Tokyo Olympics 2021: Weird and wonderful moments of the Games
From sumos scaring horses to knitting divers, sooking boxers and even a typically nutty Trump rant, the Tokyo Olympics has not disappointed with its weird and wonderful moments.
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The Tokyo Olympics has already provided so many weird, wonderful and downright bizarre moments that have gone viral around the world.
From bears at venues to crazy pants and outrageous celebrations, we re-cap the very best and worst moments of the Games.
‘BIG BUM’ SUMO WRESTLER UPSETS OLYMPIANS
Horses appeared to be ‘spooked’ during the equestrian event at the Tokyo Olympics by a giant sumo wrestler.
No horse in the Olympic jumping qualifier had ever seen anything like obstacle No10, The Sun reports.
Just to the side of the fence was a ready-to-engage figure of a man in the traditional loincloth-style pants.
British rider Harry Charles said: “As you come around, you see a big guys [bum].
Ireland’s Cian O’Connor added: “There’s a lot to look at”, while Israel’s Teddy Vlock described it as ‘very realistic’.
But several competitors said the sumo may have distracted a number of horses.
A few pairings pulled up short of the barrier, accumulating enough penalty points to prevent entry into the finals.
Charles said: “I did notice four or five horses really taking a spook to that.”
Among the horses alarmed by the set up was France’s Penelope Leprevost a team jumping gold medallist in 2016.
She wasn’t sure if the wrestler specifically threw off her 12-year-old stallion, Vancouver de Lanlore.
When asked, she replied: “Maybe. We tried to relax our horses in the turn, and maybe they’re surprised to see a vertical so close. I don’t know.”
Vlock went 34th in the 73-horse field.
After seeing others have issues, he and trainer Darragh Kenny of Ireland also a competitor in Tuesday’s field made a point of trotting their horses to the 10th jump before beginning their runs so the animals could look it over.
The hope was that familiarity would breed bravery.
Vlock said: “It does look like a person, and that’s a little spooky.
“You know, horses don’t want to see a guy, like, looking intense next to a jump, looking like he’s ready to fight you.”
Vlock and Kenny both cleared the obstacle without issue. Kenny finished second with no penalty points and a time of 82.01, while Vlock fell short due to other issues.
BOXER POCKETS MEDAL IN BIZARRE DISPLAY
British boxer Ben Whittaker copped a hiding in his gold medal bout with Cuba’s Arlen Lopez — and boy did he get the sooks up.
The disconsolate Briton refused to wear his silver medal when it was presented to him — instead he put it in his pocket.
Talk about packing up your toys and going home.
Whittaker, 24, cut a devastated figure at the medal ceremony, trudging to the podium with his hands in his pockets and placing his medal in his tracksuit pocket, rather than around his neck.
When reporters took photographs of the medallists, an unsmiling Whittaker stood awkwardly apart from the others and limply held his silver in his hand.
He later did find a little perspective on his odd behaviour — and showed some regret.
“At the time, I should have taken it on the chin and put the beautiful silver medal around my neck and just smiled,” Whittaker said.
“I did not want silver, I lost the gold, so to me it’s failure, so I am not going to celebrate silver at the moment.”
THE GOLD MEDAL FOR KNITTING GOES TO …
Gold medallist Tom Daley amused early-morning British TV viewers when he was filmed knitting his way through the women’s 3m springboard final.
Olympic champion diver Daley, an out and proud athlete and prominent LGBTQI advocate, is a fanatical knitter and promoted the craft last year as a way to improve mental health through the UK’s lengthy Covid lockdowns.
With no Brits athletes competing in the event, Daley, 27, busily clicked away from the stands at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
DUTCH STAR SUFFERS NASTY FALL, STILL WINS
Miracle woman Sifan Hassan continues to defy belief in Tokyo.
First there is the fact the Dutch star is chasing a historic treble racing in the 1500m, 5000m and 10000m which will require six races in nine days.
To do that you need everything to go according to plan which is exactly the opposite to what happened in the opening 1500m heat.
Just after the bell, Hassan, 28, found herself sprawled on the track after Kenyan Edinah Jebitok fell over in front of her.
For most that would mean the end of their race but Hassan quickly dusted herself off and began chasing the lead pack who were 30m ahead.
In a remarkable effort the reigning world champion made up the ground by the top of the straight and then cruised past her rivals to win the heat in 4min05.17sec.
Australia’s Jessica Hull was super impressive, finishing a step behind Hassan in second place (4:05.28sec).
She was joined in the semi-finals by her teammate Linden Hall who qualified after finishing third in the next heat, clocking 4:02.27sec.
FORBIDDEN KISS GETS TONGUES WAGGING
Ooh-la-la, the European press are swooning over a quick kiss between French swimmer Florent Manaudou and his Danish girlfriend Pernille Blume after they both medalled at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre this week.
Seven minutes after Manaudou took silver in the 50m freestyle, Blume took bronze in the women’s event.
I love them so much ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ Florent Manaudou in silver and Pernille Blume in bronze on 50m!!🇫🇷🇩🇰 They were so cute in interviews after the race saying they were more stresssed about each other’s races than their own pic.twitter.com/n95xAZiPIZ
— Heaven (@Heaven_LeeM) August 1, 2021
The couple rushed to embrace on the pool deck, then pulled down their face masks for a quick kiss – a theoretical breach of Covid protocols. Italy24 dubbed it the “forbidden kiss’’ but supported the romance of the moment. The tiny crowd of teammates and journalists in attendance also roared approval.
INJURED STAR RAKES IN DATE OFFERS
The unexpected star of the British TV coverage of the Tokyo Olympics is an injured taekwondo competitor with a lyrical turn of phrase who’s proving quite the hit with the ladies.
Lutalo Muhammad, who is heading the taekwondo commentary for the BBC, has become the standout star of the Beeb’s coverage, and is elevating the somewhat obscure sport right into the headlines.
“I’ve had more dating proposals over the last few days than I have perhaps in the last 30 years,” he told the Times of London.
“So that’s certainly a plus. I might not just come out of this with a punditry job but also a beautiful new girlfriend as well.”
The usually staid Times has noted the Rio silver medallist’s “mellifluous delivery’’ and “poeticism.’’
The Guardian also spent some time thinking about Lutalo Muhammad, noting his “soothing voice’’ and penchant for performing taekwondo moves in the BBC studio while trying not to split his pants.
HOW A CONDOM SAVED JESS FOX’S OLYMPIC BID
Jess Fox has showed how an Olympic Village condom saved her damaged kayak this week.
The NSW paddler’s skilful slalom course turns had clearly taken its toll on her most important piece of equipment at the Tokyo Games, requiring some urgent repairs.
Taking to Instagram the 27-year-old showed how technicians first covered the kayak’s damaged nose with a carbon mixture.
The soft mixture was then held in place with a stretched condom.
“Bet you never knew condoms could be used for kayak repairs,” she wrote to her fans.
“Very stretchy much strong. It gives the carbon a smooth finish.”
Fox goes for gold today.
I REGRET DUMPING YOU
When New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde crossed the line to take bronze in the men’s triathlon, there was jubilation back home for almost everyone.
An Olympic medal is certainly something for family and friends to be proud of, but for his ex-girlfriend there was a tinge of regret.
When asked if she had a message for Wilde, she said: “I regret breaking up with you.”
The video has since gone viral.
But there was more to her message.
“I am so proud of Hayden,” she added.
“All the work he has obviously done to get there is just amazing. He’s grown so much.”
TRUMP’S BIZARRE RANT AT SOCCER TEAM
Former President Donald Trump has slammed the “woke” US women’s soccer team for not winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, adding, “everything that is woke goes bad, and our soccer team certainly has.”
“If our soccer team, headed by a radical group of Leftist Maniacs, wasn’t woke, they would have won the Gold Medal instead of the Bronze. Woke means you lose, everything that is woke goes bad, and our soccer team certainly has,” Trump – who lost last year’s election – said Thursday in an emailed statement.
“There were, however, a few Patriots standing. Unfortunately, they need more than that respecting our Country and National Anthem. They should replace the wokesters with Patriots and start winning again,” Trump added.
He also singled out Megan Rapinoe, who has been vocal in her criticism of the former president and has taken on social justice initiatives and advocacy.
“The woman with the purple hair played terribly and spends too much time thinking about Radical Left politics and not doing her job!,” Trump – who again, lost the election last year – said.
Trump aired his displeasure with the No.1 ranked US Women’s National Soccer team, which was heavily favoured to win a gold medal, after it defeated Australia 4-3 for the bronze medal.
He also took a shot at the team last month after they lost to Sweden 3-0 in the opening contest, saying the loss was an example of “woke politics.”
“Woke politics takes the life and joy out of everything. Woke-ism makes you lose, ruins your mind and ruins you as a person. You become warped. You become demented,” Trump – who, we repeat, lost the election – said during the speech to the Turning Point Action political action committee in Phoenix.
The women’s team took a knee along with Sweden’s squad before their July 21 match in Tokyo to protest racism.
But the players stood during the playing of the national anthem.
Rapinoe and some members of the team began taking a knee during the anthem in 2016 in solidarity with former San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Donald Trump. Undoubtedly the stupidest famous person on Earth. Quite possibly the stupidest person full stop. pic.twitter.com/bhxkrXup9r
— Otto English (@Otto_English) August 5, 2021
Some members of the soccer squad also knelt before national games after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in May 2020.
In an interview with the Associated Press after the loss to Sweden, Rapinoe said athletes should use their platforms to make their voices heard.
“We have people from Team USA, from all over the country, from all backgrounds, and people literally from all over the world for every other team so I obviously encourage everyone to use that platform to the best of their ability to do the most good that they possibly can in the world, especially as all eyes are on Tokyo these next couple weeks,” she said.
— Originally published on the NY Post
LONG JUMP FACE PLANT STUNS FANS
A face plant in the long jump pit is not the way you want your Olympic Games to end.
Unfortunately for Belgian decathlete Thomas van der Plaetsen he is going to be on every news highlight package around the world thanks to his spectacular crash.
Van der Plaetsen was executing his opening jump but just as he hit the board instead of lifting in the air he dived into the sand after appearing to tear his Achilles.
The European champion had to be helped from the sand by officials before being taken away in a wheelchair.
Australia’s medal hope Ashley Moloney made a brilliant start to the event, running a personal best 10.34sec in the 100m and then backing it up with an impressive leap of 7.64m in the long jump.
There was also carnage in the 100m hurdles in the women’s heptathlon with Cuba’s Yorgelis Rodriguez only getting over two of the obstacles before spectacularly crashing.
CAN I KEEP IT?: ATHLETE FORCED TO DECLARE MEDAL AT CUSTOMS
Italian Olympic hero Gianmarco Tamberi was forced to present his gold medal at airport customs after setting off the metal detector while travelling home.
The 29-year-old made history in Tokyo when he and rival Mutaz Barshim, 30, both received gold medals in the high jump.
Going through customs, the security guards asked him to reveal the medal after the metal detector went off, The Sun reports.
Tamberi retrieved the medal from his luggage before asking: “Can I take it? Or do I have to leave it here?”
In a video posted to Tamberi’s Instagram account, the security guards appear to say yes as the athlete picked up his gold medal and resumed his journey home.
Tamberi and Barshim won the hearts of the sporting world when they agreed to share the Olympic high jump title.
Both athletes received the prize after clearing 2.37m, rejecting the opportunity to jump again and sharing the glory.
MEDAL HOPE’S EMBARRASSING HEAT BUNGLE
Being too cool for school has cost 100m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson a place in the 200m semi-finals.
The Jamaican arrogantly jogged around in her heat figuring she was assured of an automatic qualifying spot – the first three in each heat plus the next three fastest progress – before easing down near the line.
Her problem was that she’d miscalculated who was around her with Italian Daila Kaddari kicking up from the outside lane to grab third.
Jackson and Kaddari were both awarded the time of 22.76sec but when it was expanded out the judges found 4/1000s in favour of the Italian.
The heat was much slower than several others which ruled Jackson, who switched from the 400m to sprints this season, out of sneaking in as one of the fastest qualifiers.
Australia’s Riley Day qualified for tonight’s semi-finals by finishing third in the final heat in 22.94sec behind American Jenna Prandini (22.56sec).
Channel 7 commentators Bruce McAvaney and Tamsyn Manou lashed Jackon’s effort describing it as “unprofessional” and “cocky”.
“Oh, I mean, she’s not even trying,” Manou said.
“Look at her at the back of the field. It’s good to have confidence in sport but that’s just being a little bit too cocky, you can’t run like that.”
McAvaney added: “Four one thousandths of a second would have got her through. I can’t believe the unprofessional way she went about that race.”
Defending champion Elaine Thompson-Herah backed up from her 100m victory on Saturday night, finishing third in her heat (22.86sec).
Fellow Jamaican and 100m silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce impressed with an easy 22.23sec heat victory.
CYCLING TEAM BUSTED EXPLOITING OLYMPICS LOOPHOLE
There is a storm brewing at the Tokyo Olympics velodrome after a team was spotted using a questionable accessory during an Olympic record-breaking performance.
The Danish team’s use of kinesiology tape on all four riders in the men’s team pursuit on Monday night has raised eyebrows with questions from around the world being asked about the advantages the tape has for wind resistance and aerodynamics.
Suspicions have been raised publicly, but the grey area of new rules introduced by cycling’s governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale, in 2019 suggest that the team’s use of the tape is within the rules.
But it may not be in the spirit of the sport with the sight of an entire team all suffering the same injury beyond suspicion.
The use of the tape is within the rules while being used for medical reasons, but it is a loophole that opens the door for different interpretations.
There has been no official statement from the UCI on the legality of the tape so far.
The team’s calculated testing of the tape with a Formula 1 aerodynamics expert has also been revealed following the heats.
AUSSIE CYCLIST’S HORROR CRASH AFTER BIKE FALLS APART
Alex Porter has revealed the “frustration and anger” he felt just seconds after crashing out of the men’s team pursuit following a catastrophic mechanical failure.
As his handlebars sheared off the front of his bike Porter was immediately confused, struggling to understand what was happening.
“I was on the back and I was just trying to settle in and get ready for my next go in front and all of a sudden I just felt my arms pointing down and then I could just see the track getting closer to my face,” he said.
“Before I knew it I was sliding all the way through the bend.
“At first It felt like a dream because my brain couldn’t quite work out what was happening and then just before I hit the track It kind of clicked that something at the front of my bike had just fallen away.”
Porter, in an interview with Anna Meares on Channel 7, said it was a no-brainer to get back up and ride again just half-an-hour later.
“It’s the Olympics … I’m not letting something like this stop us now,” he said.
“I wasn’t going to let it disappear, everything we’ve sacrificed.”
The 25-year-old said he was furious immediately after the incident.
“I was really angry, I was really frustrated,” he said. “We’ve all put in so much hard work.”
Meanwhile, the 3D-printed component at the centre of Australia’s catastrophic velodrome crash has been removed from public sale amid concerns about its shock failure.
Melbourne bike component manufacturer Bastion Cycles confirmed its handlebar, which is understood to be a piece of 3D-printed titanium, was to blame for the crash which sent Porter face first into the track.
Australia’s mechanics and engineers had been frantically reviewing the strength of the team’s bikes following the crash, however, it is understood Porter was the only Australian using the component.
Manufacturer Bastion Cycles took responsibility for the failure and said it was urgently working to determine the cause.
CURIOUS CASE OF MISSING AUSSIE MASCOTS SOLVED
Worried Australian Olympic officials had prepared wanted posters offering a reward for the return of their missing mascots.
A life-size emu and kangaroo disappeared from the front of the Australian team headquarters in the athletes’ village last Tuesday night when a typhoon hit Japan.
Initially officials believed they had gone into hiding in the team basement.
But it turns out they had been having a sleepover with the Germans – although there was also gossip they had been cavorting with Moose, the Canadian team mascot.
Australian chef de mission Ian Chesterman said it was not unusual for the mascots to go walkabout.
“Our mighty mascots, the emu and the kangaroo, I am very pleased they have returned,” he said.
“It’s been a bit of a mystery, I must say. For a while we thought they had been put downstairs somewhere, but there was a bit of a search for them.
“We were just about to get the sign out and posters around the rooms offering a reward for their return.
“But I am very pleased to report they are back in place and very happy to be home.’’
Chesterman explained: “I understand that they had enjoyed a pleasant holiday in Deutschland. The mascots from every country are known to move around the village from time to time, and it pleases me ours have come home.’’
Chesterman also confirmed that Australia’s athletes smashed a hole in the wall at the Tokyo Olympic village during a drunken spree over the weekend, which resulted in cleaners having to mop up vomit and repair the beds and walls.
“Yes, there was hole in the wall,’’ Chesterman said.
“Some big people were wrestling and these are some flimsy temporary walls so I don’t think he had to do much actually.’’
It has been revealed rowers and rugby players were involved.
HOLLYWOOD STAR’S MESSAGE FOR AUSSIE SWIMMER
A-lister Hugh Jackman has offered words of praise for Australia’s greatest Olympian Emma McKeon.
The 27-year-old from Wollongong came into the Tokyo Games with four Olympic medals to her name and leaves with 11- making her Australia’s most decorated Olympian.
Her history-making efforts scored her a shout out from another Australian legend- with Jackman posting a message to her on Instagram.
“Gooooo Emma! Huge congrats to you and you’re extraordinary family. Love HJ,” the post read.
THE LEG CAST THE WORLD IS TALKING ABOUT
The Olympic spirit was on full display on Sunday night as two athletes agreed to share the gold medal in the men’s high jump. So why was one of them kissing an old leg cast?
There were tears of joy as Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi decided to share the Olympic gold medal, both athletes jubilantly celebrating in beautiful scenes.
As the reality of what he had just achieved set in, Tamberi collapsed to the ground in tears. Just a few metres away there was an old leg cast, he had kept it from an injury which ended his Rio 2016 campaign.
The casing read “Road to Tokyo 2020” before 2020 was crossed off for 2021.
The Olympic spirit was on full display on Sunday night as two athletes agreed to share the gold medal in the men’s high jump. So why was one of them kissing an old leg cast?
There were tears of joy as Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi decided to share the Olympic gold medal, both athletes jubilantly celebrating in beautiful scenes.
As the reality of what he had just achieved set in, Tamberi collapsed to the ground in tears. Just a few metres away there was an old leg cast, he had kept it from an injury which ended his Rio 2016 campaign.
The casing read “Road to Tokyo 2020” before 2020 was crossed off for 2021.
“I was told in 2016 just before Rio there was a risk I wouldn’t be able to compete anymore,” Tamberi said. “It’s been a long journey.”
“After my injuries I just wanted to come back, but now I have this gold, it’s incredible.
“I dreamed of this so many times.
BOXER INJURES ANKLE IN CELEBRATION
Irish boxer Aidan Walsh had to withdraw from the semi-final of the men’s welterweight competition because he suffered an ankle injury celebrating victory in his previous bout.
The Belfast boxer was due to fight in the semi-final against Brit Pat McCormack.
He will take home a bronze medal, which he won in the quarter-final bout, but his dream of gold or silver was shattered by the injury.
“What Aidan did this week is an incredible achievement,” Irish boxing boss Bernard Dunne said.
“His performance throughout the tournament has been outstanding. And it is great to see him write his name in the annals of Irish sport.
“Just over two years ago we selected Aidan for his first major championship, and over the past few months that potential that we had identified has grown and developed into a world class performance, that reflects greatly on the level of preparation he has put in ahead of these Games.
“These are a unique Games, and I’m really impressed with the team itself. They’ve all been rallying around each other, and I know that we will continue to do so. We have two more boxers hoping to win some medals, in Kellie and Kurt, and we will collectively make sure that they are ready.”
HORROR DIVE ENDS STAR’S SHOT AT GOLD
Canadian star and pre-event favourite Pamela Ware has missed a place in the 3m diving final after a horror final attempt.
Ware misjudged her last effort and entered the water without completing a dive.
Before stepping up to the board, the dive difficulty was rated a 3.5.
Ware was awarded scores of 0.0 from every judge.
GOING SIGHTSEEING – GET KICKED OUT
A pair of Georgian athletes had their accreditation revoked from the Tokyo Olympics after they left the Olympic Village to sightsee and meet “one of their good acquaintances,” violating COVID-19 protocol.
The athletes — judo silver medallists Vazha Margvelashvili and Lasha Shavdatuashvili — did not intend to violate protocol, a Georgian official told AFP news agency.
“No one stopped them at the exit, so they thought that they could go outside,” the official said. “They wanted just to have a bit of open air, to relax after a tough day of competition, after a tough lockdown period.”
As a part of stringent protocol related to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic and, in particular, the Delta variant, athletes are not prohibited to leave the Olympic Village during their stay in Tokyo. Currently, Japan is battling record numbers of infections and is under a state of emergency. Prior to Margvelashvili and Shavdatuashvili, no athlete had left the Village boundaries without permission.
TEAM USA SHOT PUT STAR RAVEN SAUNDERS STUNS IN JOKER MASK
Why so serious?
American Olympic shot putter Raven “The Hulk” Saunders turned heads at the Tokyo Games Friday, as she wore a striking mask printed with the smiling face of the Joker character from DC Comics.
“That’s so Raven,” USA Track and Field tweeted Friday with an image of Saunders in the mask, a pair of holographic sunglasses and green and purple hair to match the super villain’s infamous look.
The 25-year-old ended up throwing the shot 19.22 meters, or about 63 feet, which earned her a spot in Sunday’s final.
“I’m like literally the greatest person,” Saunders joked.
“But during competitions, I don’t like anybody.”
ANNOUNCER COMPLIMENTS ‘THIRD LEG’
A pair of British Olympic swimmers barely held back their laughter in an awkward post-race interview after a broadcaster complimented their “third leg” and how “phenomenal” it was.
BBC sports reporter Clare Balding interviewed Team Great Britain following their victory in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay in Tokyo on Wednesday and commented on the Olympians’ young age and historic victory, which set a new European record.
“You’re 18 years old, it’s your first Olympics, and your third leg was just phenomenal,” Balding told the swimmers.
Immediately after, swimmer Tom Dean chuckled and visibly struggled to keep his composure as his mind went straight to the gutter — while teammate Matthew Richards, to whom the comment was directed, held back a grin and awkwardly paused before finding his words.
The red-faced champions earned a second set of applause in the comment section of a viral TikTok video of the interview that was captioned “did she really just say that?” and has already racked up nearly 5 million views.
“18 and held it together without laughing hysterically. That’s an achievement on its own,” one person commented on the video.
“Caused a bit of a drag but I swam on,” another wrote as a joke response Richards could’ve given.
He deserves another Gold for holding it in,” one TikToker wrote.
“(Dean) wanted to look at him, but then did not because he knew he would burst out laughing,” one more wrote.
Dean and Richards, along with teammates James Guy and Duncan Scott, beat out Russia and Australia in the race to secure the gold.
— Originally published on the NY Post
THE AUSSIE MULLETS TAKING OVER
Australia’s flying mullet has captured attention across the world, drawing likeness to a Hollywood hunk after his blistering time in the 100m heats.
Rohan Browning produced a personal best 10.01 secs in the heats to make himself one of the Aussies to watch on another huge day in Tokyo.
And it didn’t take long for Twitter to compare Browning and his flying mullet to Hollywood heart-throb Zac Efron either.
Zac Efron or Rohan Browning? Either way, he won his 100m heat! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ntrgSyJLRz
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 31, 2021
Browning became Australia’s second fastest man and an Olympic semi-finalist when he blitzed the field in his heat.
In an extraordinary performance the Sydney University student stunned the world by winning his 100m heat in a personal best 10.01sec.
Browning now moves past Matt Shirvington on the all-time list and has Patrick Johnson’s 9.93sec national record in his sights.
KAYLEE MCKEOWN BURNS MUM FOLLOWING F-BOMB SCOLDING
The K-Train arrived right on time. Again.
Too fast for all her rivals in the 100m backstroke final, this time Kaylee McKeown outlasted her opponents to snatch the 200m backstroke gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics yesterday.
That’s two gold medals from her two individual events for Australian swimming’s new sensation and she was happy to let the whole world know, triumphantly raising two fingers after she touched the wall before everyone else.
That was a big step back from her wild celebration to winning the 100m gold earlier in the week when she got caught up in the moment and dropped the F-Bomb live on national television.
It went viral on social media but her mother Sharon wasn’t impressed so scolded her, only to have her youngest daughter fire one back at her — in jest — after her stunning 200m victory.
“Good old mumsy wasn’t too impressed,” McKeown said.
“But you know you’ve got to learn it from somewhere and I just put it back on her.”
THE K-TRAIN ARRIVED RIGHT ON TIME. AGAIN.
Too fast for all her rivals in the 100m backstroke final, this time Kaylee McKeown outlasted her opponents to snatch the 200m backstroke gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics yesterday.
That’s two gold medals from her two individual events for Australian swimming’s new sensation and she was happy to let the whole world know, triumphantly raising two fingers after she touched the wall before everyone else.
DQ CONTROVERSY IN THE 100M
There’s been a controversial red card given in the men’s 100m heats at Tokyo Stadium.
Nigerian sprinter Divine Oduduru was given a red card, disqualifying him from the fifth 100m heat in after he false started.
It comes as the same heat had an earlier false start, where Great Britain’s Reece Prescod received a green card.
F*** YEAH: AUSSIE SENSATION WINS GOLD
Australian star Kaylee McKeown channelled months of nervous energy and a year of grieving into a stunning 100m backstroke gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday morning.
With a new Olympic record time, and just two hundredths off her own world record, McKeown overtook the Canadian world champion Kylie Masse in the last 10m after having the measure of the former world record holder Regan Smith, of the United States.
All three on the podium had swapped Olympic record times in the Tokyo heats and semi-finals and it was clear from the outset this was going to be a fierce battle. McKeown’s triumphant time was 57.47s, with Masse touching in 57.77 and Smith trailing in 58.05.
The four time Olympian Emily Seebohm was fifth.
McKeown was thrilled, mouthing “wow’’ at her time. And she had something stronger to say when she was interviewed by Channel 7 later.
When asked what she would like to say to her family she responded: ‘F**k yeah’.
Those around McKeown and her usually sparky coach Chris Mooney had been worried about McKeown’s private hell in the past few weeks.
The pressure of McKeown striving for an Olympic title, on the back of smashing the world record in 57.45s back in June, had began to tell.
That was exacerbated when Mooney and McKeown agreed to abandon the 200m individual medley – an event in which she was ranked world number one, to keep her fresh for the backstroke.
‘IS THIS A JOKE?’: OLYMPIC PROPOSAL GOES VIRAL
Argentine fencer Maria Belen Perez Maurice accepted a marriage proposal from her long-term partner and coach in front of television cameras at the Olympics on Monday, the second time he had posed the question in similar fashion.
The athlete, after a first-round exit in her third Olympics, was disappointedly answering questions from reporters when her coach, Lucas Saucedo, appeared behind her with a piece of paper in his hand reading “Do you want to marry me?”. He put one knee to the ground.
“Tell me yes, a lot of people are looking at us,” he said.
In 2010, Saucedo tried a similar stunt at the world championships in Paris, but with far less luck. Back then, she replied: “Is this a joke or what?” Eleven years on, though, she said yes.
“I was speechless. I said to myself ‘Oh my God’,” said Perez Maurice, who has been in a relationship with Saucedo for 17 years. “We’re going to celebrate it in Argentina around a big asado (a traditional barbecue).” It was a great end to a day which started with a 15-12 loss to Hungarian Anna Marton in the women’s sabre event.
On Sunday, Germany football forward Max Kruse successfully asked his girlfriend to marry him on live TV after his team’s 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia.
WILD TIMES AT THE MEN’S TRIATHLON
An Aussie copped a broken nose, a boat almost ran over the athletes, and a Norwegian uniform left little to the imagination – the Olympics triathlon was something to behold.
The men’s event got off to a chaotic start on Monday, with a rare false start and a suspected broken nose for one of the Aussies.
Only half of the 56 men lined up on the pontoon in the Odaiba Bay were able to dive into the water after the start gun fired, as an associated boat blocked the middle of the swimming channel.
A reporter on the ground for Channel 7 said: “The men’s triathletes basically got ready to jump off the pontoon into the water, a camera boat was positioning just in front of the pontoon was a false start, about half of the field jumped into the water and basically the other half stuck there because the boat was on the way, it tried to dramatically reverse and basically the other half stuck there because the boat was on the way.
“I’m amazed no one was injured at the event, the field got into the water and got about 50m before jetskis got in there and manage to carouse them back.”
Onlookers said: “Don’t want to be overly dramatic, but this could have killed someone. This boat suddenly reverses, motors-first, towards athletes diving into the water. Fortunately those in the water didn’t get too far and the second start is underway.”
A triathlon commentator said: “Goodness me that was not in the schedule. It’s a false start and a shambles to be fair.
“My heart leapt, I saw guys diving in and the propeller of an outboard near them. we have to keep our fingers crossed there has been an injury.”
‘A TOTAL SHAMBLES’
Andy Murray apologised after ruining a photo with a fellow Olympian in Tokyo — saying his trousers were a ‘shambles’.
The Scottish tennis star was photographed with British sailing Champion Hannah Mills, who posted it on her Instagram with the caption, “So that happened!”.
She added: “Cracking trousers Andy Murray”.
Murray shared the picture on his social media, saying: “Sorry for ruining the photo … trousers a total shambles.”
The pair were preparing for the 2020 Olympics in the Japanese capital.
NETWORK SHOWS ‘TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE IMAGES’
A major broadcaster partner of the Tokyo Olympics was forced to apologise for using “totally inappropriate images” when introducing nations during the opening ceremony.
MBC – a network TV station in Korea – was slammed throughout the curtain raiser to the Games for some of the representations it used on screen as athletes entered the stadium.
It went from being so family friendly to utterly disrespectful.
Italy entered with an image of a pizza, Norway with salmon. But as athletes from the Ukraine were introduced, an image of Chernobyl appeared on screen.
And things got worse.
According to translations of what was displayed, when Haitian athletes entered the stadium, an on-screen explanation said “the political situation is fogged by the assassination of the president.”
When Syrian athletes entered, it said “rich underground resources; a civil war that has been going on for 10 years.”
For the Marshall Islands, it said “was once a nuclear test site for the US, and is composed of more than 1,200 islands.”
MISTAKEN IDENTITY
He might be one of Australia’s most famous athletes but apparently Patty Mills isn’t a big name in Canada.
In one of the biggest TV bloopers of all-time, a Canadian broadcaster mistook one of Australia’s most famous male athletes for a woman at the opening ceremony.
The basketball veteran made history as he became Australia’s first Indigenous flag bearer, sharing the duty with swimmer Cate Campbell.
“And you know what, I think they had two women carry the flag. Cate Campbell the swimmer and Patty Mills the basketball player,” he said.
His colleague replied: “That’s how you do it, that’s how you do it.”
‘LOST IT’: TITMUS’ COACH GOES WILD
Ariarne Titmus’s excitable coach Dean Boxall admitted to “having lost it’’ during his wild celebrations in the stands at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre — a moment that has gone viral and become a meme for the Olympic Games.
The dramatic antics of the Queensland coach, who trains at the St Peters Western club and has six swimmers on the Olympic team, was, he said, a bizarre result of “me going outside of my body’’.
“I think I was more emotional than her,’’ he said, crying in the stands as Titmus received her gold medal.
“It just came out. I’d built it up in trials, I just … you know, it was coming through, the race unfolding, and then when I saw, you know, I couldn’t keep it in.”
Boxall was filmed stalking up and down the rear of the aquatic stands, going berserk and then shuddering the glass barrier in front of him with some pelvic thrusts; all the while with a Japanese volunteer trying to control the beast.
BIZARRE SCENES ON BMX TRACK
Just 24 hours after a boat nearly ran over athletes in the triathlon, a BMX rider wiped out an official who, for some inexplicable reason, stood in the middle of the course.
Niek Kimmann collided with an official during a high-speed crash mid race.
The 25-year-old Dutchman was training in on the Japanese circuit ahead of the start of his heats on Thursday.
Footage captured him in the air seconds before crashing into an official.
After posting a clip of the collision on social media, he added: “My knee is sore, but will do my best to be ready for Thursday!
“Thanks, everyone for the messages, appreciate it!”
BEAR ON THE LOOSE
Olympic virus rules mean spectators are banned, but one furry fan still tried to sneak into the Fukushima softball venue hosting the first sports event of the Tokyo Games: a bear.
The animals are common across Japan and regularly spark frantic hunts when they venture into towns, where they have been known to attack and even kill local residents.
A Fukushima police spokesman confirmed the ursine intruder was spotted last night and then again this morning, just hours before the opening pitch in a match pitting hosts Japan against Australia.
“A guard found a bear inside Azuma Sports Park early in the morning yesterday. We also received similar information this morning,” the spokesman told AFP.
“We couldn’t find or capture the bear, and while there won’t be any spectators at the stadium, we are on alert and searching for the bear around the site.”
Local media identified the animal as an Asian black bear, with the Sports Hochi daily saying the entire contingent of Olympic guards assigned
– with AFP and The Sun
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