Usain Bolt becomes "the greatest"
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt made Olympic history when he won gold in the men's 4 x 100 relay sprint, and the men's 100m and 200m sprinting events.
Bolt, who holds the 100m world record (9.58 seconds) and 200m world record (19.19 seconds), has now achieved a record "triple triple" of gold medals at three different Olympic Games. He has the same number of gold medals as former US sprint and long jump legend Carl Lewis and Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi.
In case you missed greatness! Watch @UsainBolt make History via @ESPN (Channel 304) or the #ESPNPlayApp #DigicelPlay pic.twitter.com/Xfcr7g3E1B
— Digicel Jamaica (@DIGICELJamaica) 19 августа 2016 г.
"What else can I do to prove to the world I am the greatest?" Bolt said after his 200-meter final win in Brazil.
"I am trying to be one of the greatest. Be among Muhammad Ali and Pele. I hope after these Games I will be in that bracket."
Phenomenal Michael Phelps wins record medal haul
US swimmer Phelps, who came out of retirement to compete in Rio, won five gold medals and one silver at his fifth and final Olympic games. Phelps was already the most decorated Olympian of all time after the London 2012 Olympics, when he had 22 medals, 18 of them gold.
Just watched @MichaelPhelps last gold medal for @TeamUSA @USASwimming…maybe? pic.twitter.com/drgaVEm9zL
— Al Roker (@alroker) 14 августа 2016 г.
"I said it before but this is the last time you'll see me in the water racing. After the relay last night, that's why I was hunched over and more emotional than I was in London. Because it actually meant something. I don't want to say London didn't mean anything but this is how I wanted to finish," said Phelps after the competition.
Neymar's fastest ever goal
Neymar, star striker for the Brazilian men's team, set a new record for fastest goal scored at an Olympic football match, when he scored after just 14 seconds in the host's semi-final men's game against Honduras. Brazil went on to win the match 6-0, and face Germany in the final on Saturday.
El gol de Neymar a los 14 segundos, el más rápido de la historia olímpica https://t.co/vGI6axzFUd
— La Razon Digital (@LaRazon_Bolivia) 17 августа 2016 г.
The Brazilian women's team won a bronze medal, while Germany won the final against Sweden 2-1. The success of the women's team led fans to petition Nike to sponsor the star striker of the women's team, Marta. Marta is one of the greatest ever-players in the women's game, and is the all-time top scorer at FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments, with 15 goals.
Petição na internet pede para a Nike venda da camisa da Marta. https://t.co/a4bshe7uYd pic.twitter.com/BN26doNZzq
— Lauro Jardim (@laurojardim) 18 августа 2016 г.
'An internet petition asking Nike to sell Marta's football shirts.'
Brazilian fans get into the Olympic spirit
While fans of the host nation had moments of overexcitement, such as their booing of French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie during his final with Brazilian Thiago Braz da Silva, their raucous support has made for some memorable games.
Rafaela Silva (judô), Thiago Braz (salto com vara), Robson Conceição (boxe), Martine/Kahena (vela). Os ouros do #BRA pic.twitter.com/z32tuLfBav
— Goleada Info (@goleada_info) 18 августа 2016 г.
'Rafaela Silva (judo), Thiago Braz (pole vault), Robson Conceição (boxing), Martine/Kahena (sailing). Our gold medals,' Brazilian portal Goleada reported. So far, Brazil has won five gold medals, six silver and five bronze.
After the Brazilian women's volleyball team was beaten by China in the tournament's quarter-final, Brazilian fans shifted their support to the Serbian women's team in their semi-final against the USA, which they won 3-2. On Sunday, Serbia faces China in the women's final.
Argentinian tennis player Juan Martin Del Potro also enjoyed support from the home crowd, making a comeback to competitive tennis after a 14 month absence due to injury. Del Potro beat Rafael Nadal in the men's semi-final, and eventually went home with a silver medal after losing to Andy Murray in the final.
Mi vida los K, dicen que por la "crisis" no hay un solo Argentino en Río viendo la final Murray — Del Potro. Genios. pic.twitter.com/9j2DjfobYT
— Diego Álzaga Unzué (@atlanticsurff) 14 августа 2016 г.
Russia's synchronized swimming team, which won two gold medals, was also popular with the Brazilian spectators.
VIADO o nado sincronizado da russia é fora do normal, ate debaixo d'agua elas sao perfeitamente sincronizadas meu Deus #NadoSincronizado
— agnes (@here4demis) 19 августа 2016 г.
"Russia's synchronized swimming is unusual, even underwater they are perfectly synchronized."
Dupla da Rússia leva ouro no nado sincronizado-https://t.co/8TxUoo76hx pic.twitter.com/ssuZwXd2tn
— TopGyn Notícias (@portaltopgyn) 16 августа 2016 г.
'Russia takes double gold in synchronized swimming.'
Russia's Champion Fencers
Russia won gold in the men's team foil, beating France 45-41 in the final, and the women's sabre team beat Ukraine 45-30 in their final. Yana Egorian beat compatriot Sofiya Velikaya in the final of the women's individual sabre, and Inna Deriglazova was awarded gold in the women's individual foil event.
#RUS women’s sabre #fencing team won #GOLD @Rio2016_en @Olympics! Big congrats and many thanks! pic.twitter.com/FJJxSRwH4L
— РоссиЯ (@Russia) 14 августа 2016 г.
"We have dedicated our victory to the Russian athletes, who could not come to the Olympics," Sofiya Velikaya told reporters after the final.
After the final of the women's team sabre, Russia's final gold in the discipline, Championat.ru columnist Yevgeniy Slyusarenko commented that "Russia – Ukraine has become the El Clasico of world fencing in recent years," as the Russian team won the world championships in 2012 and 2015, while the Ukrainian team took the world title in 2013.
