Revisit the 75 best photos from the 2016 Rio Olympics

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Scott DavisJul 7, 2021, 22:09 IST
Revisit the 75 best photos from the 2016 Rio Olympics

Usain Bolt easily beating his competition instantly became an iconic moment.Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

  • The Rio Olympics took place nearly five years ago.
  • The Rio games were unlike any other, and photos caught the incredible spectacle.
  • The 75 best photos include an iconic Usain Bolt moment, Michael Phelps' stretch, and the pain and glory of competing.

It has been nearly five years since the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, two weeks that included numerous world records and famous green diving pools.

The photos from the Rio games were terrific, and they captured the emotion, energy, and athleticism of the games. That Rio is one of the most photogenic cities in the world helped, too.

Below are some of our favorite photos from the Olympics.

Emmett Knowlton contributed to this post.

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It's too easy for Usain Bolt.

It's too easy for Usain Bolt.
Cameron Spencer/Getty

Neymar after winning gold for the host nation.

Neymar after winning gold for the host nation.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty
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An Australian archer takes aim with a Rio favela in the background.

An Australian archer takes aim with a Rio favela in the background.
Quin Rooney/Getty

Diving in!

Diving in!
Al Bello/Getty
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England's Brownlee brothers collapse after taking gold and silver in the men's triathlon.

England's Brownlee brothers collapse after taking gold and silver in the men's triathlon.
Bryn Lennon/Getty

Nice dig by China's Fan Wang.

Nice dig by China's Fan Wang.
Quinn Rooney/Getty
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There's something exceedingly dramatic about fencing.

There's something exceedingly dramatic about fencing.
Matthias Hangst/Getty

Polish rowers completely drained after the pair final.

Polish rowers completely drained after the pair final.
Patrick Smith/Getty
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Nobody likes to lose.

Nobody likes to lose.
Pedro Vilela/Getty

You can't look away from Michael Phelps' pre-swim stretch.

You can't look away from Michael Phelps' pre-swim stretch.
Michael Sohn/AP
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Russian and Mongolian wrestlers, wrestling.

Russian and Mongolian wrestlers, wrestling.
Lars Baron/Getty

Weightlifter Ayesha Shahriyar M. Albalooshi of the UAE.

Weightlifter Ayesha Shahriyar M. Albalooshi of the UAE.
Las Baron/Getty
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Even Olympians get tired after the steeplechase.

Even Olympians get tired after the steeplechase.
Ian Walton/Getty

Tattoos of the Olympic rings are common throughout Rio.

Tattoos of the Olympic rings are common throughout Rio.
Paul Gilham/Getty
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Rowers take the water early in the morning.

Rowers take the water early in the morning.
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty

Great Britain's Elissa Downie gives you a sense of how narrow the balance beam is ...

Great Britain's Elissa Downie gives you a sense of how narrow the balance beam is ...
Ian Walton/Getty
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... which makes Gabby Douglass all the more impressive.

... which makes Gabby Douglass all the more impressive.
Ezra Shaw/Getty

Sergio Garcia and Bernd Wiesberger check out a capybara on the golf course.

Sergio Garcia and Bernd Wiesberger check out a capybara on the golf course.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty
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Simone Manuel reacts after winning gold.

Simone Manuel reacts after winning gold.
Adam Pretty/Getty

A tangle of body parts in Xuechen Huang and Wenyan Sun of China's routine.

A tangle of body parts in Xuechen Huang and Wenyan Sun of China's routine.
Clive Rose/Getty
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Anastasia Gloushkov Leventhal and Ievgenia Tetelbaum of Israel are in sync.

Anastasia Gloushkov Leventhal and Ievgenia Tetelbaum of Israel are in sync.
Al Bello/Getty

How's this for strength?

How's this for strength?
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty
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Raven Saunders prepares to shot put.

Raven Saunders prepares to shot put.
Cameron Spencer/Getty

Katie Ledecky, breaking world records.

Katie Ledecky, breaking world records.
Al Bello/Getty
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Ledecky, breaking more records.

Ledecky, breaking more records.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty

Don't mess with Paula Ungureanu of Romania's handball team.

Don't mess with Paula Ungureanu of Romania's handball team.
Lars Baron/Getty
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Victory is sweet.

Victory is sweet.
Julian Finney/Getty

Michael Phelps' opponent realizes he's been beaten.

Michael Phelps' opponent realizes he's been beaten.
Martin Meissner/AP
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Different reactions from USA's Lilly King and Russia's Yulia Efimova as they look at their times.

Different reactions from USA's Lilly King and Russia's Yulia Efimova as they look at their times.
Clive Rose/Getty

Simone Biles momentarily defeats gravity.

Simone Biles momentarily defeats gravity.
Lars Baron/Getty
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A wrestler from Uzbekistan celebrating (not wrestling!) with his coach after a bronze medal.

A wrestler from Uzbekistan celebrating (not wrestling!) with his coach after a bronze medal.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty

The French handball team roars during a semifinal match with Germany.

The French handball team roars during a semifinal match with Germany.
Lars Baron/Getty
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Good concentration from Segun Toriola of Nigeria.

Good concentration from Segun Toriola of Nigeria.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty

Team USA's Heather Miller-Koch competes in the high-jump portion of the heptathlon.

Team USA's Heather Miller-Koch competes in the high-jump portion of the heptathlon.
Cameron Spencer/Getty
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Backstrokers in unison.

Backstrokers in unison.
Adam Pretty/Getty

Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade stretches out on the balance beam.

Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade stretches out on the balance beam.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
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Losing is never easy for Novak Djokovic.

Losing is never easy for Novak Djokovic.
Clive Brunskill/Getty

Divers plunge into the mysteriously green pool water.

Divers plunge into the mysteriously green pool water.
Matt Dunham/AP
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Germany's Laura Vargas Koch competes against Angola's Antonia Moreira in judo.

Germany's Laura Vargas Koch competes against Angola's Antonia Moreira in judo.
Al Bello/Getty

Japanese decathlete Akihiko Nakamura stretches out in the long jump.

Japanese decathlete Akihiko Nakamura stretches out in the long jump.
Matthias Hangst/Getty
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Mo Farah pulls away to win the 5,000 meter gold.

Mo Farah pulls away to win the 5,000 meter gold.
Patrick Smith/Getty

The 10km marathon swimmers grab refreshments.

The 10km marathon swimmers grab refreshments.
Adam Pretty/Getty
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Tijana Bogdanovic of Serbia lands a high kick in women's taekwondo.

Tijana Bogdanovic of Serbia lands a high kick in women's taekwondo.
Ryan Pierse/Getty

Mateus Filipe Gregorio Machado of Brazil lets it all out.

Mateus Filipe Gregorio Machado of Brazil lets it all out.
Stoyan Nenov/Getty
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Hosam Hussein Bakr Abdin of Egypt is feeling the pain.

Hosam Hussein Bakr Abdin of Egypt is feeling the pain.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty

And Joahnys Argilagos of Cuba is about to feel the pain.

And Joahnys Argilagos of Cuba is about to feel the pain.
David Ramos/Getty
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Irish boxer Michael Conlan tells the judges how he really feels after a controversial quarterfinal exit.

Irish boxer Michael Conlan tells the judges how he really feels after a controversial quarterfinal exit.
Jae C. Hong/AP

Fencers in action - fencers in flight.

Fencers in action - fencers in flight.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty
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Power.

Power.
Lars Baron/Getty

Violetta Kolobova of Russia celebrates winning bronze.

Violetta Kolobova of Russia celebrates winning bronze.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty
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Celebration and suffering in the men's steeplechase finale.

Celebration and suffering in the men's steeplechase finale.
Shaun Botterill/Getty

Jack Laugher and Chris Mears of Great Britain warm up ahead of the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard final.

Jack Laugher and Chris Mears of Great Britain warm up ahead of the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard final.
Adam Pretty/Getty
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Flying horse.

Flying horse.
Mark Kolbe/Getty

Uh oh.

Uh oh.
Elsa/Getty
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Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands with some friendly taunting after defeating Qian Li of China.

Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands with some friendly taunting after defeating Qian Li of China.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty

Boomer Phelps getting ready for 2036?

Boomer Phelps getting ready for 2036?
Al Bello/Getty
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Good concentration from Lin Dan of China.

Good concentration from Lin Dan of China.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty

Indonesian mixed doubles pair Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir celebrated after winning gold.

Indonesian mixed doubles pair Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir celebrated after winning gold.
Richard Heathcote/Getty
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A Mongolian coach stripped off his clothes in protest after his wrestler lost a gold medal for celebrating too early.

A Mongolian coach stripped off his clothes in protest after his wrestler lost a gold medal for celebrating too early.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty

Trinidadian shot-putter Cleopatra Borel readies herself.

Trinidadian shot-putter Cleopatra Borel readies herself.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty
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A Croatian water-polo player rises out of the water for a shot.

A Croatian water-polo player rises out of the water for a shot.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty

Yang Haeun of South Korea watches the ball.

Yang Haeun of South Korea watches the ball.
Rob Carr/Getty
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Italy's Paola Ogechi Egonu elevates and detonates over Puerto Rico.

Italy's Paola Ogechi Egonu elevates and detonates over Puerto Rico.
Buda Mendes/Getty

Look out.

Look out.
Clive Brunskill/Getty
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Boogeying? Nope. Race walking.

Boogeying? Nope. Race walking.
Bryn Lennon/Getty

Russian fencers celebrate after defeating the US in the team semifinal.

Russian fencers celebrate after defeating the US in the team semifinal.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty
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Tania Cagnotto of Italy plummets off the 3-meter springboard.

Tania Cagnotto of Italy plummets off the 3-meter springboard.
Clive Rose/Getty

Canada's Jennifer Abel seemingly relaxes in mid-air during the women's 3-meter springboard final.

Canada's Jennifer Abel seemingly relaxes in mid-air during the women's 3-meter springboard final.
Al Bello/Getty
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Not a bad view from the women's road race.

Not a bad view from the women's road race.
Bryn Lennon/Getty

Great Britain's Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves hike all the way out.

Great Britain's Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves hike all the way out.
Clive Mason/Getty
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Ipanema Beach at sunset.

Ipanema Beach at sunset.
Joe Scarnici/Getty

Christ the Redeemer looks down upon some windsurfers.

Christ the Redeemer looks down upon some windsurfers.
Matthew Stockman/Getty
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The look on the face of a Brazilian volleyball player after winning gold says it all.

The look on the face of a Brazilian volleyball player after winning gold says it all.
Tom Pennington/Getty

A Japanese boat sails on a gorgeous afternoon in Rio. Who's ready for Tokyo 2020?

A Japanese boat sails on a gorgeous afternoon in Rio. Who's ready for Tokyo 2020?
Clive Mason/Getty
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