Parys Gazette’s top 10 Rio Olympic moments
Joseph Schooling beats his hero Phelps Eight years previously Singapore’s Joseph Schooling met his hero the American gold medalist, Michael Phelps. Eight years later he beat him in the 100 metres butterfly final at the Rio Olympics. A fantastic story for Asian swimming.
- Joseph Schooling beats his hero Phelps
Eight years previously Singapore’s Joseph Schooling met his hero the American gold medalist, Michael Phelps. Eight years later he beat him in the 100 metres butterfly final at the Rio Olympics. A fantastic story for Asian swimming.
- Neymar leads Brazil to first football gold medal
Neymar will look back at Brazil’s historic Rio Football campaign and realise that the script was written for him – he just needed to act and boy did he. The Brazilian icon and playmaker was at the heart of everything good for Brazil. He scored in the final against Germany and then when it came to penalties he was tasked to shoot the winning kick. He stepped up and buried the ball in the net to hand Brazil their first ever Olympic Football gold medal.
8. Simone Biles makes a golden mark
The young American gymnastics sensation was one of the darlings of the Olympic Games and made history as the first African American gymnast to get an Olympic medal. Her four Olympic golds and one bronze medal was a testament to her talent, character and passion for her sport. Biles is also only one of five women who has won an individual all round title at both the World Championships and Olympic Games.
- Manyonga wins magnificent and unexpected silver
Luvo Manyonga was an unknown quantity heading into the Olympics but came out with a silver medal and a rip roaring success story that a scriptwriter could not even put to paper. Manyonga was a tik addict and beat a number of demons to follow his athletics talent. Hard work and perseverance brought this Capetonian a piece of history.
- Julius Yego only needed one throw to make Africa proud
Julius Yego is a true inspiration the entire continent whose “do it yourself attitude” has helped him scale unprecedented heights. Yego started learning javelin by watching YouTube videos. He also had to compete at the Rio Olympics without his coach. To add to that he also injured himself in the final but still claimed a brilliant silver medal for his Kenyan nation.
- Spanish high jump hero shows age is just a number
Not a lot of athletes compete in professional athletics at the age of 37, but Spain high jump queen Ruth Beitia not only beat the odds but defied them with a gold medal in Rio. Absolutely stunning is one way to describe this phenomenal feat, especially considering that Beitia has never reached the podium at an Olympic Games before.
- Usain Bolt gets his triple triple
All the talk of the Olympic Games was centred on Olympic sprinting legend Usain Bolt and an unprecedented three gold medals in a row in the 100, 200 and 4×100 metres relay. At the end of the Olympic Games there was no doubt as Bolt cruised to victory in all these races to take the crown as the greatest sprinter who ever lived.
- Sunette Viljoen makes her dreams come true
After years of heartbreak and tough times where Viljoen failed to get a medal in her three previous Olympics, she finally received her reward with a brilliant silver medal in the women’s javelin event. Phenomenal is one way to describe this Pukke-alumni’s achievement.
- Caster Semenya silences critics with gold
Controversy surrounded Caster Semenya throughout the Olympics, but South Africa’s golden girl let us actions on the track do the talking as she stormed to Olympic gold. A great victory for Africans in general. A symbol for success against oppression and equality for all.
- Wayde van Niekerk breaks 17 year old World Record
If Usain Bolt is speechless then you know you have done something incredible. Minutes before Bolt ran his 100 meter final, South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk stole the show with a new World Record in the 400 metres and an Olympic Gold medal for South Africa. Van Niekerk was the new hot commodity in athletics and the iconic picture of Bolt congratulating Van Niekerk will be one of the images to tresure for ever. The face of Van Niekerk’s coach, 74 year old Ans Botha, when Van Niekerk claimed his win “running blind” in lane 8 will also stick in the mind. Shock and elation all in one for SA’s new hero.
