July 28 Tokyo 2020 Olympics news and results

New Zealand's Grace Prendergast (left) and Kerri Gowler celebrate winning gold.

New Zealand won its first gold medal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with victory in the women’s pair rowing.

Duo Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler took gold with a time of 6:50.19 on Thursday morning in Japan. It’s also New Zealand’s first ever Olympic gold medal in the event.

The Russian Olympic Committee took silver with a time of 6:51.45, and Canada earned bronze with a time of 6:52.10.

Former speed skater Apolo Ohno won eight medals at the Winter Olympics.

American former skating star Apolo Ohno has lent his support to gymnast Simone Biles, saying the world should support athletes “when they need it most.”

Biles decided to bow out of the women’s individual all-around competition to focus on herself, prompting waves of support from fellow Olympians like eight-time medalist Ohno.

Martin Sinkovic (left) and Valent Sinkovic celebrate their victory.

Croatian brothers Martin Sinkovic and Valent Sinkovic have added to their career Olympic medal haul, winning gold in the rowing men’s pair final.

The brothers had won two medals each at the past two Olympic Games heading into Tokyo 2020.

They won gold together in the double sculls in 2016, and they were part of Croatia’s boat to win silver in the quadruple sculls in 2012.

Romania took silver, while Denmark earned bronze.

American gymnast Simone Biles performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics final on July 27.

The twisties are a mysterious phenomenon, where suddenly a gymnast is no longer able to do a twisting skill she’s done thousands of times before.

Your body just won’t cooperate, your brain loses track of where you are in the air. You find out where the ground is when you slam into it.

This is what Simone Biles said she experienced in morning practice.

When Biles scratched most of the Olympic team final, she said it was not because of a physical injury, but her mental health. This doesn’t mean she felt sad, or didn’t have her heart in it to compete. It means that her psychological state put her at significant physical risk. If her brain wouldn’t play along with what her body knows how to do, she could be seriously injured.

Flipping and twisting at the same time can be extremely disorienting, you can’t just watch where you are with your eyes. You have to feel it. This is proprioception, a sense of where your body is in space and what it’s doing.

In gymnastics, this is called “air sense.” And Biles is famous for how good hers is.

Her natural talent is why her missed vault is so stunning. But her decision to scratch makes a lot of sense. When the twisties set in, it’s hard to know when they’ll go away. But Biles’ decision to protect herself marks a shift from the old way gymnastics worked in the US.

“We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we’re human, too,” she said. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 25: Simone Biles of Team United States competes on balance beam on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Related article Simone Biles and 'the twisties': How fear affects the mental health and physical safety of gymnasts

American gymnast Dominique Moceanu competes during the beam event at the1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Dominique Moceanu, a member of the 1996 Olympic gold medal gymnastics team, commended Simone Biles’ decision to bow out of the women’s individual all-around competition to focus on herself.

She went on to say, “In our sport, we essentially dive into a pool w/ no water. When you lose your ability to find the ground—which appears to be part of @Simone_Biles decision— the consequences can be catastrophic. She made the right decision for the team & herself.”

USA's Simone Biles blows a kiss whilst watching the Men's All-Around Final on July 28.

Simone Biles’ sponsors offered statements of support Wednesday following her decision to pull out of Thursday’s individual, all-around gymnastics competition at the Tokyo Olympics.

The 24-year-old champion cited mental health concerns as the reason for her earlier withdrawal from Tuesday’s team competition during interviews with reporters in Tokyo. Biles may still compete in next week’s individual event finals. 

Athleta chief brand officer Kyle Andrew said the sports apparel company stands by Biles and supports her well being “both in and out of competition.” Biles signed an endorsement contract with Athleta earlier this year after ending her contract with Nike.

On Tuesday, Biles said she was going to take the rest of the Olympics “one day at a time” as she looks to add to her haul of four gold medals won at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Visa, another athlete sponsor, recognizes Biles’ “incredibly brave decision,” said senior vice president of Global Sponsorship Strategy Andrea Fairchild. The decision “shows how Simone is able to inspire both on and off the mat.”

Biles is one of the 102 Olympic athletes Visa sponsors in conjunction with its Team Visa program. “We wish her well in the days ahead,” Fairchild added.

Protein shake brand Core Power tweeted Wednesday morning that Biles is “showing us all that her courage and strength extend well beyond the mat.”  

“We’re in awe of you today and every day,” the company added on Twitter along with a goat emoji – a reference to GOAT, or greatest of all time.

Core Power told CNN Business it has partnered with Biles for the last six years and that she has been one of its brand ambassadors since 2016. The company launched a new ad campaign featuring Biles on June 29.

“We’ve supported her physical recovery with Core Power protein shakes, and as a company we unequivocally support her full and complete health,” the company said via email.

Team USA sponsor United Airlines didn’t immediately respond Wednesday morning to a request for comment. The company told the sports news site Sportico that it has been proud to partner with Biles for years and continues to support her.

Uber Eats, which featured Biles in its “Tonight I’ll be eating” commercials late last year, said Wednesday that it also stands by her.

“She has shown true strength both inside and outside of the gym, setting an incredible example for athletes around the world,” the company said.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic attempts to keep cool between games on July 28.

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic on Wednesday described playing conditions at the Tokyo Games as “really brutal” but welcomed the decision by organizers to push back match start times amid hot and humid conditions in the Japanese capital. 

“I did experience certain similar days, one day in Miami or New York, or sometimes it happens here and there, but it’s one or two days, and then it passes. Here is every single day. So, it’s really draining players’ energy, and you just don’t feel yourself,” Djokovic added.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced on Wednesday that tennis matches at the Ariake Tennis Park will begin at 3 p.m. (local) from Thursday after some players expressed dissatisfaction with and felt the effects of the playing conditions.

“In my opinion, it should have been done a few days earlier. But it is what it is. It’s better than starting at 11 a.m. It’s not just in my opinion. I’ve spoken to six out of eight quarterfinalists in men’s singles and everyone is in favor of starting later because the conditions are really brutal,” he said.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion was speaking after he and compatriot Nina Stojanovic secured victory in the first round of the mixed doubles tournament.

USA's Kathleen Ledecky holds her gold medal after winning the 1500m freestyle swimming event on July 28.

Japan is currently leading the Olympics with 13 gold medals, but China and the United States are not far behind in second and third with 12 and 11 gold medals respectively. You can keep up with the count here.

Here’s a look at the winners on Wednesday:

Basketball 3 X 3

Artistic Gymnastics

Cycling Road

Diving

Equestrian

Fencing

Judo

Rowing

Rugby Sevens

Swimming

Weightlifting

As athletes head into the fifth official day of the Olympic Games, it can be difficult to keep track of each event due to the 13-hour time difference.

Here are some of the Olympic sports you may not want to miss that are playing on NBC channels tonight:

For other events being broadcast this evening, view NBC’s schedule here.

From left, Jacquelyn Young, Stefanie Dolson, Kelsey Plum, and Allisha Gray of Team United States celebrate victory and winning the gold medal in the 3x3 Basketball competition on July 28.

The United States won the first ever gold medal in women’s 3x3 basketball after defeating the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) 18-15 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Americans lost just one game en route to the Olympic title.

Team USA claimed their 11th gold medal of the Summer Games and the nation’s 31st medal overall.

The ROC took silver and China won bronze.