Tokyo 2020 Olympics Day 16 live coverage: Athletes farewell Games at closing ceremony
The pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics is officially over, as Australia matched its total of 17 gold medals in Athens, the most in the nation’s history.
- US top medal tally
- Our most-watched athletes in Tokyo
- Russia blasts Olympics ‘bias’
- Kipchoge wins the marathon
- Injury blow for Boomers star
- Final-day highlights
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have concluded. Read how the 16th and final day unfolded below.
DAY 16 HIGHLIGHTS:
■ COMPLETED: Athletics, men’s marathon — Liam Adams 24th, Brett Robinson 66th, Jack Rayner DNF
■ COMPLETED: Track cycling, women’s omnium — Annette Edmondson 12th
■ COMPLETED: Track cycling, men’s keirin — Matthew Glaetzer 5th in the final; Matthew Richardson 5th in the preliminaries, eliminated
Ellen Whinnett11.56pm:‘Unprecedented’ Games closes
IOC President Thomas Bach has paid tribute to the organisers of the Tokyo Games, saying the event brought the world together.
In a solemn speech to formally close the Games, Mr Bach said the past 17 days had been “unprecedented”.
“Nobody has ever organised postponed Olympic Games before,” he told the few hundred athletes and officials gathered in the otherwise empty Olympic Stadium.
“You inspired us with this unifying power of sport. This was even more remarkable given the many challenges you had to face because of the pandemic.
“Billions of people around the globe were united.
“This gives us hope. This gives us faith in the future.
“For the first time since the pandemic began the entire world came together.”
Mr Bach thanked the people of Japan and the Tokyo 2020 organisers for “preparing a stage” for the athletes to realise their Olympic dreams.
“Yes these were unprecedented Olympic Games,” he said.
“This is why I would like to thank the Japanese officials at all levels … for their steadfast commitment.
“Thank you for staying with us on the side of the athletes.
“We did it! Together.
“And now I have to mark the end of this most challenging Olympic journey. I declare the Games of the 32nd Olympiad closed.”
Mr Bach called on the youth of the world to assemble in three years – instead of the usual four years – in Paris in 2024, for the 33rd Olympiad.
Paris gave its presentation for the 2024 Games – an urban, hip montage featuring bicycles being ridden on the roof of the Opera House, shots of the famous Parisienne skyline and break-dancers performing in front of the Obelisk monuments.
The French Air Force aerobatics team – Patrouille de France – performed a dramatic flyover tracing the Seine and the Eiffel Tower featured several times.
After Mr Bach’s speech, the cauldron holding the Olympic flame closed, symbolically extinguishing the fire to send it on its way to Paris.
Adrian McMurray11.24pm:Tokyo Games closes
Japan’s Olympics minister Seiko Hashimoto speaks, praising the athletes and the Japanese people. Bach then says his closing remarks.
And the Tokyo Games are officially CLOSED!
There’s time for one more song and dance number (along with a spectacular lights display), and Clair de Lune plays as the Olympic flame is extinguished. It closes back up into an orb.
There’s a video to get everyone hyped for the Paralympics, a further fireworks display, and the word ‘Arigato’ displays in the stadium.
And that’s it! Thank you for joining us across the past 16 days. There will be plenty more Olympics coverage online and in the app tonight and in Monday’s print edition.
Adrian McMurray10.58pm:Hand over to Paris
After a series of videos and live performances celebrating tradition Japanese culture, IOC President Thomas Bach is joined by Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo to hand over the Olympic flag. After the Olympic anthem, they each take turns waving the enormous Olympic flag, and it’s taken away. The French national anthem then plays via a recording of an orchestra playing across Paris’ famous landmarks. It ends with French astronaut Thomas Pesquet who plays the last few bars on the saxophone FROM the international space station as it faces Japan! That was very cool.
We get a further look at Paris via a BMX rider who rides all over the landmarks themselves.
They cut to Paris where folks are gathered at an Olympics event with athletes near the Eifel Tower. Breakdancers do their thing, and Emmanuel Macron sends a message from the Eifel Tower itself as jets do a fly over, spewing the red, white and blue of France across the Paris sky line. That was pretty wild.
Adrian McMurray10.15pm:Marathon medal ceremony
Next up it’s the medal ceremony for the women’s and men’s marathon.
We hear the Kenyan national anthem twice with Peres Jepchirchir and Eliud Kipchoge taking gold.
Adrian McMurray9.52pm:Light show spectacular
All the athletes are out there now. That parade was (mercifully) a lot quicker than the opening ceremony. There’s a spectacular light show where light appears to fall from the stadium’s roof onto the athletes and then form the Olympic rings. It’s unclear whether that was something added specifically for the broadcast.
The Olympic spirit is in all of us.
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 8, 2021
A display of beautiful, luminous colours swirl together, representing the many flags of the world.
They form the Olympic Rings, a timeless symbol of unity. #StrongerTogether#Tokyo2020#ClosingCeremonypic.twitter.com/38dv0e0w98
That’s followed by a set by the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, scenes of people playing games – a bit of a sense of normal life – and what can only be described as a giant dance party.
Ellen Whinnett9.46pm:Flame relocated
The Olympic flame has been relocated back to Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium ahead of the closing ceremony due to start in a few minutes’ time.
The flame had spent the past 17 days on a pedestrian bridge a few kilometres away in Tokyo’s Waterfront City, due to Olympic rules which require it to be able to be seen by the public for the period of the Games.
The Covid ban on spectators at venues in Tokyo meant the flame needed to be moved, and it could not be placed on the wooden roof of the beautiful new stadium due to fire regulations.
The running track inside the stadium, the scene of such heroics for the past week, has been covered with rubber matting and the closing ceremony will take place under clear skies after a day of heavy rain in Tokyo.
Adrian McMurray9.44pm:Aussies enter, Canadians rock denim
The Australian athletes are out there now, and our decathlon bronze medallist Ash Moloney still has enough energy to carry one of his teammates on his shoulders.
"Can we go home now?"
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 8, 2021
"No we must stay for the #ClosingCeremony" pic.twitter.com/9rRmj7mRkg
There are 85 Australian representatives in the stadium, and the spirits seem very high. It must be a relief to have come through these games.
Just quietly, how cool are Canada’s denim jackets?
Adrian McMurray9.27pm:Athletes make their way out
After a highlights package of some of the more emotional moments of these Games, it’s time for the rest of the athletes to make their way onto the ground. There’s no real order, they’re just filing in. The volunteers ushering the athletes into position are wearing coloured ponchos with an image of two people holding hands on the front, no doubt some sort of imagery that while we all can’t be together in person, the Games have brought us all together. Or something like that. Those same volunteers have begun dancing to the upbeat music that’s blasting around the stadium – let’s hope they’ve got decent stamina, there are a fair few athletes to welcome out!
Adrian McMurray9.15pm:Flag bearers enter stadium
The athletes are in the house! Each nation’s flag bearer walks in and forms a ring around the stage at the centre of the stadium.
Sailor Mat Belcher is Australia’s flag bearer, after he won gold with Will Ryan in the men’s 470.
Adrian McMurray9.09pm:Closing ceremony begins
The closing ceremony begins with a highlights package of the Tokyo Games. Fireworks are let off around the roof of the stadium, as the Japanese flag is brought in.
Adrian McMurray8.57pm:Time for the closing ceremony
We’re just minutes away from the closing ceremony. We’ll have updates right throughout the night.
It's about to begin! #ClosingCeremonypic.twitter.com/HBYJHIUVTC
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 8, 2021
Adrian McMurray8pm:Looking back on Tokyo 2020
With every event at the Tokyo 2020 Games is over, it’s time to reflect on a pretty wild 16 days of competition.
Of course there was Australia’s success across the board: 17 gold medals, tied with Athens for our largest haul of the good stuff. Our swimmers? Tremendous. The Boomers? How good. Peter Bol? Inspirational, what a role model. But for me, there were three standout moments, starting with Jess Fox’s historic gold medal.
After falling short in Rio and London, Fox finally got that elusive gold in the first ever women’s C1 event at an Olympics, something she campaigned for to be included on the program. With her mother and coach Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi and sister Noemie by her side in Tokyo and father Richard in commentary for Seven, it truly was a family affair.
How about Cedric Dublar doing everything in his power to get fellow Australian Ash Moloney to bronze in the decathlon? That was the first time an Australian has step foot onto a podium in this event.
As Will Swanton wrote: “Perhaps Dubler has captured the imagination even more than Moloney, for now, because the real heroes of today’s world are people like him. The selfless. The motivating. The doctors. The nurses. The Dublers.”
My favourite moment of these Games, though, was the conclusion to the men’s high jump.
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi were locked in a tense battle, and while Barshim looked like he’d win easily, neither man could clear 2.39m.
When given the option of a jump off or shared gold, the two competitors agreed to split the honours. There were tears and a celebration with a cast that once held Tamberi’s injured ankle. To top it all off, as fellow Italian Lamont Marcell Jacobs crossed the line to celebrate a historic gold in the 100m, Tamberi was there to celebrate with him as well. Forza! Honestly, who wouldn’t want Tamberi as their own hype guy?
Australia’s Brandon Starc was right in the mix, finishing fifth, just 2cm behind the eventual winners. You can read more on that from Will Swanton here.
What were your highlights of the Tokyo Games? Have your say in the comments below.
AFP7.32pm:Serbia win final gold of Tokyo Olympics
Serbia retained their Olympic men’s water polo title on Sunday with a 13-10 victory over Greece, winning the last of 339 gold medals on offer at the coronavirus-delayed Tokyo Games.
Dusan Mandic, Nikola Jaksic and Andrija Prlainovic scored three goals apiece as Serbia defended the crown they won in Rio five years ago, denying Greece a first Olympic gold medal in any team sport.
It was Serbia’s third gold in Japan after wins in women’s taekwondo and karate. Greece finished the Games with a gold medal in men’s rowing and another in the long jump.
Sunday’s closing ceremony will take place at a largely vacant Olympic Stadium, rounding off 16 days of competition in mostly empty stadiums.
AFP
Ellen Whinnett6.46pm:Our most-watched athletes in Tokyo
They’re the athletes who captured our hearts during the Olympic Games, with millions tuning in to watch Australian gold rain down in Tokyo.
The Flying Mullet Rohan Browning, inspirational 800m star Peter Bol, the Kookaburras and their silver medal and the Matilda’s fightback against the United States were just what Australia needed to get through lockdown.
More than 3.1 million people watched 23-year-old law student Browning’s 100m semi-final on August 9. Our world record breaking 4x100m freestyle gold medallist – swimmers Bronte and Cate Campbell, Meg Harris and Emma McKeon – also pulled in more than 2.5 million viewers despite happening in the morning, well outside prime time.
And broadcaster Seven recorded an increase in viewer numbers in the second week – something that hasn’t happened in the previous three Olympics – as a new generation of Australian track stars kept Aussies glued to their TVs after the golden first week of swimming.
Veteran broadcaster Bruce McAvaney said the Games were “in terms of performances … arguably the most memorable Olympics of my lifetime on foreign soil”.
“We’ve seen the emergence of a new group of champions,” he said.
AFP6.24pm:USA top Olympic medal table as delayed Games draw to close
Eliud Kipchoge produced a marathon masterclass and the USA edged China at the top of the Olympics medals table as the curtain was set to fall on the biggest sports event since the pandemic on Sunday.
After Kipchoge’s marathon win for Kenya, volleyball, track cycling and basketball wins put the United States top of the medals tally with 39 golds, just one ahead of China in a battle for bragging rights.
The 339th and final gold medal went to Serbia’s men’s water polo team, capping a Games that were in stark danger of cancellation after they became the first postponed Olympics last year.
Thirty-three sports have been contested across 16 days in largely empty stadiums, with fans barred over coronavirus risks and athletes living in strict biosecure conditions.
“Some were already speaking of ‘Ghost Games’,” Olympics chief Thomas Bach told an International Olympic Committee session on Sunday.
“What we have seen here is that on the contrary the athletes have brought soul to the Olympic Games.” A succession of big names have failed to perform in Japan but marathon world record-holder Kipchoge showed his class, kicking in the closing stages and clocking 2hr 08min 38sec to retain his 2016 title.
The Games have been plagued by low Japanese support over super-spreader fears and the marathon, moved north to Sapporo to avoid Tokyo’s summer heat, was one of the few events to allow spectators.
“I know there were a lot of people against holding this Olympics due to the coronavirus,” said a flag-waving, 47-year-old fan on the marathon route who gave his name as Tsujita.
“But I am glad it took place. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone.” However, Sunday’s closing ceremony will take place at a largely vacant Olympic Stadium, rounding off an extraordinary Games conducted mostly without live spectators but in front of a TV audience of billions.
Trans athletes and ‘twisties’
Athletes, ordered to wear masks when not competing, training, eating or sleeping, have endured the extra psychological strain of strict “bubble” conditions in Tokyo.
Victory celebrations have been low-key, with lonely laps of honour and sparsely attended medal ceremonies. But the emotions of the competitors have been on full view.
Superstar gymnast Simone Biles provided the most jaw-dropping moment when she abruptly pulled out of competition over a bout of the “twisties”, a disorientating mental block.
Biles, widely acknowledged as the greatest gymnast in history, recovered sufficiently to return for the final event, the beam, claiming a redemptive bronze.
Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard became the first openly transgender woman to compete at the Games and Canada’s Quinn became the first openly transgender Olympic medallist, with gold in the women’s football.
In other highlights, the US men’s team won their fourth consecutive men’s basketball crown and US swimmer Caeleb Dressel took over the mantle of Michael Phelps with five gold medals in the pool.
Among the final events on Sunday, Canadian cyclist Kelsey Mitchell took gold in the women’s sprint while Jason Kenny won the men’s keirin to become the first Briton to win seven Olympic titles.
The Americans started the day two golds behind China but the women’s basketball and volleyball titles and US track cyclist Jennifer Valente’s omnium victory put them top of the final table.
Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov beat US fighter Richard Torrez in the super-heavyweight boxing final, while Britain’s Lauren Price and Ireland’s Kellie Harrington also boxed their way to gold.
The Olympic flag will pass to 2024 hosts Paris at the closing ceremony. But the circus will reconvene in just six months’ time when Beijing, faced with boycott threats and a renewed coronavirus emergency, holds the Winter Games in February.
Agencies4.34pm:US women win first volleyball gold
The United States won their first women’s volleyball Olympic gold medal on Sunday, downing Brazil 3-0 in the final.
The US women avenged losses against the Brazilians in the 2012 and 2008 Olympic finals to clinch gold at the Ariake Arena.
Serbia claimed the bronze after beating South Korea in the third-fourth place game.
AFP
Agencies3.45pm:Cruz to the fore for Cuba
Classy lightweight Andy Cruz won Cuba’s fourth Olympic boxing gold with a tough victory over American Keyshawn Davis, AFP reports.
The 25-year-old Cruz, a two-time world champion, won on split points to deny the US a first men’s boxing gold in 17 years.
There is one more chance of US gold in the final bout in the Japanese capital later on Sunday, when Richard Torrez faces Uzbek Bakhodir Jalolov for the super-heavyweight title.
Cruz, who used to do karate, was all feints and flicks as he went ahead on the judges’ scorecards after the first round.
Davis, 22, likes a scrap and was able to disturb the Cuban’s rhythm in the second round.
But Cruz got the decision — and celebrated with a Michael Jackson-like dance in the middle of the ring.
Agencies
Agencies3.30pm:Irish boxer cleans up in Tokyo
Ireland’s Kellie Harrington defeated Beatriz Ferreira of Brazil to win women’s lightweight boxing gold, AFP reports.
The 31-year-old top seed, who works as a part-time cleaner at a psychiatric hospital in Dublin, won the title on a unanimous points decision.
Ferreira, 28, who entered Kokugikan Arena wearing a bandana in Brazil’s blue and yellow colours, stung Harrington with a right hook early in the first round and had the better of the opening half of the bout.
Ferreira, the 2019 world champion, was the aggressor but Harrington was picking her off and they went to the final round with the Olympic title in the balance.
Harrington was in tears after the decision went in her favour, with a contingent of the Brazilian squad in the mostly empty arena booing the scoring.
— Agencies
Ellen Whinnett3pm:The Tokyo stars we couldn’t resist
They’ve kept us going through lockdowns and won our hearts with a string of Olympic gold and performances to savour. Here are the Aussie stars who kept us glued to the TV. Read more here
Agencies2.30pm:Valente’s day in the velodrome
US track cyclist Jennifer Valente won gold in the women’s omnium in the final velodrome race of Tokyo 2020 on Sunday, AFP reports.
Valente finished on 124 points, 14 ahead of Yumi Kajihara, who took silver to win Japan’s first medal on the track in front of a delighted home crowd in Shizuoka.
Dutch rider Kirsten Wild took bronze.
Australian cyclist Annette Edmondson finished in 12th place on 61 points.
— Agencies
Agencies2.05pm:US women romp to basketball gold
A rampant US have swept past Japan to their seventh straight women’s basketball crown, with Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi collecting their fifth Olympic gold medals to cap remarkable careers, AFP reports.
Brittney Griner scored a game-high 30 points with five rebounds and two assists as the hosts were overpowered 90-75 by a team that stretched their Olympic win streak to 55 games dating back to their last defeat in the 1992 semis.
They went to half-time with a 50-39 lead and there was no stopping them, with a valiant Japan settling for second-place and a best-ever Olympic finish.
— Agencies
Agencies1.30pm:Canadian champion a fast learner
Canada’s Kelsey Mitchell won gold in the women’s sprint on the final day of the Olympics, just four years after taking up the sport, AFP reports.
Mitchell won the first two races in a best-of-three final against Olena Starikova of Ukraine to clinch Canada’s first gold medal at the Izu Velodrome.
Hong Kong’s Lee Wai-sze took bronze.
It is only Canada’s second Olympic gold medal ever in track cycling and the first since Lori-Ann Muenzer won the same event at Athens 2004.
Mitchell clenched her fists as she performed her victory lap while the Canadian coaches nearby hugged and celebrated the 27-year-old’s remarkable triumph.
She only took up track cycling after attending a Canadian training event in August 2017 and was quickly recruited by Cycling Canada.
Her victory never looked in doubt against Starikova while the favourite for gold, Emma Hinze of Germany, was beaten by Lee in the battle for bronze.
— Agencies
Tom Crystal1.05pm:Kenny crushes cycling rivals
Australian cyclist Matthew Glaetzer has finished 5th in the men’s keirin event, which was won by Great Britain’s Jason Kenny, who took off a few laps from home on the way to successfully defending his Olympics crown.
Kenny, 33, won his seventh gold medal, eclipsing Chris Hoy as Great Britain’s most successful Olympian of all time.
Malaysian rider Mohd Azizulhasni took silver, 0.763 seconds behind the winner, just edging out Harrie Lavreysen, from The Netherlands, who claimed the bronze medal.
Hayden Johnson12.35pm:Matt finish could have gold tinge
Australia’s cycling sprint king Matthew Glaetzer will race for a medal in the men’s keirin after finishing second in the semi-final.
Glaetzer, who earlier this week was forced to withdraw from the individual sprint event after suffering exhaustion, will be one of six riders in the keirin final.
Agencies12.20pm:Russians blast ‘biased’ gymnastics judging
Russian officials have expressed outrage over what they said was “biased” judging in the Olympic rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around final after Israel’s Linoy Ashram claimed a victory over three-time world champion Dina Averina, ending two decades of Russian dominance, AFP reports.
The head of Russia’s Olympic Committee said the country would lodge a complaint with the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
“We have decided that we will not close our eyes to this situation. We are already preparing an official appeal to the international federation,” Stanislav Pozdnyakov said in a statement on Instagram.
“We would like to receive an explanation over a whole number of issues,” he added, taking issue with “judging”.
Israel’s Ashram claimed victory despite a mistake in her closing ribbon routine.
It is the first time a Russian has failed to win the event since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and is arguably one of the biggest surprises in the sport’s history.
Averina said she did not think “it was fair today”.
Prominent Russians accused the judges of bias.
“Dina didn’t lose, she won. But unfortunately the judging was egregiously unjust,” Irina Viner, president of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, said in comments to RT, a Kremlin-backed TV channel.
“It was simply a disgrace to rhythmic gymnastics,” said the coach. Viner claimed that the judges supported Ashram.
“Enough, they got tired of Russia. And the judges decided to support this Israeli woman.” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova fumed, accusing the judges of committing “forgery in front of the whole world.”
“Those who started the Russophobic war against the sport could not allow this victory,” Zakharova said on messaging app Telegram.
— Agencies
Jacquelin Magnay12pm:Aussie chief hails Games team
Australia’s chef de mission Ian Chesterman was overcome with emotion talking about the success of the Australian Olympic team and how it had delivered joy to those enduring lockdowns back home.
Mr Chesterman said he believed no other nation could have pulled off an Olympics during a pandemic, paying tribute to the Japanese government and organisers. He noted that just like Australians, the Japanese had been glued to their televisions during the Games.
Japan, which won 27 gold medals, is third behind China and the US. Australia is sixth, just behind Great Britain.
Fighting back tears on Sunday morning, Chesterman gave the Games and the Australian team a mark of 11 out of 10, because the Tokyo Olympics were a games that “people said couldn’t happen and it did”.
“I think our team has created an environment for their time,” he said. “What has amazed me was their resilience and determination. When they got whacked, they stood back up again.
“That resilience served everyone really well. The people who do best are those who feel comfortable being in the uncomfortable, that was the approach we had to take.”
Chesterman, 62, has successfully led the Australian winter Olympic teams since the 1998 Nagano Olympics. His calm and forgiving approach towards the 486-strong Australian team earned him the gold medal for patience and supporting Australian athletes’ wayward village and plane antics.
Chesterman said: “It well exceeded my expectations coming here, I thought it would be really much tougher, much harder dealing with no crowds, much harder with the covid controls but actually it has worked out really well.”
He added: “For me, I have been really thrilled with the fact the games have gone so smoothly, but also thrilled the athletes felt that when they left here they felt they had an incredible experience.”
“These are the games of our times, they are challenging times and our team was ready to perform in these times and that’s fantastic.”
Australia’s Tokyo tally of 17 gold medals equals the previous high mark achieved in Athens 2004 and the total medal tally of 46 to date is the third-highest of all time.
He said 99 members of the Australian Team took home a medal from 15 sports and 20 disciplines.
Agencies11.30am:India hails a new star
Javelin star Neeraj Chopra has become the toast of India after winning the country’s first Olympic athletics gold medal, inspiring politicians and staid cricket legends into celebratory dances, AFP reports.
Hundreds gathered outside Chopra’s family home in the village of Khandra in Haryana state to witness the 87.58 metres throw in Tokyo that secured the landmark title.
Chopra, 23, has come a long way from being a chubby 12-year-old teased by his friends to an overnight hero for the nation of 1.3 billion people.
Fireworks erupted in some Indian cities and street traders handed out cakes and sweets to celebrate the end of an agonising wait for recognition on the athletics track.
The farmer’s son and Indian army officer for once sidelined India’s cricket stars who are playing the first Test against England in Nottingham.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, 72, celebrated the moment on TV with his arms raised, singing a popular Bollywood song during a break in commentating on the Indian game.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Chopra’s achievement would be “remembered forever” while sports minister Anurag Thakur called him a “Golden Boy”.
Shooter Abhinav Bindra — 10m air rifle champion in Beijing in 2008 — the only other Indian to have won an individual Olympic gold also paid tribute.
Chopra led India to their best-ever haul in the Olympics with a gold, two silvers and six bronze medals.
His feat ended a 121-year wait for an athletics gold. The previous best had been two silver medals won at the 1900 Paris Games when India was a British colony.
— Agencies
Agencies11am:Boss’s daughter gets a medal
Jessica Springsteen, daughter of rock legend Bruce Springsteen, won equestrian jumping team silver with the US after disappointment in the individual event, AFP reports.
The 29-year-old, who failed to qualify for the individual jumping final on her horse Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, pocketed silver as the US finished behind Sweden in a jump-off.
Belgium won bronze.
Springsteen said that she had done “a really quick” video call with her family back home.
“They were all screaming, I don’t think we understood anything,” she said. “Just saw their Team USA gear, there was just lots of shouting. I couldn’t make a lot out, but I know that they’re so excited.”
They were not the only ones to celebrate Springsteen’s success. Stevie Van Zandt, a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, tweeted: “It’s her first freakin Olympics! Absolutely incredible! She’s put in years of hard work of course, but still!”
It’s her first freakin Olympics! Absolutely incredible! She’s put in years of hard work of course, but still!
— Stevie Van Zandt (@StevieVanZandt) August 7, 2021
Springsteen is not the first equestrian competitor with famous parents to compete at the Olympics.
Princess Anne, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, represented Britain at the 1976 Montreal Games and Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, jumped at London in 2012, winning a silver medal.
— Agencies
Tom Crystal10.30am:Aussie pair finish tough race
Liam Adams came home in 24th place in the marathon in a time of 2hr15min51sec, 7min13sec behind the race winner. Brett Robinson was 66th, in a time of 2hr24min04sec, 15min26sec adrift of Eliud Kipchoge,while Jack Rayner was unable to finish.
Eliud Kipchoge has won a GOLD 🥇 Medal in the Olympic Marathon (2:08:38). The G.O.A.T . If you are still awake just retweet.
— Stephen Mukangai (@SMukangai) August 8, 2021
Photo Courtesy. pic.twitter.com/rb2JwoWMn2
Tom Crystal10.20am:Wild scenes at the end of the marathon
Four into three doesn’t go. And when it comes to Olympic medals, almost anything goes. That might explain the finish of the 42km marathon, which featured a group of three runners — Lawrence Cherono, Abdi Nageeye and Bashir Abdi — vying for silver and bronze.
(Race winner Eliud Kipchoge was already cooling his heels after breaking away and winning by a comfortable margin).
In the closing stages of the race, Netherlands runner Nageeye appeared to be urging Belgian Abdi to pick up the pace and get past Cherono, who was in second place, for a podium finish.
Nageeye and Abdi may be representing different countries, but they were both born in Somalia and train together.
Some real high school cross country energy from Abdi Nageeye, urging his friend Bashir Abdi to kick by Lawrence Cherono while himself kicking to an Olympic silver medal in the marathon pic.twitter.com/z382VZ0LiQ
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) August 8, 2021
In any case, Nageeye’s encouragement had the desired result, as he took silver, Abdi rallied to win bronze and poor old Cherono was left empty-handed after 42km of brutal toil.
Channel 7 commentator Tamsyn Manou, a former Olympian, was stunned by the finish: “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”
Tom Crystal10.10am:Kipchoge wins the marathon
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge completes the defence of his Olympics marathon title in style, waving to the crowd as he approaches the finish line.
He crosses in a time of 2hr08min38sec and barely looks puffed. An incredible feat.
Netherlands runner Abdi Nageeye finishes second, 1min20sec behind, while Belgian Bashir Abdi takes the bronze just ahead of Kenyan Lawrence Cherono.
Kipchoge becomes just the third man to win consecutive marathon titles.
The organisers’ decision to move the race to Sapporo, 800km north of Tokyo, backfired, with unseasonally hot and humid temperatures there making for gruelling conditions for the runners.
Sunday’s race saw 106 runners representing 45 countries and the Olympic Refugee Team set off from the Odori Park in the heart of Sapporo in temperatures of around 27C and a stamina-sapping 80 per cent humidity.
A large lead group of about 50 runners, including Kipchoge, defending world champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia and Rio bronze medallist Galen Rupp of the US went through 10km in 30min53sec.
Kipchoge had teammates Cherono and Amos Kipruto beside him as running partners.
Two early casualties of note were Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich, who was gold medallist at the 2012 London Games, and a world champion in Moscow a year later, and Ethiopian Shura Kitata Tola, winner of last year’s London Marathon in which Kipchoge finished eighth in just his second blip in his marathon-racing career.
— With AFP
Tom Crystal9.55am:Is this race over already?
We’re inside the final 5km of the men’s marathon and Eliud Kipchoge has skipped well clear of a pack that now has four runners.
Unless something catastrophic happens it looks like the Kenyan star will win gold by a big margin.
The chase for the minor medals features Kenyan Lawrence Cherono, Spain’s Ayad Lamdassem, Belgium’s Bashir Abdi and Netherlands runner Abdi Nageeye.
Australians Liam Adams (38th, 4min56sec behind) and Brett Robinson (57th, 7min59sec behind) are still in the race.
Of 106 starters, 74 remain.
Tom Crystal9.35am:Kipchoge makes his move
Race favourite Eliud Kipchoge has thrown down the challenge to a leading pack of seven runners, breaking about 15m clear just after the 30km mark. Conditions aren’t easy but the 36-year-old looks relatively comfortable out in front.
Fellow Kenyans Lawrence Cherono and Amos Kipruto are among the pack that Kipchoge has left behind.
Tom Crystal9.10am:Casualties mount already in marathon
Australia’s Jack Rayner is among the runners who have pulled out of the 42km race as a fast pace and warm conditions take their toll.
An update from Athletics Australia indicates that Rayner hit trouble almost immediately after the start of the race.
Update on Jack Rayner:
— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) August 7, 2021
🇦🇺 Jack felt cramping in both legs after 500m after an interrupted preparation for the Games, giving his all just to make the start line 💚💛#TokyoTogether#ThisIsAthletics#Olympics
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge is among the leading pack, and has shown no ill-effects so far in his bid to defend his Olympic title.
Fellow Australians Liam Adams is 58th, 2min15sec behind the leading pack, while Brett Robinson is a bit further back in 67th.
Gadiel Notelovitz8.30am:Boomer Baynes cops devastating diagnosis
Australian big man Aron Baynes was in hospital as the Boomers made history on Saturday night, with his neck injury more serious than first imagined.
Baynes, who slipped and fell in a freak locker room incident during Australia’s group stage win over Italy, was ruled out of the tournament immediately. Now, as was first reported by The Athletic, he is likely to miss the entire 2021/22 NBA season after suffering nerve damage in his neck, a source confirmed to News Corp.
While Patty Mills shouted “Baynesy!” after collecting the absent centre’s medal, the Boomers enforcer was watching from a distance.
A key piece of Australia’s core leadership group, Baynes’ loss was felt throughout a unit that was able to band together and win the nation’s first Olympic medal in men’s basketball.
“We’ve got his medal,” Joe Ingles said post-game. “Obviously he couldn’t be here as of right now.
“[He’s] another guy who has been a huge part of this for a long time. Another close friend of ours who has been part of it.
“Obviously unfortunate that he couldn’t be here with his injury but again, he has been as big a part of this as we have as well. We love Bangers and hopefully he’s nice and healthy soon and will get on a flight with these guys.”
Baynes, who was entering the final year of a two-season deal with the Toronto Raptors, was waived earlier this week.
Staff Reporters8am:We’re off an running in the marathon
The men’s marathon has started in steamy conditions in Sapporo. The field includes three Australians: Brett Robinson, Liam Adams and Jack Rayner.
All eyes are on defending champion and world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge, who is hoping to become the third the third man to win consecutive marathon golds and the first since Waldemar Cierpinski in 1976 and 1980.
Agencies7am:Marathon highlights final-day action
The curtain comes down on the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics with Eliud Kipchoge hoping to defend his marathon title on the streets of Sapporo, AFP reports.
The Kenyan world record holder’s attempt to become only the third man to win consecutive marathon golds gets the 16th and final day of full competition off to an early and electric start.
Kipchoge, who in 2019 became the first man to break the two-hour barrier for the marathon in a specially-arranged race that does not count for record purposes, wants gold to shore up his status as the greatest marathon runner of all time.
“My real excitement in Tokyo is no longer about competing at an Olympic Games, it is about making a legacy,” he told the Olympics official website.
If he needed further motivation, it came from his compatriot Peres Jepchirchir who took the women’s title on Saturday.
Unlike in Tokyo, where stringent Covid-19 restrictions have forced these Games to be held behind closed doors, spectators will be present in Sapporo, the host city of the 1972 Winter Olympics that lies more than 800km from the capital.
The organisers’ decision to move the race to the city has backfired with temperatures there touching the 30s, making for gruelling conditions for the runners.
Boxers hang up their Olympic gloves until Paris 2024 but not before four golds are distributed, with Ireland’s hopes of doubling their gold medal tally to two resting on the punching prowess of Kellie Harrington.
The cycling at the Izu Velodrome signs off with finals in the women’s sprint and omnium and men’s keirin.
France take on the Russians for women’s handball honours, hoping to emulate their male counterparts who on Saturday beat Denmark 25-23, avenging their defeat by the Danes in the final at the 2016 Rio Games.
There are also titles on the line in rhythmic gymnastics, water polo, and volleyball where Brazil face the United States.
And in women’s basketball Japan, led by pocket-rocket Rui Machida, are out to prevent the US from claiming a seventh straight crown.
When the action ends, the closing ceremony will take place in the empty Olympic Stadium, where Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo will receive the Olympic flag and with it, the responsibility of hosting the next edition of the world’s greatest sporting show.
— Agencies
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