The latest on the Tokyo Olympics. They are now under severe restrictions following a year-long delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Krystsina TSimanouskaya, a Belarus track sprinter, claims that her Olympic team officials attempted to expel her from Japan. This dispute led to a standoff at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Sunday night.
Tsimanouskaya claims that she was “put under stress” by team officials. She asked for assistance from the International Olympic Committee.
According to the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation, the athlete was not allowed on board and they summoned Japanese police. Officials from foreign ministries arrived at the airport later.
Alexander Opeikin (a spokesperson for the activist group) said that Tsimanouskaya was “being transported to safety now” and would be in touch with European diplomats.
Tsimanouskaya will be running in the Olympic 200m heats on Monday. She claimed she was put in the 4×400 relay, despite not racing in the event.
In a statement, the IOC stated that it had asked Belarus’ national Olympic officials for clarifications on the dispute.
For more than 25 years, the Belarus National Olympic Committee was led by Viktor Lukashenko, an authoritarian state president, and Alexander Lukashenko’s son. The BNOC didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mutaz Barshim from Qatar and Gianmarco Tomberi, Italy shared the gold medal in men’s high jumping at the Tokyo Games.
Both men were able to run at 2.37 meters without incident and both failed all three attempts to break the Olympic record of 2.39.
Barshim, 30, was the silver medalist in Rio de Janeiro Games 2016. He was also on podium at London Games 2012. In 2019, he won the gold medal in the world championship at home in Qatar.
Gianmarco Tamberi was a former indoor world champion.
The bronze medal was won by Maksim Nedasekau from Belarus. He also set a national record of 2.37.
Marcell Jacobs from Italy won the 100-meter men’s race at the Tokyo Olympics.
He crossed the line in 9.80 seconds.
Fred Kerley from the United States came second, while Andre DeGrasse from Canada came third.
Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela, set a new world record in her last attempt to win the Tokyo Olympics women’s triple-jump gold medal.
Rojas broke the 1995 record by finishing the competition at 15.67 meters. The record was held by Inessa Kravets from Ukraine at 15.50.
Rojas broke the Olympic Record of 15.39 in her first attempt at the final. Two-time world champion Rojas won a silver medal at Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2016.
Patricia Mamona, Portugal won silver while Ana Peleteiro, Spain won bronze.
Neisi Dajomes from Ecuador won the women’s weightlifting event at 76 kilograms. Kate Nye took silver, marking the best American result in this sport since 2000.
Dajomes lifted 118 kg in the snatch, and 145kg clean and jerk to total 263, beating Nye 14kg.
After Richard Carapaz’s win in the men’s road cycling race, Ecuador has now won the second Tokyo Olympics gold. This is only the fourth medal for any South American country ever.
The U.S. has only two weightlifting medals of this century: Tara Nott’s gold in 2000 at the first ever women’s Olympic competition; Cheryl Haworth’s bronze the same year, and Sarah Robles’ bronze in 2016.
Aremi Fuentes won bronze for Mexico with a weight of 245kg.
