I, along with many others, religiously watch the Olympics every four years. These past two weeks at my household have been filled with nothing but the Olympics on television all day. And while my friends may have thought I was M-I-A, in reality, I was just at home, watching the Olympics. So here are my favorite moments of the Rio Olympic games!
1. Simone Biles and Aly Raisman clinching the gold and the silver in the Individual All Around
CREDIT: THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images
2. Simone Manuel’s Gold medal in the 100m freestyle
Simone became the first African American woman to win an individual Olympic title in swimming.
3. Lily King’s finger wag
The 19 year old's bold gesture sure made a statement towards the Russian Olympic team.
4. Matthew Centrowitz’s gold in the 1500m
Okay so maybe you wouldn't pick this to be in the top 20 moments from Rio, but as a track and field athlete myself and complete running nerd, I had to include it. Centrowitz brought home USA's first Olympic gold medal in the men's 1500m since 1908.
5. Monica Puig brings home Puerto Rico’s first ever Olympic Gold medal
Tennis gold medalist Monica Puig's had the honor of watchingPuerto Rico's flag be raised for the first time ever at an Olympic Games, as she brought home the first ever gold medal for Puerto Rico.
6. USA sweeps the competition in the Women’s 100m hurdles, taking home gold, silver, and bronze
CREDIT: NBC Olympics
7. Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D’Agostino’s collision on the track
After New Zeleand’s Nikki Hamblin collided with American Abbey D’Agostino, resulting in injury for D’Agostino, Hamblin helped her to her feet and the two crossed the finish line together in a genuine show of sportsmanship
8. Ibtihaj Muhammad becomes first American athlete to compete in a Hijab, and brings home a team bronze for USA
CREDIT: NBC Olympics
9. U.S. women’s 4x100m gets a re-do after dropping the baton in the semifinals
After dropping the baton in a collision between Allyson Felix and a Brazilian runner, the U.S. team was disqualified from the race. But after appealing to the IAAF, the team was given another chance to qualify. The four women had to run on an empty track and attempt to beat a time rather than another team running next to them. Amazingly enough, the team still managed to run a time fast enough to qualify for the finals- and even bring home the gold for team USA a few days later.
10. Danell Leyva brings home 2 silver medals
After the Olympic trails back in June, Danell Levya was not chosen to be a member of the Olympic team, and was chosen as an alternate instead. But shortly following the trials, team member John Orozco suffered a ACL injury, putting Danell Leyva back onto the 5 man team. Leyva managed to bring home silver in both the horizontal and parallel bars for team USA.
11. Yusra Mardini, Syrian swimmer representing the refugee team, wins her heat in the 100m butterfly
CREDIT: NBC Olympics
12. Every race by Katie Ledecky
Move over Michael Phelps, looks like the U.S. may have found its new swimming star. Bringing home 4 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 2 new world records from Rio, I think it's safe to say Ledecky had a successful games.
13. Every race by Michael Phelps
Of course, nothing beats watching Phelps become the most decorated olympian of all time.
14. Ashton and Brianne Eaton bring home Rio hardware to the same house
What’s better than an Olympic couple? It's the perfect story for all the romantics out there. Ashton, bringing home the gold for team USA in the decathlon, proves that he is the greatest athlete in the world, again. And with Brianne bringing home bronze for Canada in the heptathlon, the two prove to be a true Olympic couple.
15. Helen Maroulis upsets most the decorated woman wrestler to become first ever American gold medalist in women’s wrestling
CREDIT: Jeffrey Swinger/ USA Today Sports
16. Simone Biles takes home 5 medals, 4 gold in women’s gymnastics
CREDIT: USA Today Sports
17. Allyson Felix becomes the first woman ever to win 5 gold medals in track and field
After taking home the gold in the 4x100m and 4x400m in Rio, Allyson Felix breaks history in bringing home the most gold medals by any female track and field athlete
18. The Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller dives across the finish line to beat Allyson Felix in the 400m
19. Emma Coburn and Evan Jager using the same hair tie
After Coburn couldn’t find a hair tie before her race, she borrowed one from teammate Evan Jager. After Coburn won bronze in the steeplechase wearing the hair tie, Jager then used the hair tie in his own race, clinching the silver medal. I guess there is such a thing as a lucky hair tie after all.
20. Usain Bolt takes home 3 gold medals to completely dominate the olympic sprints
I don't think anyone was surprised when Bolt took home the gold in the 100m and 200m, and although he set a record while doing so, he made it look easy.
