Category: Olympic

Sumo Wrestler Removed From Equestrian Course for Team Event

TOKYO—A sumo wrestler that may have spooked the horses has been knocked out of the Olympic equestrian ring. The statue and a nearby patch of cherry trees that riders thought might be startling the animals during the individual jumping event were among the obstacles swapped out for the start of the team competition Friday night. Officials say…


Belarusian Olympic Sprinter Says Family Warned Her to Flee, Fearing Reprisals

A Belarusian sprinter, who refused to board a flight back to her home country out of fear she would be arrested after publicly criticizing her coaches at the Tokyo Olympics, revealed her grandmother also warned her it was not safe to return. Krystsina Tsimanouskaya of eastern Belarus has since fled to the capital of Poland…


Felix Runs for History, Americans Seek More Basketball Gold

TOKYO—Set the alarm for Day 14 of the Tokyo Games and watch Allyson Felix attempt to win a 10th track and field Olympic medal over breakfast. Then stay up late to catch the U.S. men’s basketball team play for the gold. Most of Friday’s high-profile events are early, including the jumping team event at Tokyo’s…


Gold for De Grasse, Another Huge 400m Hurdles Record

TOKYO—Canada’s Andre De Grasse added gold to a groaning collection of minor medals with victory in the 200 metres, Kenya went one-two in the men’s 800m and Peruth Chemutai made history for Uganda on another scintillating night of Olympic athletics on Wednesday. That followed another huge 400m hurdles world record in the morning when Sydney…


Teenage Skateboarder Sky Brown Makes History With Olympic Bronze

Thirteen-year-old Sky Brown has become Great Britain’s youngest Olympic medallist after taking the bronze medal in the women’s skateboard park event at the Ariake Urban Arena in Tokyo. In a remarkable finish, Brown kick flipped her way into the history books by posting a score of 56.47 in her third and final attempt to come…


IOC Asks Chinese Team for Report on Cyclists’ Mao Zedong Badges

TOKYO—The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday asked the Chinese team for a report on why two of its medalists appeared on the podium wearing badges featuring the head of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) former leader Mao Zedong. Gold medal cyclists Bao Shanju and Zhong Tianshi wore the badges during a medal ceremony on…


Taiwan’s Medals Revive Debate Over Use of ‘Chinese Taipei’

TAIPEI—After Taiwan beat China in the badminton men’s doubles final at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Saturday, gold medalist Wang Chi-Lin made a Facebook comment that cast a spotlight on a contentious debate on the self-ruled island: “I’m from Taiwan.” Wang’s team competes at the Olympics as “Chinese Taipei” at the insistence of Beijing, which…


Mensah-Stock Caps Debut With Women’s Freestyle Gold

CHIBA, Japan—World champion Tamyra Mensah-Stock capped her Olympic debut with a gold medal in the women’s freestyle light heavyweight category on Tuesday to become only the second women’s champion from the United States. Mensah-Stock completed a stunning run in Tokyo by beating Nigerian veteran Blessing Oborududu 4–1 in the final. The 28-year-old American overpowered Rio…


‘Queen’ Dreams: Poland’s Wlodarczyk Wins Third Straight Hammer Gold Medal

TOKYO—Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk won a third straight Olympic gold on Tuesday, dominating the women’s hammer throw final and further cementing her status as the greatest of all time in the event. The world record holder threw her first attempt into the net but recovered for her best performance of the season, launching the hammer 78.48…


Teenager Mu Ends Long American Wait for 800 Meters Gold

TOKYO—Athing Mu of the United States won the gold medal in the Olympic women’s 800 meters final on Tuesday, her country’s first victory in the event in more than half a century, as her compatriot Raevyn Rogers grabbed bronze. The absence of South Africa’s double champion Caster Semenya, ruled ineligible due to heightened testosterone levels,…