Tokyo Olympics: Caileigh Filmer, Hillary Janssens secure bronze in pair rowing as women continue to top Canada’s podium placements

Latest Olympic highlights

OLYMPIC EVENTS FOR JULY 28

• Rowing: Caileigh Filmer and Hillary Janssens – a duo of Olympic rowers from B.C. – have brought home Canada’s fifth bronze medal of the Tokyo Games in women’s pair. They finished with a time of 6:52:10, behind the gold medal team from New Zealand and the Russian silver medallists. The men’s pair rowing final also took place today, with Canadians Conlin McCabe and Kai Langerfeld narrowly missing the podium with a fourth-place finish.
• Winning women: At the Rio Games in 2016, Canada’s women were responsible for 16 of the country’s 22 medals, and in Tokyo that trend continues. All nine of Canada’s medals so far have been won by women, at a Games where 18 events – such as women’s canoe slalom – were added in a push for gender equality.
• Swimming: Penny Oleksiak finished third in the 100m freestyle semifinals tonight after qualifying with a sixth-place finish during the freestyle heats early today. She’ll race in the the final tomorrow night. Canada also came in fourth at the women’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay. Canada’s team consisted of Summer McIntosh, Rebecca Smith, Kayla Sanchez and Penny Oleksiak, who set a Canadian record with their time of 7:43:77.

OFF THE FIELD

• Simone Biles, mental health, the IOC and Japan: As Simone Biles’ withdrawal from some Olympic events continues to reverberate, the implications of her move has cast a spotlight firmly onto the IOC and sport governing bodies, writes Cathal Kelly. Meanwhile, in Japan, a country that has has spent years battling workaholism, Nathan VanderKlippe writes that Simone Biles’ and Naomi Osaka’s sharing has become a source of hope for social change.
• Withdrawals: After injuring his Achilles tendon during the individual men’s triathlon, Tyler Mislawchuk has withdrawn from the mixed triathlon relay. Jessica Phoenix has also withdrawn from the eventing competition after her horse Pavarotti sustained an injury during a training session on Tuesday.
• COVID-19 surge: Governors of three prefectures near Tokyo are likely to ask the government to declare states of emergency for their regions, media said on Wednesday, after COVID-19 infections spiked to a record high in the Japanese capital. Tokyo recorded 3,177 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, a new record for the second day in a row. The total of Olympics-related COVID-19 cases since July 1 has risen to 169.
• Dress codes: Badminton sees woman athletes wearing whatever they want to compete on the world’s top stage, while the strict uniform rules for other sports like volleyball come under fire for reinforcing gender stereotypes.

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More Olympic updates for July 28

• Basketball: Canada pulled off a victory over South Korea in basketball today, with Bridget Carleton, a Minnesota Lynx WNBA player, bringing in 18 points and seven rebounds for the women’s team. They will play Spain on Sunday to close off the group stage.
• Rugby: The Canadian women’s rugby team routed Brazil 33-0 in their opening match today. Canada will face Fiji for their next game tomorrow at 3:30 a.m. ET.
• Trampoline: Rosie McLennan, two-time Olympic gold medallist in women’s trampoline, already made history in Rio by becoming the first Canadian to defend a title at the Summer Olympics. This year, she’ll try to break her own record by aiming for a three-peat.
• Canoe: Haley Daniels didn’t advance out of the qualifying heats of the women’s C-1 canoe slalom, but her 12-year fight for the same Olympic opportunity that has been afforded men for the past 85 years still was worth it.
• Swimming: Canada’s women’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay team has qualified for the final tonight at 11:30 p.m. ET.
• Tennis: Félix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriela Dabrowski lost their opening match of the Tokyo Olympics’ mixed doubles competition Wednesday, ending any hope for Canada of a tennis medal at the Games.

The Olympic experience

U.S. correspondent Nathan VanderKlippe spoke to bronze medallist Caileigh Filmer after her podium finish with teammate Hillary Janssens in women’s pair rowing. Filmer discussed “going internal” with Janssens to maximize their performance on the water. It’s not a bad analogy for a Games characterized by isolation. Read more behind-the-scenes perspectives from Globe staff at the Olympics.

Globe visual journalist Melissa Tait is in Tokyo capturing Canada’s athletes as they chase the podium.

From The Globe’s Olympic team

Brent Hayden is back for his fourth Olympics after finding new perspective in the pool

Rachel Brady: “Hayden doesn’t have a lot of miles on his body like many athletes would at 37. That’s because he took seven years off from the sport after he made the podium at the 2012 London Olympics, before deciding to plunge back in and try to make a comeback for Tokyo – his fourth Olympics.”

For Hong Kong, Tokyo Olympics are its best Games in history, at a time when it needs wins more than ever

James Griffiths: “The bitterness and anger left over from the protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019 have not faded. While public unrest is not seen today, that is only because the Chinese government imposed a national security law on the city last year, not because any of the issues which sparked the protests have been solved.”

Reminder: Before and after the Olympics, women’s sports coverage is lacking

John Doyle: “I’m here to offer you a periodic reminder – before and after the Olympics, women’s sports get less attention than they merit. We will cheer on, or even worship, our women athletes now. Their accomplishments will lift the spirits of a nation and inspire young women to devote themselves to a sport. Then, afterwards, the achievement will become a memory and the activities will barely feature in media coverage, especially on television. This has to stop.”

Tokyo Olympic events to watch tomorrow, July 29

• Gymnastics: Brooklyn Moors vies for a medal in the women’s individual all-around (6:50am ET)
• Rowing: Canada’s women’s eight race in the final (9:05pm ET)
• Swimming: Medal events in the 200m backstroke, 100m freestyle (9:40pm ET)

Check the full Olympic schedule for the latest event times and competitors.

The Tokyo Olympics: Essential reads

What athletes and teams should Canadians look out for? Consult our guide.

How did Canada’s swimmers use data to get stronger? Grant Robertson and Timothy Moore explain.

Female street skateboarders like Annie Guglia demonstrate the possibility of broader change, writes Nathan Vanderklippe