TOKYO — For a country officially barred from the Olympics,   Russia   is very much a presence at this summer’s Tokyo Games. Take Friday’s opening ceremony. A significant Russian delegation marched in the parade of nations — right behind San Marino and just ahead of Sierra Leone — under the banner of R.O.C., the acronym for the Russian Olympic Committee. That is the official label under which more than 330 Russian athletes are competing here, a bit of disciplinary sleight of hand required by punishments imposed after the country’s recent doping scandals. Read More

  anielle Byrdsong loaded bags of breast milk into her car, preparing to make her first donation since receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in April. “To be honest, I was a little concerned,” she said. Byrdsong, a 36-year-old mother of two living in the Washington, DC, area, told BuzzFeed News that at the time, she didn’t know if getting the COVID vaccine would affect her ability to donate her breast milk — an information gap that is increasingly becoming a factor for milk banks as more of the US population is vaccinated. A key question from donors and recipients is whether protection against  the coronavirus  travels through a vaccinated person’s breast milk to an infant. While long-term studies at a larger scale are needed, early research suggests that the answer is yes. Read More

  Osaka bowed out of the women's singles as Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova defeated the Japanese second seed 6-1, 6-4 in 68 minutes in the third round of the competition. Vondrousova is the first player through to the women’s singles quarter-finals and awaits the winner of the game between Spain's Paula Badosa and Argentina's Nadia Podoroska. Read More

  The U.S. gymnastics team took silver in the women's team event after Simone Biles withdrew from the competition after the first event. According to a statement from USA Gymnastics, Biles withdrew due to a medical issue. The organization said she will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions. Biles' coach wrote to NBC after Biles' exit, "Physically she is fine. But she is done for the night." Read More

Not everyone is thrilled about this evolution of a renegade sport, long prized for its counterculture vibe, individual artistry and lack of rules. As Thrasher magazine, the bible of the sport headquartered in San Francisco, wrote when it was announced that skateboarding would be part of the Olympic program, “Like many skaters, we have mixed feelings about skateboarding appearing in the next Olympics. And by mixed feelings we mean disgust combined with a headache.” Read More