Athletes Go It Alone in Tokyo as Families Watch From Afar

Michael Phelps reached for his mother's hand through a chain-link fence near the pool. The 19-year-old swimmer had just won his first Olympic medal — gold, of course — at the 2004 Athens Games, and he wanted to share it with the woman who raised him on her own.

That kind of moment between loved ones won't be happening at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics. No spectators — local or foreign — will be allowed at the vast majority of venues, where athletes will hang medals around their own necks to protect against spreading the coronavirus. No handshakes or hugs on the podium, either. "I like to feed off of the crowd," defending all-around champion gymnast Simone Biles said, "so I'm a little bit worried about how I'll do under those circumstances."