Category Archives: tokyo olympics

Simone Biles Decimates Critics Who Called Her A ‘Quitter’

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Simone Biles has the perfect retort ready for anyone who calls her a “quitter”: She can’t hear you over her seven Olympic medals.

The Olympic great took to Instagram over the weekend to reflect on the month that’s passed since the Tokyo Olympics. She also snuck in a few words for her critics.

“Definitely not the way I planned the olympics going but I wouldn’t change anything for the world,” Biles captioned the post, alongside a photo of her two medals from the Tokyo Games. “I’m proud of myself and the career I’ve had thus far. this olympics doesn’t erase the past accomplishments I’ve achieved nor does it define who I am as an athlete.”

“I’ve pushed through so much the past couple years, the word quitter is not in my vocabulary,” the gymnast continued. “For some of you that may be how you define me but keep talking because I can’t hear you over my 7 olympic medals which tied me for the most decorated gymnast EVER as well as most decorated american gymnast.”

Biles’ caption garnered a lot of praise in the comments.

“‘Haters, keep talking I can’t hear you over my 7 Olympic medals,’” one supporter wrote. “Best line ever. The queen has spoken.”

Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis responded to Biles’ post with a simple but effective “Woooooooohoooooo!!!!!!!!” and several heart emojis, while fellow U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles wrote, “Preach! Say it louder for the people in the back.”

Biles faced waves of both backlash and support following her decision to withdraw from the team’s all-around final in Japan, citing mental health concerns and a disorienting issue that gymnasts sometimes experience known as the “twisties.”

She subsequently pulled out of four individual finals before making a comeback and securing bronze on the balance beam. The win tied Biles with Shannon Miller for the most medals won by an American gymnast.

“We’re not just entertainment, we’re humans,” Biles told the Associated Press at the time. “And there are things going on behind the scenes that we’re also trying to juggle with as well, on top of sports.”

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TV Network Admits It Covered Olympic Opening Ceremony In ‘Inappropriate’ Way

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South Korean TV network MBC’s coverage of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony on Friday went awry when it used what it has now admitted were “inappropriate” photos and captions to refer to countries competing in the games.

The broadcaster drew the most ire on Twitter after it showed a photograph of Chernobyl — the site of the 1986 nuclear power plant disaster ― as Ukraine’s athletes entered the National Stadium, reported Agence France-Presse.

MBC also used pictures of pizza when Italy’s representatives arrived, salmon for Norway, sushi for Japan, a scene of unrest for Haiti, and a depiction of the fictional Dracula for Romania, according to Reuters.

Critics called out the network for propagating national stereotypes with its choice of images.

The Chernobyl image prompted the most anger.

“In today’s Opening Ceremony broadcast, inappropriate photos were used when introducing countries like Ukraine and Haiti,” MBC said in a statement, per the New Zealand Herald. “Also, inappropriate photos and subtitles were used for other countries. We apologise to the viewers of Ukraine and other countries.”

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British Olympic Pole Vaulter Harry Coppell’s Painful Accident Reveals Danger Even After Safe Landing

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Good thing pole vaulters don’t need their teeth to compete, because Harry Coppell just smashed a few at the Tokyo Olympics.

The British athlete posted video on Instagram of the accident in which he lands safely in the practice attempt but cannot stop the bar from crashing onto his mouth.

“I hope @tokyo2020 has a good dentist around,” he wrote.

Harry, the 22nd ranked pole vaulter in the world, eventually did see a dentist.

The visit turned into an all-night ordeal and left him without a tooth and part of another one ― but with his sense of humour intact.

“I’m gonna tell people I was in a bar fight….” he wrote on his story with a photo of the results.

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Japanese Video Game Music Gets Big Moment At Olympic Opening Ceremony

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Fans of Japanese video games couldn’t believe their ears as Olympic athletes paraded into Tokyo’s National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the 2020 Games on Friday: the orchestra was playing tunes from some of their favourite games.

In a celebration of Japanese popular culture that is appreciated worldwide, the entry parade was set to tunes from games developed by Sega, Capcom and Square Enix. 

It kicked off with “Overture: Roto’s Theme” from Dragon Quest. Next up was “Victory Fanfare” from Final Fantasy. The parade featured more tunes from Monster Hunter, Soulcaliber and Sonic the Hedgehog. (Check out the original list in Japanese from Nikkan Sports, or in English from Polygon.) 

According to Classic FM, the music from Kingdom Hearts was composed by Yoko Shimomura, who is responsible for the music for some of the biggest video games ever made. Fans were delighted to hear her work being incorporated into the ceremony.

While the list didn’t feature widely recognised tunes from cultural juggernauts like Mario Bros. or The Legend of Zelda, the music helped give a sense of atmosphere to the ceremony, which was held in almost an empty stadium due to coronavirus restrictions.

Olympians waved mostly for the cameras in the made-for-TV ceremony, which only had about 1,000 people in attendance at the 68,000-capacity stadium ― VIPs like Japanese Emperor Naruhito, first lady Jill Biden, members of the International Olympic Committee and journalists. 

In another nod to Japanese pop culture, the placard for each country’s delegation was in the style of a speech bubble from manga, which is Japanese comics and graphic novels. The signs had the country’s name in English on one side and Japanese on another.

Natacha Pisarenko via AP

Snaefridur Sol Jorunnardottir and Anton Mckee, of Iceland, carry their country’s flag during the opening ceremony.

And in another tribute to Japanese pop culture, the Google Doodle, which is accessed by going to the google.com home page, also starts out with an anime-inspired theme, then moves to an incredibly elaborate ’80s-style arcade game.

The exposure to anime and manga from the Tokyo Games may serve to make the art forms even more popular worldwide, said Susan Napier, a professor of rhetoric and Japanese studies at Tufts University, according to The Washington Post.

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