The Most Memorable Moments of the Rio Olympics

The 2016 Olympic Games has been one of the most memorable olympic games in history. Billions of people tuned in to watch the world’s best athletes go head-to-head. We saw athlete’s experience euphoria, agony, and everything in between as they strived for their own level of excellence. There have been stories of triumph, stories of heartache, stories of controversy, and as always, stories of the olympic spirit. There have been countless memorable moments from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Here are some of the most memorable. 

Matildas bow out in penalty shoot-out 7-6 against Brazil.

I have to admit; I shed a few tears at this result. As it has for most of the last fortnight, our TV was running on one of the olympic broadcast channels. Last Saturday morning Australian time, I walked past the TV and saw that the Australia vs Brazil women’s football (soccer) match had just begun. I sat down to watch a few minutes and found myself still sitting there almost 90 minutes later. Neither team could find the back net after 90 minutes of regular time or 2 halves of 15-minute extra time. After an intense penalty shoot-out, it was Brazil’s, Tamires, who scored what would become the winning goal. 

Fiji win their first gold medal.

It was the first time Rugby 7’s was included in the olympic games and it was Fiji who won gold. Fiji easily stormed over Great Britain 43-7 in an emphatic and comprehensive display of rugby. Fiji created even more history with the gold medal being the country’s first of any colour at the olympic games.

The comparison photo of Joseph Schooling and Michael Phelps.

There was one photo that I just couldn’t stop looking at during the olympic games. It was that of 13 year old Joseph Schooling with 23 year old Michael Phelps. The photo was taken 8 years ago and I just found it so powerful knowing what was in the future of that 13 year old aspiring swimmer. Schooling, from Singapore, won gold in the 100 butterfly. He edged out Phelps, Chad Le Clos and Laszlo Cseh who all finished in a dead heat for silver. Schooling’s gold was an olympic record and Singapore’s first gold medal in the olympic games. 

Michael Phelps winning his 23rd olympic gold medal.

While Phelps didn’t win his 23rd olympic gold medal in the 100 butterfly on night 7, he did win it the following and final night in the 4x100m medley relay. The 23 gold medals far surpasses any other goal medal haul by any other athlete in olympic history. I don’t doubt we will see this record broken at some point, despite it seeming very, very unlikely. 

The Refugee Olympic Team.

For the first time in olympic games history, ten athletes competed as part of a refugee team under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) flag. The IOC chose to enter a refugee team to raise awareness of the world refugee crisis. The athletes competed in swimming, athletics and judo.

Dane Bird-Smith’s reaction to winning bronze.

One of the most heart-warming moments of the olympic games was watching Dane Bird-Smith win bronze in the 20km walk. His post-race interview showed how humble he is and how excited he was to win the bronze. The story of his dad, who is an olympian in his own right and coach of Dane, being arrested and fined $3,000 adds sensation to the story. His dad who was manning a drink station, later tried to enter the post-race area to celebrate with his son and was escorted. Dane later described the incident as ‘classic dad’. 

The New Zealander and American who embodied the Olympic spirit.

In the women’s 5,000km final, Nikki Hamblin from New Zealand and Abbey D’Agnostino became tangled while running down the back straight. Their legs collided and both fell to the ground. D’Agnostino was the first to her feet, placing her hand on Hamblin’s shoulder and encouraging her to get up and finish the race. It soon became apparent that D’Agnostino was the worse off of the two, badly injuring her ankle. D’Agnostino urged Hamblin to go on, which she did. Hamblin waited for D’Agostino at the finish line, and the two embraced like best friends. They will forever share a special bond.  

Jarrion Lawson’s hand.

One of the most exciting finishes to the long jump was denied. Instead, it ended in an even more captivating way by the hand of American, Jarrion Lawson. Lawson, who uncannily resembles Carl Lewis in physique and unique ability to run fast on the track, as well as jump far in the long jump, almost won gold, if not for his hand. You knew on take-off that Lawson was in for a big jump. When he landed, you thought he’d jumped himself into the medals, if not gold. The result seemed to take forever to appear on the screen and when it did everyone protested in shock. The score, which should have been over 8m, was only 7.99m. The judges were cursed by the commentators. Jarrion flew back to the pit to find out how they could have stuffed their measurement up. Upon replay, it became clear that Jarrion had put his hand down behind him as he landed. It’s a mistake that will live with him forever, and one he will rue until he gets another chance in 4 years time. 

Men’s 400m World Record.

This for me was probably the most memorable moment of the 2016 Rio olympic games. As a former 400m runner whose personal best was 53.9 seconds, seeing a guy run 43.03 seconds was awe-inspiring. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched that race back and been amazed by it every time. The gold medal was won and world record set by relatively unknown South African, Wayde van Niekerk. Van Niekerk’s knee drive and neutral hip position was the most impressive aspect of the run from my point-of-view. I know how hard it is keep your knee drive in the last 50 of a 400 and van Niekerk’s was unbelievalbe. The core strength that he must possess is incredible. He absolutely smashed Michael Johnson’s world record time of 43.18 seconds and made Kirani James of Grenada, and American Leshawn Merritt, look significantly slower. Those 2 aren’t any slouches when it comes to running 400’s. Merritt won the 400 at the Beijing olympics in 2008 and James won it at the London olympics in 2012. For van Niekerk to run the way he did was truly an incredible feat. 

Bolt does the triple-triple.

One of the most special moments of the 2016 olympic games was seeing Usain Bolt win his seventh, eighth and ninth medal of all time. He won the 100, 200 and 4x100 at the Beijing olympics in 2008, London olympics in 2012 and Rio Olympics in 2016. He is probably the most entertaining character we’ve ever seen in track and field and has a record that makes him one of the greatest athletes in olympic history. Knowing we will never see Bolt compete at an olympics ever again is one of the most saddest moments of the Rio olympic games. 

The olympic games has a unique way of bringing the world together. The 2016 olympic games in Rio was no different. The games of the thirty-first olympiad has given the world a reason to believe in the goodness of humanity. We’ve had the opportunity to experience despair, triumph and be inspired by the best athletes in the world. I cannot wait until the next olympics. Until then, I’m looking forward to being inspired by the world’s best paralympians. 

What was your most memorable moment from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games?

Leave your answer to that question in the comments section below.