Category: Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Top Female Gymnasts Eliminated at Tokyo Olympics by a Technicality

Sixteen-year-old Viktoria Listunova won the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around title at both the European and Russian Championships earlier this year. However, despite placing sixth overall in the qualifying round on Sunday, the Russian Olympic Committee athlete will not get the chance to try for another all-around crown at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Listunova fell victim…


Olympics Swimming: UK, Russian Men Triumph, Aussie Women Shine Again, Alaska Teen Shocks With Gold

TOKYO—Britain enjoyed a one-two success in the men’s 200m freestyle on Tuesday, while Russian swimmers ended U.S. dominance in the 100m backstroke, and Kaylee McKeown gave Australia’s women more Olympic gold to celebrate at the Tokyo pool. On the same day, Alaskan teenager Lydia Jacoby upstaged her 2016 Olympic champion teammate Lily King to win…


All a Blur as Canada’s MacNeil Claims 2 Medals at Olympics

TOKYO—Races often end in a blur for Canada’s Maggie MacNeil, who wears glasses outside the pool but doesn’t use contacts or prescription goggles when swimming. That means it takes a second or two for the picture to become clear after she’s touched the wall as she tries to focus in on the results board. Did…


Savsek Wins Slovenia’s First Canoe Slalom Gold

TOKYO—Benjamin Savsek won Slovenia’s first gold medal in the men’s canoe slalom on Monday after barreling down the white-water course in Tokyo almost four seconds ahead of his nearest rival. Lukas Rohan from the Czech Republic took silver with Germany’s Sideris Tasiadis, who finished runner-up in 2012, getting bronze. Savsek paddled through the difficult course…


Britain’s Pidcock Storms to Cross-Country Gold

IZU, Japan—Britain’s Tom Pidcock became the youngest ever Olympic mountain bike champion as he left his rivals in a cloud of dust as he stormed to the gold medal on the Izu course on Monday. The relentless 21-year-old seized control after four laps of the 4.1km Izu circuit and he was never challenged, riding away…


Russia Edges Japan, China for Gold in Men’s Gymnastics

TOKYO—Nikita Nagornyy huddled with the rest of the Russian men’s gymnastics team, stared at the scoreboard and waited. And waited. And waited. What in reality was only a few moments seemed like forever to the group representing the Russian Olympic Committee. In a way it was. For a quarter-century, the Russians had ceded the top…


Japan’s Nishiya Leads Teen Skater Medal Rush

TOKYO—Japanese 13-year-old Momiji Nishiya clinched the Olympic title in the women’s street skateboarding competition on Monday, shedding tears of happiness after nailing her final trick and becoming the country’s youngest-ever gold medal winner. Nishiya came out on top of an unusually young field of competitors, with all three medalists in their teens. Brazilian silver medalist…


Australia’s Titmus Wins Women’s 400 Freestyle Gold

TOKYO—Australia’s Ariarne Titmus defeated five-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky of the United States to grab gold in a thrilling women’s 400m freestyle final on Monday. Britain’s Adam Peaty repeated his gold medal success from Rio in the 100m breaststroke while Canadian Maggie MacNeil stormed to victory in a close women’s 100m butterfly. Ledecky has…


Titmus Downs Ledecky in First Showdown, ‘Re-Peaty’ Gold for Britain

TOKYO—Australia’s Ariarne Titmus defeated five-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky of the United States to grab gold in a thrilling women’s 400m freestyle final on Monday. Britain’s Adam Peaty repeated his gold medal success from Rio in the 100m breaststroke while Canadian Maggie MacNeil stormed to victory in a close women’s 100m butterfly. Ledecky has…


Osaka in Dominant Form as Barty Makes Shock Exit

TOKYO—Japan’s Naomi Osaka powered through her opening match at the Tokyo Games on Sunday as world number one Ash Barty stumbled out of the tournament after a lackluster, error-strewn performance. Osaka, who is aiming to become only the fourth singles player since 1988 to win Olympic gold on home soil, admitted to having the jitters…