Bronze medallist Maksim Nedasekau with co-gold medallists Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi after the Men's High Jump final. Photo: Tokyo 2020 - Twitter
Keep up to date with all the happenings at Tokyo 2020 through The Inner Sanctum’s Olympic hub and Olympic Central.
Disquali-final
Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes was sensationally disqualified in a false start which stole the headlines in the Men’s 100m Final.
On the good news side, Italian Lamont Marcell Jacobs snared the gold medal from Fred Kerley and Andre de Grasse.
The silver and bronze medallists both secured personal bests, while Jacobs secured an area record.
Jacobs had previously stated his ambition was to compete at Tokyo 2020 and finish the 100m in under 10 seconds, and he achieved both, finishing with 9.80, 0.17 off Usain Bolt’s record.
Dream gold for Worthington
Great Britain’s Charlotte Worthington claimed the gold medal after an inspiring second run in the BMX Freestyle.
Worthington bombed in the first run, with American Hannah Roberts in pole position for the gold heading into the second.
Worthington pipped Roberts’ 96.10 with a 97.50 to claim a dream gold medal.
The 25-year-old has said she’s determined to win gold at both the Olympics and the Urban Cycling World Championships, where she placed third earlier this year.
Switzerland’s Nikita Ducarroz secured the bronze with an 89.20, just in front of American Perris Benegas.
Swimming in America
Aside from Australia’s two golds in the pool, the USA boasted three golds today.
Caeleb Dressel smashed a 13-year-old Olympic record as he claimed the first of the day in the Men’s 50m Freestyle.
In the Men’s 1500m Freestyle, Robert Finke earned the gold.
It was his second gold of Tokyo 2020, having won the 800m Freestyle on Tuesday.
However, it was the American performance in the Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay which broke records.
The quartet of Dressel, Michael Andrew, Ryan Murphy and Zach Apple smashed the world record, which was already set by their nation.
It continues America’s run in the event, which it’s won since the event’s inception in 1960.
China dives into medals
China’s Shi Tingmao continued her diving dominance with another gold, this time in the Women’s 3m Springboard.
Shi was head and shoulders the winner, beating out compatriot Han Wang and America’s Krysta Palmer.
Shi amassed 383.50, beating Wang who finished on 348.75.
It’s also Shi’s second gold of Tokyo 2020, after she claimed gold in the Women’s 3m Synchronised Springboard a week earlier, which mirrors her effort from Rio.
Time for Africa comes to an end
South Africa’s remarkable debut Olympic Games campaign in the Women’s Water Polo came to an end with a 1-14 loss to Australia.
It continued a run of growth of the sport in South Africa, with the nation competing in six consecutive world championships between 2009 and 2019.
The 1-14 loss to Australia would be South Africa’s best result of the games.
In its debut, it succumbed to Spain 4-29, Canada 1-21 and the Netherlands 1-33., showcasing improvement in the final game.
No ‘Blades of Glory’ moment here
In the opposite of what happened in Will Ferrell film ‘Blades of Glory’, Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi opted to share the gold medal rather than go again.
The duo tied away at 2.37 and failed three consecutive attempts at 2.39 before deciding to share the gold.
Both celebrated emphatically after the decision was accepted.
Belarus’ Maksim Nedasekau finished with bronze while South Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo set a national record in fourth.
26-year-old record smashed
Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas claimed the Women’s Triple Jump gold in style, by breaking a record set in 1995.
Rojas leapt 15.67m to beat out Ukraine’s Inessa Kravets’ record of 15.50m.
Portugal’s Patricia Mamona set a national record with the silver medal with 15.01m, while Spain’s Ana Peleteiro also set a national record with bronze.
It’s an inspired result for Rojas who won silver at Rio, who has dominated elsewhere ever since.
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