Highlights from Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

From July 30th to August 8th, the world witnessed extraordinary feats of running, jumping, and throwing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The world eagerly watched for highly anticipated matchups that had not been seen for many months due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, and the Games were certainly worth the wait.

In the span of ten days, three world records and twelve Olympic records were set. The United States was the highest medaling country in the sport, coming away with a total of 26 medals: 7 gold, 12 silver, and 7 bronze. However, countries like Italy, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, China, and India made the world aware of their athletics talent.

We’ve highlighted eleven of the most exhilarating moments in track and field from the Tokyo Games, so you can re-watch your favorite moments.

INAUGURAL MIXED 4x400 METER RELAY

The Games kicked off on July 31st with the inaugural running of the mixed 4x400 meter relay. The mixed relay entails teams of four athletes - two women and two men – each running a 400-meter sprint before handing the baton off to the next person on their team. This is the first time this event had be run in the Olympics.

The athletes alternated male-female-female-male in the relay. At the third exchange, the Dominican Republic had a significant lead. They were followed closely by Poland, the Netherlands, and the United States. Poland’s anchor sprinted his lap, pulling away in the last 50 meters to finish in a time of 3:09.87s. The Dominican Republic edged out the United States at the line to place second, and United States finished third.

The Mixed relay can be seen on YouTube via NBC Sports here.

JAMAICAN SWEEP: TRIPLE VICTORY IN WOMEN’S 100 METER

In a time of 10.61s, Elaine Thompson-Herah won the Gold at the 2020 Olympic Games. Her time secured her not only the gold but created a new Olympic Record. Her teammates, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson, took silver and bronze, respectively, to secure a Jamaican sweep. This is the second time the Jamaican women have swept this event. In Beijing 2008, Jamaica dominated the women's 100m at the Olympic Games securing gold, silver, and bronze.

OLYMPIC LEVEL SPORTSMANSHIP: TIE FOR GOLD IN MEN’S HIGH JUMP

In a spectacular display of sportsmanship, Italy and Qatar tied for gold in the Men’s high jump competition. Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim both cleared 2.37 meters, making them the last two athletes in the competition. When the official approached to discuss the protocol for a jump-off, Barshim asked, “Can we have two golds?” The official informed them that this could be done, and in a truly heartfelt moment Tamberi scooped Barshim into an enormous bear hug.

So, rather than proceeding to compete for silver and gold, the two athletes shared the title of High Jump Olympic champion. Their decision was motivated by a mutual respect for the extremes that each other had endured to get to Tokyo. Both athletes suffered serious injuries during the past five years. In press conference, the athletes recalled times that they required assistance to simply get out of bed. Being able to high jump at the highest level of performance seemed impossible some days. However, they both persevered, and now each leave Japan with a gold medal.

FERRARI SPEED: ITALY SHOWS SPRINT TALENT

A mere ten minutes after Gianmarco Tamberi, tied for gold in the high jump, his teammate Lamont Marcell Jacobs took gold for the country in the men’s 100-meter sprint. Jacobs was a dark horse in the field. Having set a personal best in the semifinals, it was unsure how fast he would run. He beat out a highly competitive field to become the world’s new Olympic sprint champion, finishing in 9.80s. This was the first time that Italy had won gold in the event.

Jacobs’ victory can be seen on YouTube via NBC Sports here.

A few days later, in the finals for the men’s 4x100-meter, Italy upset a field of top contenders to win yet another gold medal in track and field. The event was a closure to Italy’s victories at the Games.

ATHING MU: 800 M SUPERSTAR

One of the youngest track and field athletes for the United States at the Tokyo Games has written her name into athletics’ history books. At 19, Athing Mu won her first gold medal in 800-meter relay. She ran her race with confidence and poise, blasting out of the blocks and maintaining a lead throughout the entire race. She finished in 1:55.21s, which set a National Record for the United States. This was the first 800m gold medal for the United States in the 800 meters in 53 years.

Her history is as phenomenal as her race. She is the 2nd youngest child of a family of seven children. Her parents migrated from Sudan to give her children a better chance. She channeled this opportunity into athletics, and the result from the 2021 Olympics has been two gold medals. She won her second gold medal in the 4x400 meter relay. Given her age and talent, it seems that the 800 meter is in for some potentially record-breaking times in the near future.

MEN’S 400M HURDLES RECORD BREAKING RUN

In what some are calling the “race of the games,” Karsten Warhlom became the first athlete to run under 46 seconds in the 400 M hurdles. Coming into the race, the United States’ Rai Benjamin and Norway’s Karsten Warhlom were the two hurdlers to watch. As the gun went off, Warhlom went out hard, making it to the first set of hurdles first. He continued to maintain a lead throughout the entire race. Near the 300-hundred-meter mark, Benjamin began to gain on Warhlom. However, the Norwegian sprinter maintained his pace to pull ahead and capture gold.

His Olympic run absolutely obliterated the previous record. This record came from his first race of the season in July 2021 at Bislett Stadium in Oslo. There, Warhlom broke Kevin Young's 1992 world record with a time of 46.70s. At Tokyo, he finished in 45.94s, beating his own record by 0.76 seconds.

Benjamin of the United States came second in 46.17s, a time that would have broken the previous world record by a significant margin. Benjamin’s run set an American record. Brazil’s Alison dos Santos placed third in the event, setting a South American record.

Considering that Benjamin and Warhlom are both young, talented runners, it is likely that we will see several more sub-46 runs in their careers.

The race can be seen on YouTube via the NBC Sports channel here.

IRON SHARPENING IRON IN WOMEN’S 400 M HURDLES

While Benjamin and Warhlom were obliterating world records in the 400-meter hurdles, the American women were doing the same. In one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the Games, McLaughlin and Muhammad both break world records.

As true to her typically strategy, Muhammad was the early leader for the first 200-meters. Around the bend, McLaughlin began to close the distance, but Muhammad managed to hold her off. As they made their way down the straight, McLaughlin’s flat speed became apparent, and she claimed gold to become the new 400-meter hurdles champion. Muhammed placed second in 51.58s.

The new world record now sits at 51.46s. For the last several years, every time these women have competed, world records have been set. The two are the greatest hurdlers that the world has ever seen at this distance. As they continue to mature at the sport, the world record is likely to be in contention every time Muhammed and McLaughlin step onto the starting line.

FELIX BECOMES MOST DECORATED OLYMPIAN IN TRACK & FIELD

In Tokyo, Felix won a bronze medal in the 400 meters and a gold medal in the 4 x 400m relay. These two victories make her the most decorated Olympian in the history of track and field. This broke a record previously held by the legendary Carl Lewis.

Felix has come to this grand tally of eleven Olympic medals through her consistent and ranging sprint talent. Throughout her career, she has been able to run the 100m, 200m, and 400m. In Japan, she continued to defy the odds, competing in these Olympics as a mother. She continues to be a trailblazer in the sport for women’s rights and continuously challenges those who would rather hold her back. She ran her momentous 400-meter run in the Saysh 0.07 Spike. These are shoes from her own lifestyle brand created for female athletes like her.

NEW WORLD RECORD IN WOMEN’S TRIPLE JUMP

Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela has flown into Olympic history, setting a new world record with a massive jump of 15.67 meters. Rojas entered the finals with nothing on her mind other than gold. Her first jump set an Olympic Record. She was able to extend the distance and set a World record with her final jump. Standing at 6’4”, watching Rojas glide across the runway as she hops, steps, and jumps is truly a thing of beauty. She secured the triple jump gold by breaking a world record that had stood since 1995. In addition to being the current Olympic champion, Rojas is a two-time World Champion (2017 London and 2019 Doha) and two-time World Indoor Champion (2016 Portland and 2018 Birmingham).

Her world record triple jump had a massive finishing jump, yet a rather small hop phase. At 25 years old, it will be incredible to see just how far she can jump if she can lengthen her middle phase.

Her winning jump can be seen on the NBC Sports channel here.

CHOPRA WINS INDIA’S 1ST GOLD MEDAL IN ATHLETICS

India made its mark at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with Neeraj Chopra securing India’s first Olympic Gold in Track and Field. Neeraj won the gold in the Men’s Javelin with an incredible throw of 87.58m. His performance decimated a field of top contenders. No one in the field came close, as his throws were the only ones over 87 meters. Vadlejch and Vesley of the Czech Republic placed second and third, respectively. He also beat out the world-leader, Johannes Vetter, from Germany who was a favorite to win.

RYAN CROUSER BREAKS OLYMPIC RECORD THREE TIMES TO WIN GOLD

American shot putter, Ryan Crouser, came into the finals blazing at the Olympics. His stepped into the throwing ring and set an Olympic record on his first throw with a distance of 22.83m. His second throw of 22.93m set a new Olympic record. His final throw cemented the record, with a massive distance of 23.30m. After winning the event, he held up a sign that said “Grandpa, We did it, 2020 Olympic Champion.” Crouser's dedication to winning gold came as a tribute to grandpa, who passed a few days before Crouser left for Tokyo.

Crouser, who won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, defended his shot-put title at the Tokyo Games with these incredible series of throws. Crouser also holds the world record for the shot put at 23.37m, a record he set during the United States Olympic trials.

The United States claimed both gold and silver in the event. Joe Kovacs took second place with a throw of 22.63 meters. New Zealand’s Thomas Walsh took bronze.

The biggest throws from the men’s shot finals can be seen here.