The sports world’s biggest stage has come and gone with two weeks of memorable performances and storylines cemented in the history books. Now that the Olympic flag has officially been passed to Japan, athletes shift their eyes on preparing for the next Summer Games in Tokyo in 2020.
With more than 10,000 athletes representing over 200 countries during this Games of the XXXI Olympiad, many stunned the world, shattering records and placing their names among other Olympic legends. Although Olympic veterans Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt commanded the media attention, newcomers stepped up to share the spotlight and place their names among the Olympic greats that competed before them. With all the special moments throughout the past 17 days, the Games showed us why the Summer Olympics have the entire world watching and celebrating.
So what will we remember from Rio de Janeiro? Here are five storylines to remember from the Games of the XXXI Olympiad:
1. Redemption
After a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany on home soil in the 2014 World Cup semifinal, Brazil’s soccer team entered the 2016 Rio Games with eyes on Olympic gold. Led by 24-year-old captain Neymar, Brazil had high expectations to win it’s first Olympic gold for soccer.
For the FC Barcelona forward, Neymar faced the critics, who criticized his and Brazil’s disappointing start in the opening matches of the competition against South Africa and Iraq, which ended in draws.
However, four games later, Brazil reached the final after two impressive shutouts in the quarterfinals and semifinals, setting up an epic matchup against Germany. With over 70,000 Brazilians watching inside the vast Maracanã Stadium, the nation’s biggest current soccer star helped deliver an Olympic gold with a penalty shootout victory after a 1-1 tie following extra time.
Moving from the soccer field to the volleyball court, Brazil’s men’s volleyball team had a chance for redemption against Russia, who previously defeated the team for the Olympic gold in the final at the 2012 London Games.
Meeting in the semifinal match, the host nation didn’t disappoint, sweeping Russia in three sets en route to Brazil’s fourth consecutive Olympic final. During the Olympic final, the Brazilians swept Italy in three straight sets to capture their first gold medal since the 2004 Athens Games and the final medal of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
2. Dominance
Pure dominance was on full display at the Rio Olympic Games.
Teenage gymnast sensation Simone Biles of the United States met her high expectations with remarkable results, landing four Olympic gold medals in the women’s vault, floor exercise, team all-around and individual all-around.
The 4’9 Biles was without a doubt the most dominant force in women’s gymnastics entering her first Olympic Games, and proving so by capturing four gold medals to add to her record 10 gold medals in the world championships. Still only 19, Biles expects to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Games with hopes of adding more Olympic medals to her already-impressive record.
Biles wasn’t the only American teenager to dominate the competition in Rio de Janeiro. With a star-studded lineup of Michael Phelps, Nathan Adrian, Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin in the pool for Team USA, the biggest spotlight shined on 19-year-old Katie Ledecky, who was entering her second Olympic Games.
By far the most dominating performance by Ledecky was in the 800-meter freestyle. Not only did Ledecky break her own world record, she also finished the race by a jaw-dropping 11 seconds ahead of 2nd place Jazmin Carlin of Great Britain.
After five memorable performances, Ledecky takes home an Olympic medal from each event, including four golds in the 200-meter, 400-meter and 4 x 200-meter relay freestyle events. The rising star will most likely make another appearance in 2020, looking for more medals in the process.
Outside of the pool to the basketball court, the United States men’s basketball team had their eyes set on a third consecutive gold medal. Since a disappointing bronze medal in the 2004 Athens Games and the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski and General Manager Jerry Colangelo have helped turn the program around. Despite struggling mightily during the later stages of group play, the Americans swept the group play to the gold medal game in a rematch against Serbia. Behind a stellar 30-point performance by new Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, Team USA won in blowout fashion 96-66. With another gold medal, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony retires from Olympic competition as the most decorated USA basketball player with 4 Olympic medals, 3 of which are gold.
The United States women’s basketball team also had high hopes of capturing another gold medal, which would be their sixth consecutive. Through the group play and tournament stages, the women’s team cruised to the final against Spain, winning 101-72 giving three USA veterans Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Tamika Catchings four Olympic golds.
3. Gold Medal Debuts
Entering the 2016 Olympics, 75 countries were without an Olympic medal according to CountryDigest.org.
Making its first appearance back in the Olympics since 1924, rugby presented a chance for many countries to capture their first-ever medal, including Fiji. As heavy favorites to win the gold medal, the two-time Sevens World Cup champions and 16-time reigning World Rugby Sevens Series champs Fiji men’s ruby team did not disappoint. The Pacific Islanders crushed Great Britain 43-7 in the final as they secured their first ever Olympic medal in a golden way.
Outside of Fiji’s debut medal moment, the Rio Olympics delivered some more medal debuts for other countries.
In the country’s first appearance in the Olympic Games, Kosovo captured its first gold medal when Majilnda Kelmendi defeated Italy’s Odette Giuffrida in the final of the women’s 52 kg judo contest. Kelmendi, the two-time world champion from the small city of Peja, represented Albania at the 2012 London Games before the International Judo Federation recognized Kosovo in the spring of that year.
Vietnam also won its first ever Olympic gold medal when Hoang Xuan Vinh defeated Brazil’s Felipe Wu in the finals. After a see-saw battle between the two for most of the final, Vinh finished the competition with an impressive 10.7 over Wu’s 10.1 to steal the gold from Wu.
By far the most shocking gold medal debut goes to Puerto Rico. Monica Puig, ranked number 33 in the world, stole the show after upsetting World No.2 Angelique Kerber of Germany in the singles final 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. By capturing a medal, Puig became the first female Olympic medalist to win a medal for Puerto Rico.
4. Embodiment of the Olympic spirit
As fans watched Rio from around the world for two weeks, they also had moments to cheer, cry and applaud. And with the Summer Games, it is about the Olympic spirit that surrounds the three weeks of competition. This Olympic spirit is best expressed in the Olympic Creed:
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”
But as Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic games, defined as the attitude of the Olympic spirit, the XXXI Olympiad did not disappoint as competitors demonstrated generosity, honesty, inclusion, love for one another and good sportsmanship.
When Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand stumbled and fell during the 5,000-meter race, she accidently tripped Abbey D’Agostino of United States who was behind her. D’Agostino got up immediately and stopped to help Hamblin back to her feet, but the American tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the incident and struggle to run. Hamblin helped her up as they both completed the race together.
In a post-race interview with NBC Sports, D’Agostino called the actions a “simple act of kindness” and that “the beauty behind it is what the Olympics are all about.”
In the pool, world record holder Cate Campbell of Austrailia was the heavy favorite to win the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter freestyle. During the race, Campbell seemed uneasy and fell behind in the race, prompting gold medalist Sarah Sjostrum of Sweden and Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen to help her climb out of the pool.
Despite their neighboring countries being at war against one another, gymnasts Lee Eun-ju of South Korea and Hong Un-jong of North Korea took some time before their competition to take a photo together.
For the first time in Olympic history, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) declared that the organization selected ten refugees to compete at the Rio Olympics under the Olympic Flag as the Refugee Olympic Team. The team of ten athletes, which were announced in June 2016, included 17-year-old Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini and Democratic Republic of Congo judoka Popole Misenga. Through the Olympics, these ten individuals had their stories publicized and shared with the world, including Mardini’s, who crossed from Turkey into Greece in an inflatable boat and had to pull the boat to land when the motor stopped running mid-journey.
The Olympic Games always gives us a chance to celebrate our shared humanity and it was definitely in full display at the 2016 Rio Games. The Olympic spirit doesn’t matter where or how a person was raised, their ability, skills or experience but rather how they represent their country with pride and dignity.
5. Olympic veteran farewells
Two of the most successful Olympic athletes are bidding farewell to Olympic competition.
Jamaican superstar sprinter Usain Bolt announced his retirement following a triple-triple by sweeping all nine of his Olympic competitions since the 2008 Beijing Games. The three-time Olympian experienced final glory in the 2016 games after capturing three gold medals for the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4×100 m relay competitions. It was Bolt’s third consecutive time sweeping the events at the Olympic Games, achieving a historic “Triple-Triple.”
Although the fastest man in the world has officially retired from Olympic competition, Bolt has no plans of retirement from competing in the World Championships.
From the track to the pool, another Olympic athlete will be hanging it up for good.
With his fifth Olympic appearance over the span of 16 years, American swimming legend Michael Phelps furthered his Olympic legend with five gold medals in the 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley, 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay, 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay and 4 x 100 medley relay competitions. With a total of 28 medals (18 of which are gold), Phelps swims into the sunset as the most decorated Olympian of all-time.
Final Medal Count:
____________
Arthur Puu
Spark Sports Editor
Follow Arthur Puu on Twitter @arthurpuu
(67)