With its track and field athletes banned from the 2016 Olympic Games, Russia could be excused for not looking back at Rio with any great fondness.
Advertisement
The U.S. men’s basketball team had no problem winning gold, defeating Serbia 96-66 in the gold-medal game, but looked vulnerable at times, whereas the women’s team continued to be an unstoppable force in the Summer Olympics.
So went the medal race at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where the Americans – with women leading the way – dominated both the gold and overall totals.
Two other ex-Trojans-tracksters Allyson Felix of the US (golds in the 400m relay and 1600m relay and silver in the 400m) and Andre De Grasse of Canada (silver in the 200m and bronzes in the 100m and 400m relay)-each won 3 medals. Winning five of the six relays, the USA garnered almost half of the 34 gold medals up for grabs, while no other country won more than three. The home men s national team earned its greatest Olympic memory by winning the men s gold medal.
“This experience has been the dream of a lifetime for me”, said USA gymnast and closing ceremony flagbearer Simone Biles, who won five medals, four of them gold, in her first Olympics.
Find out more in the video above.
Also on the plane were triathlon medal-winning brothers Alistair (R) and Jonny Brownlee (L) and five-time rowing Olympic medallist Katherine Grainger. It was just the fourth loss for Yoshida in 14 years of competition and her first in any gold-medal event.
Bolt sealed the sprint “triple triple” in his final Games, reaching a record-equalling nine gold medals with his third consecutive 100m, 200m and 4x100m sweep.
Phelps won a record 18 gold medals, including eight at the Beijing Games in 2008, a record for most gold medals won at a single Olympics. Kayla Harrison (judo) and Claressa Shields (boxing) became the first Americans in their respective sports to successfully defend their Olympic titles, while Kerri Walsh Jennings (beach volleyball) and Venus Williams (tennis) became the most decorated Olympic female athletes in their sport with four and five medals apiece.
“I think when we arrived just an hour or so ago it was overwhelming the reception that we got, not just from British Airways but also everyone who is in Terminal 5”. The top two, Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky, combined for 11 of America’s 33 medals in the sport.
American women also delivered some of the most memorable moments of the Rio Games. “I’m definitely thinking about it”.
The success of athletes including Mo Farah, Nicola Adams, Jason Kenny and Laura Trott spurred the team into second place in the official medal table, ahead of China.
MIXED BAG: Brazil managed to pull off South America’s first Olympics under hard economic and political conditions, with the competitions, venues, athletes, friendly hosts, TV images and Rio’s scenic backdrops all rising to the occasion.
The U.S.’ top women’s beach volleyball duo failed to win gold after losing to Brazil in the semifinals.
The U.S. Olympic Team made itself right at home in Rio.
The Duke and Duchess, meanwhile, lauded the athlete’s achievement as an “inspiration to us all, young and old”.
Advertisement
In the first day of competition, 12 medals were awarded, including the women’s 400-meter relay which was won by the Hungarian entry.
