‘My heart was totally broken’: The agony of the Olympics and how we measure athlete success

Kenya’s Mercy Moim attacks against the Dominican Republic during a preliminary match on July 31.

Shoichiro Mukai of Japan, top, and Germany’s Eduard Trippel compete in their elimination round match in team judo on July 31.

The United States’ Kendra Harrison races a 100-meter hurdles heat on July 31.

Great Britain’s Charlotte Worthington competes in the cycling BMX freestyle seeding event on July 31.

Sweden’s Armand “Mondo” Duplantis competes in the pole vault on July 31. He holds the world record in the event.

Great Britain’s Jessica Learmonth competes in the mixed relay triathlon on July 31. Great Britain won gold in the event, which was the first of its kind in Olympics history.

US golfer Xander Schauffele hits a tee shot during the third round on July 31. He came into the round with a one-shot lead.

Dominican baseball players Gustavo Nunez, left, and Julio Rodriguez collide as Rodriguez catches a ball during their 1-0 win over Mexico on Friday, July 30.

US players celebrate after they defeated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout July 30 to advance to the semifinals in women’s football.

Swimmers compete in the 1,500-meter freestyle on July 30.

A robot shoots a free throw during halftime of a women’s basketball game between Belgium and Puerto Rico on July 30.

Australian diver Esther Qin competes in the 3-meter springboard event on July 30.

Lea Yanitsas, a goalkeeper for Australia’s water polo team, tries to block a shot during a match against Spain on July 30.

The United States’ Raven Saunders competes in shot put qualification on July 30.

The Czech Republic’s Jiri Prskavec reacts after winning gold in the kayak final on July 30.

Russian rugby player Anna Baranchuk reaches for the ball during a match against New Zealand on July 30.

From left, Gambia’s Gina Bass, Nigeria’s Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha, Switzerland’s Ajla Del Ponte and Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce compete in a preliminary heat for the 100-meter dash on July 30. Fraser-Pryce, who won the event at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, finished in first.

Morocco’s Mohamed Tindouft falls while competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on July 30.

Indonesian badminton players Apriyani Rahayu and Greysia Polii react after winning their quarterfinal match on July 29.

Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade performs on the uneven bars during the individual all-around on July 29.

British field hockey players prepare to defend a penalty corner during a match against the Netherlands on July 29.

American gymnast Suni Lee takes a selfie with silver medalist Rebeca Andrade, center, and bronze medalist Angelina Melnikova after winning the individual all-around on July 29. Andrade is the first Brazilian to ever medal in women’s gymnastics. Melnikova is Russian.

Tunisia’s Mohamed Hammed picks an arrow during archery competition on July 29.

US beach volleyball player Sarah Sponcil stretches out for a ball during a match on July 29.

Canadian fencer Eleanor Harvey, left, competes against France’s Ysaora Thibus in a foil team quarterfinal on July 29.

Italy’s Cristina Chirichella serves the ball during a match against Argentina on July 29.

Brazil’s Bruna de Paula is defended by Spain’s Lara González Ortega during a preliminary round handball match on July 29.

Japanese golfer Rikuya Hoshino tees off to start his first round on July 29. The Olympic golf is taking place at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Japan.

From left, the United States’ Bobby Finke, Ukraine’s Mykhailo Romanchuk and Germany’s Florian Wellbrock dive in the water at the start of the 800-meter freestyle final on July 29. Finke won gold after a late rally.

China’s Sun Yingsha waits for a serve from Japan’s Mima Ito during a table-tennis semifinal on July 29. Sun won to advance to the final.

BMX racers compete in the women’s quarterfinals on July 29.

Spain’s Cristina Ouviña, center, is defended by a group of Serbian players during a preliminary round basketball game on July 29.

Japanese badminton player Arisa Higashino, top, hits a shot toward China’s Huang Dongping in a mixed-doubles semifinal on July 29.

Ledecky led the field for most of the 1,500-meter freestyle, and she finished the race more than four seconds ahead of silver medalist Erica Sullivan, a fellow American.

Poland’s Lukasz Przybytek and Pawel Kolodzinski compete in the 49er sailing competition on July 28.

Serbia’s Dusan Domovic Bulut, left, competes for the ball with Belgium’s Rafael Bogaerts, center, and Thibaut Vervoort during a 3-on-3 basketball game on July 28. Serbia won the game for a bronze medal.

American divers Michael Hixon, left, and Andrew Capobianco compete in the synchronized 3-meter springboard event on July 28. They won silver. China’s Wang Zongyuan and Xie Siyi won gold.

Swiss cyclist Marlen Reusser competes in the time trial event on July 28.

Fiji players celebrate after winning gold in rugby sevens on July 28.

Kazakhstan’s Bekzad Nurdauletov gets hit by Russian boxer Imam Khataev during their light-heavyweight match on July 28. Khataev won 4-1.

Japan’s baseball players celebrate a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Dominican Republic on July 28. It was the first baseball game of these Olympics.

Italian tennis player Fabio Fognini reacts after losing a point to Russian Daniil Medvedev during their third-round match on July 28.

Japan’s Megumi Murakami competes in a beach volleyball match on July 28.

A crowd watches equestrian action on July 28.

Egyptian fencer Ziad Elsissy celebrates a team sabre win on July 28.

A man sits among rows of empty seats as he watches table tennis at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on July 27.

An underwater view shows the United States’ Delaney Schnell, left, and Jessica Parratto after a dive in the the synchronized 10-meter platform event on July 27.

Turkish archer Yasemin Anagoz competes on July 27.

French slalom canoeist Marie-Zélia Lafont competes in the K-1 semifinal on July 27.

German table-tennis player Timo Boll serves during a match on July 27.

Taiwanese weightlifter Kuo Hsing-chun reacts after winning gold in the 59-kilogram category on July 27.

A man in Yokohama, Japan, walks past the Olympic rings lit up at dusk on July 27.

American Regan Smith swims the final of the women’s 100-meter backstroke on July 27. She won the bronze.

American Haleigh Washington, left, spikes the ball during a volleyball match against China on July 27. The United States won in straight sets, 29-27, 25-22, 25-21.

Norway’s Helene Naess and Marie Ronningen compete in the 49erFX sailing competition on July 27.

Estonian fencer Katrina Lehis, left, squares off against Italy’s Mara Navarria in the team epée semifinals on July 27.

Brazil’s Ana Paula Rodrigues Belo attempts to shoot during a handball match against Hungary on July 27.

From left, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszú, the United States’ Alex Walsh and China’s Yu Yiting take part in a semifinal race for the 200-meter individual medley on July 27. Walsh won the race.

France’s Endy Miyem is defended by Japan’s Himawari Akaho during a basketball game on July 27. Japan defeated France 74-70.

Members of the media are pictured in the foreground as Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, bottom left, and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo play a badminton match against Taiwan’s Lee Yang, top left, and Wang Chi-lin on July 27.

South Korean fencer Kang Young-mi, right, is congratulated by her teammates after they defeated the United States in the epée quarterfinals on July 27.

US water polo player Johnny Hooper takes a shot during the team’s 20-3 win over South Africa on July 27.

The sun sets in Tokyo on July 26 as Belgium plays the Netherlands in a men’s 3-on-3 basketball game. The event is making its Olympic debut this year.

Volunteers sit in mostly empty stands during archery competition on July 26.

The Czech Republic’s Lukas Rohan competes in a canoeing semifinal on July 26.

Fencers Sofia Pozdniakova and Sofya Velikaya, both representing the Russian Olympic Committee, compete against each other in the individual sabre final on July 26. Pozdniakova, a two-time world champion and daughter of Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdniakov, defeated Velikaya 15-11.

Spain’s Adrian Gavira Collado waits for a serve during a beach volleyball match on July 26.

Iran’s Meisam Salehi spikes the ball during a volleyball match against Venezuela on July 26.

British divers Tom Daley, left, and Matty Lee compete in the synchronized 10-meter platform event on July 26. They won the gold.

Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt lies on the ground wrapped in finish-line tape after he won the triathlon on July 26. On the right, silver medalist Alex Yee of Great Britain hugs bronze medalist Hayden Wilde of New Zealand.

Norway’s Richard Andre Ordemann is kicked in the face by Jordan’s Saleh Elsharabaty during a taekwondo bout on July 26. Elsharabaty won 5-4.

The US softball team celebrates its 2-1 win over Japan on July 26. The two teams will meet again in the gold-medal game July 27.

Eldric Sella Rodriguez, a middleweight boxer with the Refugee Olympic Team, lies on the ground after being knocked down by the Dominican Republic’s Euri Cedeno Martinez on July 26. The fight was stopped in the first round, and Cedeno Martinez was declared the winner.

Japan’s Hifumi Abe celebrates after winning gold in judo on Sunday, July 25.

Chinese weightlifter Chen Lijun celebrates on July 25. He won gold in his 67-kilogram weight class after lifting 187 kilograms — an Olympic record — in the clean-and-jerk. His total lift of 332 kilograms edged Colombia’s Luis Javier Mosquera Lozano by one kilogram.

US equestrian Adrienne Lyle rides Salvino in the dressage competition on July 25.

Staff members prepare for judo competition at the Budokan arena in Tokyo.

Spanish judoka Alberto Gaitero Martin is bandaged during his bout against Ukraine’s Georgii Zantaraia on July 25.

China’s Zhang Changning spikes the ball in a preliminary-round volleyball match against Turkey on July 25.

Mexico’s Dallas Escobedo warms up before a softball game against Italy on July 25. Softball is back at the Olympics for the first time since 2008.

American gymnast Simone Biles performs on the vault during the qualification round on July 25. The team all-around final is Tuesday, and the Americans will look to defend the gold they won at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazilian surfer Italo Ferreira rides a wave during an early heat on July 25. This is the first year that surfing is in the Olympics.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a forehand during her first-round match against China’s Zheng Saisai on July 25. Osaka won 6-1, 6-4.

Marina Nekrasova, a gymnast from Azerbaijan, competes on the uneven bars during the qualification round on July 25.

Italy’s Alessandro Velotto moves the ball during a water polo match against South Africa on July 25.

Hungarian fencer Flora Pasztor, left, competes against Algeria’s Meriem Mebarki on July 25.

German beach-volleyball players Julia Sude and Karla Borger play Switzerland’s Anouk Vergé-Dépré and Joana Heidrich in an empty Shiokaze Park on Saturday, July 24.

Hend Zaza, the youngest Olympian this summer, competes in table tennis on July 24. The 12-year-old Syrian was knocked out in the preliminary round, losing 4-0 to Austrian Jia Liu.

Fans wait at the finish of the men’s cycling road race on July 24. The Fuji International Speedway, in Oyama, Japan, is one of the five Olympic venues open to fans this year.

Nigerian gymnast Uche Eke competes on the horizontal bar on July 24.

Chinese fencer Sun Yiwen celebrates with her coach Hugues Obry after winning gold in the épée on July 24.

China’s Yang Qian, the first gold-medal winner of these Olympics, celebrates on July 24. She finished first in the 10-meter air rifle.

Badminton players compete amid rows of empty seats on July 24.

A staff member picks up the mouthguard of Great Britain’s Peter McGrail during a boxing match on July 24.

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron at the end of the opening ceremony on Friday, July 23.

Fireworks go off after Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron.

An overhead view of Osaka lighting the cauldron. The cauldron was designed in the shape of a cherry blossom.

The Olympic flag is raised near the end of the opening ceremony.

Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, makes a speech during the opening ceremony. At left is Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee.

Japanese jazz composer Hiromi Uehara plays the piano during the opening ceremony.

The Olympic flag is carried toward the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito delivers a speech and formally opens the Olympic Games.

Members of the Refugee Olympic Team march during the parade of nations.

Tongan flag-bearer Pita Taufatofua made headlines for going shirtless at the 2016 and 2018 opening ceremonies, and he was at it again in Tokyo. He will be competing in taekwondo.

Athletes from the United States march during the customary parade of nations.

During one portion of the opening ceremony, there were 1,800 drones flying over the stadium to form a globe in the night sky. As the glowing drones soared over the stadium, performers sang “Imagine” by John Lennon.

Athletes from various nations sit during the opening ceremony.

Athletes from Team Norway take part in the parade of nations.

The Olympic teams from every country watch performers on stage.

US athletes hold an American flag during the parade of nations.

Russian athletes pose for a photo during the opening ceremony.

A police officer is seen in the mostly empty stadium on July 23. Organizers said that for the opening ceremony, only 950 VIPs would be present in a stadium that can seat nearly 70,000 people.

French athletes march during the opening ceremony.

A member of Egypt’s delegation enters the stadium during the parade of nations.

British flag-bearers Hannah Mills and Mohamed Sbihi lead out the team during the opening ceremony’s parade of nations. Sbihi, a rower, made history as Great Britain’s first Muslim flag-bearer.

Greece’s athletes march into the stadium to kick off the parade of nations.

Dancers take part in the start of the opening ceremony.

People perform during the opening ceremony.

The Japanese flag is carried during the opening ceremony. After the Japanese National Anthem was sung, a moment of silence was called to remember the global victims of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A performer acts during the opening ceremony.

The start of the ceremony reflected the isolated training that many athletes had to do during the pandemic.

Jill Biden, the first lady of the United States, takes part in a moment of silence during the opening ceremony.

A lone performer is seen during the start of the opening ceremony.

Fireworks explode over the stadium as the opening ceremony got underway.