Another athletics world record was obliterated at the Olympics on Wednesday, as athletes coped with the heat of political and diplomatic controversy as well as Tokyo’s broiling summer weather.
American Sydney McLaughlin shattered her own record in the 400 meters hurdles while a Belarusian athlete left for Poland three days after refusing an order to come home against her wishes and seeking diplomatic protection.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was investigating the case of sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, while querying China over athletes who wore Mao Zedong badges on the medals podium but suspending a probe of American shot-putter Raven Saunders after the death of her mother.