From thrilling finishes to scenes that pulled at your heartstrings.
The 2016 Rio Olympics were filled with amazing moments—in the pool with Michael Phelps, on the floor (and through the air) with Simone Biles, and, of course, on the track, with dozens of incredible athletes. Here, we rank from 15 to 1 the best races, athletes, and crazy finishes that will make us always remember the Games from Rio.
15. The U.S. Re-Runs a Relay, Solo
In the prelims of the women’s 4 x 100-meter relays, it looked as if Allyson Felix and English Gardner botched the second handoff, dashing the team’s hopes of repeating. But Felix was found to have been impeded by a Brazilian athlete, and the U.S. team filed an appeal. Because Brazil had not made the final, the U.S. women re-ran their relay on Thursday evening as a time trial—by themselves. Saying it was like “practice,” the foursome beat China’s time of 42.70 to advance to the final. The next night, the U.S. team of Felix, Tianna Bartoletta, English Gardner, and Tori Bowie made the most of the opportunity, winning its second straight gold medal, in 41.01.
14. Farah Falls, Wins Gold Anyway
Britain’s Mo Farah was favored to repeat his gold-medal performance in the 10,000 meters from 2012. But early in this year’s final, he tangled with his Oregon Project teammate Galen Rupp and fell to the track. Farah popped right up as Rupp slowed to make sure he was okay. A thumbs-up by the Brit preceded a dominating finish in 27:05.17 and another gold medal.
13. Huddle Crushes 10,000-Meter American Record
On the opening day of Olympic track action, a stunning world-record performance by Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana garnered the most attention. But behind her 29:17.45 performance, the rest of the field also attained record-breaking marks, including American Molly Huddle. She finished sixth, running 30:13.17, beating Shalane Flanagan’s national record by nearly 10 seconds. Seven other runners, including Ayana, broke national records in the blistering race.
12. Simpson Breaks Through in the Women’s 1500
American Jenny Simpson surged into the history books on the final lap of the women’s 1500 meters Tuesday night, running 4:10.53. She very nearly ran down the world record holder, Genzebe Dibaba, who took silver by just two tenths of a second. Simpson became the first American ever to medal in the women’s 1500 meters.
11. Miller Makes a Golden Dive
Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas fended off a homestretch kick by American Allyson Felixin the 400 meters by diving across the finish line. Though the legal move ignited criticism from some, the gutsy leap earned Miller the gold by just seven-hundredths of a second. Felix still came away with the silver, making her the most decorated U.S. female track athlete ever.
RELATED: 4 Episodes of Finish Line Drama for Allyson Felix
Editor’s note: A previous version said Miller is from Jamaica. It has been fixed to reflect she is from the Bahamas.
10. American Women Finish in Top 10
If the marathon was scored like cross-country, the U.S. women would have won gold. Shalane Flanagan took sixth, followed by Desiree Linden in seventh, and Amy Cragg in ninth. The team’s performance was the best American showing in the event, male or female, since 1972.
9. Rupp Medals for the Men
In only his second marathon and after a disappointing fifth-place run in the 10,000 meters a week prior, Galen Rupp won the bronze in a personal best of 2:10:05. Not far behind him on the rain-soaked Rio streets was American Jared Ward, who also made his Olympics debut at 26.2 miles and placed sixth.
Rupp’s medal was the first by an American man in an Olympic marathon since 2004, when Meb Keflezighi won silver. Meb did not have his best race in what was likely his last Olympics, but he again had a memorable moment at the finish line when he slipped on the wet ground when pumping his fist, hit the deck, then did a few pushups before crossing the line.
8. Americans Sweep the 100-Meter Hurdles
For the first time ever in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, Americans swept the podium. The race was led by 24-year-old Brianna Rollins in 12.48. Teammate Nia Ali took silver in 12.59, followed by Kristi Castlin in 12.61 to take bronze. Proving equally impressive at a longer distance, American Dalilah Muhammad breezed in the 400-meter hurdlesand won the gold medal in 53.13, and Ashley Spencer of the U.S. took the bronze in 53.72.
7. Murphy Goes From Pig Farm to Bronze Medal
Clayton Murphy, 21, grew up showing pigs, raised on a farm in rural Ohio. His dad says he’s as good a swine salesman as he is a runner. If that’s true, he’s the third best pig peddler in the world, because he took home a surprising bronze medal in the men’s 800 in a personal best, 1:42.93.
6. A 74-Year-Old Trains a Record-Breaker
South African Wayde van Niekerk shocked the world from lane eight, breaking the 17-year-old world record in the 400 meters. He largely credits the 43.03 performance to his 74-year-old coach, Ans Botha, who has been training athletes since the 1960s.
NBC Olympics
✔@NBCOlympics
South Africa sprinter @WaydeDreamer and 400m #WorldRecord holder is trained by a 74-year old great grandmother.
5. A Hair Tie Stokes the Steeplechasers
While warming up for the 3,000-meter steeplechase final, American Emma Coburnneeded a spare hair tie, so she asked around. Her fully man-bunned countryman, Evan Jager, lent one of his. Coburn went on to win bronze, becoming the first American female to ever medal in the event. She then returned the hair tie to Jager, who wore it during his 3,000-meter steeple final two days later. He took silver, the best finish of an American man in the event since 1952.
emma coburn
✔@emmajcoburn
must keep this hair tie safe. It’s not the hard work in training and years of preparation, it’s the hair tie. https://twitter.com/evanjager/status/766023216083116033 …
Evan Jager
✔@EvanJager
Replying to @emmajcoburnI’m not gonna lie. I used that hair tie for the race today. I needed some of that good juju!
I owe it all to you
4. Felix Makes History With Six Golds
As the anchor of the women’s 4 x 400 relay, Allyson Felix out-sprinted the Jamaican team to win her sixth gold medal, making her the most decorated female track athlete of all time. During the Rio Games, the 29-year-old also won gold in the 4 x 100 meters and took silver in the 400 meters.
3. Centrowitz Stuns in the 1500, Breaking a 108-Year Drought
Few gave him a chance at a gold in the men’s 1500 meters, but Matthew Centrowitz held off the best milers in the world to win in 3:50.00. It was the first U.S. gold in the event since Mel Sheppard won in the 1908 Olympics. After just missing a medal in London, Centrowitz used his tactics to grab his first Olympic gold.
“The last homestretch was just a long, long-ass hundred. I was like, Here comes someone. Someone’s gotta come. My legs felt great until I think about the last 20 when I kind of felt like I was buckling a little bit. I was like, Oh s—. C’mon, man, you’re right there.”
NBC Olympics
✔@NBCOlympics
#TeamUSA‘s @MattCentrowitz is the first American to win the 1500m since 1908. http://bit.ly/2bq4Cyx
2. Bolt Smiles Into the History Books
In addition to becoming the first athlete to ever win three consecutive 100- and 200-meter Olympic races, Usain Bolt earned the “triple-triple” by winning his ninth gold in anchoring Jamaica to its third 4 x 100-meter relay victory at the Games. That tied him with Carl Lewis and Paavo Nurmi with the most gold for a track and field runner ever.
Along the way, Bolt did it with a typical flair that only added to his legacy and aura. In his 100-meter qualifying heat, he appeared to smile directly into the camera before the finish line, a full body length ahead of his straining competitors. The image quickly became a meme, and an instant iconic photo fo the Games. He flashed more teeth in his 200-meter qualifying heat, winning while grinning along with Canadian Andre De Grasse.
NBC Sports
✔@NBCSports
1. Sportsmanship Prevails in the Women’s 5,000
On the eighth lap of the opening 5,000-meter qualifying heat, American Abbey D’Agostino tangled with New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin and both tumbled to the track. Despite tearing her ACL, MCL, and meniscus, D’Agostino helped Hamblin stand up. Then Hamblin returned the gesture, aiding a hobbling and visibly pained D’Agostino. The two finished the race, embraced at the line, and the moment quickly went viral, with many saying it embodied the Olympic spirit.
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