Japan’s official Olympic team won’s a record four gold medals in Rio de Janeiro. But being a member of the Japanese delegation wasn’t always clear-cut for Team Japan’s athletes. Here are eight incredible stories of Olympic athletes who went beyond expectation.
With the Olympics underway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we look back at some of the best moments from the previous summer’s games and share them with you.
The past two weeks have seen the most exciting sports action in at least a decade at the Tokyo Olympics. And the best thing is that the Olympic Games always produce these kinds of moments and we get to watch them. Whether it is the moment an athlete comes out of a hospital bed and makes the Olympic team, or a new record in the pool, the Olympics are always full of wonder. The same can be said of the Paralympics in Rio as they come to an end.. Read more about tokyo olympics seven moments worth and let us know what you think.
TOKYO — Athletes didn’t have their family members in the stands cheering them on. The stadiums and venues were largely empty. There were nonstop COVID-19 protocols and restrictions — and a looming threat of testing positive for the virus and being deemed ineligible to compete in the Tokyo Games.
It wasn’t quite the Olympic experience that anybody had hoped for as a kid.
Hundreds more athletes, on the other hand, stepped forward to be each other’s support systems and cheerleaders. There was no question that the physical achievements would be gold-medal caliber, but it’s the sportsmanship and togetherness that will likely be remembered the most about these Games.
There have been many examples throughout the last two weeks, but here are a few that will stay with us long beyond the closing ceremonies:
As the ultimate team player, Biles
The sight of Simone Biles in the stands at Ariake Gymnastics Centre night after night, loudly and passionately cheering on her colleagues, may be one of the most enduring recollections of her famous career.
Simone Biles didn’t linger on her own personal disappointment after suffering mental blockages so severe that she had to withdraw from the team final after just one event, instead focusing on her new position as hype lady.
She accomplished just that for the remainder of the tournament, with her colleagues Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Grace McCallum stepping up to win the silver medal in her absence.
Ashley Landis/AP Photo
Biles, who is 24 years old, subsequently withdrew from the all-around competition as well as the vault, uneven bars, and floor exercise event finals. Despite this, she could be seen — and heard — cheering for her colleagues, as well as competitors from other nations, at every tournament. She was often the most obnoxious person in the room.
MyKayla Skinner, who took Biles’ position on vault and earned a silver medal, stated, “It’s really amazing to see her love and support, and her cheering us on.”
“And I knew she’d be the loudest in the room because she’s always saying things like, ‘I want you to make the podium, I want you to medal.’ She’s been absolutely fantastic the past several days. And, given all she’s been through, it’s inspiring to see how resilient she is.”
When Biles made her comeback on the balancing beam on the penultimate day of the competition, her colleagues cheered her on from the bleachers, loudly and emotionally. Chiles was overcome with emotion when Biles took home the bronze medal.
IDENTICAL. https://twitter.com/12WnbhROMO
— August 4, 2021, #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics)
Friends come first, then rivals.
Misugu Okamoto, a Japanese skateboarder, had qualified first for the park finals and was hoping to win a medal in the sport’s Olympic debut.
However, the 15-year-old was unable to complete her most difficult feat, and she dropped to fourth position in the rankings. Okamoto, obviously upset, laid on the ground with her hands on her helmet, sobbing. As she started to walk out of the bowl, she was visibly upset, and her opponents rushed to her side to physically and metaphorically pull her up.
They consoled her and hugged her in a group hug before lifting her onto their shoulders. Okamoto couldn’t help but grin despite her disappointment.
Why do we like sports?
Misugu Okamoto of Japan stumbled on her last run, but her teammates were there to help her up… literally. pic.twitter.com/HD6sbng10Z #TokyoOlympics
— August 4, 2021, #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics)
Later, Okamoto told reporters that she was “full of sorrow” for her performance, but that she was “grateful” for her fellow competitors.
It’s much greater when you win a gold medal.
Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy were engaged in a heated fight that lasted over two hours during the high jump competition. Both had completed their first six leaps to a height of 2.37 meters flawlessly.
Both failed in all three tries at 2.39 meters, prompting an official to declare a jump-off as the next stage in deciding the gold medal winner. “Can we have two golds?” Barshim inquired after hearing the news.
The two adversaries were engaged in a celebratory embrace and enjoying their shared win as soon as the official replied, “It’s conceivable, yeah.”
To Tamberi, Barshim replied, “History, my buddy.”
The two had been friends for over a decade, and Tamberi was even there during Barshim’s wedding, which added to the sweetness of the occasion for both men.
“Not just on the track, but off the track, he is one of my closest friends,” Barshim added afterwards. “This is a dream come true for us; it is the real spirit, the sportsman spirit, and we are here to convey this message.”
When Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi tied for first place in the men’s high jump competition, a jump-off might have decided the victor.
Instead, they chose to split the gold, and their response epitomizes why we love sports. pic.twitter.com/ALTyeysC8t #TokyoOlympics
— August 1, 2021, #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics)
A celebration worthy of a world record
Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa won the gold medal in the women’s 200 meter breaststroke and set a new world record in the process. Schoenmaker was overjoyed when the result and time appeared on the screen, and she started to weep while still in the water.
Americans Lilly King and Annie Lazor, who won silver and bronze, as well as Schoenmaker’s colleague Kaylene Corbett, rushed to her side to congratulate her. “So wonderful — congrats!” Lazor could be heard saying.
Schoenmaker subsequently said that the race was made even more memorable because of the friendship.
“It was such a wonderful race,” Schoenmaker recalled, “knowing that we could enjoy each other’s wins.” “That although we compete in the pool, we can be pleased for one other, encourage each other, and wish each other success outside of the pool.”
“Sometimes, everyone wants to be focused, and you don’t want to pull anybody out of their race; nevertheless, it was great to say, ‘Good luck,’ knowing that we were going to give it our best in that race, and then celebrate together.”
#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/ucgIh3P9zA THIS IS WHAT THE OLYMPICS ARE ALL ABOUT
— July 30, 2021, #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics)
In the face of disappointment, demonstrating compassion
When the back of American Isaiah Jewett’s heel seemed to strike Botswana’s Nijel Amos as he rounded the final bend in his semifinal heat of the 800 meters, he was set to start his kick to finish the race. They both collapsed.
Their Olympic aspirations seemed to be gone almost quickly. The two guys lifted each other up, embraced, and went to the finish line with their arms around each other.
Their timing was 54 seconds behind than the heat winner, but Jewett understood that how they finished was more important than when they finished.
“You have to be a hero at the end of the day, no matter how angry you are,” Jewett remarked. “Because that’s what heroes do: they demonstrate their humanity by being themselves and being decent people.”
Isaiah Jewett and Nijel Amos demonstrated the highest level of sportsmanship when their races were cut short. pic.twitter.com/71lwSbY0x5 #TokyoOlympics
— August 1, 2021, #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics)
On appeal, Amos was allowed to compete in the final, and he finished eighth, but it is not what he or Jewett will be known for at the Games.
In 1964, the Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo—a city that is often compared to a circus, with the most eye-catching events taking place in the ring. The games were supposed to be a showcase of the prosperity of Japan, and all the world could see it. However, in the same year that these games were held, the Japan earthquake and tsunami struck the country. The loss of life and damage to the city were unimaginable. In 1964, the Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo—a city that is often compared to a circus, with the most eye-catching events taking place in the ring. The games were supposed to be a showcase of the prosperity of Japan, and all the world could see it. However, in the same. Read more about tokyo olympics seven revisiting and let us know what you think.
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