TOKYO (AP) — Friday’s U.S. medal grab at the Tokyo Games began with beach volleyball.
Americans April Ross and Alix Klineman beat an Australian duo, 21-15, 21-16 for the championship. It’s Ross’ third medal in as many Olympics, to go with the silver she won in London and a bronze from Brazil. Klineman is a first-time Olympian.
Also at the Tokyo Games:
— The U.S. women’s basketball team is one win away from its seventh consecutive gold medal following a 79-59 thumping of Serbia. Brittney Griner had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Americans, who trailed 4-3 before going on a 20-4 run. The U.S has won 54 consecutive Olympic games dating back to the 1992 semifinals in Barcelona.
— American Nelly Korda will carry a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the women’s golf event. Korda finished with 12 straight pars for a 2-under 69 that leaves her 15 under for the tournament.
— The number of Games-related COVID-19 infections has risen to 387 as Tokyo records more than 5,000 cases in one day for the first time during the pandemic. No athletes or residents of the Olympic Village are among the new cases.
— The International Olympic Committee says it has removed two Belarus team coaches from the Olympics, four days after they were involved in trying to send sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya back to Belarus. The IOC linked them to taking Tsimanouskaya in a car to the airport to put her on a plane to Belarus. Tsimanouskaya had criticized team coaches on social media and is now in Poland on a humanitarian visa.
— The statue of a life-sized sumo wrestler that may have spooked the horses has been knocked out of the Olympic equestrian ring. The statue and a nearby patch of cherry trees that riders thought might be scaring the animals during the individual jumping event were among the obstacles swapped out for the start of the team competition.
— Cycling’s governing body says it suspended a German cycling official through the rest of the year for using a racial slur during the Olympic men’s trial race. Patrick Moster, the national cycling federation sports director, used the slur while a German rider chased opponents from Algeria and Eritrea during the July 28 race. The comment was heard on TV broadcasts.
