Tokyo 2020: Unforgettable moments in shadow of COVID-19

By Ercan Dogan

TOKYO (AA) - The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics gave sports fans many unforgettable moments for 16 days.

More than 11,000 athletes from 205 nations participated in the Games held in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

The events were held without spectators, and the winners put their medals around their necks for the first time in Olympic history.

- Warholm breaks 29-year-old 400m hurdles world record

Karsten Warholm from Norway ran 45.94 seconds to break his own world record (46.70) at the men's 400m hurdles world record.

US athlete Rai Benjamin collected a silver medal in 46.17 seconds to break the North American record, while Brazil's Alison dos Santos broke the South American record with a time of 46.72 seconds after the second-place finish.

- Setting records in women's 100m backstroke

US athlete Regan Smith set an Olympic record with a time of 57.86 seconds at the semifinal of women's 100m backstrokes.

Kaylee McKeown from Australia won gold in the women's 100m backstrokes, setting a new Olympic record of 57.47 seconds.

Regan Smith, who broke a record at the semifinal, clinching bronze with a time of 58.05 seconds.

- Osaka, Barty say early goodbye

Australian tennis star Ashleigh Barty was eliminated in Round 1 as World No.2 Naomi Osaka was knocked out of Tokyo 2020 after losing to Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic.

World No.1 Novak Djokovic's Golden Slam dreams died after German player Alexander Zverev defeated him in the semifinals.

- Algerian judoka withdraws to avoid facing Israeli opponent

Fethi Nourine of Algeria pulled out of the Games to avoid meeting his Israeli opponent.

If Nourine had defeated Sudan's Mohamed Abdalrasool in the men's 73kg class, he would have to face Israeli Tohar Butbul in the round of 32.

"Palestine's struggle is bigger than my struggle," Nourine had said. The International Judo Federation suspended his license over the decision.

- US team loses 1st game in 17 years

The US men's basketball team lost to Team France with an 83-76 score in its first Olympic defeat in 17 years.

But still, Team USA clinched their fourth straight Olympic gold medal in basketball as they beat France 87-82 in the finals.

Team USA won their 16th Olympic gold in history.

- Lopez wins 4th Olympic gold

Cuban athlete Mijain Lopez became the first man with four wrestling golds in a single Olympics.

He won the fourth medal by beating Georgia's Iakobi Kajaia 5-0 in the Greco-Roman 130 kilogram final.

- Kenya's Kipyegon wins 1500m gold in Olympic record

Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon ran 3.53.11 to bag a gold in Women's 1,500-meters.

She broke the 33-year-old Olympic record set by Romanian Paula Ivan (3.53.96) at the Seoul Games.

- 5 new games

Karate, sport climbing, skateboard, baseball/softball and surfing were added to the multi-sport event, the most comprehensive evolution of the Olympic program in modern history.

- Russian team banned

Russia was banned from competing in the 2020 event as part of the fallout from a doping scandal. Hence, the athletes competed under the title and banner of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

- 29 athletes represent Refugee Olympic Team

The refugee team from countries such as Syria and South Sudan for the Tokyo Olympics had 29 athletes competing in 12 sports branches.

- 430 people contract COVID-19 during Games

As many as 430 people, including 29 athletes and 25 media members, tested positive for the coronavirus.

Over 624,000 screening tests were carried out for people in the bubble isolation system.

*Writing by Emre Asikci in Istanbul