July 31 Tokyo 2020 Olympics news and results

By Joshua Berlinger, Brett McKeehan and Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 12:01 a.m. ET, August 1, 2021
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7:04 a.m. ET, July 31, 2021

If you're watching the Olympics from the US, here are the key events to catch today

American Katie Ledecky holds her gold medal for the 800-meter freestyle on July 31.
American Katie Ledecky holds her gold medal for the 800-meter freestyle on July 31. Adam Davy/PA Wire/AP

As the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games head into the second weekend of competition, medals will be awarded in swimming, fencing, judo and tennis, to name a few. 

Here are some of the events to watch. Remember, Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of US Eastern Time.

  • Swimming: Medals will be given out in the men's and women's 50 meter freestyle, men's 1500 meter freestyle, and both the men's and women's 4x100 meter medley relay. All the action airs on NBC starting at 9:30 p.m. ET. 
  • Cycling: Finals of both the men's and women's BMX freestyle park will be live on CNBC at 9:10 p.m. ET. 
  • Beach volleyball: Brazil and the US face off in women's beach volleyball at 11:30 a.m. ET on NBC. 
  • Track and field: Events include the women's 100 meter semifinals and round one of the men's 100 meters, with coverage starting on NBC at 9 p.m. ET. The women's long jump qualifying begins at 8:50 p.m. ET, and the women's shot put final begins at 9:35 p.m. ET. 
  • Tennis: Switzerland's Belinda Bencic plays the Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova for gold in the women's singles at 6 a.m. ET. It airs on NBC starting at 11 a.m. ET. Germany's Alexander Zverev plays Karen Khachanov of the Russian Olympic Committee for the gold medal in men's singles, airing at 11 p.m. ET. 
  • Fencing: The women's saber team gold medal match starts at 6:30 a.m. ET. 
  • Water polo: Team USA takes on Hungary at 8:30 a.m. ET on NBC. 
  • Judo: Competition concludes with the finals of the first-ever mixed team event, airing on USA Network at 2:15 p.m. ET. 

Here’s your full guide on how to watch the Olympics and the entire schedule. In between watching events, check out our gallery of the most memorable photos of the Games so far.

10:24 a.m. ET, July 31, 2021

Two months after not having a place at the Olympics, Mete Gazoz's gold is Turkey's first ever archery medal

From CNN's Ben Morse in London

Turkey's Mete Gazoz celebrates after winning the individual archery final on July 31.
Turkey's Mete Gazoz celebrates after winning the individual archery final on July 31. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Just two months ago, Mete Gazoz wasn't sure whether or not he'd be competing at Tokyo 2020.

And now, he is an Olympic gold medalist and the winner of Turkey's first ever archery medal.

Gazoz beat former Olympic champion Mauro Nespoli of Italy by 6-4 in the men’s individual archery final to claim the gold at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field on Saturday.

The 22-year-old reigning World Cup Champion had trailed to the 34-year-old but rallied to claim a historic medal for Turkish archery.

“Two months ago, I don’t have any quota or team place, but I think it is good because one month ago, I have to make a performance high and I just keep my (performance) up, and it worked," he said afterwards.

The gold is Turkey's first of Tokyo 2020 and their third total medal of the Summer Games.

He is the first archer to win gold at Tokyo who isn't from South Korea.

After competing in 2016 in Brazil -- getting knocked out in the round of 16 -- Gazoz said a promise he made drove him to success in Japan.

“This feels so good, I have been (at) 2016 and I give my promise to my coaches, my mother and my father, I will go to the next Olympic Games and I will win gold medal.”

7:10 a.m. ET, July 31, 2021

Defending women's 100m champion qualifies for final

From CNN's George Ramsay at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium

Defending Olympic 100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica wins her 100m semifinal on July 31.
Defending Olympic 100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica wins her 100m semifinal on July 31. (Petr David Josek/AP)

It’s the second day of track and field competition in Tokyo at a rather empty Olympic Stadium. Aside from the packed media area, there are pockets of team members dotted around the stands in the absence of fans. Most are clustered around the long jump pit for the men’s qualification.

It is warm inside the stadium -- above 30 degrees Celsius with only a very light breeze. That’s good news for the sprinters who have qualified for the women’s 100m final in roughly two hours’ time. There were some fast times in the heats, where six women ran under 11 seconds.

In the semifinals, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce progressed with the fastest time of 10.73 seconds. Fellow Jamaican and defending Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah also qualified. Perhaps the biggest shock is that Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, the 200m world champion, has missed out on the final.

Here are the athletes that will line up on the start line for the Games’ first sprint final at 9:50pm local time:

Daryll Neita (Great Britain)

Teahna Daniels (USA)

Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica)

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica)

Marie-Josee Ta Lou (Ivory Coast)

Shericka Jackson (Jamaica)

Ajla del Ponte (Switzerland)

Mujinga Kambundi (Switerland)

10:24 a.m. ET, July 31, 2021

"You just have to believe": New Zealand wins gold in women's rugby sevens after silver in 2016

New Zealand's Stacey Fluhler (C) runs to score a try in the women's rugby sevens final between New Zealand and France at the Tokyo Stadium.
New Zealand's Stacey Fluhler (C) runs to score a try in the women's rugby sevens final between New Zealand and France at the Tokyo Stadium. Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Imag

New Zealand went one step further in the women's Olympic rugby sevens tournament, winning the gold medal on Saturday.

At Rio 2016, the 'Black Ferns Sevens' lost in the final to rivals Australia, earning a silver medal in the process.

However, five years later, they overcame the heartbreak as they won 26-12 against a gritty France team.

Tries from Michaela Blyde, Gayle Broughton, Stacey Fluhler and Tyla Nathan-Wong led them to the team's first ever gold medal, sparking scenes of jubilant celebrations and tears from many of the players after the final whistle.

New Zealand are the reigning women's Rugby World Cup Sevens champions.

New Zealand star Ruby Tui said she was "so happy, so proud" after her side's victory.

“We had a dream and winning silver just didn’t feel the right way for this team to bow out," the 2019 World Rugby women's sevens player of the year told the media afterwards.

“I have looked at my silver medal (from Rio 2016) every day since I have been here. I will never forget the person I was when we won silver because I have had a complete change in the person I was then in order to win this gold.

“The gold is a metaphor for a dream about positive thinking. It is not just the gold medal but how we have grown since. You just have to believe.”

Earlier in the day, Fiji produced an excellent display to beat Team GB 21-12 and earned themselves a bronze medal.

10:24 a.m. ET, July 31, 2021

Novak Djokovic ends Tokyo 2020 without a medal after losing in singles and withdrawing from mixed doubles

From CNN's Ben Morse in London

Novak Djokovic smashes his racket during his men's singles tennis match for the bronze medal against Pablo Carreno Busta.
Novak Djokovic smashes his racket during his men's singles tennis match for the bronze medal against Pablo Carreno Busta. Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images

After cruising through the opening few rounds of the men's singles competition at the 2020 Olympics, it seemed inevitable that a gold medal would soon be hanging around Novak Djokovic's neck.

However, following a couple of disastrous days in Tokyo, the world No. 1 is returning home without a medal at all after losing to Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta in the bronze medal match on Saturday.

The Serbian lost in three sets 4-6 7-6 3-6 to the world No. 11 at the Ariake Tennis Centre Court.

Coming into the Olympics, Djokovic had been attempting to win what would've been a historic 'Golden Slam' in men's tennis.

A 'Golden Slam' consists of winning all four grand slams and an Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year.

Steffi Graf is the only tennis player -- male or female -- to complete the feat when she did it in 1988.

However, defeat on Friday to Alexander Zverev in the semifinal dashed those hopes.

Djokovic had a chance of taking home some silverware in mixed doubles. However, he and fellow Serbian Nina Stojanovic withdrew, meaning Ashleigh Barty and John Peers of Australia claimed the bronze via walkover.

It is Australia’s sixth ever Olympic medal in tennis -- and first since Alicia Molik claimed bronze in the women’s singles competition at Athens 2004.

10:25 a.m. ET, July 31, 2021

Tokyo reports its highest-ever number of daily Covid-19 infections

From CNN's Arthur Syin in Tokyo

Japan’s capital city of Tokyo reported 4,058 Covid-19 cases on Saturday, the highest ever since the beginning of pandemic, according to Tokyo Metropolitan Government data. 

The city has seen a rapid surge in the past week, reporting around 3,000 cases every day since Tuesday. Last Saturday, the city reported roughly a quarter of today’s number -- 1,128 cases during a single day. 

On Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced an extension of Covid-19 states of emergency to the end of August, while expanding them to four prefectures, including three surrounding Tokyo.

There have been at least 241 cases linked to the Tokyo 2020 Games, according to organizers.

4:18 a.m. ET, July 31, 2021

“I’m a champion”: Simone Manuel releases statement after failing to qualify for women’s 50m freestyle final 

From CNN’s Hannah Ritchie

Simone Manuel leaves the pool after the 50-meter freestyle semifinal on July 31.
Simone Manuel leaves the pool after the 50-meter freestyle semifinal on July 31. David Goldman/AP

U.S. Olympic swimmer Simone Manuel released a statement Saturday saying she “gave it her all” after failing to qualify for the women’s 50-meter freestyle final by finishing tied-11th in the semifinal heats. 

“No doubt I’ll remember this point in my career forever. Not the fact that I didn’t make the Olympic final or come home with an individual medal, but the fact that I gave it my all," Manuel said on Twitter. 

“I’m a champion! Not because of the medals I’ve won but because of how I’ve consistently fought for what I believe in, my perseverance, and my fiery passion to always be me! I’m proud of Simone, the 2X Olympian/5X Olympic medalist, but most importantly I’m proud to just be ME,” the statement added. 

Manuel won two gold and two silver medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics: gold in the 100-meter freestyle and the 4x100-meter medley, and silver in the 50-meter freestyle and the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. 

She was the first African American woman to ever win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming. 

In June, leading up to the Tokyo Games, she released a statement revealing she had been diagnosed with overtraining syndrome and extreme fatigue. She has also been openly battling depression and insomnia, which she said caused her to step back from her normal training routine.

4:43 a.m. ET, July 31, 2021

Japan’s silver surfer says landing aerial 360 in semis was "biggest moment of his life"

From CNN's Amanda Sealey

Kanoa Igarashi completes a huge aerial to find a last minute winning score against Gabriel Medina during the men's semifinal on July 27.
Kanoa Igarashi completes a huge aerial to find a last minute winning score against Gabriel Medina during the men's semifinal on July 27. Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Despite taking home silver for Japan, surfer Kanoa Igarashi knew his Games-defining moment came during his semifinal round against Brazil’s Gabriel Medina.

Igarashi landed an aerial 360 earning him a 9.33 and allowed him to go onto the finals. 

“The moment the wave came in, the moment I stood up on my feet, I was just shaking,” Igarashi told CNN’s Coy Wire
“The whole world's watching and here's your chance and if you fall, the whole country is going to be bummed, be upset. I've let my family down. I've let my country down, let my sport down.
"And then, but on the flip side, if I do this, I'll be a part of history. And that was stronger. That second phrase was stronger than the first one.”
 This is a move Igarashi said was the cumulation of four years of not only work, but also dedication and when it came to that moment, he knew what to do.
“I remember I went up and I went up and when I was in the air, It was so slow. It felt like it was a never-ending manoeuvre,” Igarashi recalls.
 “I was in the air. I went, alright, open up left arm, head turn, chest turn, right arm down grab, okay, I feel the board. Okay, l like where my grab’s at. I'm rotating. Okay, I see the beach. Everyone's already kind of like, 'Oh my God, this can be a huge moment.' And then as I'm rotating, okay, here's my landing.”

It was that moment that he thought, “If I land this land this this is the biggest moment of my life.”

No spoiler alert here -- that move allowed Igarashi to make Olympic history.

“I’ll remember that one forever. “

2:41 a.m. ET, July 31, 2021

Nigerian sprinter provisionally suspended from Games after positive test for human growth hormone

From CNN's Taylor Barnes

Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare competes during round one of the 100 meter heats on July 30.
Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare competes during round one of the 100 meter heats on July 30. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare has been provisionally suspended from the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for human growth hormone, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), an independent body that combats doping. 

The AIU collected a test sample from Okagbare on July 19 during an out-of-competition test. The AIU was then notified on July 30 of her positive result. The 32-year-old sprinter was alerted and immediately suspended the following morning on July 31.  

Okagbare had raced on Friday in the heats of the 100 meters and had advanced to the semifinals that will take place Saturday evening. 

CNN has reached out to the Nigerian Olympic Committee for comment. Okagbare has yet to comment on her suspension.