The US were dominant in track and field, winning 31 medals (13 of which were gold) -- 20 more than second-placed Jamaica, who won six golds. The nation also ruled in the pool, winning 33 of the 104 medals awarded, which is 32%. Of these medals, 16 were gold. Their nearest rivals, Australia, won 10 swimming medals (three gold).
Three nations won their first ever Olympic medal -- Fiji (in the first ever Olympic men's rugby sevens), Jordan (the men's -68kg taekwondo) and Kosovo (the women's -52kg judo).
In his fourth Games, Michael Phelps brought his personal medal tally to 28 (23 golds, three silvers and two bronzes). Swimmer Katie Ledecky followed up her solitary gold in London in 2012 with four more, along with a silver, and Simone Biles added four golds and a bronze through her gymnastics abilities.
Jamaica's Usain Bolt confirmed, once again, his status as the greatest sprinter of all time, winning three more golds to achieve an unprecedented Olympic 'triple triple' in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Bolt's haul of nine golds puts him equal with USA sprinter and long jumper Carl Lewis and Finnish long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi.
Japan's Kohei Uchimura became the first artistic gymnast in 44 years to successfully win back-to-back Olympic all-around titles. He also helped Japan take team gold for the first time since the Athens Games in 2004.
South Korea completed a clean sweep of archery's four gold medals for the first time to continue their dominance in the sport. Of the last 36 archery golds available (over nine Olympics), South Korea has won 23 -- that is 76.67%.
Britain's Mo Farah became the first man to complete the 5,000m and 10,000m double at back-to-back Games since Finland's Lasse Viren at the Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976.
Team GB's Andy Murray became the first ever player to defend an Olympic individual tennis title on the same day that Justin Rose won the first Games golf gold in 112 years.
World-record holder Ashton Eaton of the USA became the first man to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the decathlon since Britain's Daley Thompson at the 1980 and 1984 Games.
Jamaica's Elaine Thompson became the first woman to complete the sprint double at the Olympic Games for 28 years, following Florence Griffith-Joyner in Seoul in 1988.
China's Wu Minxia became the first diver to win five Olympic golds when she sealed victory in the women's 3m synchronized springboard event with Shi Tingmao.
27 new world records were set in Rio within the seven Olympic sports that recognize them -- archery, athletics (track and field), modern pentathlon, track cycling, shooting, swimming and weightlifting.
From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),
Paul J. Staso
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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek
Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
- United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
- Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
- Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
- Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
- The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
- Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
- Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
- Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
- Some Cycling Moments From The Past
