Rio de Janeiro wrapped up the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 21 with a spectacular carnival-inspired closing ceremony.

The colorful, samba-infused finale filled the Maracana Stadium with an energy that delighted athletes from 207 countries and an audience of some 80,000 people. Despite the heavy rain and wind that plagued the event from start to finish, all those in attendance couldn't help but join in the festivities.

Star athletes didn't fail to impress at this year's games.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica seized the moment, securing triple gold medals for the third consecutive Olympics in the 100 meter, 200 meter and 4x100 meter relay. Michael Phelps, who already had 22 Olympic medals to his name, won five gold medals and one silver medal this year, proving once again that he is the undisputed Olympic champion in swimming.

There was more to the Rio 2016 Olympics than just the triumphant victories of Bolt or Phelps, however. When two distance runners, Nikki Hamblin from New Zealand and Abbey D'Agostino from the U.S. clashed in the 5,000 meter heats and fell to the ground, not many would have given them a second glance. Hamblin lost balance and fell first, and D'Agostino stumbled right behind. What happened next, though, became one of the most iconic moments of the Rio Olympics. D'Agostino was quickly up on her feet and then stopped to help Hamblin run alongside her. D'Agostino realized she had injured her knee and urged Hamblin to race on, but Hamblin refused to leave her side and they completed the race together.

While the two Olympians didn't win any Olympic medals, they captured the hearts of people across the globe with an act of compassion and sacrifice. The International Olympic Committee honored the runners by awarding them the Pierre de Coubertin medal for their outstanding sportsmanship.



The national team also brought home exciting news throughout the competition.

The archery team was the first to secure gold for Team Korea. Following the success of the men's team in the archery competition, the women's team also defended their champion title and won gold for the eighth consecutive Olympics. The Korean archers continued to win gold in the individual rounds, too.

In the shooting, Jin Jongoh won gold in the 50-meter pistol competition, making history as the first shooter to win gold in three consecutive Olympics in the same event. In taekwondo, Korea won two gold and three bronze medals, all the athletes standing proudly on the podium. Star athlete Park Inbee brought home the final gold in golf, which was introduced again to the Olympics this year for the first time in 116 years. Park, who showed strong shots throughout all rounds, rose to the top as the Korean national anthem echoed across the stadium.

Now that the Rio 2016 Olympic Games have come to a close, the excitement surrounding the games will migrate over to PyeongChang, Korea, where the 2018 Winter Olympics will commence in 536 days.

During the games in Rio, Korea was able to promote the upcoming Winter Olympics by setting up a promotional center on Copacabana beach. The PyeongChang Organizing Committee was in Rio to learn first-hand about the challenges associated with running a large-scale, international event like the Olympics. The PyeongChang Organizing Committee is resolved to take the experiences it has gained in Brazil so as to successfully organize Korea's second Olympic Games.

"The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games that will take off in Korea's snow-capped mountains will be an event without any limitations in terms of language, accessibility, age, or safety, " said Lee Hee-beom, president of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee. "We are working hard to put together an event that showcases Korea's IT capabilities and that spreads peace through the act of sportsmanship."

By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Yonhap News
hlee10@korea.kr