Tokyo 2020 Round-Up: Suni Lee Claims All-Around Gold in Simone Biles’ Absence

With the Olympic Games now in full swing, this series from SwimSwam looks at some of the leading news outside of swimming as athletes around the globe contest their Olympic events in the Japanese capital. Paralympic news will also be featured ahead of the Games which are due to begin in Tokyo on August 24th. 

Suni Lee Takes Gymnastics All-Around Gold Medal After Simone Biles Exits Competition

After Simone Biles exited the competition due to concerns over her mental health, the United States’ Suni Lee was able to step up in her teammate’s place, claiming the gold medal over Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade and Russia’s Angelina Melnikova.

Entering the final event, the floor exercise, Lee held the lead by the slightest of margins over Andrade. With the gold medal on the line, Andrade slipped up, stepping out of bounds on two occasions during her routine and falling just short of the top of the podium. Andrade finished with a final score of 57.298, not far behind Lee’s 57.433.

For the United States, Lee’s victory means the Olympic winning streak for the All-Around event continues to five straight games. Starting in 2004, the title has been won by Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and now Suni Lee.

The 5th Smallest Country in the World, San Marino Wins First Olympic Medal

With a total area of just 23.6 miles and a population of only 34,000, the nation of San Marino, which sits surrounded by Italy on all sides, won its first Olympic medal. That medal came in the women’s trap shooting event, as Alessandra Perilli claimed the bronze medal.

The oldest republic in the world, San Marino nearly won their first medal nine years ago in London when Perilli finished in a three-way tie for the silver medal. In the tiebreaker, she came up short, becoming the only athlete of the three to not come away with a medal. She will now bring home bronze to a country that boasts a population lower than over 1,000 of the United States’ cities.

Two Olympic Pole Vaulters Within Olympic Village Test Positive for Covid-19

Already within the Olympic Village, Sam Kendricks of the United States and German Chiaraviglio of Argentina test positive for Covid-19, excluding from competing in the Games. As well as the pair, the entire Australian Track and Field team spent time in isolation after having direct contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, although they have since been released.

Kendricks is one of the most high-profile athletes to have tested positive for the virus, as he is the defending Olympic bronze medalist and defending gold medalist from the 2019 World Championships in Doha. USA Track and Field and United States Olympic and Paralympic issued a statement on his situation saying:

“In alignment with local rules and protocols he has been transferred to a hotel to be placed in isolation and is being supported by the USA Track and Field and USOPC staff. Sam is an incredible and accomplished member of Team USA and his presence will be missed.”

While Kendricks is the defending World Champion, Chiaraviglio is the current South American champion. He wrote in an Instagram post:

“It is very hard to process something like that, it will surely take me a long time. We knew this Olympic game was different and with different rules, and here I am, it’s my turn. I am isolated in a hotel where I will spend several days, and where the main objective is to take care of my health. I thank the people who were and are close and all those who sent me their messages of love and affection. Living this is very difficult, but it will also pass.”