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OLYMPICS
2021 Olympic Games

Raising the bar: Olympic athletes break world records at Tokyo Games

Portrait of Brian Munoz Brian Munoz
USA TODAY

Speed, agility and focus have helped athletes at the Tokyo Olympics break world records. While multiple perennial favorites such as Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt may not be competing in this year’s Games, their legacies and records persist as goals that athletes strive to achieve.

From Caeleb Dressel in the men's 100-meter butterfly to Sydney McLaughlin in the women's 400-meter hurdles, athletes are making names for themselves on the world’s biggest stage.

Racing against the clock is one thing, but the moments captured by photographers show what greatness and Olympic fame look like in a single moment across some of the most exciting sports at the Tokyo Games.

Track and Field

August 3, 2021: Karsten Warholm (NOR) celebrates winning the gold medal men's 400m hurdles final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Warholm set a world record in the event at 45.94 seconds.
August 4, 2021: Sydney McLaughlin (USA), right, defeats Dalilah Muhammad (USA) to win the women's 400m hurdles during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Olympic Stadium. McLaughlin smashed a world record of 51.46 seconds, cutting it down to 51.58 seconds.
Yulimar Rojas (VEN) in the women's triple jump final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Olympic Stadium. Rojas broke a world record in the event with a jump of 15.67 meters or 51 feet, 4 inches.

Cycling

August 4, 2021: The men's pursuit team from Italy, Simone Consonni, Filippo Ganna, Francesco Lamon, and Jonathan Milan, race to the gold medal and set a new world record during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Izu Velodrome. The Italians captured the world record when they shot through the final 1000m in 53.506 seconds, setting the new world record at 3:42:032 in the 4,000m men's team pursuit.
August 2, 2021: Tianshi Zhong (CHN) and Shanju Bao (CHN) compete in the women's team sprint during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Izu Velodrome. The pair won gold in the event and broke their own record with a time of 31.804 seconds.
August 3, 2021: The German women's team pursuit team rides to a gold medal and a new world record during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Izu Velodrome. The team broke the world record with a time of 4:04.242.

Swimming

July 31, 2021: Caeleb Dressel (USA) competes in the men's 100m butterfly final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Dressel broke the world record in the men's 100-meter butterfly that was previously held by Michael Phelps, with a time of 49.45 seconds.
July 30, 2021: Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA) competes in the women's 200m breaststroke final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Schoenmaker broke the record in the event with a time of 2 minutes, 18.95 seconds.
August 1, 2021: The United States' Ryan Murphy, Caeleb Dressel, Zach Apple and Michael Andrew (leaning over) celebrate after winning the men's 4x100m medley final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. The U.S. squad broke the world record in the event with a time of 3 minutes, 26.78 seconds.
July 31, 2021: Great Britain's mixed 4x100m medley relay team celebrate their gold medal during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Great Britain smashed the world record with a time of 3 minutes, 37.58 seconds.
July 29, 2021: China's relay team celebrates their victory in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Team China took the world record at this year's Games with a time of 7 minutes, 40.33 seconds.
August 1, 2021: Kaylee McKeown (AUS), Chelsea Hodges (AUS), Emma McKeon (AUS) and Cate Campbell (AUS), of the Australian women's 4x100m relay team, celebrate during the event's medals ceremony at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Team Australia took the world record in the event with a time of 3:29.69.

Shooting

August 2, 2021: Changhong Zhang (CHN) competes in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Asaka Shooting Range. Zhang captured the event's world record at the Tokyo Games with 466 points.

Weightlifting

July 28, 2021: Shi Zhiyong of China celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 73kg weightlifting event, at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

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