The leaders are off their bikes, slipping on their trainers and starting the final athlon of the triathlon in bright sunshine. Georgia Taylor-Brown was dropped in the final half-lap of the bike ride as she cycled on one flat tyre, leaving a leading group of four composed of Jess Learmonth, Katie Zaferes, Flora Duffy and Laura Lindemann, with Taylor-Brown around 20sec behind.. Tom Lutz will take you through the remainder of the race if you click on the link that follows. This liveblog will end here. This is a dead end. There’s nothing to see here, please move along.
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Onto the last lap, and the leading five have a 1min 13sec advantage. As they transition into the run in a few minutes, we’re going to switch to an entirely new liveblog to cover a new day (this will be particularly confusing if you’re not in the UK at the moment - we’ve got to start our days somewhere). You can find this blog here:
Behind the chasing group of 10, which still includes Summer Rappaport, who seems to have successfully regrouped after being dropped by the leaders, is a gap of 1min 22sec. So the 18th-placed rider on the road, Lotte Miller, is 2min 42sec behind the leaders, and in another group of 10. Carolyn Hayes of Ireland is one of eight athletes in the group behind that, 4min 8sec off the lead.
...and now it’s sunny. One of those Tokyo mornings, it seems.
Most of the bike ride has taken place on very wet roads, but not in actual rain. It is now raining again, though.
Now 30km in, and it’s now a front five! Vittoria Lopes has been dropped, and trails by 35sec. The chasing pack is 1min 16sec behind the leaders.
25km into the bike ride, and the front six lead by 1min 15sec. Their lead has been remarkably consistent since the end of lap one.
There has already been one result in the surfing: Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi beat Kolohe Andino of the USA in the day’s first heat.
There is surfing happening at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach. Just to remind you, the finals have been brought forward to today because of a nasty weather forecast. The sea doesn’t exactly look inviting at the moment, but France’s Michel Bourez and Brazil’s Gabriel Medina are in it, with a semi-final spot on the line.
It’s worth pointing out that the last time Jessica Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown were here, they crossed the line together at an Olympic Games test event in 2019. And having matched each other stroke for stroke, pedal for pedal and stride for stride they joined hands to celebrate they were DQed for contravening International Triathlon Union’s competition rule 2:11f, which states that triathletes must not “finish in a contrived tie situation where no effort to separate the finish times has been made”.
Lap four update: Rappaport has joined the chasing group, which is now 1min 9sec behind the leaders.
Germany’s Laura Lindemann, the world No3, is the highest-ranked athlete in the leading group, and apparently a formidable runner. But Katie Zaferes is ranked fourth, Learmonth fifth, Taylor-Brown sixth, Flora Duffy 15th and Vittoria Lopes 25th. The current world No1, Taylor Spivey, was not selected for the American team.
Right then, the third of eight laps is over for the leaders. Rappaport is already 37sec away, and the chasing group have fallen further behind - they’re 1min 8sec off the lead now.
We get split times at the end of each lap, so every 5km. It’s still Leamonth and Taylor-Brown at the front, and they seem to be pushing hard in an effort to lose everyone they can while the going’s good.
The front seven is down to six: Summer Rappaport has dropped away and is being distanced.
The chasing 10 are Maya Kingma and Rachel Klamer of the Netherlands, Valerie Barthelemy of Belgium, Italy’s Alice Beto, Yuko Takahashi of Japan, Australia’s Emma Jeffcoat, France’s Leonie Periault, Zsanett Bragmayer of Hungary, and Simone Ackermann from South Africa.
Not really! There are 10 riders in the chasing group, and though the gap has shrunk it’s only by a single second. The 10 are around 1min 3sec behind, and there’s another 40sec between them and anyone else.
The leaders have just completed the second lap. Has anyone managed to reduce the gap?
Another one down! This one goes over on the slick blue track that covers the transition area and the finish line, which is clearly much softer the smoother than asphalt, and she’s swiftly back on her bike. It might have been Elizabeth Bravo of Ecuador.
Ainsley Thorpe of New Zealand has come off her bike, and she too is out! Julia Hauser of Austria, who did so badly in the swim, and Mexico’s Claudio Rivas are also out, for reasons as-yet unknown.
The athlete in eighth place, Alice Betto of Italy, is more than a minute behind the athlete in seventh, Summer Rappaport.
The leading seven have finished the first of eight laps of the 5km cycling course. There are British athletes first and second. End it now!
Crash! The not-Russian Anastasia Gorbunova has come off her bike and abandoned the race.
If you’d like an Australia-focused day four preview, there’s one right here:
It looks like Learmonth’s strategy is to do all she can to win this before she gets off the bike. Having led for the entire swim, she’s tried to strike off on her own on the bike. I’m not sure she’s been successful quite yet.
That is indeed the leading group of seven. The eighth-placed athlete, Jeffcoat, is more than 30sec behind.
There is a leading group of around half a dozen that have quite a gap on the chasers. It’s hard to identify them, but I think it’s the five mentioned below plus Flora Duffy of Bermuda, and Laura Lindemann of Germany.
The first five to get out of the water, run a little bit and then get back in the water again are Learmonth, the Brazilian Vittoria Lopes, two Americans in Katie Zaferes and Summer Rappaport, and another Briton, Georgia Taylor-Brown. The third Briton, Vicky Holland, is 27 seconds behind the leader. Other notables: Australia have Emma Jeffcoat 19sec behind, and Maya Kingma is 30sec behind. The slowest swimmer, Austria’s Julia Hauser, is already 2min 34sec back, over a minute behind the swimmer in 53rd, Kaidi Kivioja of Estonia.
Britain’s Jessica Learmonth is leading the field in the water. The athletes here are numbered from one to 56, but there’s no No39 - it was announced yesterday that the Ukrainian Yuliya Yelistratova, who was due to wear that number, failed a drug test taken in June, and she is provisionally suspended from competition.
“This parcours is going to be very dangerous for the bikes, with horrible turns and changes in surfaces,” suggests Gary Naylor. “Foinavon could win ... I fear a farce.” Hopefully the frantic drying will be successful enough.
And they’re off! Without any nasty restart-based kerfuffles too. 54 women are now in the water.
Live sport is about to happen! And the weather for the women’s triathlon looks nasty. Wet, windy and all-round unpleasant.
Here are Tuesday’s key events, according to Martin Belam, whose daily Olympics newsletter can be delivered directly to your very own inbox if you just pop your email address into this here box:
If you only watch one thing: 7.45pm Artistic gymnastics – it is the women’s team final. A Simon Biles-led Team USA will face a strong challenge to defend their gold medal from Not Russia and from China 🥇
- 6.30am Triathlon – the individual women’s race takes place. Remember, this is a super early start in Tokyo again so if you want to watch it in the UK it is effectively on at 10.30pm tonight before you go to bed to enjoy sweet, sweet Olympic gold medal dreams 🥇
- 10am-9.45pm Taekwondo – it is the final day of taekwondo. There’s continued British interest with Mahama Cho in the men’s +80kg, and Bianca Walkden in the +67kg 🥇
- 10.30am-12.30pm and 7pm-8.59pm – the swimming is all topsy-turvy with the finals in the morning and the heats in the evening. There should be four fantastic finals in the first session on Tuesday between 10.34am and 11.17am: men’s 200m freestyle, women’s 100m backstroke, men’s 100m backstroke, women’s 100m backstroke. Phew 🥇
- 3pm Cycling Mountain Bike – it is the turn of the women around the Izu MTB course 🥇
- 3pm Diving – it is also the women in the diving on Tuesday, with the synchronised 10m platform 🥇
- 5pm Equestrian – Germany will defend their Rio title as eight nations, including Team GB and the USA who finished in silver and bronze positions in 2016, go for the Dressage Team Grand Prix Special 🐴🥇
- 5pm-8.30pm Football – it is the final round of group games in the women’s competition. Team GB and Sweden are the two teams already guaranteed quarter-final spots. Two key match-ups are Japan v Chile at 8pm where the hosts probably need a win to progress from Group E. Before that at 5pm the USA face Australia. Now, I’m not suggesting this is a potential “Disgrace of Gijón” situation, but a draw would leave them both on four points and both almost certain to qualify.
- 5.30pm-7.00 pm Rugby sevens – after a final round of pool matches in the morning, and some placing games, the tournament reaches the quarter-final stage.
- 8pm Softball – Japan face the USA in the final 🥇
We also have an interactive schedule thingamy, which you can find here.
The women’s triathlon was due to start now, but has been delayed by 15 minutes to allow more time for frantic mopping up such as this:
And also this:
The BBC is showing highlights of the women’s street skateboarding. It’s new, I know, but I don’t think there’s an Olympic sport I’m more bewildered by. The least good Olympic discipline, or is it just me? Anyway, just 45 minutes before we get some actual live sport!
“I think Jonathan Liew is on point about the men’s football at the Olympics - it’s an uninteresting farce, especially since nations can’t actually bring their strongest teams - but the women’s football at the Olympics is viewed in much higher importance and brings together the best athletes in the world,” writes Conor Thompson. “By all means scrap the men’s football and replace it with another sport, but keep the women’s.”
“Still lashing down in Tokyo, with just an hour to go before the women’s Olympic triathlon gets under way,” writes Sean Ingle, our man on the ground. “High winds have subsided, however. Am told weather experts forecasting an improvement shortly, which will last until midday.”
“I was AT that match in Cardiff when we lost to South Korea,” writes Gordon McDougall of Jonathan Liew’s article. “Having both run on the White City track and watched Bannister, Pirie, Kuc, Chataway, Foster there all through my youth, I was devastated not to be awarded a single ticket for the athletics events. Watched a dreadful game of football from ground level. Waited over an hour for the bus back, arrived home at one o’clock to find I could have watched the greatest day of British athletics on television.”
I feel your pain (though probably not very well, given that I was at the Olympic Stadium).
Actual Olympic news alert!
Talking of stormy weather, the start of the women’s triathlon has been put back by 15 minutes because of heavy rain. It will now start at 6.45am local time.
News from a little earlier about tropical storm Nepartak, which has forced organisers to reschedule surfing, rowing and archery events:
Tokyo Olympic organisers on Monday moved the medal events in the surfing competition a day earlier than scheduled, marking the latest change to the programme caused by tropical storm Nepartak as it churned toward Japan’s main island.
The storm is expected to head over Japan’s northeast coast on Tuesday and could dump heavy rain on the capital just days after the start of the Games. The medal heats for surfing, making its Olympic debut in Tokyo, were due to be held on Wednesday, but the strong swell provided by the Nepartak is expected to abate by then and impact the waves, prompting organisers to move them forward by a day.
“After a review of the surf conditions forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, tournament officials have decided to move the women’s and men’s Olympic surfing finals from Wednesday to Tuesday,” said a Games statement. “The International Surfing Association technical director assessed the overall impact of the surf forecast on the final day of competition and adjusted the schedule.”
The rain also threatens Tuesday’s two medal games for softball. Canada, vying for bronze, said their flights home are scheduled for Wednesday with the next available potentially not until Saturday because the pandemic has limited options. But their accommodation need to be taken over by newly arriving athletes sooner. “We very much hope the game goes on tomorrow,” coach Mark Smith said. “We don’t have a lot of flexibility.”
Postponement would give athletes recovery time after five games in six steaming days, but Canada pitcher Danielle Lawrie said she could do without. “When you’re in the last four teams standing, you’re running on some adrenaline,” she said. “Once you get warmed up and ready for battle, you forget how all of that feels.”
Rowing and archery events have also been moved, with Tuesday’s rowing races rescheduled for later in the week. A spokesman for Tokyo 2020 said earlier on Monday that there were no immediate plans to change the schedule for other events.
Jonathan Liew is not even slightly impressed by Olympic football. Here, let him explain:
Nine years ago, I had a front-row seat at the Olympic Stadium in London for what would become known as Super Saturday. The ley lines of that evening are now firmly etched into the sporting lore of the UK: the triumphant last-lap surge of Jess Ennis, Mo Farah being physically roared over the line, that chirpy bloke who won the long jump. And yet my strongest and clearest memory of Super Saturday is none of these things.
It came about half an hour after Farah crossed the line, with the stadium still wreathed in a shimmering glow somewhere between heat and love. At which point, a member of the crowd shouted out to nobody in particular that 150 miles away in Cardiff, Team GB had just lost to South Korea on penalties in the quarter-finals of the men’s football. As the news filtered around, everybody – from the crowd to the press box to the journalist from L’Equipe sitting next to me – spontaneously burst into laughter.
Somehow it was just perfect: the perfect end to the perfect day of British sport. You didn’t need to be British or even English to grasp the incongruity of it all: the national team in the national game relegated to a comic afterthought, never (in all likelihood) to be seen again. At this moment of collective triumph, the Olympics was the Olympics and football was football, and the divide between the two had never been expressed more clearly.
Much more here:
Controversywatch latest:
Spain basketball coach Sergio Scariolo hit out at the Tokyo 2020 organisers after his side were made to wait almost half an hour before being allowed back into the dressing room following their 88-77 Group C victory over hosts Japan on Monday.
The Italian called for changes to be made, saying that making athletes wait to access recovery facilities could potentially lead to more injuries.
“There needs to be more respect shown for the players,” Scariolo told a news conference. “It took 25 minutes from the end of the game before they could get their legs into an ice bath, and that’s something that is very dangerous and needs to be changed. Their legs are tired, and they should be treated with respect; protocols have to be changed.
“Everyone’s here for one thing and that’s the players and we need to look after their health. Honestly, I’m not just annoyed for the sake of being annoyed, I repeat, it’s incredibly dangerous.”
Reuters, who provided this report, have not been able to ascertain the reason for the delay.
Our selection of the best photographs of this third day of the Tokyo Olympics for some reason doesn’t include this one:
But it’s got an absolute heap of cracking images. Do check it out:
Here’s a photograph from earlier today of Hilbert Bredemeijer, the Dutch minister for sport, giving a toy stork to the Netherlands’ greatest gymnast of all time, Epke Zonderland, who is already back in the Netherlands after being knocked out of the 2020 Olympics (he’s now 35, and no longer that great, but he won gold in London in 2012, and three world championship golds as well).
If anyone knows why Bredemeijer is giving him a toy stork, I’m all ears.
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Basketball: Joan Niesen has written about the American basketball team, who lost their first preliminary round game to France and after one match sit bottom of Group A, just below Iran.
It’s too easy to make excuses for the Team USA men’s basketball team as it stumbles, and stumbles again, on the court.
It’s too easy to point out that this is international play, and these are international referees and rules, that this isn’t the NBA, that the points and fouls aren’t coming the way they do at home.
Then there’s the jet lag, the exhaustion, the lack of pre-Olympics practice time for the guys who played in Milwaukee last Tuesday night during the NBA finals. Those finals gassed one quarter of Team USA’s roster, forced three key players to fly to Japan on the heels of a grueling six-game series that ended not five full days before their first Olympic game.
There’s Covid, which disrupted training over the past 16 months and convinced some of the US’s top players to just stay home.
But those excuses – or are they just common-sense explanations for Team USA’s break with dominance? – all pale in importance to one difficult truth for many American fans: Basketball is an increasingly international sport, and some of the NBA’s top players become Team USA’s rivals every fourth (or fifth) summer. In 2021, it takes the best of the best the US has to offer to win decisively on the international stage.
And the best of the best are watching from their couches at home.
Much more here:
There are a few multigenerational Olympic champions, but we got a new one today in the shape of Sofia Pozdniakova, daughter of the ROC president Stanislav Pozdnyakov, who won gold in the team sabre in 1992, 1996 and 2000, and individual sabre gold in 1996. Pozdniakova won her first gold today in the women’s sabre.
Pozdnyakov posted on Instagram after his daughter’s victory, and had this to say:
The road to this point was not a short one. Sofia started fencing at the age of 10, and from her first training session to the Olympic Games took about 14 years, in which time there were ups and downs. But her talent has been clear for a long time.
Today her own Olympic history began. My daughter has for a long time been an independent athlete and person, but today her name will forever be inscribed in the history of sport. All I have left to do is just love her, be eternally proud and rejoice at her successes knowing that she accomplished this through her own work ... And I also hope that her parents’ genes gave her an impulse.
Pozdniakova arrived at the Tokyo Games having already won the world individual title in 2018 and was part of the team that won gold at the world championships in 2019.
But winning an Olympic gold medal, one that they celebrated with an emotion-filled hug, allowed 24-year-old Pozdniakova to step out of her father’s shadow. “When I started fencing, I wasn’t called by my name. I was called Pozdnyakov’s daughter,” she said. “I am of course proud to be his daughter. But we are different, we are separate people.”
Hello world! I know what you’re asking - what Olympic-related goodness do I have to look forward to now? The answer to your question is:
Now until four hours from now: Not a whole lot. No point sugaring the pill, it’s going to be a bit slow.
6.30am Tokyo (10.30pm BST, 5.30pm New York, 2.30pm Los Angeles, 7.30am Sydney): The women’s individual triathlon gets under way. Should be super-competitive, with the Netherlands’ Maya Kingma the athlete in form, but America’s Taylor Spivey and Summer Rappaport leading the rankings. Britain will be hoping for a medal, with Vicky Holland, Jess Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown all in the world top 10.
7am Tokyo: The men’s surfing quarter-finals start with America’s Kolohe Andino against Kanoa Igarashi of Japan.
9am Tokyo: A load of stuff starts now. Beach volleyball, normal sandless volleyball and handball preliminary matches recommence, plus rugby sevens pool games, with Canada v Japan first up followed by Fiji v Great Britain. At the Asaka Shooting Range the 10m air pistol mixed team qualification begins, with the bronze medal match at 11am, and the gold medal match to follow.
9.30am Tokyo: Argentina v Australia is the first hockey match on a day of men’s pool games only.
10am Tokyo and onwards: Loads of great stuff.
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The best bit? We get to do it all again tomorrow on day four of Tokyo 2020. Thanks for your wonderful company today. I’ll leave you with Simon Burnton to start thinking about the fun we have to come. Bye!
Alright, before I sign off, one last heartwarming read. Did you hear the one about the 13-year-old who struck gold in her home town? Sean Ingle was in attendance to witness Momiji Nishiya becoming the second youngest summer Olympian to top the world. Wow.
You need this newsletter. Trust me. It’s a brilliant product, made with love, the ideal one-stop-shop. Today’s edition of Martin Belam’s Briefing is live - see below - and get it delivered to your inbox each day of Tokyo 2020 by simply popping your email in here.
“I am from Bangladesh,” writes Rakesh Ng. “Very few people follow the Olympics here because we are busy with cricket only. But being a sport enthusiast, I never miss the opportunity. It seems that Triathlon was finished just moments ago!!!”
Great to have you with us - I love your country and will be back as soon as possible for another Test cricket tour. You’re not wrong about how long/short that third day felt, running from 6:30am until 1am, with the women’s triathlon just five hours away. More! More!
Here’s the updated medal tally. With Japan sitting pretty - No1! In a little Aussie throwback to the 2000 Games, go you good things, go.
Argentina’s men didn’t quite get it done in the volleyball, but their fencers have the right idea. Love in the times of Corona - very nice.
And... exhale. Goodness me, what a treat today was. From the inspirational finish to the men’s triathlon with Kristian Blummenfelt’s gut-running to the pool with Ariarne Titmus seeing off the champion Katie Ledecky in the 400 freestyle. Tom Daley! He’s won Olympic gold! To Lauren Williams, who came within three seconds of snagging one herself in the taekwando. Philippines had an athlete on top the dias for the first time in their history after with Hidilyn Diaz lifting more than any other in the 55kg women’s event. Similarly, Hong Kong had just their second winner of all time, Edgar Cheung stunning the world by winning the foil fencing. Favourites like Russian’s male gymnasts and Adam Beaty did as they do best and the host nation went to the top of the medal count after Mizutani Jun and Ito Mima won the table tennis mixed doubles in a compelling seven-set thriller. And so much more. Very special.
Manic Monday comes to an end at 1am
Brazil win 16-14 in the fifth! Bruno, the skipper, is going wild, the game finally won on the stroke of 1am. Argentina’s main man, Conte, missed crosscourt on match point - the decisive moment, at last.
Volleyball: LUCARELLI! It’s been the story of Brazil’s experienced big men holding their nerve here, earning a match point at 14-13.
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Volleyball: Guess what? They’re level at 11, with Leal again at the net, too big/strong/good. Now it’s SOUZA!!!!!! What a block from Brazil’s No13, who has been around for 15 years in this mighty team. It prompts Argentina to call their time trailing 13-12. Brazil to serve when they return. Blow for blow, no inch given, here we go!
Volleyball: that will make a glorious photo, Brazil’s Leal leaping into into the sky before a crosscourt kill - we’re level at nine each. A reminder that this is a race to 15 in the tie-breaker fifth set. A timeout at 12:51am in Tokyo, which gives me an excuse to play a song that was surely big in Japan back in 2003. In fact, I know it was.
Volleyball: they’re leaving it all out there, big shots and huge blocks - 5-5. Conte (Argentina) needs some attention from the medical staff; he’s okay now. 6-6 - this is going all the way. 7-7. You love to see it. They change ends at 8-7 Argentina’s way after a classic set/spike.
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Volleyball: Brazil to serve, my man Lucarelli with the ball in his hand but Sebastián Solé wants it more on the block, getting Argentina off the mark. It’s 2-2 with the serve back to Saatkamp, and they win the point after some desperate defence from both teams to keep the ball alive. Oohhh, but next serve is into the net! 3-3.
Volleyball: Brazil seal the fourth set 25-21! To the tie-breaker, which is a first-to-15 sprint. Argentina won the first two, the Olympic champions the next. So, at 12:35am on day four we’ve reached the last hurrah for day three. This will be worth tuning in for.
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Volleyball: What a passage! “Brazil refused to let that ball hit the floor,” says the caller after a sublime rally - volleyball at its best. “Unreal!” Argentina’s lead was out to six in this set and is back to two, the Olympic champions serving at 15-17. A big block from the superstar Lucarelli, right in Bruno Lima’s face, makes that 16-17. It’s that man still on serve at 18-16, one to go. “This is penalty shoot-out stuff for him now knowing that nothing he’s done in the last few minutes has worked.” Nor does this; 17-18. Now 18-all. “Brazil have salvaged what looked to be a completely impossible situation.” The masked man Lucas Saatkamp nails his spike. Brazil lead 19-18!
There’s nothing more certain in world sport than Djokovic winning the gold at these Olympics, is there? And he’s having fun, too.
“I feel incredibly proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion.” Strong and considered words from Tom Daley at his press conference after winning gold. Here’s Barney’s write-up.
In the glow of victory, Daley spoke with startling clarity about the pressures he has faced in the course of a life lived in a uniquely pitched public glare.
“In terms of out athletes, there are more openly out athletes at these Olympic Games than any Olympic Games previously. I came out in 2013 and when I was younger I always felt like the one that was alone and different and didn’t fit. There was something about me that was never going to be as good as what society wanted me to be. I hope that any young LGBT person out there can see that no matter how alone you feel right now, you are not alone. You can achieve anything.”
Volleyball: A huuuuuge serve from veteran Ricardo Lucarelli Souza narrows the gap to four for Brazil in this third set but it is cancelled out by his final serve, crashing into the net. Argentina can taste victory from here, up 13-8 in the fourth set with five serves to come.
Volleyball: Brazil have wrapped up the third set 25-16! They trail Argentina two sets to one as midnight arrives in Tokyo. A late-night five-set thriller betwee these old rivals? We should be so lucky.
The Americans have dominated the shooting events so far. Vincent Hancock has now won the Skeet in three of the four Olympics, back to 2008. whewn watching it earlier, I was a touch more interested in the 57-year-old Abdullah Al-Rashidi, the Kuwati who won bronze for the second time on the bounce in this his seventh (!) Games. However, it’s the American achievement that Tom Dart has been documenting for us out at the Asaka Shooting Range.
Volleyball: Brazil aren’t going to give this up without a proper scrap, leading Argentina 15-9 in the third set. We could be on for a 1am finish (or later) if they take this to a fourth and a fifth. With the women’s triathlon set to start at 6:30am local time, this might be the day of the Games with the shortest non-action window. Nice.
Also nice, Suzanne Wrack’s feature on Team GB’s Leah Williamson.
Team GB’s Leah Williamson: ‘I had to keep my eyes closed for the anthem’ | Interview by @SuzyWrack #Olympics #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/uCRKU35lD6
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) July 26, 2021
Race of the day: Ariarne Titmus (AUS) could not have timed her move against rival Katie Ledecky (USA) any better, taking the lead with 100m to go in the 400 freestyle. Check it out. And here’s how Kieran Pender saw it at the Tokyo Acquatics Centre. What a treat.
The Ledecky v Titmus rivalry will define the Olympic swim meet. Only “rivalry” is not quite the right word. Over the past two years, ever since Titmus beat Ledecky at the 2019 world championships and the American failed to shake her opponent’s hand, the duel between them has been given much oxygen. In the pool, it is certainly box office – one of the best swimmers in history, the reigning queen of the pool, and a young prodigy eager to take the crown.
Team GB gold: Martin Belam was watching Tom Pidcock win the men’s cross-country mountain bike race. One of two gold medals for GB in the space of half an hour as the country woke up this morning.
Tom Pidcock could have been forgiven for thinking his Tokyo dream was over in May when he sustained a broken collarbone from being hit by a car while out on a training ride. However, on Monday he joined the Team GB goldrush, winning Great Britain’s third gold medal of the Olympics with a dominant ride in the men’s cross-country mountain bike race in Izu.
Volleyball: Argentina wrap up the second set 25-21! The ninth-ranked team are two sets to love up against their old rival, the world No1 and defending Olympic champions.
Volleyball: An important update to let you know that the Olympic DJ has Vengaboys banger Boom Boom Boom Boom in the rotation. Argentina, meanwhile, one set and 21-17 up; Brazil under the pump.
Barney’s report on Tom Daley and Matty Lee’s win. Drink it in.
Volleyball: Argentina lead this second set 15-14 (first to 25) after snaring the first. Could the upset be on? It’ll be a very late night there if this does go to five sets, which I’m sure we’ll all embrace.
“Dear Adam.” Hello, Mark Wilson. “I have the Guardian on in the background as I work. I don’t have Discovery Plus so I’m only able to watch the limited sport which the Beeb is able to show. That means I miss the likes of handball and volleyball. I remember watching handball for the first time in 2012 and seeing how fast and exciting it was! I just wanted to say, am really enjoying your coverage. Loved your comment earlier about Lauren Williams - find a telly. Such passion and excitement coming through and I feel like I’m there watching it. I’m not really a sport fan, but the Olympics is special. Thanks for making it memorable for me, whilst I am at work.”
Embrace that Olympic spirit, Mark. Lovely. Thanks for reading along as we keep this blog ticking 24 hours a day for the entire fortnight!
Bunch of usual football fanatics in the office all jumping up and down excitedly at the Womens Taekwondo. Brilliant, innit?
— Nick Toovey (@OneTooves) July 26, 2021
Tennis: I missed the fact that Naomi Osaka cruised into the third round of the women’s singles today and I’m certain that’s precisely what she wants at this stage of the tournament. Going very nicely.
Here’s the match report. Lauren Williams won taekwando silver for GB in a fine all-round performance. But, as she acknowledged herself, gold did slip through her fingers with a lead out to six points in the final round. Matea Jelic was immense when it mattered most.
Volleyball: I’m pretty sure the last event going in Tokyo tonight, as the clock strikes 11pm local time, is the aforementioned clash in the men’s volleyball. And it’s a bit of a game too, with Argentina, the world No9, taking the first set from Brazil, their top-ranked opponents, and now leading 5-4 in the second. Game on.
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Handball: Sweden’s men defeat Japan 28-26, scoring the sealer in the final minute. “Look at the relief,” says the commentator of the winners. “They will wonder what has hit them but it is Japanese belief. A desire to try the unconventional. They’ve played an absolute blinder here. They may not have won this match but they have won our hearts. We salute them. Now we believe in Japan.”
Handball: Japan’s superb day isn’t yet over! With one minute to go, they are just one goal behind Sweden, the No2 men’s team in the world!
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Volleyball: Brazil v Argentina, let’s have a bit of that. I mentioned yesterday that my London 2012 experience was looking after the volleyball media at the mighty Earl’s Court (RIP). Brazil’s men had match points for gold but ultimately were beaten by the Russians after mounting a thrilling comeback. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop the Russian captain alleging all sorts of unsubstantiated trash about match officials before storming out of the post-victory press conference. Classic. By contrast, Brazil’s crestfallen coach weeped while translating from English to Spanish to Portuguese. So yes, quite the time. Argentina are leading the first set here, 18-15.
And that is our final gold medal of the third day. There’s still plenty of qualification and team sport going on around the Olympic city, but the hosts go to bed on top of the table. What a special time.
Jun Mizutani and Ito Mima claim table tennis gold for Japan!
They win the final game 11-7, Ito making the decisive play on match point. Her fearless play defined the triumph in the closing moments. Japan now leap to the top of the medal tally, with eight gold!
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Table tennis: Mizutani into the net; he’s lost both points on his serve. China have won five of the last six points, with two serves to come at 5-9. Ito creates the error after another backhand touches the top of the net and Mizutani with the winner! Match point at 10-5!
Table tennis: Consecutive points for China, Xu serves at 2-8. But it’s Ito! Of course it’s Ito! A reverse topspin backhand down the line, steadying the ship for the home pair. 2-9 becomes 3-9 with Mizutani’s forehand sailing long. Two points away, Japan’s serve.
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Table tennis: 7-0! 8-0! Ito has hammered her crosscourt forehand, there’s no getting that back - she’s playing the game of her life! Japan are three points away from gold, on serve as well. Blimey.
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Table tennis: Tension builds before every point, so much so that some sweat needs to be removed from the playing surface with Ito serving at 1-0. They press home that advantage creating a backhand error, 2-0 as the serve goes back to Liu Shiwen. But what a shot by Ito! The slice forehand makes it 3-0. Huge point; fierce rally, into the net on the Chinese side! It’s 4-0. And to 5-0 with Ito’s backhand again, this time kissing the top of the net before landing just where it needed to. They change ends with Mizutani to serve... and it’s his cannon of a forehand taking it to 6-zip! Staggering!
Table tennis: The Chinese pair of Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen hold their nerve, pulling away to win the sixth game 11-6. We’re off to a seventh a deciding game in the mixed doubles gold-medal match.
Philippines have their first ever Olympic gold!
Hidilyn Diaz wins the women’s 55kg weightlifting. If this wasn’t already the case, she’ll be a national hero. She captured the medal that matters most by a single kilogram (224km) over China’s Liao Qiuyan and Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo. Superb.
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Table tennis: It’s level at 3-3 in the crucial sixth game, which China’s pair now must win to stay in this gold-medal match. And goodness me they are all giving it a wallop - no inch given. Fabulous stuff.
“Hi Adam!” Hello, Simon McMahon. “Enjoying the comprehensive coverage from Tokyo, thanks. There’s nothing I like to do more on a Monday afternoon than watch some taekwondo, fencing, archery, table tennis and volleyball involving previously unknown (to me, at least) athletes from around the world. It’s like the ultimate Indoor League.”
As Andy Williams sang, it’s the most wonderful time of the... four year cycle.
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Table tennis: Back to the gold-medal clash in the mixed doubles, where China’s pair of Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen won the first two games in a canter. Well, fast forward half an hour and this has turned around entirely, Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Ito Mima up three games to two in the best of seven decider. Game on! “Can you believe it!” roars the commentator. “Japan one game away from gold!”
The Russian Olympic Committee win the men's team gymnastics!
After leading from early on, they snuck over the line with Denis Abliazin doing enough on the floor. Defending champions Japan nearly went back to back after a big horizontal bar routine from Karuma Kaya, China taking the bronze. Team GB finished fourth.
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Lauren Williams speaks to the BBC. “It’s not enough. With ten seconds to go, I let it go and messed up. I tried my best in that situation; I’m very happy with how I performed. I’ve not had the best prep at all but that is not an excuse.” Her message back home: “A massive thank you to the national lottery for getting me here.”
That’s Croatia’s 12th gold in the history of the summer Olympics. What a performance by Jelic, who looked gone but never quit. A fine champion and a fitting response. Lauren Williams’ silver is Team GB’s third of the Tokyo Games, their second in taekwando and their seventh medal overall across the first three days of competition.
Matea Jelic wins taekwondo gold for Croatia!
She trailed Williams by six points at one stage in the final round but landed several kicks in the home stretch to take gold 25-22. Wow!
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Williams lands two big kicks! That booming left foot! 18-13 with 40 seconds to go. Can Jelic find a way back into this? 30 seconds now!
Jelic scores with a punch before they exchange kicks. The Croatian leads 13-12 with 80 seconds to go. Williams pulls level with a punch!
Level 10-10 with one round to go! No score in the final 45 seconds of that stanza. Two minutes from glory for one of these fighters.
Jelic’s coach sends a decision upstairs! Was Williams holding her opponent after a head kick? The TV ref says no. The Brit leads 10-9.
Williams leads 5-4 after the first round. They go again in the Olympic Final.
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Lauren Williams begins her gold medal bout! Will it be a fourth triumph for Team GB on this third day? She wins her first point with an accurate punch and is level 1-1 with the Jelic after one minute.
Cheung Ka Long wins gold for Hong Kong!
A boilover in the men’s foil fencing! This title rarely leaves Europe but it does tonight. Cheung Ka Long, the 24-year-old, won the deciding clash 15-11 over the favourite Daniele Garozzo, who is left gutted on the floor. That’s Hong Kong’s second gold medal in their history of participation in the summer Games. Beautiful!
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A reminder that Lauren Williams’ gold medal taekwando bout starts in five minutes. The Welsh 22-year-old is up against Croatia’s Matea Jelic, also competing in her first Games. Find a telly.
Table tennis: There’s a gold medal to be decided before the close of play tonight in the mixed doubles. The Chinese pair of Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen took the first set over Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Ito Mima and now lead 9-5 in the second. This is a best-of-seven affair.
Softball: The highly-fancied Mexico are leading Australia 4-0 in the top of the fifth innings (of seven). I’ll never forget when Australia’s women knocked off the USA at Atlanta with a walk-off home run, the same day Susie O’Neil and Kieran Perkins won gold in the pool.
Fencing: In the men’s foil final, it’s Italy’s Daniele Garozzo up against Hong Kong’s Ka Long, the latter leading 6-4. It’s first to 15 for gold.
Gymnastics: Japan, the defending champions, are still in third position as they start their parallel bars rotation. It’s a busy event, with a lot going on, but the Russian Olympic Committee team are back in front. Team GB are fifth, behind the Americans just outside of the medals. China have recovered from their early stumbles on the floor, into second spot with the high bar their final apparatus.
Thanks, Paul. Hello! What a time to take over over, with a very crowded couple of hours ahead of us. As the men’s team event moves towards the final rotation in the gym, we have the mixed doubles final starting in the table tennis (China v Japan), a men’s fencing final in ten (Italy v Hong Kong) then Lauren Williams has the chance to add a fourth gold for Team GB on this third day in the final of the 57-67kg taekwando. Buckle up! And drop me a line, any time.
What a day it has been so far. I’m passing the baton – sorry – to Adam Collins now. He will take you through the rest of the gymnastics final and, don’t forget, we will be following Lauren Williams in her taekwondo final in half an hour. Enjoy the Games.
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Shooting: Returning to the subject of backstories, here’s Tom Dart on the US shooting team – a few of whom had to practise in an abandoned Macy’s department store when their training centre was closed during the pandemic.
Gymnastics: We are two thirds of the way through the men’s final and the Russian Olympic Committee are out in front. China and Japan are battling it out for second, with USA fourth and Great Britain fifth. Team GB are expected to finish strongly on the floor and pommel horse.
Judo: Nora Gjakova has won a gold medal for Kosovo in Tokyo, bringing some joy to the country as it mourns the deaths of 10 people who were killed in a road accident over the weekend.
“On this mourning day for our people, Nora Gjakova brought light to Kosovo,” said Kosovo president Vjosa Osmani, who has returned home from Japan due to the accident. “Our judokas are reaching the heights many countries have dreamed of. They are the best epithet of modern Kosovo,” she said.
A second #gold for Kosovo!
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 26, 2021
It’s #gold for Nora Gjakova of #KOS in the women’s -57kg #judo on her second #Olympics appearance.#StrongerTogether | #Tokyo2020 | @Judo pic.twitter.com/KO5lUWsbXX
Golf: Tommy Fleetwood is enjoying himself in Japan. He will be representing Team GB in the men’s golf event, which begins at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on Wednesday. Justin Rose won gold in Rio five years ago.
Please excuse my language but I’d just like to say that I F*@%ING LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!!! #olympics #TeamGB
— Tommy Fleetwood (@TommyFleetwood1) July 26, 2021
Jerry Spring emails:
Hi Paul. Here’s another lovely backstory (since you offered that one about the windsurfing mother and daughter). The Filipina skateboarder in the women’s street final earlier has a great story that shows how the Olympics can be something special.
Surfing: The surfing finals have been rescheduled due to the weather conditions at Tsurigasaki Beach. They were originally due to take place on Wednesday, but have been moved forward to tomorrow. The men’s and women’s quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will all take place tomorrow.
Gymnastics: The Russian Olympic Committee are in the lead in the men’s final. They have been truly excellent. Japan are second, a couple of points back, with China third and Great Britain fourth. A bronze medal is within the grasp of Team GB.
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Hockey: Team GB have beaten South Africa 4-1 in their pool match. The reigning champions were 1-0 down – and they lost their opening game – but rallied to secure a convincing victory. They had a slow start in Rio five years ago, so will be feeling confident.
Ellie Rayer scored twice for Team GB, with Lily Owsley and Laura Unsworth also on the scoresheet. They are up to second in their group and will play India on Wednesday.
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Judo: Shohei Ono has won another gold medal for the hosts. He won gold in Rio fuve years ago and has beaten Georgia’s Lasha Shavdatuashvili to retain his title. After the bout, he walked over to his defeated opponent and gave him a big hug. Ono has not lost since 2015.
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Gymnastics: Team GB are fifth in the men’s final after two rotations. They are not far behind China, who are competing with Japan and the Russian Olympic Committee for gold. Switzerland are fourth.
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Hockey: Team GB are now 4-1 up against South Africa. This is a great result after their 2-1 defeat to Germany in their opening game.
Windsurfing: I love this story. Back in 1992, Emma Wilson’s mother Penny competed in the windsurfing event at the Barcelona Olympics. Emma has been following in her footsteps in Tokyo.
A successful day's work for @emma_wilson961 🌊
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 26, 2021
She's second at the halfway stage in the women's RS:X windsurfing competition.
Keep pushing, Emma!#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/tujpgWyJz0
Stepping away from the action for a second, here is Andrew Lawrence on the differing treatment of a black female athlete and a white male athlete in the run-up to the Olympics and how double standards permeate sport.
Diving: Tom Daley delivers some powerful words.
I feel incredibly proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion. When I was younger I didn’t think I’d ever achieve anything because of who I was. To be an Olympic champion now just shows that you can achieve anything.
Gymnastics: Great Britain are currently competing in the men’s team final. There are four gymnasts in a team: Max Whitlock, Joe Fraser, James Hall and Giarnni Regini-Moran. There are six disciplines in total: floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.
Japan and China are hoping to win gold, with Team GB probably aiming for a bronze medal.
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Righto, Paul Campbell is back; he’ll ease you through the next bit. But before I go, GB have scored again in the hockey, Laura Unsworth intercepting a poor pass and finishing with a meg of the keeper. They lead SA 3-1.
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Hockey: GB have taken the lead against South Africa, Owsley’s slap-shot from a penalty corner going in via deflection. No doubt her mood was dampened somewhat by the Avicii tune which pumped thereafter, but you can’t have everything. 2-1 it is.
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“Thanks for posting the Tom Daley quote,” emails Richard Hirst. “As you say, very moving from someone who seems to be a genuinely good person.”
Gymnastics: After the first of six rotations, Japan lead the way in the men’s final, from Russia, from China. GB are sixth.
Street skateboarding: at the ripe old age of 13, Leal is now an Olympic silver medalist!
Seeing a few "I miss Vine" tweets in the feed. ... This Rayssa Leal fairy girl heelflip was the undefeated world heavyweight champion of all Vine posts. #sixseconds pic.twitter.com/Blm7HIEDEp
— The Last Æthyr ☭ Alexander Quaresma (@SavageSteamboat) July 15, 2020
Japan: We’ve seen it before, haven’t we? Sport’s biggest problem is how incredible it is.
Hockey: We’re back underway in the third quarter of the GB v SA game – it’s 1-1.
Swimming: But at the top of the qualifying list is Katie Ledecky – there’s another huge race coming up in the final. Federica Pellegrini, the current world record holder, is also there – but only just, taking the final spot. Risky tactic, hanging back to save gas, but it worked out ok, just.
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Swimming: After a gentle start, Titmus, the fastest in the world this year, eases through the gears to win her heat and qualify for the next round.
Swimming: Ariarne Titmus has just dived in at the start of the women’s 200m freestyle...
Surfing: I enjoyed this from Fernando Aguerre, the International Surfing Association president.
The ocean is free. It doesn’t belong to anyone. No one can buy it. Nobody can sell it. Nobody can charge you. You can be Bill Gates’ son or the janitor’s son, black or white, gay or straight, male or female, young or old, fat or skinny. Nobody cares. The ocean doesn’t care.”
Judo: Sadly it’s not all joy and happiness.
Hockey: With a minute left in the second quarter, Elena Rayer has equalised for GB; they are now tied at 1-1 with South Africa.
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Street skateboarding: Japan’s Momiji Nishiya became the second youngest champion in Summer Olympics history, aged 13 years and 330 days, by winning the inaugural women’s competition.
Goodness me, what were you doing at her age? You don’t need to answer that.
Gymnastics: The men are out for the final of the team competition. Japan are huge favourites for this, but China were much closer in qualifying than expected; behind them, Russia, USA and GB will all feel they’ve a chance of a medal.
Swimming: What a brilliant interview that was.
Swimming: I’m watching Adam Peaty on Eurosport. He’s proud to become the first Brit to defend an Olympic swimming title, but it won’t sink in until he’s home. The gold, he reckons, goes to all his family and his team, and he’s looking forward to the relays.
As for the race, he says you touch the wall and generally you know if you’ve won. He’s feeling a lot of relief, but the moment when you win, you release all the frustration of the five years leading up to it, a mixture of elation, adrenaline and pride. Talking about how hard he worked to make it happen, he says that “there’s not a tangible word for the amount of investment that’s gone into this swim,” and “if you think you’ve emptied the tank there’s another tank to empty”. He talks about a lot of bad moments getting ready for the Games, when he didn’t want to push further, but he did, then explains that having a son gave him a new perspective on the world. He’s a very emotional person and cried the second his wife gave birth; now he hopes his son can learn from him “to be resilient, to be committed, to take the emotional intelligence that sport provides”.
Swimming has taken a lot out of him – he’s not lost a race in seven years – so now he wants to rest and enjoy life. But he’s not yet swum the perfect race, so that’s a target for him now.
Swimming: Meanwhile, Dean Boxall, Titmus’ coach, won the celebration gold medal. What a moment!
Ariarne’s coach Dean Boxall sums it up perfectly! #TokyoTogether pic.twitter.com/Kvww2jpSFy
— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) July 26, 2021
Swimming: In case you missed it earlier, Australia’s Ariarne Titmus beat USA’s Katie Ledecky, the defending champion, in the final of the women’s 400m freestyle. Titmus just had a little extra gas on the final length, missing the world record by a quarter of a second. But what a race.
Hockey: South Africa are dominating territorially, but GB are hinting at a threat on the counter.
Coming up over the next bit, we’ve got women’s hockey – currently, Great Britain, the defending champs who lost their first match, trail South Africa 1-0 with seven minutes left in the first quarter. Then, starting in 20 minutes we’ve got the men’s gymnastics team final, and heats in the women’s 200m freestyle, men’s 200m butterfly, women’s 200m individual medley and women’s 1500m freestyle.
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Tom Daley, though. What a man.
“I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion. And I feel very empowered by that because when I was younger I felt I was never going to achieve anything because of who I was.”
I found this so moving. We’re not there yet – we’re nowhere near there yet – but we’re better than we were, which is something.
Hi everyone and thanks Paul. I see it’s been a nice quiet night in Tokyo. Not. I don’t think.
My colleague Daniel Harris is taking over the blog for a while. Enjoy the Games.
Tennis: Novak Djokovic’s quest for a golden slam continues. The Wimbledon champion has just beaten Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany on centre court, 6–4 6–3 to set up a last-16 match with Alejandro Davidovich.
Hockey: Team GB’s women’s hockey team – the defending champions – are playing South Africa in a key pool match in five minutes.
Both sides lost their opening games. Great Britain lost 2-1 to Germany, while South Africa were beaten 2-0 by Ireland. This will be very important for Team GB to reach the quarter-finals. Here are the details from Team GB’s opening game.
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Boxing: Galal Yafai is into the last 16 of the men’s flyweight boxing.
That’s one way to mark your Olympic return..☄️
— GB Boxing (@gbboxing) July 26, 2021
With a classy performance, @galal_yafai is into the last 16 in Tokyo. 🇬🇧🥊#TeamGBBoxing pic.twitter.com/ESoiTAnpnp
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Tennis: There will be no medal for Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski in the men’s doubles. They have been beaten 6-3 6-4 by Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Ben McLachlan in the second round.
Medal table: You might want to have a look at this – especially if you are reading in the UK.
Diving: We have some more quotes from Tom Daley and Matty Lee, Team GB’s victorious divers.
“I still can’t honestly believe what is happening,” said Daley. “That moment, being about to be announced as Olympic champions, I was gone. I was blubbering. You want to win an Olympic gold medal but never think you actually will.
“I will carry on but I will definitely take a break,” he added. “There are some beverages with my name on it to celebrate with my husband and family. This means an incredible amount. All athletes put in such hard work and dedication into our performances. To be an Olympic champion after four attempts at it feels extremely special. I still honestly can’t believe what’s happening and I honestly didn’t think I would get there in the first place, but here we are.”
Daley’s diving partner, Lee, said their victory made his sacrifices worthwhile: “In 2018 I moved my whole life to London from Leeds, I had nothing really in London. Our aim was to get an Olympic medal and for it to go the way we wanted it to is awesome. I owe a lot to Tom because he has taught me a lot.”
Today at the Games: If you want to see what’s coming up today, our schedule tool will help you out.
Cross-country mountain biking: Tom Pidcock, the 21-year-old from Yorkshire, has been trying to describe how it feels to be an Olympic champion. “Not real really,” he said. “It’s pretty crazy that I became an Olympian, and I was trying to tell myself at the start of the race it’s special just to be here.”
Pidcock suffered a broken collarbone less than two months ago in a training crash on the road. “I haven’t done a good race since,” he said. “I’ve trained really hard, I knew I was in great shape but there’s always doubt when I haven’t performed in a race. But once the race started, I knew I was in a good place.”
Diving: from 2012 to 2021.
How it started: How it’s going: pic.twitter.com/DdeNVoZy0b
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 26, 2021
Rugby sevens: The spirit of Euro 2020 lives on in the rugby sevens in Tokyo.
🚨 We have robots carrying #rugby balls on the field 🚨#StartYourImpossible @Toyota pic.twitter.com/mJoAzOVYm4
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 26, 2021
Shooting: This is a great story. Abdullah Al-Rashidi has won a bronze medal in the men’s skeet shooting in his seventh Olympics. He has competed in the Games in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2021.
Vincent Hancock won gold for USA in the event, with Jesper Hansen of Denmark picking up silver.
Abdullah Al-Rashidi of #KUW takes his second #bronze in in the men’s skeet #shooting at his SEVENTH Olympics!#StrongerTogether | #Tokyo2020 | @ISSF_Shooting pic.twitter.com/qAOSOGJqE7
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 26, 2021
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Boxing: Caroline Dubois is boxing at the Olympic Games tomorrow. She has been writing for us about how that feels.
The moment, when it came, was really powerful. Last Thursday night, in our GB Boxing team room in the Olympic village, it finally hit me. This is real. I am about to fight in the Olympic Games and my hopes of winning a medal, with gold being my favourite colour, begin now.
We had been in Tokyo for 10 days, staying in a hotel for the first week before we moved into the village and it had all felt a bit surreal. I had this weird feeling this was just another training camp and I couldn’t switch on totally. It was like being in some kind of limbo where you are waiting for something to happen and kick-start everything. Last Thursday night, around eight o’clock, it happened. They made the draw for the boxing competition and the coaches came in with the news for all 11 of us in the GB team. They went through it fighter by fighter and when it came to me it was like the world suddenly stopped.
“Caroline,” they said, “you’ve got Kosovo on Tuesday.”
I’ve been to so many tournaments as a junior, and I’ve won the World Juniors and the Youth Olympics, and it’s always the same. You wait and wait for the draw to be made and as soon as you find out who you’re boxing in the first round your heart drops a beat and you’re like: ‘Oh my God. This is real.’ For the next 10 seconds you just think: ‘Wow…’ It’s a feeling like no other. You are so locked in the moment and your stomach starts churning. But then it all calms down and you put yourself back together. This is what you’re here to do – to fight
Swimming: Here’s Kieran Pender on the Ledecky v Titmus rivalry.
Diving: We really have witnessed something special today. Tom Daley was 14 when he went to his first Olympics. He was 15 when he became a world champion. He was 18 when he won his first Olympic medal. And now, at 27, he has become an Olympic champion.
Diving: Tom Daley and Matty Lee have been talking about their victory.
Daley said: “This is my fourth Olympic Games and loads of people probably would have counted me out, being the older person, but I’m in the best shape physically, mentally, with the support of Matty coming into this competition, and the way that we’ve been preparing. I think we’ve just had an unstoppable mentality this year and that’s the first time I’ve ever been able to even think like that – that we are the ones to beat.”
Lee said: “Honestly, it’s crazy. I’ve been thinking about the gold medal, and trying not to think about it, because you don’t always want to think of that thing. You’ve got to go through the process. But to be able to share my first Olympics with Tom, get a gold medal…”
Will this be the end of Daley’s Olympic career? “I’m going to do the individual competition, and then I’m gonna see how my body holds up after that. They might even introduce mixed into the Olympics so you may see me in that”
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Canoe slalom: Adam Burgess has just missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the canoe slalom final. The event was won by the Slovenian Benjamin Savsek, with Lukas Rohan collecting silver and Sideris Tasiadis picking up bronze.
Fourth for Adam Burgess 👏
— British Canoeing (@BritishCanoeing) July 26, 2021
It's been a brilliant Olympic Games debut for Adam Burgess as he finishes fourth in the men's C1 final
He put down a fantastic and clean run, but misses the podium spot by 0.16 seconds
It's a Games Adam can be proud of!https://t.co/ysmV33RXeJ pic.twitter.com/UNhRrFzCau
Swimming: a lovely tweet from Adam Peaty, the first British swimmer to retain an Olympic title.
OLYMPIC CHAMPION!
— Adam Peaty MBE (@adam_peaty) July 26, 2021
For my country, my son and my family.
For those who stayed up through the night to watch me.
For all those people who need a bit of light. You can get through this 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/LMauenRaFP
Rugby sevens: Team GB have beaten Japan 34-0 in the rugby sevens. The team has started the Games incredibly well, this victory coming after their 24-0 win against Canada earlier.
Ben Ryan previewed the event for us over the weekend:
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Taekwondo: Lauren Williams is guaranteed at least a silver medal! She beat Ruth Gbagbi in the semi-finals to set up a final later today. Williams opened up an 18-3 lead before Gbagbi fought back, but Williams held on to win 24-18. She will go for gold in a few hours.
.@LaurenW_TKD is guaranteed an Olympic medal!
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 26, 2021
She beats Ruth Gbagbi 24-18 to secure her place in the gold medal match!#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/RLz5yy9vh7
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This is brilliant. The moment the Team GB football team found out that Tom Daley and Matty Lee had won gold.
When you find out @TomDaley1994 & @mattydiver have won diving gold 🙌
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 26, 2021
Our football team react to the news on the way to training. #TeamGB pic.twitter.com/sfN3jvH6ZV
Adam Peaty has been speaking about his victory in the pool and what it could do for the rest of Team GB and the country.
Hopefully this is a catalyst for not only Team GB but also the people back home to go to another gear, to say: ‘We’ve been through a tough time, there’s been a lot of complaining, a lot of excuses, a lot of negative things, but now we’ve got to switch our mindset.’
It’s been a tough 18 months. These last 18 months, every single day has almost been in the dark. Covid has taken a lot of fun out of things.”
That’s why we are all here, because sport has an amazing power to inspire people, and hopefully this is going to be an amazing motivation for people.
Andy Bull has the full story:
Chris Hoy was impressed by that ride from Tom Pidcock.
Yes!!! Tom Pidcock you little beauty! 🥇#Tokyo2020
— Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) July 26, 2021
An email from Des Brown:
Team GB now have three golds halfway through Day 3. That’s ahead of where they were in Beijing 2008 (two), London 2012 (none) and Rio 2016 (one) at this stage.
What a day for Team GB.
How about another one...@Tompid dominates to become an Olympic champion 🥇#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/4JJLBNbc0I
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 26, 2021
Tom Pidcock wins mountain biking gold
Tom Pidcock wins gold! The 21-year-old from Leeds picks up the Union flag on his way to the finish line and Team GB have another gold. A sensational ride from Pidcock, who did not put a foot wrong.
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Mountain biking. Meanwhile, Team GB could be on for another gold. Tom Pidcock is in the lead in the men’s cross country mountain bike race and he just need to hold on for another few kilometres.
Daley and Lee won the gold by 1.23 points! Here are all the details.
The secret to success? Take up crochet. You heard it here first. It also helps if you are competitive.
I’m super competitive. Neither of my parents were particularly athletic, but I’ve always had a massively competitive spirit, but that’s typical of any Olympian. Monopoly, Cluedo, competing at the Olympic Games… I just want to win. My husband Lance [Black] is competitive, too, but in a different way. I will try to win at all costs. For him, it’s about enjoying spending time together.
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Morning all. Paul here. Drop me an email at Paul.Campbell@theguardian.com or feel free to tweet me @campbellwpaul.
Watching Tom Daley and Matty Lee win Olympic gold was so intense – Daley in his fourth Olympics and Lee in his first! Donald McRae has followed Daley’s story closely for a long time:
As always with Tom Daley there has been incredible drama and this time, with Matty Lee, he has just won Olympic gold. In our potted history he told me this: "I’ll be amazed when, one day, I look back and see what I withstood between 13 and 18. But my dream is to win Olympic gold” https://t.co/5BJt4PFBFb
— Donald McRae (@donaldgmcrae) July 26, 2021
Worth remembering that Daley was 14 at Beijing 2008 and then won bronze in London 2012 and Rio 2016. Now he has gold at 27. That’s something.
And with that, I’m going to hand over to Paul Campbell, who will carry you through the next little while.
Here are the top three ...
Great Britain – 471.81
China – 470.58
ROC (Russia) – 439.92
Team GB win diving gold!
They’ve done it. There was a mighty nervous wait because China needed 102.76 to win gold with their back two-and-a-half somersault with two and a half twists with 3.6 degree of difficulty. It’s a tall task to be sure, but you never know. And the score comes up as 101.52. Close but no cigar. Scenes at the pool! Daley and Lee are in all sorts, hugging and cheering. And rightly so - it was slim margins.
Updated
In the diving, the men’s synchronised 10m platform is under way and with two round remaining Great Britain’s Tom Daley and Matty Lee had a six-point lead. In the final round, China perfect a forward four-and-a-half somersault with tuck with a 3.7 degree of difficulty and score 93.24. And, with the sixth and final round, Daley and Lee climb up for a forward 4½ somersault with tuck. That’s a difficult on, but they nail it! Score is 101.01. Gold is all but theirs.
Jess Fox is the headline act in the canoe slalom but fellow Australian Dan Watkins is about to contest the C1 final after a searing semi-final which qualified him for the medal round in second spot. Nicknamed “Dan the van man”, the nomadic Tasmanian paddler qualified only behind Frenchman Martin Thomas, his semi-final time of 101.28 seconds just 0.63 off the pace.
That was some performance by Slovenia, on Olympic debut and outplaying Argentina. Luka Doncic scored 48 of his side’s 118 points, which is not far Brazilian great Oscar Schmidt set the single-game Olympic record with 55 points against Spain at Seoul 1988.
The men’s basketball tournament is pretty open after the US’s loss to France last night and Australia’s win over Nigeria.
Some of today's highlights
- Ariarne Titmus ended Katie Ledecky’s Olympic 400m freestyle reign
- Titmus’s coach broke the internet with his frankly wild hip-thrust celebration
- Adam Peaty became first British swimmer ever to defend an Olympic title
- Team GB’s Alex Yee won men’s triathlon silver after inflatable boat causes false start
- Team USA won gold in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay
- Japan’s Momiji Nishiya, 13, became the second-youngest gold medallist in Olympic history by claiming gold in the women’s street skateboarding
- NBA All Star Luka Doncic led Olympic basketball debutants Slovenia to a 118-100 upset of Argentina
- Sally Fitzgibbons qualified for the surfing quarter-finals but fellow Australian Steph Gilmore exited in the third round
Updated
Let’s bounce over the basketball for a minute and Slovenia are wiping the floor with Argentina. The Olympic basketball debutants have raced from a 20-point lead to a 30-point lead in the space of a couple of minutes during the third quarter. The commentator is onto it. “This is not just a team,” he cries, “this is a runaway train.” He’s probably referring mostly to Luka Doncic, who has scored 35 of his team’s 84 points thus far. Score is moving quickly but now stands at 84-58.
A second judoka has pulled out of the Olympics before facing Israeli athlete Tohar Butbul. Olympic officials say Sudan’s Mohamed Abdalrasool did not show up for his clash with Butbul on Monday, despite having completed a weigh-in earlier on in the day.
Earlier in the Games, Alergia’s Fethi Nourine pulled out to avoid a potential meeting with Butbul, saying “the Palestinian cause is bigger than all of this”. AP reported that the International Judo Foundation didn’t immediately announce a reason why Abdalrasool didn’t compete.
Updated
An update from the hockey stadium: Team GB have secured their second win the tournament, running out 3-1 winners over underdogs Canada after a nervous start. “You have to understand when you’re playing teams that rank lower than you, they have nothing to lose. It’s a win-win for them,” said the team’s head coach Danny Kerry.
Not strictly speaking to do with the Olympics, but very much related given Paralympian Olivia Breen’s recent experience of being told what to wear, but remember the Norwegian beach handball team that was fined in a “case of improper clothing” for refusing to wear bikini bottoms during a tournament in Europe? The protest against what the team described as “very sexist” uniform rules cost them $1,500. But they might not have to fork out themselves after pop star P!nk showed her support for their cause.
I’m VERY proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES ABOUT THEIR “uniform”. The European handball federation SHOULD BE FINED FOR SEXISM. Good on ya, ladies. I’ll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up.
— P!nk (@Pink) July 25, 2021
It’s probably a good time to give this a read:
Some trivia! Momiji Nishiya, the tween who just won the street skateboarding, is the second-youngest gold medallist in Olympic history. The Osaka native is 13 years and 330 days old.
US diver Marjorie Gestring remains the youngest individual Olympic champion after winning the 3m springboard at the 1936 Berlin Games at 13 years and 268 days. Brazil’s silver skateboarding medallist, Rayssa Leal, is 13 years and 203 days. Had she won she would have broken Gestring’s record.
The youngest medallist overall is Dimitrios Loundras, who won bronze in the men’s artistic gymnastics in the very first Games in Athens in 1896 at 10 years and 218 days.
Gestring’s record is up for grabs again next Wednesday, when Japan’s Kokona Hiraki (12 years and 343 days) and Team GB’s Sky Brown (13 years and 28 days) compete in the women’s park skateboarding.
Make that 6-0 in the hockey. All over, red rover. Australia converted six from 13 field goal opportunities against China, who themselves had zero chances. It leaves the Hockeyroos top of Pool B, though second-placed New Zealand have a game in hand and will play Japan later tonight. Still, Australia’s women have come a long way in a short period of time given the turmoil they were in a few short months ago.
Updated
Meanwhile at Oi Hockey Stadium, the Hockeyroos are on the verge of an emphatic Pool B win over China, up 4-0 in the fourth and final quarter after two goals to Emily Chalker and one apiece to Ambrosia Malone and Brooke Peris, the cousin of Nova.
Nishiya wins women's street skateboarding gold
As more risks are taken, more zeros are recorded. It is a fine balance to strike, because one big trick can win it but so can a decent one that actually comes off. Case in point is Zwetsloot, who was leading but fails to land the last four of her five attempts. There are only three possible medallists now in Nishiya, Leal and Funa Nakayama, we just don’t know in what order yet. Leal is up, and she falls! Nishiya has her chance, and she jumps and completes a lip trick nobody has whipped out before this very moment. Pressure is on her compatriot now, and when Nakayama falls Nishiya is confirmed as the gold medallist at the age of 13. It’s fist pumps all round. Japan owns the street. Pretty cool really.
Updated
Would you look at this! The other 13-year-old, Japan’s Momiji Nishiya (15.5k followers) lands a whopping move and moves to the top ahead of Leal. Two 13-year-olds lead the race for gold with one trick remaining. Here’s Nishiya a little earlier.
13 year old nishiya momiji being the coolest at the olympics i love her 🥺💕pic.twitter.com/QhZOypzSTJ
— gabb 💐 (@tegomass) July 26, 2021
The skateboarding is getting tense. We are into the fourth of five tricks and Leal knows how to crescendo. After failing to complete her first attempt, she scores 3.91 and then 4.21 which, combined with her solid scores from the run section, has her in first. Alexis Sablone of the US is second and Zwetsloot third.
Here is Leal with Tony Hawk, the skateboarding great who spotted her on Instgram as an eight-year-old. Now she has two million Insta followers and is ranked second in the world.
Rayssa Leal is just 13
— Aniket Mishra (@aniketmishra299) July 25, 2021
She makes her Olympic skateboarding debut tomorrow
Oh, and this is her talking to one of the sports biggest legends - Tony Hawk earlier today 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Yy2OqdghCh
Quick round-up of the morning session of the men’s rugby sevens. Argentina edged Australia 29-19 to move up to second spot in Pool A. Australia are in third after one match with New Zealand leading and the top two teams automatically progressing. Also through will be the top two third-placed teams across the three pools. Great Britain and Fiji are ranked one and two in Pool B and South Africa and the US are thus in Pool C.
Updated
We’re into the tricks section of the street skateboarding final now, which means ... go hard or go home! Zwetsloot opts for the former and it comes off. She sails smoothly down a long, rather thin rail. The kind of you wouldn’t dare rest more than a hand on while climbing the stairs. She scores 4.12. Momiji Nishiya stacks it on the same one, and she is not the only one. Quite a few falls in this tough section. But Zeng is upright. She slides down a thicker rail but flips her board on her way up, and the cute routine earns her a score of ... 4.93! Shut the front door! She jumps to second behind Zwetsloot.
Updated
Quick peek at the archery, where Great Britain’s men’s team have booked a quarter-final berth against the Netherlands after a 6-0 rout of Indonesia. The other match-ups are:
Korea v India
USA v Japan
China v Taiwan
Taiwan knocked out Australia in a tightly contested 5-4 win in the 1/8 elimination.
It’s 16-year-old Zeng Wenhui from China who is on song. In her second and final run she completes a flawless 50/50, flips her board underneath her feet and finishes with a flourish. She is outscored by Japan’s Aori Nishimura, who pulls off a field-high 3.46 but a poor first run of 0.46 means she sits only in fourth. And oh, look at this! Roos Zwetsloot has a 3.80! The Dutch athlete, who had to choose between skateboarding and hockey, may be happy she went with the former because she could walk away with a gold medal.
What a swimming session. I watched it all from the comfort of my couch and fortuitously replace Jonathan as soon as the chaos is over. So I will take you away from the pool now and to Ariake Sport Park, where the women’s street skateboarding final is under way. There are a couple of 13-year-olds in this. The youngest is Brazil’s Rayssa Leal (a friend of Tony Hawk, if you don’t mind), who starts her first run audaciously on some rails and gets on a roll before misjudging a lip slide and falling. She scores 2.94.
Updated
Thanks everyone for tolerating me for the past few hours. That was a ride, wasn’t it? A superb morning in the pool comes to a close, and it’s time for me to pass you on to Emma Kemp for more from Tokyo 2020.
Updated
Swimming: Here’s Kieran Pender’s latest report from poolside on a superb morning’s racing, especially for Australia.
Tennis: Just as she likes it, Naomi Osaka is quietly progressing through the women’s singles draw.
Naomi Osaka reaches the third round in Tokyo with another simple win, beating Viktorija Golubic 6-3 6-2.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) July 26, 2021
Not everyone is capable of immediately performing after not competing for two months, but this has been a constant feature Osaka's past year. Good start.
Swimming: The USA led from the second Caeleb Dressel leapt off the blocks. How many medals will he leave Tokyo with, and how many of them will be gold?
Gold! Men's 4x100m freestyle relay - USA
Comprehensive from the USA, Italy hold on for silver, Australia snatch bronze! Incredible final leg from Chalmers!
Swimming: Still the USA in the lead, Italy close behind, but now Canada are in third. Australia relying on some Kyle Chalmers magic.
Swimming: Maybe I pressed send too soon. Dressel tightened up in the final 25m and it’s an even top three with USA, France, and Italy at halfway.
Swimming: Lol - Dressel absolutely smashes the first leg, giving the USA an early lead.
Swimming: The final medals of the session will be awarded shortly with the final of the men’s 100m freestyle relay coming up. Can Caeleb Dressel (USA) secure his first gold of the meet? Will Italy back up their superb qualification? Can Australia continue their superb morning?
Swimming: Canada’s Kylie Masse wins the second women’s 100m backstroke semi, followed close behind by a pair of Aussies, Kaylee McKeown and Emily Seebohm. The Olympic record streak is broken.
Swimming: For the fourth consecutive race in the women’s 100m backstroke the Olympic record has fallen. Regan Smith (USA) has retaken possession of the mark for the second time this meet after winning the first semi-final. Rhyan Elizabeth White (USA) came second, Kathleen Dawson (GBR) third.
Updated
Speaking of the softball, Paul has just dropped me an email.
“Hi, I live in Yokohama and have to say that I find it really odd that Japan has just played USA at Yokohama Stadium with no crowd allowed, but just 5k down the road, two high-school baseball teams are playing at a stadium with crowds allowed.”
Justin McCurry has been on the ground in Japan for a while, filing dispatches on this most peculiar of Games experiences. Here’s his latest.
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Softball: USA end the group phase unbeaten with a narrow victory over Japan. The two nations meet again in tomorrow’s gold medal match.
Undefeated.
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 26, 2021
Up next ➡️ gold medal game.@USASoftballWNT x #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/94JkBPRfwb
Surfing: Relief for Australia as Sally Fitzgibbons progresses to the quarterfinals of the women’s surfing. Stephanie Gilmore suffered a huge upset in heat one, but Fitzgibbons prevailed in a tight heat eight, 10.86 v 9.03 against Pauline Ado (FRA).
We have our first viral moment of Tokyo 2020. Dean Boxhall, enjoy your 15-minutes.
when i get home and see the taco spot cooked the tortillas exactly like i like them pic.twitter.com/fDpBKlx0fj
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) July 26, 2021
Swimming: Australian Isaac Cooper finished seventh in the second semi of the men’s 100m backstroke. Kliment Kolesnikov led an ROC one-two. Team USA’s Joseph Armstrong was tied fifth.
Skateboarding: 13-year-old Rayssa Leal (BRA) has joined 13-year-old Momiji Nishiya (JPN) in the women’s street final. They are currently the second and third highest-ranked qualifiers.
Updated
Swimming: Back to the action and Ryan Murphy (USA) has led home Mitch Larkin (AUS) in the first semi-final of the men’s 100m backstroke.
Swimming: It’s rare that any sporting event lives up to the hype, but that 400m free final delivered in spades. Even the coaching on the sidelines.
SHOUT AHT DEAN BOXALL #Tokyo2020 #Olympics
— Lord Zito (@VivalaZito) July 26, 2021
pic.twitter.com/NyjgB0A3dz
Swimming: 20-year-old Ariarne Titmus is now a World and Olympic Champion. “I can’t believe it, I’m trying to contain my emotions... More than anything it’s relief to do the job... I wouldn’t be here without her (Ledecky) setting the standard. I’ve just been trying to chase her. She’s really fun to race... I can’t believe I actually pulled it off!”
Updated
Swimming: What a race for Ariarne Titmus! That will dominate Australia’s Olympics for the remainder of the competition. 3.56.69 from the Australian to set a new PB and national record. The great Katie Ledecky has to settle for silver after leading for 300m, only to find Titmus power past on the final two laps. Incredible sporting theatre.
Li Bingjie from China took bronze.
Gold! Women's 400m freestyle - Ariarne Titmus (AUS)
WOW! Titmus beats Katie Ledecky!
Updated
Swimming: 300m - Titmus coming back hard...
Swimming: 200m into the women’s 400m free final, and as expected it’s a race between two swimmers. At the halfway mark Ledecky has the edge over Titmus, and she’s not far off WR pace.
Swimming: How good is Ledecky? How significant is the rise of Titmus?
Fastest 33 times in the history of the women's 400M freestyle:
— InsightLane (@insightlane) July 25, 2021
26x K Ledecky 🇺🇸 (#1, 3-8, 10-14, 16-17, 19-20, 23-29, 31-33)
5x A Titmus 🇦🇺 (#2, 9, 18, 21, 22)
2x F Pellegrini 🇮🇹 (#15, 30)
0x Everyone else#Swimming #Tokyo2020
Swimming: Caught your breath? Nope, me neither, nonetheless we’re off to the women’s 400m free final and that titanic clash between Australia and USA. Kieran Pender has been all over this:
Ledecky v Titmus is finally here. The rivals are expected to face off for individual gold at least two more times later this week – in the 200m and 800m freestyle – along with several expected relay match-ups. But the blockbuster 400m race has a special cachet, arising from its beguiling middle distance. Too long to sprint, too short to settle into an endurance rhythm – the 400m strains the sinew and exacerbates the pain. It is the race that crowns the queen of the pool. On Monday, there can only be one.
Swimming: Peaty’s time was 57.37. He was pushed hard in the closing stages by Kamminga, who ended on 58.00, but there was never any doubt where the gold medal was going.
Gold! Men's 100m breaststroke - Adam Peaty (GBR)
Was there any doubt? Peaty goes back-to-back, leading from the first stroke to the last. The two-time Olympic champion and world record holder is a rockstar.
Arno Kamminga (NED) takes silver, Nicolò Martinenghi (ITA) bronze.
Updated
Swimming: Next up is the men’s 100m breaststroke final. Can anyone come close to Adam Peaty? Andy Bull doesn’t think so.
Forget death and taxes, in Tokyo it’s queues, health questionnaires, and the men’s 100m breaststroke. There are not supposed to be any certainties in sport, but Adam Peaty’s chances of winning a second gold in the event here in Tokyo feels as close to inevitable as you can get. His dominance is unprecedented. He has won it at the last three world championships, as well as the Rio Olympics, has broken the world record five times in five years, and swum the 17 fastest times in history, four of them this spring and summer. There isn’t another man in the field who has got within a second of his personal best.
Swimming: Lilly King (USA) finishes second behind Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA) in the second semi of the 100m breaststroke. Team GB’s Sarah Vasey faded to finish fifth.
Another Australian misses a final by the barest of margins, this time Chelsea Hodges.
Skateboarding: 13-year-old - THIRTEEN! - Japanese skateboarder Momiji Nishiya is going through to the finals of the women’s street event. She currently has the second highest qualifying mark.
Swimming: Lydia Jacoby (USA) wins the first women’s 100m breaststroke semi. Australia’s Chelsea Hodges came in fifth. Not a blistering heat, won in 1.05.72.
Rugby 7s: Australia fought back but Argentina took the honours 29-19.
Swimming: Duncan Scott of Great Britain wins the second semi of the men’s 200m freestyle ahead of American Kieran Smith. It was a faster race, meaning Team GB’s Tom Dean, who finished fourth, will qualify. But that also means 19-year-old Australian Thomas Neill misses out by three one-hundredths of a second.
Updated
Rugby 7s: Argentina are leading Australia 24-0 in the first hit-outs for both sides.
Swimming: The first semi-final in the men’s 200m freestyle featured Australia’s Tommy Neill, and he finished fourth, the USA’s Townley Haas fifth. The top four were split by just 0.29 seconds in an even race. Neill will have to wait on the second semi to see if he makes the final.
Swimming: Apologies for any misplaced enthusiasm for Australian followers. It was bronze for Emma KcKeon, not silver, despite the on-screen graphic. Give your page a quick refresh and you’ll be back up to date.
Gold! Women's 100m butterfly - MacNeil (Canada)
That was a quick race. Zhang, Huske and Wattel turned in world record pace, but the second 50 saw a series of comebacks, led by Maggie MacNeil in lane 7. The Canadian won with a new Commonwealth record. Zhang Yufei ended in silver, and Australia’s Emma McKeon broke the Australian record for bronze. It was originally registered on-screen as silver, but it’s bronze for the Aussie.
Updated
Swimming: Ok, action in the pool is imminent. The women’s 100m butterfly final is up first.
1. Louise Hansson (SWE), 2. Torri Huske (USA), 3. Emma McKeon (AUS), 4. Zhang Yufei (CHN), 5. Marie Wattel (FRA), 6. Sarah Sjöström (SWE), 7. Maggie MacNeil (CAN), 8. Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR).
Rugby 7s: South Korea had a conversion attempt in the shadow of half-time to move level at 7-7 with mighty New Zealand. They missed, the Kiwis stopped messing around, and powered home 50-5.
“I know there’s a lot of attention on Ledecky/Titmus, but spare a thought for NZ’s 17 year old Erika Fairweather who qualified 4th fastest, beating her PB and seeing a new NZ record by 4 seconds,” emails Leonie Short. “Her shock and delight when she saw her time last night is why I watch the Olympics. She’s an unlikely medallist, and it’s been 25 years since NZ won a medal in the water rather than on it, but imagine her thoughts on lining up in the race of the Games.”
Excellent call. The disbelief on her face yesterday was delightful.
Skateboarding: Australia’s Hayley Wilson finished eighth in her heat for the women’s street skateboarding which is not going to be enough for her to reach the medal round. Roos Zwetsloot topped the charts with 13.48.
Hayley wraps up with a score of 5.34. She's currently in 8th place with two heats still to run.
— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) July 26, 2021
Great effort Hayley and congratulations on making history as Australia's first female Olympic skateboarder! 👏👏#TokyoTogether #Skateboarding @SkateAustralia pic.twitter.com/BilvEQ2BQF
Swimming: Why is the women’s 400m freestyle later on such a big deal? In part because Katie Ledecky has set the global standard in recent times - continuing a golden era for US swimming - but as Tom Dart reports, that could be coming under threat.
Titmus overcame an unwell Ledecky to win the 400m freestyle at the 2019 world championships and delivered another statement of intent at the Australian trials in June, swimming the distance in 3:56.90. That is less than half-a-second slower than Ledecky’s world record, and more than four seconds quicker than the time the American posted in the US trials.
Australian optimism is understandable, though they also looked to be emerging as a force capable of mounting a sustained challenge to American supremacy in the early 2000s, only to underwhelm in the end. The two nations even duked it out in made-for-television battles in 2003, 2005 and 2007 called the Duel in the Pool. The hyped-up rivalry proved almost as strained as the rhyme in the title. A team of elite Europeans was sourced as fresh opposition from 2009 to 2015, but fared no better. The US will be hoping it’s the same story in Tokyo. The coming days should be interesting.
Updated
Rugby 7s: It won’t surprise you that New Zealand are leading Korea at half-time in their Group A opener. The scoreline stands at 14-5, but only seconds before the interval it displayed 7-5, and that should have been 7-all but Korea missed a straightforward conversion attempt.
Thanks Tom - and hello everybody.
For the next little while our attention is going to be trained on the Tokyo Aquatics Centre where four more gold medals will be handed out. Here’s what’s in store:
- 10.30am (local time) Women’s 100m butterfly final. Australia’s Emma McKeon and Team USA’s Torri Huske are on the blocks, but so is Sweden’s defending Olympic champion (and world record holder) Sarah Sjoestroem.
- 11.12am - Men’s 100m breaststroke final. AKA the Adam Peaty invitational. The Team GB superstar is the defending champion, world record holder, and fastest qualifier by some margin. Compatriot James Wilby is also gunning for a medal, as are Americans Michael Andrew and Andrew Wilson.
- 11.20am - Women’s 400m freestyle final. The race of the morning. The great Katie Ledecky from the USA, against rising star Ariarne Titmus from Australia. This could be one of the moments of the Games (especially in Australia). Team USA’s Paige Madden also lines up in this one, but all the action will be in lanes 3 and 4.
- 12.05am - Men’s 4x100m freestyle relay final. Welcome to the gun show. 32 of the biggest boys in pool school flexing their muscles and swimming like billy-o. Italy qualified fastest and they provide the lane 4 meat in a testosterone sandwich with Australia (lane 3) and USA (lane 5) providing the bread in this incredibly tortured metaphor. If that made you Hungary, they’re in lane 7. I Canada (lane 1) keep this up much longer. I’ll get my coat.
In amongst all that we have the semis of the men’s 200m free, women’s 100m breaststroke, and men’s & women’s 100m backstroke.
I shall not be blind to other non-medal events (in particular women’s street skateboarding, rugby 7s, and surfing) but attention will be trained primarily on the pool. Feel free to drop me an email or a tweet (see details at the top of the page) if you think something particularly noteworthy requires a shout out.
I’m handing over to Jonathan Howcroft now, he’ll take you through the next few hours with his usual flair and verve. And maybe some zing. Who knows?
Australia’s Steph Gilmore has spoken after her shock defeat in the women’s surfing. The former world champion and world No 5 was expected to challenge for a medal this year.
“There’s so much build-up to this, it being such a historical event for surfing - just to even qualify for the Olympics was such a battle,” she said. “This is the world’s biggest sporting stage. You want to show up and do your very best.
“I’m super disappointed that I couldn’t make it happen, but there’s always [the next Olympics]. I’m only 33 and there’s plenty of amazing female athletes who get up into their 40s. Look at Serena Williams, she’s still doing so well. So there’s plenty of time.
Updated
After a tricky start against a scrappy Canada team, GB have beaten Canada 24-0 in the teams’ men’s sevens opener. Dan Norton, as usual, was superb.
Australia’s Hayley Wilson is in eighth place in the women’s skateboarding but she’ll need a couple more good runs to make sure she makes the final with a few more heats to come. The top eight from the heats make the final, so she’s right on the edge at the moment with plenty of good skaters to come.
You can see the latest scores here:
GB and Canada have started their men’s rugby sevens match. GB, you may remember, won silver at the last Olympics. They start their game by taking the knee. It’s a scrappy start for GB before Dan Norton scores a try just before the break to give his team a 7-0 lead. Norton is the all-time leading try scorer in sevens history, so he’s good at this type of thing.
Two days of Olympic sport in Tokyo have created a moral dilemma for millions of people in the host country who had hoped the day would never come when Japan’s athletes would win their first gold medals of the summer.
Having invested so much in opposing the Games, would it then be possible, in good conscience, to take pleasure in the feats of the athletes once they became an inevitability?
The answer in Japan, after a weekend in which it brought its gold medal tally to five, is a qualified yes.
Newspapers more accustomed to framing Tokyo 2020 against the gloomy backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic are running headlines that are an unashamed celebration of sporting achievement.
On Saturday, news bulletins led with breathless accounts of Japan’s first gold medal in the Games, which went to the judoka Naohisa Takato in the men’s 60kg.
TV reporters interviewed Takato’s delighted parents, watching with friends and supporters in his hometown, while the victor received a congratulatory call from the prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, who must have delighted in relinquishing his role – however briefly – as the bearer of bad tidings.
You can read Justin’s full article below:
A few more results from the women’s surfing. Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy beat NZ’s Ella Williams while USA’s Caroline Marks was too good for Japan’s Mahina Maeda. Hennessy and Marks are both through to the quarter-finals.
And the Olympic champions Fiji come back to win in their men’s sevens match against Japan. They were in trouble, trailing 19-12 with four minutes to go ... and Japan squandered a late chance to score from a lineout. It ended 24-19 to Fiji.
Updated
The men’s rugby sevens has started. And the hosts are pushing the reigning/only Olympic champions Fiji: it’s 19-19 with three minutes to go.
A great photo from the end of the triathlon - it is such a brutal sport:
The Olympic Games summed up in one picture.#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/LzE4mPq3L1
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 26, 2021
I’m at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre for what is arguably the biggest clash of the Olympic swim meet: American Katie Ledecky against Australia’s Ariarne Titmus in the women’s 400m freestyle.
Ledecky has long reigned supreme in the pool; she won an Olympic gold as a 15-year-old and then backed up in Rio to take four and a silver. But Ledecky’s title as queen of the pool is under threat from young Aussie Titmus - nicknamed the Terminator (because her first-name is shortened to “Arnie”). Titmus took down Ledecky in the 2019 world championships - the last time the duo have faced off.
The swimming world has been waiting for this Olympic match-up ever since. It is going to be fast and furious - tune in from 11.20am Tokyo time (although there’s also some cracking action beforehand).
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GB’s Alex Yee has been speaking to the BBC after his silver medal in the men’s triathlon. He says his opponent was simply better on the day.
“It’s been a tough preparation phase for this Games. In training I went much harder than this race but unfortunately he was better on the day,” says Yee. “I am just over the moon. I was already deep in the well and dug that little bit in my soul. It wasn’t enough to catch Kristian Blummenfelt but it was enough to get silver.”
Updated
Sean Ingle was at the men’s triathlon earlier to see GB’s Alex Yee fall just short of victory against Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt. His report is here:
Sixteen-year-old Keet Oldenbeuving from the Netherlands is the early leader in the women’s street skateboarding. It’s still early days with the top eight from the three heats advancing to the final. We’re still in the first heat. Spain’s Andrea Benitez, Italy’s Asia Lanzi, Canada’s Annie Guglia and USA’s Mariah Duran are second, third fourth and fifth respectively.
The ever excellent Barney Ronay was on hand to watch the taekwondo yesterday and writes that it perfectly illustrated the beauty and cruelty of the Olympics. Read more here:
More women’s surfing: Yolanda Hopkins of Portugal has beaten France’s Johanne Defay in round three and will advance to the quarter-finals.
After a home victory for Japan in the men’s street skateboarding yesterday, the women take to the park today. Just the one run so far, by Andrea Benitez of Spain. She received an unspectacular 1.94. But there’s a long way to go yet...
An email from reader: “Is NBC’s coverage of the Olympics any good?” Ummmmm ... define “good”. If you define it as “lots of human interest stories shown during primetime at the cost of actual live sport” then, yes, NBC’s coverage is good. But if you just want to see who won and what times they got AS THE EVENTS ACTUALLY HAPPEN, then: no.
The surfing competition at Tsurigasaki beach has produced a major shock after Australia’s Steph Gilmore, the seven-time world champion and current world No 5, was bundled out on Monday morning. Gilmore had looked in good nick when competition got under way on Sunday, but her medal hopes fell apart 24 hours later in her third round heat against South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag. Buitendag had single wave scores of 6.83 and 7.10 to move ahead of Gilmore, who could not respond in the 14 minutes remaining in the heat.
Gilmore’s exit leaves Australian hopes in the women’s competition with Sally Fitzgibbons, who faces Pauline Ado of France later on.
Updated
Other notable finishers in the triathlon: Jonny Brownlee came fifth, USA’s Kevin McDowell sixth and Australia’s highest-placed athlete, Jacob Birtwhistle, was back in 16th place.
Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt wins men's triathlon
The 27-year-old from Norway has done it! He outran Yee, who is a brilliant runner. GB’s Yee finishes second and New Zealand’s Wilde gets bronze. Blummenfelt wins by around 11 seconds. He kicked away from the pack in the final stages and Yee couldn’t respond. Blummenfelt is a notoriously fierce trainer - in a sports famed for its athletes’ dedication - and puts in up to eight hours a day. That training paid off today.
Updated
Blummenfelt has made a move! He’s surged ahead of Yee and Wilde! The 27-year-old is around five seconds ahead of the Briton and Yee can’t respond!
We’re on the last lap of the triathlon - around 1.5 miles to go. GB’s Alex Yee leads Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt and New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde. Yee, remember, is a superb runner (well, they’re all superb runners, but he is superb among superb runners) and is comfortable favourite to win GB’s first gold of this year’s Games.
Men’s triathlon: Also in the leading pack of nine with Alex Yee are: USA’s Kevin McDowell, New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde; Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt and Casper Stornes; Belgium’s Marten Van Riel; GB’s Jonathan Brownlee; Switzerland’s Max Studer and France’s Dorian Coninx. Coninx is falling off the pace though and the pack could drop him soon. Australia’s highest-placed athlete, Jacob Birtwhistle, is 27 seconds back in 16th place.
The men’s triathlon is in full swing and we’re on the final leg – and the athletes are on the run. Ominously for his competitors, Great Britain’s Alex Yee is at the front of a pack of nine leading the race – he is an incredibly good runner and it will be tough for anyone to beat him on foot. Because of the heat in Tokyo the athletes are allowed to hydrate as much as they want and they’re all taking advantage.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to another day of action in Tokyo. We’re all go in the men’s triathlon while round three of the women’s surfing and the debut of women’s skateboarding (there was a home win for Japan yesterday in the men’s competition) will start shortly.
Meanwhile, here is my colleague Martin Belam on what to look forward to today. All events are listed here in local Tokyo time. Add an hour for Sydney, subtract eight hours for York, 13 hours for New York and 17 hours for San Francisco.
- 8.30am-12.25pm Skateboarding – it is the women’s street contest on Monday 🥇
- 9.00am-7pm Rugby sevens – there are pool games throughout the day, starting with Rio gold medallists Fiji against the hosts. Team GB face Canada at 9.30am and Japan at 4.30pm. For Australia it is Argentina at 10.30am and Korea at 6pm.
- 9.30am Archery – the men’s team competition starts with Team GB, and US and Australia all involved in the quarter-final eliminations round. The final shoudl be around 4.40pm 🥇
- 10am-9.45pm Taekwondo – there’s more taekwondo throughout the day, with the women’s -67kg and men’s -80kg having their finals from 9.30pm
- 10.30am-12.05pm Swimming – a huge early session in the pool. The women’s 100m butterfly final starts it off, with Sweden’s world and Olympic record holder Sarah Sjoestroem defending her title. At 11.12am Adam Peaty defends his 100m breaststroke title. Straight after that is the women’s 400m freestyle final, and the session finishes with the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay 🥇
- 2pm Canoe slalom – the men’s semi-final and final should take a couple of hours to get through 🥇
- 2.50pm-3.50pm Shooting – the skeet shooting concludes with both the women’s and men’s finals 🥇
- 3pm Diving – Tom Daley is with Matty Lee in the men’s 10m synchro event 🥇
- 3pm Mountain bike cycling – this leads off with the men’s cross-country. Tom Pidcock features for Team GB 🥇
- 7pm Artistic gymnastics – Monday is the men’s team competition 🥇
