On August 21, 2016, the Games of the XXXI Olympiad ended in Rio de Janeiro, capping two weeks of drama, record-setting performances, and a fair share of controversy. While some observers gave the Games mixed reviews, many considered them a triumph for a city struggling with political instability, a severe recession, high crime rates, and fears over the Zika virus. Indeed, arguably no Olympic host city had faced so many challenges. As described by the IOC president, Thomas Bach, however, the Rio Games were “iconic,” producing a number of memorable moments—and a few that might best be forgotten.
Many historic performances took place in the pool—which also attracted attention when water at the various facilities turned emerald green, likely owing to too much chlorine. American Michael Phelps—whose stony prerace face sparked a social media meme—extended his lead as the most-decorated athlete in the history of the Games, winning five golds and one silver to bring his career total to 28 medals. When he won the 200-m individual medley, Phelps captured his 13th individual gold medal, leading to claims that he surpassed Leonidas of Rhodes, whose supposed record of 12 individual golds won during the ancient Olympic Games had stood since 152 BCE. Simone Manuel also made news when she swam to a first-place tie in the 100-m freestyle, becoming the first African American to win an individual swimming medal. She then helped the U.S. women win the 4 × 100-m medley relay, which was the U.S.’s 1,000th overall gold medal at the modern Summer Games. Other standouts in the pool included Katie Ledecky, who set various records as she won five medals, four of which were gold.
In gymnastics, heavily favored Simone Biles lived up to expectations, winning four gold medals—the most by an American gymnast at a single Games. She helped the United States take the team event before claiming the all-around title. She later won the floor exercise and the vault and captured a bronze in the balance beam. On the track, Jamaican Usain Bolt continued to prove that he is the fastest man alive. For the third consecutive Olympics, he won both the 100- and 200-m sprints. It was an unprecedented feat, fitting for a man nicknamed “Lightning Bolt.”
Other notable moments included the Fiji rugby team’s winning the country’s first gold medal, which resulted in Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s declaring a national holiday. Tennis player Monica Puig won Puerto Rico’s first gold medal, and weightlifter Sara Ahmed took bronze in the 69-kg weight class to become the first female from Egypt to win an Olympic medal. Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin became the first female medalist from Iran as she won bronze in the 57-kg tae kwon do event. Kosovo made its Olympic debut in Rio, and Majlinda Kelmendi became the country’s first medal winner, taking gold in the 52-kg women’s judo event. And the host country celebrated its first gold medal in perhaps the only sport that mattered to Brazilians—men’s football (soccer).
Alas, not all moments were golden. From charges of sexism in the media coverage—as when an announcer credited a swimmer’s husband for her success—to controversy with judging decisions in boxing, some events were less than stellar. But perhaps the lowest point of the Games came after American swimmer Ryan Lochte claimed that he and three teammates—Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz, and Jack Conger—had been robbed at gunpoint. Amid mounting evidence, notably surveillance camera video, the swimmers admitted that there had been no robbery. Instead, they’d had an altercation with a security guard after urinating on the side of a gas station and damaging a bathroom door.