Japan struck more gold on Monday to lead the medals table as sentiment towards the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics appeared to shift, and local fans defied organisers to grab a glimpse of the Games.
The hosts now have eight golds, one more than the US and two ahead of third-placed China.
Pint-sized 13-year-old Momiji Nishiya took gold in street skateboarding — new to the Olympics in Tokyo — while in one of the Games’ staple sports a “Terminator” hunted down a dominator to set the swimming pool alight.
Love and laughter filled the fencing venue where a marriage proposal was accepted a decade after an original rebuffal, but smiles were thin on the ground for boxing refugee Eldric Sella who, having dreamt for years of competing in the Olympic Games, lasted 67 seconds.
Britain’s four-times Olympian Tom Daley finally won a long-yearned-for gold when, together with new diving partner Matty Lee, he pulled off a stunning victory in the mens 10 metre synchronised platform, ending China’s stranglehold on the event.
Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz won her country’s first ever gold medal, triumphing in the weightlifting 55kg category and winning praise from her country’s presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
“Congratulations, Hidilyn. The entire Filipino nation is proud of you,” he wrote in a statement.
In the pool, Ariarne Titmus lived up to her “Terminator” moniker by clawing back American Katie Ledecky’s early lead to win the 400m freestyle final and pour petrol on the fierce Australia-US pool rivalry.
“I can’t believe it, I’m trying to contain my emotions,” said Titmus.
Team USA got their victory in the 4x100m men’s relay, while Adam Peaty roared with pride after becoming the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title with gold in the 100m breaststroke.
The high-stakes swimming finals, staged in the morning in Tokyo to reach prime time American television viewers, were held in a nearly empty aquatic centre with spectators banned because of Covid-19 restrictions.
The loud cheers of one fan, however, were heard across the world when video footage of Titmus’ coach Dean Boxall headbanging and dancing in the stands became a focus for NBC commentators and went viral, making him an instant Games meme.
Titmus trailed by nearly a full body-length at the halfway mark of the eight-lap race before erasing the gap and finishing in 3 minutes, 56.69 seconds. It was the second-fastest time in history, surpassed only by Ledecky’s world record of 3:56.46 from the 2016 Rio Games.
“It’s probably the biggest thing you could pull off in your sporting career,” Titmus said, “so I’m over the moon.”
The other winner in the pool on Monday was Canada’s Maggie MacNeil in the women’s 100m butterfly.
Locals defied organisers and gathered along the route of the triathlon, grabbing a rare opportunity to see live competition at the pandemic-hit Games. Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt took gold at the open air triathlon route on the island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay.
Tom Pidcock won the mountain bike cross-country title for Britain’s third gold of the day.
