2021 Olympics

18 Stories

US Swimmers Feel 'Cheated' by China Doping Case

23 swimmers tested positive for banned drug before Tokyo Olympics but were not suspended

(Newser) - The World Anti-Doping Agency—WADA—and Chinese authorities are strongly rejecting allegations that they covered up a case involving Chinese swimmers months before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Over the weekend, the New York Times and German broadcaster ARD reported that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned...

Both Beat the World Record, but Only One Could Win Gold

Sydney McLaughlin of the US wins Olympics' 400-meter hurdles event

(Newser) - Sydney McLaughlin broke the world record. Dalilah Muhammad broke it, too. Only one of the world's best hurdlers could win the Olympic gold medal—and McLaughlin came out ahead in the latest installment of the best rivalry in track, the AP reports. The 21-year-old out of East Orange, NJ,...

US Medalist Raven Saunders Does Protest Gesture at Podium

The 'X' arms likely violated Olympic rules, according to reports

(Newser) - After Raven Saunders won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, the US shot-putter raised her arms in an 'X' above her head at the podium following the medal ceremony. The 25-year-old told the AP the X symbolizes "the intersection of where all people who are...

Ledecky Wins First-Ever Olympic Gold in Women's 1500
Ledecky Finally Tastes Gold
Jul 28, 2021 12:23 AM CDT

Ledecky Finally Tastes Gold

Hours after failing to medal, US swimmer claims first-ever gold in women's 1500

(Newser) - When Katie Ledecky finally saw that familiar number next to her name, the emotions flooded to the surface at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. She tumbled over the lane rope to give her runner-up teammate a hug. She let out an uncharacteristic scream toward the American cheering section in the mostly...

Alaska Has an Olympic Champion in an Unexpected Sport

Lydia Jacoby pulls off stunning swimming upset

(Newser) - Alaska is renowned for its majestic natural beauty. The snowy peaks. The glistening glaciers. The sparkling fjords. An Arctic paradise, for sure. Swimming? That’s never been much of a thing in the 49th US state. Until now. Seventeen-year-old Lydia Jacoby pulled off a stunning victory in the women’s...

Olympic Gymnast Ends Floor Routine With BLM Tribute

Luciana Alvarado of Costa Rica raised fist in the air, knelt

(Newser) - The first-ever Costa Rican gymnast to qualify for the Olympics used the end of her floor routine Sunday to make a big statement. Luciana Alvarado, 18, took a knee with one arm behind her back and the other raised in the air with a fist, NBC Olympics reports. (Watch the...

She Broke Away at Start of Race, Figured She'd Be Caught—but Wasn't

Anna Kiesenhofer stuns Olympic cycling with her gold medal win

(Newser) - As Dutch champion cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten crossed the finish line of the Olympic women's road race Sunday, she raised her arms in the air, assuming she'd come in first. Not so: Anna Kiesenhofer, an Austrian cyclist who wasn't on any pre-race list of contenders, had crossed...

False Start in Olympic Triathlon After Boat Gets in Way

Some competitors were stuck on dock as boat with cameras tried to reverse

(Newser) - Let's try that again, triathlon. The Olympic men's triathlon needed a do-over Monday when a bizarre start sent dozens of competitors into the water only to have others stuck on the dock, helplessly blocked by a boat containing cameras that got in the way, the AP reports. The...

Here's Who Won First-Ever Olympic Skateboarding Medals

Japan sweeps golds, takes first in both men's and women's contests

(Newser) - Thirteen-year-old Momiji Nishiya of Japan won the first Olympic skateboard competition for women on Monday, giving the host nation a sweep of golds in the street event after Yuto Horigome won the men’s competition, also the Olympics' first ever, the AP reports. Rayssa Leal, a Brazilian who is also...

Allegations Against US Fencer Keep Him Out of Olympic Village

Alen Hadzic appealed the decision, lost

(Newser) - An alternate on the US fencing team is in Tokyo with the rest of the team, but he had to fly separately and is not allowed to train or live in the Olympic Village due to accusations of sexual misconduct that three women have made against him. Alen Hadzic, 29,...

Olympics Opening Ceremony Director Fired for 1998 Joke

Kentaro Kobayashi made a Holocaust joke during a comedy show

(Newser) - The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee fired the director of the opening ceremony on Thursday because of a Holocaust joke he made during a comedy show in 1998, the AP reports. Organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto said a day ahead of the opening ceremony that director Kentaro Kobayashi has been dismissed....

Coco Gauff's Positive COVID Test Means No Olympics

It's not clear whether tennis star, 17, is vaccinated

(Newser) - Teen tennis phenom Cori "Coco" Gauff will have to sit out the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19. Gauff, 17, said in a statement posted to Twitter on Sunday that she is "so disappointed." "It has always been a dream of mine to represent the...

Swimmer Opts Out of Olympic Trials, Slams 'Perverts'

Australian swimmer says no more 'exploit[ing] young women and girls'

(Newser) - "Let this be a lesson to all misogynistic perverts in sport and their boot lickers," said Australian swimmer Madeline "Maddie" Groves on Wednesday in her announcement that she would not be competing in her country's Olympic trials, which start Saturday. "You can no longer exploit...

Major Japan Newspaper: Tokyo Olympics Should Be Canceled

'Asahi Shimbun' says the Games should not be held amid coronavirus pandemic

(Newser) - Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper on Wednesday called for the Tokyo Olympics to be canceled with the games set to open in less than two months, the AP reports. It is the first of Japan’s major newspapers to make the move and joins some regional newspapers that have recently...

North Korea Decides Olympics Are a No-Go

Country cites coronavirus fears

(Newser) - North Korea will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics this summer, citing coronavirus concerns. It's the first country to pull out of the games, the AP reports. The country's Sports Ministry said on Monday that its national Olympic Committee made the decision on March 25, wanting to "...

US Men's Soccer Misses Olympics for 'Embarrassing' 3rd Time

That's the longest period without playing in the games in half a century

(Newser) - For the third time in a row, US men's soccer missed qualifying for the Olympics. That's the program's longest period of time being kept from the Games in more than half a century, NBC Sports reports, and the first time it has missed three consecutive Games since...

Japan: Here's How the Olympics Will Be Held

There's a list of no-no's

(Newser) - Last year, a Japanese amusement park asked roller coaster riders to "scream inside your heart." At this year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, spectators—if any are allowed—may have to do the same. Organizers released a playbook Wednesday with rules explaining how the games can be safely...

Skateboarder Sky Brown, 11, Survives Horrific Fall

She says she's not giving up on 2021 Olympics

(Newser) - Skateboarding sensation Sky Brown, 11, is recovering in a California hospital after a horrific fall during training. The British Olympic hopeful, who fractured her skull and broke her left hand and wrist, was unresponsive after being taken to the hospital by helicopter but is expected to make a full recovery,...

18 Stories