The 6 Top Storylines Of The 2016 Olympics
Start writing a post
Sports

The 6 Top Storylines Of The 2016 Olympics

Take a look at the most memorable moments from the Olympics

18
The 6 Top Storylines Of The 2016 Olympics

With the Olympics finally over, most of the big stories that dominated the news for the last week will die out and fade off into the sunset, but some will linger due to their significance worldwide. To celebrate the end of the Games, and to remember some of the best stories to come out of Rio, this week’s Pick-Six breaks down the top six storylines to come out of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

6. USA Hits 1,000 Gold Medals

As impressive as this statistic is, it was just inevitable considering the dominance the United States has consistently displayed at the Olympics. The country needed just 23 gold medals to hit the 1K milestone, and reached it on the eighth day of the competition. The US finished out the summer with 46 golds, doubling the amount they needed to reach 1,000, and nearly doubled the medal count of the next closest country.

5. New US Olympic Stars Are Born

One of the best parts about watching the Olympics, specifically in the summer, is seeing all the new names coming out and succeeding on the big stage. This year, names like Katie Ledecky, Simone Biles and Kyle Snyder were dominant in their respective sports, and it showed in their gold medal performances. Ledecky, at just 19 years old, was absolutely perfect in the pool, tallying four golds and two medals as she crushed her competition and broke her own world record in the women’s 800-meter freestyle, and then had to wait 11 seconds for the next swimmer to touch the wall. Biles, also 19, won four golds and a bronze in gymnastics, while Snyder, 20, became the youngest American Olympic gold medalist ever with a solid performance in men’s freestyle wrestling.

4. Ryan Lochte’s Gas Station Drama

Most people will have this as the top storyline of the Olympics given the mass coverage it was given, but I want to focus on the athletic portion and the positives of the competition, rather than an out-of-pool incident. However, you can’t ignore the situation, and it was arguably the most covered story coming out of Rio. Whether it was actually a “robbery”, which legally it is considered to be, or if Lochte was just being Lochte, it has tampered his reputation on the world’s biggest stage.

3. Rio Became Upset Central For Big US Names

It seemed like every day there was a new upset occurring to some of the most dominant athletes this country has to offer. It began with the United States women’s soccer team being defeated in the quarterfinals by Sweden on penalty kicks, and the ball kept rolling throughout the Games. The women’s beach volleyball team of Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross and the indoor women’s volleyball team were both upset in the semifinals, and to top it off, the no. 1 ranked wrestler in the world and defending Olympic gold medalist, Jordan Burroughs, was upset in the quarterfinals and in the repechage for just his third and fourth losses of his career. Despite these disappointments, the country still finished on top in both gold and overall medal counts.

2. Usain Bolt Caps Off His “Triple-Triple

If this is the end of Usain Bolt’s Olympic career, then we’ve been spoiled as witnesses to one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all-time. Bolt made it look easy throughout his races at the 2016 Games, as he tallied his ninth gold in as many Olympic finals, completing the “triple-triple”. It’s crazy to think that a lot of his times would be a lot quicker if he had run full speed all the way through, rather than slowing down once he had a comfortable lead. Nonetheless, Bolt will go down as one of the best to ever compete on the Olympic level.

1. Michael Phelps’ Final Hurrah

Arguably the greatest Olympian of all-time, Michael Phelps finished out his career in Rio, tallying 28 medals in his career, with 23 gold, 3 silver, and two bronze. He holds the all-time records for gold medals, individual gold medals, individual medals, gold medals in a single Olympic Games, and is tied for the record single Games individual record. It’s truly the end of an era if his career has officially concluded, and the Olympics won’t be the same without this swimming superstar.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

54591
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35126
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957374
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

183598
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments