RIO 2016

One great photo from each day at the Rio Olympics

Opening Ceremony, Aug. 5: The glistening, shirtless Tongan flag bearer stole the show, but the most poignant moment of the opening ceremony was the entrance of the 10-person Refugee Team. Competing under the Olympic flag, the team consisted of five runners from South Sudan, two swimmers from Syria, two judokas from the Democratic Republic of Congo and one runner from Ethiopia. The team did not win a medal, but it shined a spotlight on the world's worst refugee crisis since World War II.
Opening Ceremony, Aug. 5: The glistening, shirtless Tongan flag bearer stole the show, but the most poignant moment of the opening ceremony was the entrance of the 10-person Refugee Team. Competing under the Olympic flag, the team consisted of five runners from South Sudan, two swimmers from Syria, two judokas from the Democratic Republic of Congo and one runner from Ethiopia. The team did not win a medal, but it shined a spotlight on the world's worst refugee crisis since World War II.
Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 6: American Ginny Thrasher captured the first gold medal of the Games on the first full day of events. The 19-year-old took gold in the women's 10-meter air rifle competition.
Aug. 6: American Ginny Thrasher captured the first gold medal of the Games on the first full day of events. The 19-year-old took gold in the women's 10-meter air rifle competition.
Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 7: Sinphet Kruaithong of Thailand was fired up after a successful attempt in the men's 56-kilogram weightlifting competition. Kruaithong went on to win the bronze medal.
Aug. 7: Sinphet Kruaithong of Thailand was fired up after a successful attempt in the men's 56-kilogram weightlifting competition. Kruaithong went on to win the bronze medal.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 8: American Ryan Murphy hits the pool to start the men's 100-meter backstroke final. Murphy continued the U.S. tradition of excellence in the event, beating a loaded field to win the gold medal in an Olympic-record 51.97 seconds. Three days later, Murphy took gold in the 200-meter backstroke.
Aug. 8: American Ryan Murphy hits the pool to start the men's 100-meter backstroke final. Murphy continued the U.S. tradition of excellence in the event, beating a loaded field to win the gold medal in an Olympic-record 51.97 seconds. Three days later, Murphy took gold in the 200-meter backstroke.
Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 9: American Laurie Hernandez wows the crowd with her floor routine during the women's gymnastics team final. Hernandez and her Final Five teammates left their mark on the Games, dominating the field to win the gold medal.
Aug. 9: American Laurie Hernandez wows the crowd with her floor routine during the women's gymnastics team final. Hernandez and her Final Five teammates left their mark on the Games, dominating the field to win the gold medal.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 10: Aron Szilagyi of Hungary, left, competes against Daryl Homer of the USA during the men’s sabre fencing final. Szilagyi won the match to capture the gold medal, while Homer's silver was the first American medal in the event since 1984.
Aug. 10: Aron Szilagyi of Hungary, left, competes against Daryl Homer of the USA during the men’s sabre fencing final. Szilagyi won the match to capture the gold medal, while Homer's silver was the first American medal in the event since 1984.
David E. Klutho, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 11: Already a three-time all-around world champion, Simone Biles cemented her status at the Games as arguably the greatest female gymnast ever. Biles dominated the field to win the all-around gold medal and later added two more golds and a bronze in the event finals.
Aug. 11: Already a three-time all-around world champion, Simone Biles cemented her status at the Games as arguably the greatest female gymnast ever. Biles dominated the field to win the all-around gold medal and later added two more golds and a bronze in the event finals.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 12: Joseph Schooling became a national hero when he won the men's 100-meter butterfly in an Olympic-record 50.39 seconds for Singapore's first-ever gold medal. Schooling upset a strong field that included his idol Michael Phelps, who finished in a three-way tie for silver.
Aug. 12: Joseph Schooling became a national hero when he won the men's 100-meter butterfly in an Olympic-record 50.39 seconds for Singapore's first-ever gold medal. Schooling upset a strong field that included his idol Michael Phelps, who finished in a three-way tie for silver.
Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 13: American Michael Phelps closed his illustrious Olympic career with a gold medal in the men's 4x100 medley relay. Already the most decorated Olympian ever coming into the Games, Phelps bid an emotional farewell after winning five golds and a silver in Rio. Phelps upped his record career totals to 23 gold medals and 28 medals overall.
Aug. 13: American Michael Phelps closed his illustrious Olympic career with a gold medal in the men's 4x100 medley relay. Already the most decorated Olympian ever coming into the Games, Phelps bid an emotional farewell after winning five golds and a silver in Rio. Phelps upped his record career totals to 23 gold medals and 28 medals overall.
Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 14: Golf returned to the Olympics after a 112-year absence. Justin Rose of Great Britain sank the first hole-in-one in Olympic history in the first round, then closed with an easy birdie on the final hole to secure the gold medal.
Aug. 14: Golf returned to the Olympics after a 112-year absence. Justin Rose of Great Britain sank the first hole-in-one in Olympic history in the first round, then closed with an easy birdie on the final hole to secure the gold medal.
Michael Madrid, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 15: Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas created quite the memorable moment when she dove across the finish line to win the gold medal in the women's 400 meters. Miller's dive helped her edge American Allyson Felix by 0.07 seconds.
Aug. 15: Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas created quite the memorable moment when she dove across the finish line to win the gold medal in the women's 400 meters. Miller's dive helped her edge American Allyson Felix by 0.07 seconds.
Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 16: Laura Ludwig of Germany couldn't come up with this dig during the women's beach volleyball semifinals, but she and partner Kira Walkenhorst recovered well. Ludwig and Walkenhorst upset the top-seeded team from Brazil in the semis, then knocked off the second-seeded Brazilian team in the final to capture their first gold medal.
Aug. 16: Laura Ludwig of Germany couldn't come up with this dig during the women's beach volleyball semifinals, but she and partner Kira Walkenhorst recovered well. Ludwig and Walkenhorst upset the top-seeded team from Brazil in the semis, then knocked off the second-seeded Brazilian team in the final to capture their first gold medal.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports
Aug 17: Argentina guard Facundo Campazzo, left, wasn't backing down from USA center DeAndre Jordan during the men's basketball quarterfinals, but his tenacity was ultimately unrewarded. Jordan and the USA rolled to a 105-78 victory on their way to the gold medal.
Aug 17: Argentina guard Facundo Campazzo, left, wasn't backing down from USA center DeAndre Jordan during the men's basketball quarterfinals, but his tenacity was ultimately unrewarded. Jordan and the USA rolled to a 105-78 victory on their way to the gold medal.
Jeffrey Swinger, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 18: Meaghan Benfeito of Canada completes a dive during the women's 10-meter platform competition. Benfeito captured the bronze medal in the individual competition to go with the bronze she won with partner Roseline Filion in the synchronized event.
Aug. 18: Meaghan Benfeito of Canada completes a dive during the women's 10-meter platform competition. Benfeito captured the bronze medal in the individual competition to go with the bronze she won with partner Roseline Filion in the synchronized event.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 19: Sprinting superstar Usain Bolt bid an emotional farewell after anchoring Jamaica to the gold medal in the men's 4x100-meter relay. In what he said was his final Olympics, Bolt cemented his status as one of the greatest Olympians ever with gold medals in the 100, 200 and 4x100 in each of the last three Games.
Aug. 19: Sprinting superstar Usain Bolt bid an emotional farewell after anchoring Jamaica to the gold medal in the men's 4x100-meter relay. In what he said was his final Olympics, Bolt cemented his status as one of the greatest Olympians ever with gold medals in the 100, 200 and 4x100 in each of the last three Games.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 20: Neymar and the Brazilian men's soccer team were overcome by emotion after defeating Germany to win the gold medal on home soil. The victory was a measure of revenge after the Germans embarrassed Brazil in a 7-1 defeat during the 2014 World Cup in Rio.
Aug. 20: Neymar and the Brazilian men's soccer team were overcome by emotion after defeating Germany to win the gold medal on home soil. The victory was a measure of revenge after the Germans embarrassed Brazil in a 7-1 defeat during the 2014 World Cup in Rio.
Eric Seals, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 21: Olympic selfies were all the rage in Rio, and USA star Kevin Durant was happy to oblige fans after defeating Serbia to capture the gold medal. Durant and the USA went undefeated in the tournament to capture their third consecutive Olympic gold.
Aug. 21: Olympic selfies were all the rage in Rio, and USA star Kevin Durant was happy to oblige fans after defeating Serbia to capture the gold medal. Durant and the USA went undefeated in the tournament to capture their third consecutive Olympic gold.
Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports
Closing Ceremony, Aug. 21: Rio de Janeiro and the world bid farewell to the Olympics after two weeks that saw minimal problems despite mounting concerns in the run-up to the Games.
Closing Ceremony, Aug. 21: Rio de Janeiro and the world bid farewell to the Olympics after two weeks that saw minimal problems despite mounting concerns in the run-up to the Games.
James Lang, USA TODAY Sports