July 29 Tokyo 2020 Olympics news and results

By Matias Grez, Ben Church, Helen Regan, Aditi Sangal, Adam Renton, Melissa Macaya, Melissa Mahtani and Meg Wagner, CNN

Updated 12:00 a.m. ET, July 30, 2021
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11:53 p.m. ET, July 29, 2021

British BMX racer Bethany Shriever holds off two-time Olympic champion Mariana Pajon to win gold

From CNN's Jill Martin

Great Britain's Bethany Shriever held off two-time Olympic gold medalist Mariana Pajon of Colombia to win the women’s BMX racing final by 0.09 seconds on Friday morning in Japan.

Pajon, who won Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016, settled for silver. Merel Smulders of the Netherlands took bronze.

11:50 p.m. ET, July 29, 2021

Netherlands' Niek Kimmann wins BMX gold despite fractured knee

From CNN's Jill Martin

Niek Kimmann of the Netherlands celebrates after winning gold in the BMX individual.
Niek Kimmann of the Netherlands celebrates after winning gold in the BMX individual. Christian Hartmann/Reuters

He may have suffered a fractured knee during official training, but that didn’t stop the Netherlands' Niek Kimmann from winning gold in the men’s BMX racing final.

This is the first Olympic gold medal for the Netherlands in cycling BMX racing.

Kye Whyte of Great Britain took silver, while Carlos Alberto Ramirez of Colombia earned bronze.

Rio 2016 Olympic champion Connor Fields from the US did not compete in the final after crashing out during the third round of the semifinal on Friday morning in Japan.

11:35 p.m. ET, July 29, 2021

BMX racers crashed out in both the men's and women's semifinals

From CNN's Jill Martin

Connor Fields of the United States receives medical attention during the BMX individual semifinal on July 30.
Connor Fields of the United States receives medical attention during the BMX individual semifinal on July 30. Matthew Childs/Reuters

Reigning Olympic champion Connor Fields was stretchered off after he crashed out and failed to finish during the third round of the men’s cycling BMX racing semifinal on Friday morning in Japan.

Although the US rider's overall score qualified him for the final, he will not race for a medal. Fields was taken away in an ambulance.

In the women's semifinal, Australia's Saya Sakakibara was also involved in a crash in the third run.

Saya Sakakibara of Australia receives medical attention during the BMX individual semifinal on July 30.
Saya Sakakibara of Australia receives medical attention during the BMX individual semifinal on July 30. Christian Hartmann/Reuters

Sakakibara was leading the race when she went down, but she did not finish the run and did not reach the final.

She was stretchered off and is being attended to.

11:18 p.m. ET, July 29, 2021

Olympian Lindsey Vonn on Biles: "I think it's none of our places to judge what Simone does"

Former Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn talks to CNN's Chris Cuomo.
Former Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn talks to CNN's Chris Cuomo. CNN

Former Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn commended gymnast Simone Biles' decision to withdraw from Tokyo 2020 Olympic events to prioritize her mental health.

Biles, one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, withdrew from Thursday's individual all-around competition after stepping away from a dramatic team competition earlier in the week.

The 24-year-old cited mental heath concerns and the need to protect "her body and mind."

"I think it's none of our places to judge what Simone does and what she is doing for her own well-being," Vonn told CNN Thursday night. "I think as an athlete, obviously, I've been in high-pressure situations. I've been injured. I've come back. I'm not Simone Biles. No one is Simone Biles. If that's what she needs to do in order to protect herself or to take care of her well-being, then that's her decision. And we should support it."

Vonn added: "And I think the best thing that's come out of this, is we're having conversations about mental health. And I applaud her for that."

CNN's Sara Spary contributed to this report.

10:50 p.m. ET, July 29, 2021

Tokyo 2020 reports highest increase of new Covid-19 cases linked to Games

From CNN's Chandler Thornton

The number of Covid-19 cases linked to Tokyo 2020 has risen to 225, according to Games organizers.

Another 27 infections were reported Friday — the highest daily total from the Games.

Three of the new cases were reported from Tokyo's Olympic Village, bringing the total from the village to 27.

Of the new cases, three were identified as athletes, two of which were residents of the village; the remaining cases were identified as volunteers, media, games-related personnel and contractors.

Friday in Japan marks the Games' seventh day of official competition. 

On Thursday, Tokyo reported another record day of new Covid-19 cases, adding 3,865 infections. The spike has raised concern from public health experts who warn the rise could heighten risk for transmission within the Olympic bubble.

10:44 p.m. ET, July 29, 2021

China's Wang Shun wins gold in men's 200-meter individual medley

From CNN's Jill Martin

Wang Shun of China celebrates after winning a gold medal in the men's 200-meter individual medley on Friday in Tokyo.
Wang Shun of China celebrates after winning a gold medal in the men's 200-meter individual medley on Friday in Tokyo. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Wang Shun of China has won gold in the men's 200-meter individual medley, adding to the bronze he won in this event in Rio in 2016. His time of 1:55.00 is an Asian record.

Great Britain’s Duncan Scott claimed silver, his third medal at Tokyo 2020. He won silver in the 200-meter freestyle and gold in the men’s 4x200-meter relay.

Jeremy Desplanches took bronze, making him the first representing Switzerland to win a medal in this event at the Olympic Games.

10:35 p.m. ET, July 29, 2021

Japan plans to extend Covid-19 state of emergency, report says

From CNN’s Taylor Barnes

The Japanese government plans to extend Covid-19 states of emergency to four prefectures, including three surrounding the capital Tokyo, which is currently hosting the Summer Olympics, according to national broadcaster NHK.

Those four prefectures — Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa and Osaka — are currently under less restrictive, quasi-emergency measures, according to NHK.

Tokyo and Okinawa are already under states of emergency.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said, “the government is dealing with the situation with a strong sense of urgency” and he has called a meeting of experts for Friday to discuss the state of emergency.

It comes as Tokyo reported its third consecutive day of record high Covid cases on Thursday, with 3,865 new infections, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Nationwide, Japan reported 10,385 new cases, topping 10,000 for the first time since the pandemic began.

10:21 p.m. ET, July 29, 2021

Australia's Emma McKeon wins women's 100-meter freestyle

Australia's Emma McKeon celebrates with Australia's Cate Campbell after winning the final of the women's 100-meter freestyle swimming event and setting an Olympic Record on Friday.
Australia's Emma McKeon celebrates with Australia's Cate Campbell after winning the final of the women's 100-meter freestyle swimming event and setting an Olympic Record on Friday. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images)

Australia's Emma McKeon won gold in the highly-anticipated women's 100-meter freestyle in a time of 51.96 — an Olympic record.

McKeon is the third swimmer representing Australia to win gold in the women's 100m freestyle at the Olympic Games, after Dawn Fraser (1956, 1960, 1964) and Jodie Henry (2004).

Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey won her second medal at the Tokyo Games, earning silver with a time of 52.27. She also won silver in the 200-meter freestyle — the first Olympic swimming medal for Hong Kong.

Australian Cate Campbell earned bronze in in 52.52. She already had three Olympic gold medals (including in Tokyo 2020) and one Olympic bronze medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.

10:06 p.m. ET, July 29, 2021

Evgeny Rylov sets Olympic record in men's 200-meter backstroke

Russian swimmer Evgeny Rylov swims to victory in the 200-meter backstroke final on Friday.
Russian swimmer Evgeny Rylov swims to victory in the 200-meter backstroke final on Friday. (Jeff Roberson/AP)

Russian Olympic Committee swimmer Evgeny Rylov won gold in the men's 200-meter backstroke, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 1:53.27.

USA's Ryan Murphy won silver in a time of 1:54.15 and Great Britain's Luke Greenbank took bronze in 1:54.72.