Sport

Tokyo 2020 Day 16: Kellie Harrington claims gold; Emily Kay 13th in women’s omnium

Eliud Kipchoge wins the men’s marathon in brutally difficult hot conditions

Silver medallist Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira, gold medallist Ireland’s Kellie Anne Harrington, bronze medallists Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee and Finland’s Mira Marjut Johanna Potkonen. Photo: Luis Robayo/AFPBB News/AFP via Getty Images
Silver medallist Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira, gold medallist Ireland’s Kellie Anne Harrington, bronze medallists Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee and Finland’s Mira Marjut Johanna Potkonen. Photo: Luis Robayo/AFPBB News/AFP via Getty Images
Sun Aug 08 2021 - 07:48
  • Boxing: Kellie Harrington beats Beatriz Ferreira to win women's lightweight gold medal (click here to read the full report)
  • Track cycling: Emily Kay finishes 13th in women's omnium after crash
  • Athletics: Kevin Seaward 58th, Paul Pollock 71st and Stephen Scullion withdraws as Eliud Kipchoge wins men's marathon

Boxing

Ireland has a second gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games after Kellie Harrington beat Beatriz Ferreira on a unanimous decision to become the champion of the lightweight division.

Harrington came into the Games as the number one seed and the final saw the 2018 world champion pitted against the 2019 world champion in a showdown for gold.

After losing the first round 3-2 on the judges’ cards, Harrington found her range in the second to win it on all five cards before doing the same in the final round.

It means the Dubliner follows in the footsteps of Katie Taylor who won gold in 2012 and she adds a second gold to the collection of Team Ireland after Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy’s win in the men’s lightweight double sculls rowing last week.

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Read Johnny Watterson's report from the Kokugikan Arena.

Track cycling

Emily Kay came home in 13th in the women’s omnium after a bad crash derailed her efforts.

A huge pile-up crash in the opening scratch race at the Izu Velodrome threw a curveball into the race early on with at least nine riders involved.

Britain’s Laura Kenny, Ireland’s Emily Kay, France’s Clara Copponi, Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky, Egypt’s Ebtissam Zayed Ahmed, Poland’s Daria Pikulik and Italy’s Elisa Balsamo crash during the women’s track cycling omnium scratch race. Photo: Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images
Britain’s Laura Kenny, Ireland’s Emily Kay, France’s Clara Copponi, Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky, Egypt’s Ebtissam Zayed Ahmed, Poland’s Daria Pikulik and Italy’s Elisa Balsamo crash during the women’s track cycling omnium scratch race. Photo: Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images

It meant that Kay was unable to finish the opening race with all riders in the same position awarded 16 points while American Jennifer Valente won to clock up 40 points.

Kay recovered to take part in the tempo race and put in a strong performance in the points race to finish ninth, eventually a total of 56 points to finish 13th overall while Valente took gold with Japan’s Yumi Kajihara and Kirsten Wild of the Netherlands winning silver and bronze.

Athletics

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge defended his Olympic marathon title on the final day of the Games.

The world record holder ran 2:08.38 minutes in brutally difficult conditions to claim victory in Sapporo and become only the third athlete to retain their marathon crown.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge celebrates winning the men’s marathon. Photo: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge celebrates winning the men’s marathon. Photo: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

The Netherlands’ Abdi Nageeye claimed silver as he finished one minute and 20 seconds behind Kipchoge with Belgium’s Bashir Abdi third.

But 29 of the field were forced to pull out in the hot conditions, including Ireland’s Stephen Scullion.

Kevin Seaward did manage to finish the race in 58th position, 13:07 behind Kipchoge while Paul Pollock finished 71st.

Tokyo 2020