33 and allowed him to go onto the finals. 

“The moment the wave came in, the moment I stood up on my feet, I was just shaking,” Igarashi told CNN’s Coy Wire
“The whole world's watching and here's your chance and if you fall, the whole country is going to be bummed, be upset. I've let my family down. I've let my country down, let my sport down.
"And then, but on the flip side, if I do this, I'll be a part of history. And that was stronger. That second phrase was stronger than the first one.”
 This is a move Igarashi said was the cumulation of four years of not only work, but also dedication and when it came to that moment, he knew what to do.
“I remember I went up and I went up and when I was in the air, It was so slow. It felt like it was a never-ending manoeuvre,” Igarashi recalls.
 “I was in the air. I went, alright, open up left arm, head turn, chest turn, right arm down grab, okay, I feel the board. Okay, l like where my grab’s at. I'm rotating. Okay, I see the beach. Everyone's already kind of like, 'Oh my God, this can be a huge moment.' And then as I'm rotating, okay, here's my landing.”

It was that moment that he thought, “If I land this land this this is the biggest moment of my life.”

No spoiler alert here -- that move allowed Igarashi to make Olympic history.

“I’ll remember that one forever. “

12 hr 21 min ago

Nigerian sprinter provisionally suspended from Games after positive test for human growth hormone

From CNN's Taylor Barnes

Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare competes during round one of the 100 meter heats on July 30.
Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare competes during round one of the 100 meter heats on July 30. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare has been provisionally suspended from the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for human growth hormone, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), an independent body that combats doping. 

The AIU collected a test sample from Okagbare on July 19 during an out-of-competition test. The AIU was then notified on July 30 of her positive result. The 32-year-old sprinter was alerted and immediately suspended the following morning on July 31.  

Okagbare had raced on Friday in the heats of the 100 meters and had advanced to the semifinals that will take place Saturday evening. 

CNN has reached out to the Nigerian Olympic Committee for comment. Okagbare has yet to comment on her suspension.

end quote from:
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/tokyo-2020-olympics-07-31-21-spt/index.html

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