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Best and worst moments in the Tokyo Olympic Games

A look back at the highs and lows in Tokyo

August 9, 2021
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Now that the Tokyo Olympic Games have come to a close and the dust has begun to settle, it’s the perfect time to take a look back at “the Olympics that almost wasn’t.” As always, this year’s Games was punctuated with highs and lows, some athletes going home victorious and others broken-hearted. Have a look at some of the best and worst moments of Tokyo 2020.

Photo: Getty Images

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The lows

COVID-19 in the village

The trials and tribulations of the Tokyo Games began before they even started and COVID-19 case reports began almost as soon as athletes and staff started to arrive in the village. As the tally began to rise, it seemed as though critics’ fears were coming true. Luckily, it appears as though the majority of athletes and staff were able to stay safe and healthy throughout the Games.

Falls, falls and more falls

The middle-distance and distance events on the track were riddled with falls this year, as athletes stayed bunched together in an effort to control the pace in the extreme heat. It seemed as though at least one athlete fell in every other heat for races ranging from the 800 to the 10,000m, and unlike Sifan Hassan, who managed to get up and still win her race, a tumble to the track spelled the end for most athletes.

GI issues in the 50K race walk

Canadian fans were keeping their eyes on Evan Dunfee during the men’s 50K race walk, but it was impossible to ignore Johann Diniz of France, the world record-holder in the event. His troubles began early, and apparent stomach issues forced him to stop several times throughout the first half of the race. Viewers watched as he painstakingly attempted to catch back up with the leaders on multiple occasions, before finally calling it quits just before kilometre 30.

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DNF’s abound in the marathon

It’s not uncommon for there to be a few athletes who don’t finish in a marathon, but the numbers in Sapporo (where the marathons were held) were staggering. In the extremely hot, humid conditions, runners were dropping out at all stages of the race, including the entire men’s team from Ethiopia. In total, 30 athletes dropped out of the men’s marathon, and 15 dropped out of the women’s race.

Controversy at the drink station

In the days following the men’s marathon, a video clip is making its rounds on the internet, enraging fans everywhere. In the video, it appears as though French athlete Amdouni Morhad deliberately swatted the entire front row of water bottles off the table as he ran by one of the aid stations. While some believe it may not have been intentional and that he was simply having a hard time grabbing a bottle, many more are calling it a deliberate attempt to sabotage other athletes, and are calling for him to be DQ’d.

The High’s

Hassan’s epic comeback

We already mentioned it, but it’s worth bringing up again because it’s the stuff exciting track races are made of. Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan made it known that she was attempting the 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m triple, but when she fell during her 1,500m heat, it looked as though her plans were going to be sidelined. The moment was short-lived, however, and Hassan picked herself up off the track and poured on the gas to overtake the lead and win the race. She ended up with the bronze medal in the final, but that race will still be one for the record books.

RELATED: Hassan overtakes Gidey for second Olympic gold in the 10,000m

Records on records in the men’s 400m hurdles

The men’s 400m hurdle final was not only one of the most remarkable races in the Olympics, but in track and field as a whole. In a race with eight men, there were six national records, two area records and of course, Karsten Warholm’s world record, which he set by smashing the previous record her ran only a few months ago. The second-place finisher, Rai Benjamin, also ran under Warholm’s previous record, and third-place finisher Alison Dos Santos was only 0.02 seconds off.

Evan Dunfee’s monster kick

The men’s 50K doesn’t often draw a tonne of viewers, but those who tuned in were treated to one of the most heroic finishing kicks the sport has ever seen. After 49 kilometres of walking in extreme heat and humidity, Canada’s Dunfee was in fifth place, and many assumed he was too far back to do anything about it. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he cranked up the pace and passed two walkers in the final minutes of the race to take the bronze medal, the first Canadian medal in the event since 1992.

The rookie lands on the podium

There were plenty of storylines to come out of the women’s marathon, including Malindi Elmore’s incredible top-10 finish, but it was American Molly Seidel who stole the spotlight. Amidst a group of marathon veterans, Seidel shocked running fans everywhere by winning the bronze medal in only her second-ever marathon. No one expected her to hang with the leaders as long as she did, let alone land on the podium, but she proved that lack of experience doesn’t always spell defeat.

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Gold for Canada

Of course, our highlight reel wouldn’t be complete without our Canadian medal count. With six total medals, Tokyo was the most successful Games Canada has had in track and field in years. The top spots go to Andre De Grasse’s stunning finish in the 200m to take the gold, and Damian Warner’s gold-medal, 9,000-point finish in the men’s decathlon. With the next Games only three years away, our Canadian athletes will certainly be building off the momentum from these Olympics, and this is only the beginning.

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