October 9, 2024

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Olympic action continues on final day in Tokyo: LIVE UPDATES

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Bach declares Tokyo Olympics officially over

The Tokyo Olympics are officially over.

IOC President Thomas Bach declared the Games closed after the French flag was raised inside Olympic Stadium for the transition to Paris 2024. After a short performance in the stadium, the cauldron closed around the Olympic flame, extinguishing it.

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Paris welcomes handover of Olympic flag

Thousands of people, including medalists who have returned from Tokyo, gathered near the Eiffel Tower to welcome the handover of the Olympic flag to Paris, which will host the Games in 2024.

A flyover by jets from the Patrouille de France (“Patrol of France”) released blue, white and red smoke — the colors of the French flag — in the sky of the capital.

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Japan has its best Olympic medal haul: 27 gold, 58 overall

Despite the pandemic, the one-year delay and the soaring costs, the Japanese public may still find a sweet spot for the Tokyo Olympics, the way it did for the storied 1964 Games.

Why? A historic haul of medals.

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Women send powerful message in Olympic track and field

They set records everyone saw coming and others that surprised the experts.

They suffered, and battled, and spoke their truth in ways that hadn’t been heard before.

Over nine days at the near-empty Olympic Stadium, the women of track and field delivered a memorable show, both inside the lines and out.

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USA women capture 7th consecutive basketball gold at Olympics

USA women’s Basketball beat Japan on Sunday for the team’s seventh consecutive gold medal,  matching the country’s men’s program for the most ever in a row. The men did it from 1936-68.

The Americans are on a 55-game Olympic winning streak dating back to the bronze medal game of the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The Americans jumped out to a 18-5 lead behind a dominant first quarter by Brittney Griner. The team lead 23-14 after one as Griner had 10 points, taking advantage of the undersized Japanese team.

Japan was able to get within six in the second quarter before the Americans went up 11 at the half and never looked back.

As the final buzzer sounded, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi embraced and then proceeded to hug all of their teammates and the coaching staff. Griner finished with 30 points, making 14 of her 18 shots. It was the most points ever by a U.S. player in a gold medal game, surpassing the 29 by Lisa Leslie in 1996.

Olympics: US women win 3rd water polo gold in a row

The U.S. has won its third consecutive gold medal in women’s water polo, pounding Spain 14-5 in the final at the Tokyo Olympics.

Maddie Musselman scored three times and Ashleigh Johnson made 11 saves as the U.S. improved to 134-4 since it won gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

After falling 10-9 to Hungary in group play in its first loss at the Olympics since the 2008 final, the U.S. ripped off four straight wins by a combined score of 63-26.

The U.S. joins the men’s teams from Britain (1908-1920) and Hungary (2000-2008) as the only countries to win at least three straight water polo titles at the Olympics. The U.S. is the only team to medal in each of the six editions of the women’s tournament at the Games.

Brazilian wins middleweight boxing gold in Olympic shocker

Brazil’s Hebert Sousa won the men’s middleweight boxing gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in shocking fashion when his bout with Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak was stopped by a third-round knockdown.

The top-seeded Khyzhniak thoroughly dominated Sousa for the first two rounds and appeared to be cruising to Ukraine’s fifth-ever boxing gold.

But Sousa caught Khyzhniak with a counter left hook during an exchange in the third, and Khyzhniak went to the canvas hard.

The referee waved off the bout while Khyzhniak got up begged to continue, adding another instance to a series of Tokyo stoppages that would be considered far too early in professional bouts.

Sousa, who beat second-seeded Gleb Bakshi of Russia in the semifinal, joins lightweight Robson Conceição as the only boxing gold medalists in Brazil’s Olympic history. Conceição won his historic gold at home in Rio de Janeiro.

Kevin Durant leads Team USA over France for Olympic gold

The U.S. men’s basketball team won its fourth consecutive gold medal Saturday after narrowly defeating France 87-82, extending the Americans’ second-longest Olympic streak since 1968. 

Kevin Durant dominated the court, scoring 29 points, with Tayson Tatum adding 19 and Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday each scoring 11. Durant now joins Carmelo Anthony as the only three-time men’s basketball gold medalists in Olympic history.

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Saturday night will be huge in terms of the Olympic medal count.

The United States has the overall lead with 98 total medals but trails China in the gold medal count.

China has 36 gold medals going into Saturday. The U.S. has 31.

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Canada clinches Olympic gold in a shootout win over Sweden

Julia Grosso converted her kick from the spot and Canada clinched the Olympic gold medal in women’s soccer by winning a penalty shootout 3-2 against Sweden after Friday’s final ended in a 1-1 draw.

It was the first major tournament title for the Canadians, who were the bronze medalists at London in 2012 and in Rio de Janeiro five years ago.

Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe stopped Jonna Andersson to make way for Grosso, a 20-year-old player for the University of Texas, who beat Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.

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US wrestler Gable Steveson wins gold medal in dramatic fashion at Tokyo Olympics

Olympic wrestler Gable Steveson may have had the most clutch moment of the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Steveson was facing off against Georgian Geno Petriashvili in the 125-kilogram freestyle category on Friday. He was down three points with 23 seconds remaining in the match. He somehow managed to score five points as time expired to pick up the gold medal for the U.S.

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US track star Allyson Felix makes Olympic history with bronze medal

American Olympian Allyson Felix made history at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

Felix finished with a bronze medal in the women’s 400-meter, giving her 10 track and field Olympic medals and making her the most decorated female Olympic track and field athlete of all time.

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Olympics: Griner leads US to gold medal game with 79-59 win vs Serbia

Soon after the U.S. women finished off Serbia to reach the Olympic gold medal game, members of the Japanese military honor guard started practicing for the medal ceremony.

The U.S. already knows that drill.

Brittney Griner had 15 points and 12 rebounds to help the Americans beat the Serbians 79-59 on Friday to advance to title game.

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Scioscia 1 Olympic win from matching Lasorda with gold medal

Mike Scioscia is one win from matching mentor Tommy Lasorda, the only manager to lead the United States to a baseball gold medal.

Host Japan, which stopped its major league season during the Tokyo Olympics, is the favorite in Saturday’s gold medal game (6 a.m. EDT).

Scioscia’s team, a mixture of prospects mostly from Double-A, career minor leaguers and released veterans, overcame a blown ninth-inning lead in a 7-6, 10-inning loss to Japan to reach the final by beating the Dominican Republic 3-1 and South Korea 7-2.

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Spanish teenager Ginés Lopéz wins 1st Olympic climbing gold

Nerves once were Alberto Ginés Lopéz’s biggest obstacle on the climbing wall. Didn’t matter if he was in the finals or well down the standings, the fear of climbing in front of other people left him locked up.

The Spanish teenager not only overcame those jitters, he conquered the world’s best climbers on the sport’s biggest stage.

At ease in front of a worldwide audience, Ginés Lopéz won the first Olympic gold medal in sport climbing, riding a victory in the speed discipline to the top of the podium Thursday at the Tokyo Games.

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Sumo wrestler statue removed from equestrian jumping event at Tokyo Olympics

Tokyo Olympics officials removed a statue of a sumo wrestler from the equestrian jumping course on Friday as questions surfaced over whether it scared horses competing in the event.

The sumo wrestler was swapped out before the start of Friday night’s competition. Officials said designer Santiago Varela had planned on removing the statue before riders had wondered whether their horses were being startled by the item.

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Simone Biles’ NFL boyfriend was ‘sick’ watching superstar gymnast struggle at Tokyo Olympics

Simone Biles’ boyfriend, Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens, said Thursday he tried his best to keep the superstar American gymnast’s head held high while she dealt with the “twisties” and other mental hurdles a world away at the Tokyo Olympics.

Owens did the best to comfort Biles the best he could. Biles would continue her work at a gym at a Japanese university to work and work and work until she got over what was ailing her. He told the Houston Chronicle he was “sick” watching his girlfriend struggle on the global stage like that.

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U.S. women’s volleyball team to play in gold medal match

The U.S. women’s volleyball team made it to the gold medal match for the fourth time ever by avenging a semifinal loss five years ago to Serbia with a 25-19, 25-15, 25-23 victory Friday.

The Americans easily dispatched the team that denied them a chance at their elusive first gold medal in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. They advanced to the gold medal match against the winner of the Brazil-South Korea semifinal. Serbia will play the loser for the bronze.

Americans win women’s beach volleyball gold

Americans April Ross and Alix Klineman beat out Australia to claim Olympic gold in beach volleyball on Friday.

The team bested Aussies Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy 21-15 and 21-16.

The Americans lost only one set in seven matches in Tokyo.

Klineman, a first-time Olympian, and Ross, who has three medals in as many trips to the Summer Games, needed just 20 minutes to claim the first set. They fell behind 2-0 in the second before scoring 10 straight points to pull away.

Baseball player Eddy Alvarez to become third American to win medal at summer and winter Olympics

After defeating South Korea in an Olympic baseball semi-final game Thursday night in Yokohama, Eddy Alvarez is poised to become the third American and sixth Olympian in the game’s history to win a medal at the both the winter and summer Olympics.

The former speedskater won a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Games and is guaranteed a medal when he plays in the gold medal game against Japan on Saturday.

“I got emotional because it was a lot of sacrifice,” he said after the game and a good cry. “I still can’t believe it. I know the job’s not done yet because at the end of the day, one of the only reasons why I came out here is for redemption, to win a gold medal.”

‘We did it’: Crouser’s Olympic gold a tribute to his fallen grandpa

Ryan Crouser wrote the note and brought it to the stadium just in case.

“Grandpa. We did it. 2020 Olympic champion!” it said.

The world’s best shot putter had a feeling he’d win. After he did just that on Thursday, he pulled out that piece of paper and showed it to the world. Crouser’s second straight Olympic gold medal was a tribute to his grandfather, Larry, who died shortly before Crouser left for Tokyo.

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American teen Harrison wins first Olympic women’s canoe 200

Nevin Harrison saved her tears for the finish line, where they came pouring out over a golden smile.

The American teenager made women’s Olympic history on Thursday when she surged over the back half of the first canoe 200 sprint final to overtake Laurence Vincent Lapointe of Canada for the gold medal. The Olympics added the event at the Tokyo Games as part of a push for gender equity.

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US women’s soccer team wraps up Tokyo Olympics with bronze medal

The U.S. women’s soccer team won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, holding off Australia 4-3.

Megan Rapinoe scored two goals and Carli Lloyd added to her own U.S. Olympic record with two goals of her own. Rapinoe and Lloyd were all the U.S. needed.

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American Olympian Ryan Crouser sets shot-put record, dedicates gold to grandfather

American Ryan Crouser set an Olympic record in the shot-put event Thursday and won a gold medal at the Tokyo Games.

It was Crouser’s second Olympic individual gold medal as he scored a 23.30 and he dedicated the victory to his late grandfather, who died a week before the Games started. Crouser had a piece of paper with him and held it up to the cameras: “Grandpa, we did it, 2020 Olympic champion!”

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American wins gold in first women’s Olympic canoe 200 sprint

American Nevin Harrison, 19, surged over the back half of the women’s canoe 200 sprint race to overtake Laurence Vincent Lapointe of Canada for the gold medal in the event’s Olympic debut Thursday at the Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo.

She is the first American woman to win a canoe sprint gold medal, and the first to win any kind of medal since 1964.

Harrison burst into tears and held her hand to her mouth before paddling in after the finish. She fought back tears again at the medal ceremony before cradling the gold next to her cheek.

USA beats Australia to play for basketball gold in Tokyo

Team USA beat Australia 97-78 early Thursday morning in the men’s basketball semifinals.

Kevin Durant scored 23 points, Devin Booker had 20 and the U.S. blew past and eventually blew away the Aussies after falling into a 15-point hole.

With their gold-medal streak looking in jeopardy midway through the second quarter, the Americans overwhelmed the Australians with a 48-14 stretch that gave them a 74-55 lead after three periods.

The team will either face France or Slovenia for the gold medal game on Saturday.  

A star is found at the Olympics: In 200, De Grasse finally gets his gold

Perhaps the world’s next sprint star wasn’t so hard to find after all.

He’s Andre De Grasse, the Canadian who ran his first sprint as a teen in baggy basketball shorts and borrowed spikes, and now has an Olympic gold medal in the 200 meters.

De Grasse powered past a pair of Americans — Kenny Bednarek and the favorite, Noah Lyles — to finish in 19.62 seconds Wednesday and take one of the titles that Usain Bolt had owned for the previous three Olympics.

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Sydney McLaughlin’s Olympic gold celebrated in viral video by her NJ alma mater

American superstar sprinter Sydney McLaughlin clocked in at 51.46 in the 400-meter hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics and broke her own world record to win her first Olympic gold medal on Wednesday.

Millions of fans across the world tuned in to watch McLaughlin run, but the watch party at her alma mater – Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey – may have been one of the most epic scenes yet.

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Simone Biles suggests Larry Nassar’s abuse may have weighed on her at Tokyo Olympics

Simone Biles suggested Wednesday that sexual abuse by disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar may have led to her brief withdrawal from Tokyo Olympics events.

Biles first suggested that Nassar’s abuse was weighing heavy on her when she retweeted a supportive message from a gymnastics coach who detailed everything the superstar gymnast has had to deal with over the course of her life.

In an interview with NBC’s “Today,” anchor Hoda Kotb suggested Biles may have been dealing with the pressure of being the only gymnast wrapped up in Nassar’s abuse to be competing in the Olympics. Biles said she wanted to make sure Nassar’s abuse “wasn’t buried under the rug” but admitted it could’ve added an extra layer of pressure on her shoulders.

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UPDATE: Olympic medal counter

The Tokyo Olympics are nearly over.

The United States has the lead in the overall medal count with 77 — 25 gold, 30 silver and 22 bronze medals.

China is still ahead in the gold medal count with 32.

Click here to see where your country stands.

Simone Biles reveals she was dealing with family tragedy while at Tokyo Olympics

Simone Biles revealed Tuesday she was dealing with a family tragedy amid trying to get her mental health in order on the global stage of the Tokyo Olympics.

Biles, after winning the bronze medal in the balance beam event, told reporters those watching Olympians from home don’t know what they’re going through.

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American Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin ‘grateful to be able to represent my country’

American sprinters Sydney McLaughlin and Dalilah Muhammad finished 1-2 in the 400-meter hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday.

McLaughlin came from behind to run down Muhammad after the very last hurdle. She clocked in at 51.46 – breaking a world record. Muhammad finished with a 51.58, which also broke the original world record but finished behind the 21-year-old New Jersey native.

McLaughlin said she was “grateful” to represent the U.S. at the Olympics.

“Just trusting the process. Giving the glory to God. That’s all. This season, hard work and dedication and just really grateful to be able to represent my country and to have this opportunity,” she said.

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Simone Biles on winning bronze medal: ‘It means more than all the golds’

Simone Biles won her seventh Olympics medal on Tuesday with a bronze in the balance beam competition after withdrawing from several other events for mental health reasons.

Biles was able to put on a clean performance on the beam and finish with double pike on her dismount after battling the “twisties” throughout the Games. She told NBC’s “TODAY” the bronze medal means a lot to her.

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McLaughlin outsprints teammate Muhammad for hurdles record

Sydney McLaughlin broke her world record Wednesday and won the Olympic 400-meter-hurdles gold, finishing in 51.46 seconds in yet another close victory over rival Dalilah Muhammad.

McLaughlin came from behind over the last 100 meters to top the defending Olympic champion.

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Clay Travis: Tokyo Olympics likely will be least-watched of all time

Outkick founder Clay Travis told “America’s Newsroom” Tuesday that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will likely end up being “the least watched” in history for a variety of reasons. Travis claimed that athletes are no longer as popular and have failed to perform as memorably as in past Olympics.

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Simone Biles ends Tokyo Olympics as one of the most-decorated American gymnasts ever

Simone Biles will leave the Tokyo Olympics as one of the most decorated American gymnasts of all time.

Biles won the bronze medal in the balance beam, finishing just behind China’s Guan Chenchen and Tang Xijing. It was Biles’ second medal of the Tokyo Games after getting the silver in the team all-around final despite dropping out after her vault attempt.

The superstar gymnast now has seven total Olympic medals to her name. The amount ties Shannon Miller’s mark for most Olympic medals for an American gymnast.

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Simone Biles finishes Tokyo Olympics with bronze medal in balance beam

Simone Biles will leave the Tokyo Olympics without a gold medal, but will still have a piece of U.S. Olympic history.

Biles won a bronze medal in the event. She scored a 14.000 and was the third gymnast to compete. China finished 1-2 in the balance beam with Guan Chenchen getting gold and Tang Xinjing winning silver. Guan had a 14.633 and Tang had a 14.233.

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Norway Olympian Karsten Warholm breaks his own 400-meter hurdles world record

Norway’s Karsten Warholm ripped his shirt in celebration as he broke his own world record in the 400-meter hurdles on Tuesday at the Tokyo Olympics.

Warholm narrowly beat Team USA’s Rai Benjamin to claim the gold medal and set the new mark. He crossed the line at 45.94. Brazil’s Alison dos Santos won the bronze medal.

Warholm beat his old mark by 0.76 seconds. He had just set the record last month.

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Simone Biles back in Olympics competition for this reason, former gold medalist says

Simone Biles was set to return to Olympics competition on Tuesday morning in the balance beam event finals after withdrawing from three events over mental health reasons.

Dominique Moceanu, who won a gold medal in the team final at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics for Team USA, told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO on Monday Biles wouldn’t be going out there to compete without having a handle on whatever was bothering her last week.

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UPDATE: Tokyo Olympic medal counter

The United States still holds a lead in the overall medal count with 64 after the first 10 days of the Olympics.

China owns 29 gold medals — the most of any country. The U.S. is second with 22. America has the most silver medals with 25 and are tied with the Russian Olympic Committee with 17 bronze medals.

Click here to see the updated count.

US gymnast Jade Carey takes Olympic gold in floor exercise final

Jade Carey is the latest U.S. Olympic gymnast to win a gold medal.

The 21-year-old put on a phenomenal performance during the floor routine final and finished with a score of 14.366 to win her first individual gold medal.

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Canada sends US women’s soccer to bronze-medal match at Tokyo Olympics

Canada defeated U.S. women’s soccer on Monday and took away its hopes of a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Canada’s Jessie Fleming converted on a penalty shot in the 75th minute to get the lead. The team would never look back and ended up beating the U.S., 1-0.

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Simone Biles to compete in balance beam finals after withdrawing from multiple events

Simone Biles is set to compete on the balance beam after pulling out of three individual finals at the Tokyo Olympics.

Biles and Suni Lee are supposed to compete in the balance beam event on Tuesday.

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French Olympic boxer protests by sitting on ring apron after disqualification

Mourad Aliev, a French super heavyweight boxer, was disqualified from his quarterfinal match at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday after an intentional head butt with four seconds left in the second round.

Aliev reacted by protesting. He sat on the Olympic ring apron just outside the ropes and above the steps leading to the arena floor for close to an hour. Referee Andy Mustacchio, who disqualified Aliev, determined that he intentionally used his head on his opponent, Frazer Clarke of Britain, who had gashes near both of his eyes.

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King implies Russians ‘should not be here’ because of doping

American swimmer Lilly King doubled down on criticism of Russian athletes hours after the president of the Russian Olympic Committee said his teams’ medals are the “best answer” to critics who questioned why the country is allowed to compete following doping scandals.

“There are a lot of people here that should not be here,” said King, who won a silver and a bronze medal in Tokyo.

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Doncic, Slovenia edge Spain 95-87, sweeps basketball group

Luka Doncic will take his unbeaten record with Slovenia straight to the Olympic quarterfinals.

Doncic just missed the first triple-double in the Olympics in nine years and the Slovenians edged Spain 95-87 on Sunday in a tense and important final game of men’s group play.

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Zverev follows up win over Djokovic with Olympic gold

Alexander Zverev followed up his comeback win over Novak Djokovic by winning the gold medal in men’s tennis at the Tokyo Olympics.

The fifth-ranked German overwhelmed Russian opponent Karan Khachanov 6-3, 6-1 at the Tokyo Games on Sunday for the biggest title of his career.

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Xander Schauffele with 2 clutch putts gives US gold in golf

Xander Schauffele won an Olympic gold medal he badly wanted by overcoming more pressure than he could have imagined Sunday.

Right when Schauffele appeared to lose his firm grip on the gold, the 27-year-old American responded with two clutch putts at the end for a 4-under 67 and a one-shot victory over Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia in a wild finish to the men’s golf competition.

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American diver Krysta Palmer wins bronze in 3m Springboard

Palmer’s bronze is the first individual women’s diving medal for an American since the 2000 Olympics.

The 29-year-old only entered the sport nine years ago, according to the Tokyo Olympics official Twitter account. Before she was a diver she was a gymnast.

China’s Shi Tingmao and Wang Han won gold and silver.

Americans ousted by Canada in Olympic beach volleyball after challenge reversal

The scoreboard at the Shiokaze Park beach volleyball venue said: “Challenge successful. Ball out.” That didn’t make any sense.

And the Americans’ survival was riding on it.

“The referee just said, ’Wait, wait, wait. We’re sorting it out,” Canada’s Heather Bansley said on Sunday after winning a twice-reversed challenge to oust Sarah Sponcil and Kelly Claes 22-24, 21-18, 15-13.

“I think they’re just sort of working out some kinks,” said Bansley, a two-time Olympian who is paired with Brandie Wilkerson in Tokyo. “We trust the technology they have. At least you know the correct answer, and you work from there.”

American Bobby Finke wins second gold in 1,500-meter freestyle

American swimmer Bobby Finke captured his second gold for the U.S. on Sunday in the 1,500-meter freestyle. Days earlier, he won gold in the 800-meter freestyle.

It has been 37 years since an American has won gold in the 1,500.

Simone Biles pulls out of the individual floor exercise at Tokyo Olympics

American gymnast Simone Biles has withdrawn from the floor event finals at the Tokyo Olympics, USA Gymnastics said in a tweet late Saturday night. 

She expected to make a decision on the beam event later this week, USA  Gymnastics added. Biles withdrew from the team competition earlier this week citing her mental health. She has also pulled out of the individual all-around, vault and uneven bars events.

Olympics: American’s win men’s 4×100 medley relay, Dressel earns fifth gold medal

Caeleb Dressel earned his fifth gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday night after Team USA topped Britain and Italy in the men’s 4×100 medley relay.

He now joins Americans Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi, as well as East Germany’s Kristin Otto, as the only swimmers to win as many as five golds at a single Olympics.

Caeleb Dressel wins fourth gold medal in men’s 50M freestyle

American Caeleb Dressel has claimed his fourth gold medal after winning the men’s 50-meter freestyle on Saturday night.

Dressel came out on top with a time of 21.07 seconds, an Olympic record, beating France’s Florent Manaudou who won silver with a time of 21.55.

USA routs Czech Republic, 119-84 in Tokyo

The U.S. men’s basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday after defeating the Czech Republic 119-84 in the final group round game.

NBA superstar Kevin Durant led the way to victory, becoming the leading men’s scorer in U.S. Olympic basketball history with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Americans Caeleb Dressel, Katie Ledecky bring home the gold

Team USA has topped the leaderboards in swimming events at Tokyo this year after Americans Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky took home two more gold medals on Day 8 of the Olympics. 

Ledecky, 24, lit up the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Saturday morning after capturing her second gold medal of the Games in the women’s 800-meter freestyle for the third consecutive time. Dressel broke the world record in the men’s 100-meter butterfly, earning his third gold medal.

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Tokyo Olympics 2020: Americans who have won gold medals at the Games

The United States has racked up a bunch of gold medals through the first week of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

There have been some triumphs, some upsets and some shocks in Tokyo as the Olympics march onward.

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Bill Maher backs Simone Biles, rips ‘armchair quarterbacks’ attacking her: ‘This is not a quitter’

“Real Time” host Bill Maher returned from his vacation Friday night to defend U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Biles after she withdrew from various competitions at the Tokyo Olympics, arguing she was “pushed to the brink.” 

“This not a quitter. This woman was pushed to the brink,” Maher said during his opening monologue. “This is not her choice. We went as far as we could make her go. And she had to drop out.”

Later on during the panel discussion, Maher expressed how “p—ed off” he was to see conservatives go after the champion gymnast, citing Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk and radio host Buck Sexton among her critics.

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Simone Biles withdraws from two event finals in women’s gymnastics

USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Saturday in Tokyo: “After further consultation with medical staff, Simone Biles has decided to withdraw from the event finals for vault and the uneven bars. She will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether to compete in the finals for floor exercise and balance beam.”

UPDATE: Tokyo Olympics medal count

After a week of action, the United States is still leading with 41 total medals. The Americans are ahead of China and the Russian Olympic Committee in the total-medal count.

China has the most gold medals in the events with 19. They lead Japan by two and the U.S. by five.

Click here for a complete look at the standings.

US women’s soccer survives the Netherlands

The U.S. women’s soccer team needed a penalty round and clutch goalkeeping from Alyssa Naeher to advance to the Tokyo Olympics semifinals on Friday night.

Megan Rapinoe grabbed the final penalty goal to defeat the Netherlands and advance to the next round. The U.S. won on penalties 4-2 after the game was tied 2-2 in regulation and extra time.

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US-Netherlands head to extra time

There is free soccer in Tokyo.

The U.S. and the Netherlands are locked in a 2-2 tie in the quarterfinal. The match is going to extra time.

Alyssa Naeher’s clutch save

U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saved what would have been a go-ahead goal on a penalty kick from the Netherlands in the 81st minute.

The amazing save may be the saving grace for the U.S.

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The Dutch strike back

Vivianne Miedema ties the match up for the Netherlands with a goal in the 54th minute.

It’s the second goal for her in the match.

The game is in the 59th minute.

Lynn Williams puts USWNT up over the Netherlands

Lynn Williams was credited with an assist on Sam Mewis’ equalizing goal and then minutes later delivered a score of her own.

Williams capitalized after a U.S. corner and put the Americans up 2-1.

Mewis assisted on this score after Williams assisted on her score.

Sam Mewis responds with US goal

The U.S. needed a spark to get back into the game and Sam Mewis provided it.

In the 28th minute, Mewis headed the ball into the back of the net to tie the match 1-1.

US women’s soccer starts slow

The Netherlands go up early in the half of the knockout stage.

Vivianne Miedema scored in the 18th minute.

The U.S. had a few chances in front of the net, but couldn’t close.

Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of Golden Slam ends in Olympics semifinals loss

Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of the golden slam came to an abrupt end on Friday in a Tokyo Olympics semifinals loss to Germany’s Alexander Zverev, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.

The top-ranked Serbian tennis superstar was in pursuit of becoming the first man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic gold all in the same year. Only Germany’s Steffi Graf has been able to accomplish this feat.

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Simone Biles fires back at critics after withdrawing from events

Simone Biles on Friday addressed allegations she quit on her U.S. gymnastics teammates when she decided to drop out of the team and individual all-arounds at the Tokyo Olympics.

Biles did a Q&A on her Instagram Stories and explained she was getting the “twisties” on the vault and floor events of the competitions and said she’s suffered through them before, and they are “petrifying.”

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American Ryan Murphy sparks doping controversy after Russian swimmers win

American swimmer Ryan Murphy ignited controversy at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, contending that he was swimming in a race that’s “probably not clean,” before backtracking. 

Murphy vented his frustrations after he took silver in the men’s 200-meter backstroke, losing to Evgeny Rylov of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

“I’ve got about 15 thoughts. Thirteen of them would get me into a lot of trouble,” the 26-year-old Murphy said. “It is a huge mental drain on me to go throughout the year that I’m swimming in a race that’s probably not clean.”

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Caeleb Dressel goes for more gold on Day 7 of Tokyo Games

Caeleb Dressel is expected to be the star of Day 7 at the Tokyo Games as he seeks his third gold medal in Friday night coverage of the Olympics.

The U.S. women’s soccer team plays the Netherlands in a rematch of the World Cup final, and Allyson Felix can become the most decorated female Olympian in track and field.

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UPDATE: Tokyo medal count

A few Americans added to the overall lead. The U.S. has 38 overall medals.

Japan and China each have 15 gold medals.

Click here to view other countries.

Olympian Lee takes the gold

American Suni Lee won the gold medal in the gymnastics all-around competition.

She delivered an epic floor routine to pick up the win over Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade and Russian Angelina Melnikova.

Jagger Eaton reflects on historic Tokyo Olympics bronze: ‘It means everything to me’

Jagger Eaton had the time of his life at the Tokyo Olympics while etching his name into the Summer Games’ history books when he was among the first to medal in skateboarding’s debut.

The 20-year-old Arizona native picked up a bronze medal in the street event at Ariake Urban Sports Park on Sunday, becoming the first-ever American to do so. He told Fox News in a recent Zoom interview competing in the Olympics and getting on the medal stand meant everything to him.

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Sam Kendricks, US pole vaulter who went viral during 2016 Olympics, withdraws from Tokyo over COVID

Sam Kendricks, a world champion pole vaulter who garnered national attention at the 2016 Olympics when he stopped midstride and dropped his pole when he heard the national anthem being played, will be forced to miss the Tokyo Games after testing positive for coronavirus.

Kendricks’ father wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post his son had to withdraw from the Olympics. He added that his son had no symptoms but will be forced to miss the Games.

The USOPC confirmed Kendricks’ withdrawal in a statement.

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Olympian Caeleb Dressel tears up on gold medal stand while national anthem plays

Caeleb Dressel teared up on the gold medal stand while the national anthem played at the Tokyo Olympics after he won his first individual race at the Games and set a record while doing it.

Dressel, 24, finished the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 47.02 – an Olympic record. He narrowly beat Kyle Chalmers, of Australia, to get the medal. The emotions for the Florida native set in after the race as he spoke with NBC right out of the pool.

“I don’t know if it’s set in yet,” the American said. “Right now, I’m just kinda …. It’s a really tough year. It’s really hard. So to have the results here … It really came together so I’m happy.”

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Simone Biles addresses fans after withdrawing from Olympic events

Simone Biles, the superstar gymnast who pulled out of both the individual and team all-around competitions at the Tokyo Games, addressed her fans on Twitter late Wednesday to thank them for the support.

“The outpouring love & support I’ve receive has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before,” she tweeted.

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UPDATE: Tokyo 2021 medal count

The United States will enter the sixth official day of the Olympics in the lead in total medals overall.

Japan has 13 gold medals and China has 12.

Click here to see the total medal count.

Team USA takes home Olympic gold in first-ever 3×3 women’s basketball event

The U.S. women’s 3×3 team became the first to win a gold medal in the event on Wednesday at the Tokyo Olympics.

The team consisting of Stefanie Dolson, Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young was able to take down the Russian Olympic Committee, 18-15, in the finals.

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ICYMI: US bounces back from Olympic-opening loss, routs Iran 120-66

Team USA men’s basketball took its frustrations out on Iran on Wednesday, winning their group-play match-up 120-66.

Damian Lillard led the way with 21 points. Jayson Tatum added 14 points.

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Jade Carey steps in for Simone Biles as spotlight shines on Olympic gymnastics

Jade Carey will step into the biggest role of her gymnastics career when she participates in the Tokyo Olympics all-around competition on Thursday in place of Simone Biles.

USA Gymnastics announced the 21-year-old will compete in the event while Biles focuses on getting her mental health right for the rest of the Olympics.

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Simone Biles withdraws from individual all-around competition

Simone Biles, the superstar gymnast, has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games to focus on her mental health, USA Gymnastics said Wednesday.

 “We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many,” U.S. Gymnastics said.

Simone Biles delivers powerful message to Olympic teammates after exiting gymnastics event

After Simone Biles withdrew from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday, she delivered a message to her teammates to motivate them prior to squaring off against the Russian Olympic Committee in the gymnastics team final.

“I’m sorry. I love you guys, but you’re gonna be just fine,” Biles told her teammates. “You guys have trained your whole entire life for this, it’s fine. I’ve been to an Olympics, I’ll be fine. This is your first — you go out there and kick a–, okay?”

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ICYMI: Japan captures gold in softball

Japan won gold in Olympics softball on Tuesday, edging the U.S. 2-0.

The team snuffed out a last-minute rally from the U.S. in the sixth inning with an incredible double play.

It was softball’s first appearance at the Games since 2008.

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Simone Biles on early Olympic exit

Simone Biles talked to reporters after pulling out of the team final in Tokyo.

Biles is still eligible to compete in the individual all-around, which takes place later this week, and the apparatus finals, which start Sunday. She told reporters that while she wasn’t injured, she was “dealing with a few things.”

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Laurie Hernandez breaks down Simone Biles’ vault

Laurie Hernandez reveals what happened on Simone Biles’ vault attempt that caused her to land awkwardly and then later get scratched from the team final.

The U.S. finished with the silver medal in the event.

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Russians take Olympic gold over US in gymnastics team final

The Russian Olympic Committee upset the United States in the Tokyo Olympics women’s gymnastics team final Tuesday amid Simone Biles dropping out of the event due to a “medical issue.”

The ROC finished with a score of 169.528 and won the gold medal. The U.S. had a 166.096 and finished with a silver medal. Great Britain picked up a bronze with a 164.096, edging out Italy and Japan.

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Simone Biles update from USA Gymnastics

USA Gymnastics released a statement on Biles dropping out of the team final.

“Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions,” the organization wrote on Twitter.

Simone Biles dealing with ‘mental health issue’

While it appeared Biles may have injured herself on the vault, the Olympics broadcast said the superstar gymnast was dealing with a “mental health issue.”

Biles talked about the pressures of the Olympics in an Instagram post on Monday.

BREAKING: Simone Biles out of Tokyo Olympics gymnastics team final

Simone Biles pulled out of the entire team finals at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday after appearing to injure herself during her vault attempt.

Biles appeared to slip and nearly landed on her knees trying to land her planned Amanar vault. She finished with a 13.766 score and was seen talking with trainers after the attempt.

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Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist will receive cash, new condo

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz captured the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal in the Olympics on Monday and will rake in some great rewards when she returns home.

Philippine officials and companies have pledged to give Diaz about $600,000 in cash and a leading real estate company in the country vowed to give her a residential condominium unit in an upscale district in Manila.

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Naomi Osaka: Olympics high pressure ‘a bit much’

Naomi Osaka was upset in the third round of the Tokyo Olympics, losing to Marketa Vondrousova, of the Czech Republic, in straight sets on Tuesday.

The second-ranked Japanese tennis star lost 6-1, 6-4 to the former French Open finalist. She said after the match she was starting to feel some of the pressure as being one of the faces for the Games. Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron and is one of the highest-paid female athletes in the world.

“I definitely feel like there was a lot of pressure for this. I think it’s maybe because I haven’t played in the Olympics before and for the first year (it) was a bit much,” Osaka said, adding that there was probably a ton of pressure on her opponent as well.

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Alaska’s Lydia Jacoby shocks with Olympic swim gold

Seventeen-year-old Lydia Jacoby gave the U.S. a victory in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke, knocking off teammate and defending champion Lilly King on Tuesday.

Jacoby was the first swimmer from the Arctic state ever to make the U.S. Olympic swimming team.

Read more here

Olympics 2021: Bermuda’s Flora Duffy wins triathlon gold

Flora Duffy has won the Olympic women’s triathlon, earning Bermuda’s first Olympic gold medal and its first medal of any kind since 1976.

Duffy is a two-time former world triathlon series champion. She’s competing in her fourth Olympics and is one of just two athletes representing Bermuda in Tokyo.

The start of the race was delayed 15 minutes because of storm conditions around Tokyo Bay. Duffy pumped her arms over her head as she finished the swimming, cycling and running course in 1 hour, 55:36 minutes.

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Without the crowd’s roar, Tokyo Olympians search for spirit

The beloved American gymnast Sam Mikulak flipped off the parallel bars, stuck the landing and blew a kiss toward the camera. Those watching the men’s Olympics gymnastic competition on television back home knew they’d seen magic.

“Beautiful!” the broadcast announcer exclaimed. “Wow, that was fantastic!”

But all around Mikulak, the stretches of wooden benches meant to seat thousands sat mostly empty. Cheers erupted from a far back corner of the stands, where Simone Biles and the rest of the women’s team screamed as loud as lungs could muster to cut through the eerie quiet of the pandemic Olympic venue.

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Tony Hawk unknowingly discovered future Olympian Rayssa Leal as 2015 video goes viral again

Video of 8-year-old Rayssa Leal doing a heelflip while wearing an outfit with wings from 2015 went viral after skateboarding legend Tony Hawk tweeted out the video of Leal falling several times before eventually landing the move.

At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Leal, who is now 13, turned her dream into a reality. The Brazilian skater captured a silver medal during the women’s street skating event. Japan’s Momiji Nishiya, who is also 13, came away with gold.

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Tokyo Olympics: A success? A failure? And how to judge?

Will it be a success? A failure? Or none of the above?

It will take something much more nuanced than those basic notions to access the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics when they wrap up in two weeks. The response will be twisted by dozens of parties with their own interests.

There’s the International Olympic Committee. The 11,000 athletes. The Japanese organizing committee. The Japanese public. The absent fans.

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Israeli judoka Tohar Butbul finishes Olympics run in 7th place amid political controversy

Israel’s Tohar Butbul’s run in men’s judo at the Tokyo Olympics was shrouded in controversy as two potential competitors failed to compete against him over what appeared to be political reasons.

Butbul was the No. 6 seed in the tournament and made it to the quarterfinals of the 73-kilogram category before losing to South Korea’s An Chang-rim. Butbul made it all the way to the Round of 16 in Pool D thanks to competitors either dropping out of the Olympics or no-showing.

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Tokyo Olympics: Day 3 medal count

China and the U.S. are still the top countries after the third day of Olympic competitions.

What other countries have been performing well?

View the medal count here.

Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky in action in Day 4

Simone Biles will try to lead Team USA to a third consecutive gold medal in the team gymnastics final, while Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel return to the pool seeking more gold.

Team USA softball will seek gold against Japan.

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Katie Ledecky earns Olympic record, silver medal in busy day

American Katie Ledecky brushed off criticism to set an Olympic record in the 1,500-meter freestyle heat on Monday just hours after losing to Australia’s Ariarne Titmus in the 400-meter freestyle medal event.

Ledecky won her heat with a time of 15:35.35 as the 1,500-meter freestyle made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. The men’s side has long raced the event, but Tokyo was the first time female competitors participated in the long-distance swim.

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Teenage Olympians take street skateboarding medals in Tokyo

A trio of teenage Olympians stood on the medal podium on Monday after skateboarding’s women’s street event.

Japan’s Momiji Nishiya, 13, won the gold medal. Brazil’s Rayssa Leal, 13, won the silver medal. Japan’s Funa Nakayama, 16, won the bronze medal. Between the men’s and women’s street skateboarding events, Japan took home three of the nine medals. Brazil had two.

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Simone Biles on tough Olympics start: Feels like ‘weight of the world on my shoulders at times’

Simone Biles admitted Monday some of the pressure to perform at the Olympics has gotten to her as she prepares for the medal stages of her events.

The superstar gymnast had an off first round as Team USA finished behind the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in the qualifiers. She wrote on Instagram she’s found it difficult to brush off the pressure that comes with being among the faces of Team USA.

“It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it. I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times,” Biles wrote. “I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn sometimes it’s hard hahaha! The Olympics is no joke! BUT I’m happy my family was able to be with me virtually. They meant the world to me.”

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Tokyo Olympics prepare for typhoon amid sweltering heat

A typhoon could pose a threat to the Tokyo Olympics this week, marking another hurdle the Games will have to overcome if the storm brings some wicked weather with it.

Archery, rowing and sailing had to adjust schedules as the storm, likened to a low-grade Tropical Storm in U.S. terms, makes its way to the country. Tokyo Games spokesman Masa Takaya said there were no other changes expected to come.

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US Olympic softball’s Kelsey Stewart keeps team’s winning streak alive with walk-off homer vs. Japan

Team USA softball has had a thrilling run through the Olympics and its round-robin schedule ended Monday with another heroic walk-off home run – this time from Kelsey Stewart.

Stewart hit the game-winning home run off Japan’s Yamato Fujita. The ball just went over the glove of right fielder Yuka Ichiguchi for the first U.S. home run of the tournament.

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US swimmers win 8 medals at Tokyo Olympics, including historic 6 on Sunday

U.S. swimmers on Monday added two more medals following their historic opening day performance Sunday at the Tokyo Olympics.

Australia’s Ariarne Titmus defeated American Katie Ledecky Monday to win one of the more anticipated races of the Summer Games.

Ledecky earned a silver medal in 3:57.36 — the fourth-fastest time ever recorded. Following her loss, Team USA won gold in the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay – led by Caeleb Dressel. 

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Aussie Terminator takes out Ledecky in 1st Olympics matchup

Australia’s Ariarne Titmus chased down Katie Ledecky to win one of the most anticipated races of the Summer Games, capturing the gold medal with the second-fastest time in history Monday.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/aussie-terminator-takes-ledecky-1st-olympics-matchup

South Korean broadcaster in trouble over Olympic images

A South Korean TV network apologized after using “inappropriate” images and captions to depict some countries during the opening Olympics ceremony.

For example, using a salmon to depict Norway or Dracula for Romania.

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Olympics 2021: Medal leaders after Day 2

The United States, China and Russian Olympic Committee are the top countries after the first two days in Tokyo.

How many gold medals do the top countries have?

Click here to find out.

Tokyo Olympics: What to expect on Day 3

Team USA started off strong in swimming and will look to pick up some more medals to begin Monday.

Lilly King will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke while Ryan Murphy goes for gold in the 100-meter backstroke.

Team USA women’s basketball and men’s water polo will in action as well.

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Tokyo Olympics robot impresses with impeccable shooting during US-France halftime

The Tokyo Olympics men’s basketball matchup between the U.S. and France was briefly overshadowed by a robot at halftime.

The robot was spotted at the foul line taking almost as long as NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo to shoot, but the machine made the basket.

The robot was then placed at the top of the three-point arch and shot the ball with as much precision as Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.

Did the robot hit the half-court shot? Click here to find out.

Olympian Lee Kiefer makes Team USA history as first athlete to win gold in women’s individual foil

Lee Kiefer made history for the U.S. at the Olympics on Sunday.

Kiefer became the first American fencer to win a gold medal in individual foil. She won the third overall gold medal for the Americans in Tokyo and defeated defending champion Inna Deriglazova of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), 15-13.

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France shocks Team USA in Olympics men’s basketball opener

Team USA men’s basketball is off to a rough start at the Tokyo Olympics.

France snapped Team USA’s 24-game win streak, 83-76, in the first match-up of the group stage Sunday night. The French went on a 16-2 run to knock off the U.S. 

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Team USA men’s basketball in a nail-biter

The USA men’s basketball team is down 62-56 against France heading into the fourth quarter of their first Olympics game.

France ended the third quarter on a 22-7 run.

Kevin Durant has four fouls and one more would disqualify him from the game.

US soccer Olympian, Alex Morgan thanks Jill Biden

First lady Jill Biden was at the U.S. women’s soccer team’s blowout victory over New Zealand on Saturday. She tweeted that she hoped the team could hear her and her party from the top of the stadium.

“Go @USWNT! Hope you could hear me up here!” she wrote.

Alex Morgan on Sunday thanked Biden for her support in Tokyo.

“Thanks for cheering us on @FLOTUS !!”

The U.S. is 1-1 in Olympic competition so far.

Sue Bird, WNBA colleagues to stay on court for anthem at Olympics

Sue Bird and the rest of the WNBA have been at the forefront of social justice protests and during the 2021 season, most players have left the court before the national anthem has played.

Bird and Team USA have no plans to leave the court for the national anthem during Olympic competitions this coming week and the Seattle Storm legend sees no contradiction in it.

“You are wearing USA jerseys, and it does change the conversation a little bit and what you’re representing,” Bird told the Associated Press on Saturday. “With that, I don’t feel like a hypocrite in any way. Everyone knows where we stand. I don’t think it contradicts anything since we’re actually doing the work.”

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Olympic history made in Tokyo

Skateboarding was one of six Olympic sports to debut in Tokyo this year, and on Sunday the first medal was awarded in the competition.

Japan’s Yuto Horigome picked up the medal in men’s street. He had initially faltered in his first two runs on the course at Ariake Urban Sports Park but was able to pull off high-scoring tricks in his third attempt and held off Kelvin Hoefler and the U.S.’ Jagger Eaton.

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Simone Biles, Team USA sputter in qualifying round

Simone Biles and Team USA will have an uphill battle in Olympic gymnastics this time around.

Team USA is in second place, behind the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), after the qualifying round. It’s the first time since 2010 the U.S. hadn’t finished in first place after the qualifier in a major international competition.

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Team USA softball advances to gold-medal game in thrilling fashion

Team USA softball propelled itself to the gold medal game on Sunday with an incredible walk-off victory against Australia.

The Americans had just given up their first run of the tournament and were two outs away from losing their first game at the Tokyo Olympics when Amanda Chidester stepped up to the plate with two runners –Ally Carda and Haylie McCleney – on base in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Chidester slapped the ball into left field, scoring Carda and McCleney, and giving Team USA the thrilling 2-1 victory.

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Team USA picks up first gold medals of the Olympics

Team USA picked up its first two gold medals of the Olympics on Sunday after starting the Tokyo Games without any for the first time in a few decades.

Chase Kalisz got the U.S. on board in the pool, winning the 400-meter individual medley. It was the first of six medals the Americans won in the pool.

“I’m happy to be here and kick the U.S. off,” Kalisz said.

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Naomi Osaka wins in Tokyo Olympics debut

Naomi Osaka defeated 52nd-ranked Zheng Saisai of China 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday in her first match in nearly two months.

The second-ranked Osaka was sharp from the start, serving an ace down the T on the opening point of the match and and racing out to a 5-0 lead.

Osaka hadn’t played since she withdrew from the French Open in May to take a mental health break, revealing that she has dealt with depression. She then sat out Wimbledon.

Osaka stopped to talk with reporters afterward, having said in Paris that she experiences “huge waves of anxiety” before meeting with the media and that she would be skipping news conferences.

“More than anything else I’m just focused on playing tennis,” Osaka said. “The Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was a kid so I feel like the break that I took was very needed. I feel definitely a little bit refreshed and I’m happy again.”

US women win Olympic volleyball opener

The U.S. women’s volleyball team’s quest for its first gold medal ever is off to a fast start.

The Americans swept Argentina in their opening match, winning 25-20, 25-19, 25-20.

The U.S. won silver medals in 2008 and 2012 and then bronze five years ago in Rio de Janeiro.

But they are still aiming for that elusive first gold medal in the sport and figure to be one of the top contenders in Tokyo along with China. Jordan Thompson led the way in the opener with 20 points as she dominated at the net.

Chase Kalisz wins first US medal of Tokyo Games

Team USA is finally on the board. 

American Chase Kalisz won the gold medal in the men’s 400-meter individual medley to earn the U.S.’ first medal of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Teammate Jay Litherland takes home the silver.

Kalisz touched first in 4 minutes, 9.42 seconds.

Japan routs Venezuela 3-0 in men’s volleyball for first Olympic victory since 1992 Games

Japan’s men’s volleyball team claimed the country’s first Olympic win in 29 years after dominating Venezuela in straight sets in Saturday’s Pool A opener. 

“We didn’t panic and focused on what we had to do,” Yuki Ishikawa told reporters. “If we had spectators in the arena, they surely would have motivated us more.”

Biles and Ledecky headline Day 2 of Olympic competition

Two of America’s star Olympians headline Sunday’s events at the Tokyo Games as Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky both begin their quests to rewrite the record books.

The U.S. men’s basketball team begins play, while surfing makes its Olympic debut and the women’s skateboarders see their first action. Here are some things to watch. (all times Eastern):

Click here to read more.

Team USA starts off summer Olympics with no medals on opening day for first time since 1972

Team USA is off to its worst Summer Olympic start in nearly 50 years, having not won a single medal on the first day of competition for the first time since 1972.

Saturday marked a disappointing day for the American’s competing in archery, cycling, fencing, judo, air rifle and pistol shooting, taekwondo, and weightlifting, with not a single athlete taking the podium to receive a medal. 

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US women’s soccer climbs back after 6-1 win over New Zealand in Olympic group stages

The United States women’s national team overcame a devastating loss to open the 2020 Tokyo Olympics earlier this week by defeating New Zealand 6-1 in its first win at the Games on Saturday. 

Midfielder Rose Lavelle set the tone early on, putting the U.S. on the board first, just nine minutes into the group match. Lindsey Horan added another goal to give the Americans a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. 

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Austrian equestrian withdraws from Olympics after horse develops tooth infection

Austrian equestrian Victoria Max-Theurer was forced to withdraw from the Olympics on Saturday after learning that her horse had developed a tooth infection. 

Max-Theurer said her 11-year-old horse, Abegglen NRW, had been behaving oddly during training but it wasn’t until the horse was seen by a team vet that they discovered he had developed an abscess in one of its molars, according to a report.

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China slams NBC for airing ‘incomplete’ map during Olympic coverage

The Chinese government criticized NBC for displaying an “incomplete” map of the country during its coverage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday, calling it an attempt to “play political ‘tricks.’” 

The Chinese consulate in New York issued a statement that the decision by NBC not to include Taiwan or the South China Sea in the map displayed during the parade of athletes, “hurt the dignity and emotions of the Chinese people.”

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Algerian judoka refuses potential Olympic bout with Israeli

An Algerian judo athlete will be sent home from the Tokyo Olympics after he withdrew from the competition to avoid potentially facing an Israeli opponent.

Fethi Nourine and his coach, Amar Benikhlef, told Algerian media they were withdrawing to avoid a possible second-round matchup with Israel’s Tohar Butbul in the men’s 73 kg division on Monday. Nourine was drawn to face Sudan’s Mohamed Abdalrasool in the opening round, with the winner facing Butbul, the fifth seed.

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Jill Biden cheers on US swimmers in Tokyo

Members of the U.S. swimming team cheered and chanted from the stands for U.S. first lady Jill Biden, who sat across the pool and waved as swimming kicked off.

Without fans in the 15,000-seat Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Saturday, masked teams had ample room to spread out in socially distanced seats above the deck.

The U.S. contingent waved tiny American flags and pounded red-white-and-blue Thunderstix, while the Germans spread their large-sized flag over two rows of seats. Waiting for the session to begin, the Americans chanted “Dr. Biden, Dr. Biden” and clapped.

Feeling the heat at Olympic tennis venue

French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova grasped for an air tube during a medical timeout and grew frustrated at the lack of ice in a court-side container.

German player Mona Barthel struggled with 10 double-faults in a loss to Iga Swiatek as a blinding sun made it nearly impossible to see the ball once she tossed it

Heat and humidity quickly became a major issue when the Olympic tennis tournament opened Saturday. The temperature soared to 93 degrees F and the heat index made it feel more than 100 F.

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Iranian Javad Foroughi has won gold in the men’s 10-meter air pistol final

Foroughi broke his record from his first Olympic appearance in the final, according to the official Olympics Twitter account. “Well done!” the account tweeted.

His new record is 244.8 points, according to the Tehran Times, which reported he was the first Iranian to win an Olympic medal in shooting and at 41, the oldest Iranian athlete to win a medal in any sport.

Serbian and Chinese athletes came in second and third.

Megan Rapinoe laments Olympics scheduling conflict causing UWSNT to miss ceremony

The U.S. women’s soccer team will hope for a bounce-back victory in their second Olympics match against New Zealand on Saturday after losing in a shutout to Sweden earlier in the week.

The squad were among those who missed out on attending the Olympics’ opening ceremony in Tokyo on Friday night. Megan Rapinoe appeared on the NBC broadcast as the ceremony was ongoing. She was on the bus with her teammates coming back from soccer practice.

“Obviously we can’t be there, I don’t know who scheduled us to practice at this time,” Rapinoe joked with hosts Mike Tirico and Savannah Guthrie. “But everyone from Team USA will be holding it down for us.”

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USA Basketball Olympian JaVale McGee asked strange question about his mother

Team USA basketball star JaVale McGee was taken aback on Saturday when a reporter asked him a strange question about his family.

McGee, who joined the U.S. Olympic roster at a moment’s notice after Kevin Love dropped out and Bradley Beal was forced to miss the Games due to coronavirus health and safety protocols, talked with reporters a day before the team’s first game against France at the Tokyo Games.

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Maria Taylor makes NBC debut during Olympic coverage, just days after departure from ESPN

Veteran reporter Maria Taylor made her official debut with NBC during Friday night’s primetime coverage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, just days after her departure from ESPN.

Anchor Mike Tirico introduced Taylor as the latest member of “our NBC Sports and NBC Olympic family” to which she replied: “It’s an honor to be a part of this team and the Olympic legacy.” 

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read more.

Tokyo Olympics’ first gold medal awarded in shooting event

China has taken home the first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.

Qian Yang won the gold in the 10-meter air rifle. She beat out Russian Olympic Committee’s (ROC) Anastasiia Galashina in a thrilling finale.

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Georgian tennis players barred from competing in Olympics after paperwork error

Georgian tennis players Ekaterine Gorgodze and Oksana Kalashnikova traveled to Tokyo with the intentions of competing in the women’s doubles event but they were turned away after learning that their paperwork was never actually submitted. 

The Court of Arbitration for Sport barred the duo from competing after finding that they were never formally entered for the Games, despite being told by Georgia’s Olympic committee “that their application had been submitted,” The Associated Press reported. 

“The consequence, however unfortunate for the two athletes, can only be the dismissal of their petition,” the panel ruled.

First Olympic beach volleyball match canceled after Czech player tests positive for COVID

Czech beach volleyball player Markéta Sluková tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, prompting organizers to cancel the very first match of the tournament on Saturday. 

Japan’s Megumi Murakami and Miki Ishii automatically advanced after Sluková and partner Barbora Hermannova were forced to drop out. 

“We cried, then we swore, then we cried again,” Sluková said after learning she tested positive.

She is one of three members of the Czech team to have tested positive for COVID-19 since arriving in Tokyo.

Unvaccinated US swimmer sparks debate as Olympics start

A debate is brewing between former gold medalist Maya DiRado and some American swimmers over U.S. medal threat Michael Andrew’s decision not to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus as he prepares to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.

DiRado sparked the discourse this week with a lengthy thread on Twitter in which she wrote that she’s “disappointed” in Andrew’s decision to compete unvaccinated and his reasoning behind it.

Click here to read more.

Olympic archer suffers heatstroke after competition

Svetlana Gomboeva, a member of the Russian Olympic Committee’s archery team, suffered a sunstroke in the 90-degree weather Friday, Reuters reported.

Gomboeva had finished her event and was checking scores at the time.

On Instagram later, Gomboeva wrote that she was OK, but her head hurt.

“I can and I will shoot!,” she wrote.

Click here to read more.

Olympic surfer Frederico Morais won’t compete after testing positive for COVID-19

Frederico Morais, a Portuguese surfer, announced on Instagram Friday that he would not be able to compete in the Tokyo Olympics after he tested positive for COVID-19.

Morais has not traveled to Tokyo.

“Lucky my life has always been filled with obstacles that I’ve overcome one by one, this will be no different,” Morais wrote. “Paris 2024 I’ll be ready!”

Click here to read more.

Hideki Matsui, Sadaharu Oh serve as Olympic torch bearers at opening ceremony

Japanese baseball legends Hideki Matsui, Sandaharu Oh and Shigeo Nagashima served as Olympic torch bearers on Friday night in Tokyo as part of the opening ceremony.

Naomi Osaka, who is representing Japan in the 2020 Olympics, took the torch up the stairs and lit the Olympic cauldron to signify the official start of the Games.

Click here to read more.

Herschel Walker on Olympic protests: ‘If people don’t like the rules, why are you here?’

Football legend Herschel Walker has a lot to say about Olympians protesting the American flag and kneeling before games, as spectators have observed in recent days during the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

“People think I’m very harsh when I say this,” Walker told Fox News in an exclusive Friday interview. “This is the United States of America, and if people don’t like the rules here — and there’s no doubt we can make some things better — but if people don’t like the rules here, why are you here?

“He questioned whether the Olympics is “the right place” for Americans to protest their country considering the presence of athletes from other countries “who would love to represent the United States of America” if given the chance.

Click here to read more from Audrey Conklin and Andrew Murray.

Naomi Osaka reacts to Olympic games cauldron lighting

Naomi Osaka called lighting the Olympic cauldron one of the greatest achievements of her life.

“Undoubtedly the greatest athletic achievement and honor I will ever have in my life. I have no words to describe the feelings I have right now but I do know I am currently filled with gratefulness and thankfulness,” she wrote in a tweet.

The tennis star will be representing Japan in the Olympics.

Vanuatu’s Riilio Rii steals hearts at Tokyo Olympics as he carries country’s flag

Vanuatu’s Riilio Rii appeared to be the new heartthrob at the forefront of the Olympics opening ceremonies on Friday.

While fans watching the Games were going gaga over Tonga’s Pita Taufatofua, Rii carried the flag shirtless in Tokyo and appeared to be just as buff and chiseled as the Tongan taekwondo star.

Click here to read more.

Naomi Osaka lights Olympic cauldron to end Tokyo ceremony

Naomi Osaka on Friday lit the Olympic torch cauldron, signifying the start of the Tokyo Games.

The tennis star is representing Japan as she looks to win her first Olympic medals.

She is the No. 2 seed in the Olympic field and will face 52nd-ranked Zheng Saisai on Sunday. Zheng is unseeded in the tournament.

Click here to read more.

Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony sees drones form rotating Earth over stadium

The Tokyo Olympics’ opening ceremonies did not skimp out on the pageantry, even as the parade of nations was a bit more socially distant than usual and there were no actual fans in the stands.

As the Games celebrated unity around the globe, more than 1,800 drones took to the Tokyo skies and formed the rotating Earth above Olympic Stadium.

Click here to read more.

First lady Jill Biden in Tokyo at the Olympics

First lady Jill Biden was in Tokyo as the Olympic ceremonies got underway.

She was seen waving to the athletes from high above the stadium

Tonga’s Olympics flag bearer Pita Taufatofua is oiled up, shirtless and has social media swooning

Pita Taufatofua was back at the Olympics on Friday holding the Tongan flag and causing social media to swoon once again. It’s the third time Taufatofua has carried the flag for Tonga.

He initially caused a stir at the 2016 Rio Games and again appeared at the 2018 Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang.

Click here to read more.

Team USA gathers in Tokyo at the opening ceremony

It was a long wait, but Team USA finally appeared inside the stadium during the parade of nations. Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez carried the American flag.

The opening ceremonies are continuing in Tokyo.

Anti-Olympics protests heard inside National Stadium during opening ceremonies

While the Tokyo Games begin inside National Stadium, the lack of raucous fans in the building had some fans watching the opening ceremonies hearing the protests on the streets.

About 50 protesters gathered to demand the cancelation of the Olympics over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The protesters initially gathered outside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, chanting “no to the Olympics” and “save people’s lives.” Some were holding signs that read “cancel the Olympics.”

Click here to read more.

2021 Olympics parade of nations ongoing

The parade of nations have been ongoing for the last hour or so.

Who is on Team USA?

As the parade of nations begin at the opening ceremonies, read the list of athletes who are representing Team USA in this Olympics.

Simone Biles, Kevin Durant and Katie Ledecky are just some of the names donning the stars and stripes this time around.

Tokyo skies are lit at the 2020 Olympics

Fireworks light up the night sky above Tokyo as the Olympics officially open.

Opening ceremonies are underway

The Tokyo Olympics are officially underway.

Click here to read what you need to know about the Games.

ICYMI: 6 new sports will debut at the 2021 Games

Six of the 50 sports at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 are completely new to the Olympics: 3-on-3 basketball, BMX freestyle, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing.

Click here to read about the new contests.

Tokyo Olympics opening ceremonies set to begin

It has been about a year in the making, but the Tokyo Olympics are officially set to open.

Tony Hawk drops in on Olympic skateboarding course: ‘I’m here for it’

Tony Hawk will not be competing for the U.S. at the Olympics, but since skateboarding is appearing in competition at the Games for the first time, he decided to take a little lap around the park course.

The 53-year-old, fresh off dropping in on the X Games last weekend, made the trip to Tokyo and rode around the Ariake Urban Sports Park. 

Hawk posted some clips of his run in Tokyo on his Instagram page. He also showed off some of the best skaters from around the world in his highlights package.

Click here to read more.

Sue Bird hopes to ‘let loose and enjoy’ US flag-bearing opportunity

Basketball legend Sue Bird will be one of the flag bearers for the U.S. when the opening ceremonies begin at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

Bird will be representing the U.S. with baseball player Eddy Alvarez. She told reporters Thursday she is looking to go out there and just have fun with it.

Bird is a basketball legend on the global and club level. She already comes into the 2020 Games with four gold medals to her credit and is poised for another one this summer. Bird is also a four-time WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm and a five-time Russian National League champion.

Click here to read more.

Gwen Berry, Tommie Smith, John Carlos demand IOC to change protest rule

Gwen Berry, Tommie Smith and John Carlos were among the more than 150 signatories on a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) demanding the organization to forgo punishment for competitors who protest during the Tokyo Games.

The letter was published Thursday, on eve of the opening ceremonies at the Olympics, and posted to the Muhammad Ali Center. The five-page note asks the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) not to sanction athletes for raising a fist or kneeling on the medal stand or during competitions, which would break the organization’s Rule 50.

Read more here.

Gwen Berry, Tommie Smith, John Carlos demand IOC to change protest rule

Gwen Berry, Tommie Smith and John Carlos were among the more than 150 signatories on a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) demanding the organization to forgo punishment for competitors who protest during the Tokyo Games.

The letter was published Thursday, on eve of the opening ceremonies at the Olympics, and posted to the Muhammad Ali Center. The five-page note asks the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) not to sanction athletes for raising a fist or kneeling on the medal stand or during competitions, which would break the organization’s Rule 50.

Click here to read more.

Icon fit for a GOAT

Simone Biles became the first Olympian to receive her own emoji on Twitter.

The world’s most-decorated gymnast will have a goat next to her name for her Twitter hashtag during the Olympics.

“Witness greatness. Tweet with greatness,” the company’s sports-centric Twitter account wrote.

Click here to read more about the emoji.

US Olympic fencer accused of sexual misconduct loses appeal to move into athletes’ village

An American fencer set to compete in the Tokyo Games lost an appeal to move into the Olympic Village hours before the opening ceremony Friday, according to reports. 

Three women have accused Alen Hadzic of sexual misconduct between 2013 and 2015 and USA Fencing imposed a “safety plan” ahead of the games that required the fencer to stay at a hotel 30 minutes away from the athletes’ village, according to Yahoo Sports. 

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/us-olympic-fencer-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-loses-appeal-to-move-into-atheles-village

US water polo captain misses opening ceremony due to restrictions

Jesse Smith, the 38-year-old U.S. men’s water polo captain, said he will be sitting out the opening ceremony in Tokyo on Friday due to restrictions on the number of people who can partake in the event, according to a report. 

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/tokyo-2021-us-water-polo-captain-misses-opening-ceremony-due-to-restrictions

Sue Bird, Eddy Alvarez are US flag bearers for Olympics opening ceremonies

Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez will be the flag bearers for the United States during the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremonies on Friday.

Bird is a basketball legend on the global and club level. She already comes into the 2020 Games with four gold medals to her credit and is poised for another one this summer. Bird is also a four-time WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm and a five-time Russian National League champion.

Alvarez won a silver medal in speed skating in 2014 in Sochi. He has balanced the ice and the diamond and made his major league debut with the Miami Marlins in 2020. He’s been in the minor leagues all of 2021.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to start at 6:55 a.m. EDT Friday.

Click here for more details.

Current and former Olympians demand IOC change protest rule

Gwen Berry, Tommie Smith and John Carlos were among the more than 150 signatories on a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) demanding the organization to forgo punishment for competitors who protest during the Tokyo Games.

The letter was published Thursday, on eve of the opening ceremonies at the Olympics, and posted to the Muhammad Ali Center. The five-page note asks the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) not to sanction athletes for raising a fist or kneeling on the medal stand or during competitions, which would break the organization’s Rule 50.

Click here to read more.

Guinea reverses decision, will send 5 athletes to Olympics

Guinea reversed its earlier decision to skip the Olympics because of the coronavirus and is instead sending a five-athlete delegation, the Associated Press reported.

“The Minister of State, Minister of Sports has the true pleasure of informing the people of Guinea and the whole sports family, that the government, after obtaining guarantees from the health authorities, agrees to the participation of our athletes in the 32nd Olympics in Tokyo,” Minister of Sports Sanoussy Bantama Sow said.

The West African country is sending a freestyle wrestler, two swimmers, a 100-meter runner and a judo competitor to Tokyo for the Games.

Japan’s PM Suga sends well wishes

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga sent his well wishes to competitors in a tweet as the Olympics get started.

“The Olympics finally kick off, at long last,” he said in message from Japan’s PM Office on Twitter. “To all the athletes, please show us your very best performances, demonstrating your capabilities to the full.”

The official ceremonies kickoff Friday morning.

Tokyo Olympics include 6 new sports

The Tokyo Games will feature 339 events in 50 different sports.

Six of the 50 sports are completely new to the Olympics. Tokyo will have 3-on-3 basketball, BMX freestyle, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing, all of which were put into the Summer Olympics in hopes of attracting a young demographic.

Click here for more information on the sports making their Olympic debut.

The Tokyo Olympics’ opening ceremonies will begin Friday as some competitions have already started.

It is the second time the Games will be held in Tokyo. The first time came in 1964 with 93 countries competing. Sixteen countries were making their first appearance in the Olympics at the time with 5,151 athletes competing in 33 sports.

The delayed 2020 Games will look and feel much different.

Click here for everyone you need to know about the Tokyo Olympics.