The Olympics!
The Greatest Show on Earth has finished, Team GB fourth and the USA won. With many new Olympic Champions. Here are the stories behind a few Gold medals.
Queiroz dos Santos - Brazil, Canoeing
dos Santos has had arguably the hardest journey to Olympic Gold possible
Significant burns at age 3 when a pot of boiling water fell on him
Kidnapped at age 5
Fell out of a tree while trying to catch a snake, injured so badly his kidney had to be removed aged 10
Finally won the Olympics after two silvers and a bronze
Flora Duffy - Bermuda, Triathlon
Bermudas first Olympic Gold, their only other medal was a bronze in Montreal, 1976. She’s had a rocky Olympic journey which finally resulting in the Gold
Beijing 2008 - dropped out
London 2012 - 45th
Rio 2016 - 8th
She had said publicly that she almost quit the sport after these results but has showed immense tenacity to keep training
Abe Uta and Abe Hifumi - Japan, Judo
They are the first siblings to both win Gold on the same day at the same Olympics
Hifumi won the men’s 66kg and Uta the women’s 52kg
"This has turned out to be the greatest day ever. I don’t think we, as brother and sister, couldn’t shine any brighter” - Hifumi said after winning
Neeraj Chopra - India, Javlin
First ever athletics gold for India after failing to qualify for Rio
Johannes Vetter of Germany was the favourite coming into the competition but had a bad day at the office
Chopra took advantage of this, with a winning distance of 87.58m
This gold helped India to their most successful Olympics ever
Lithuanian quad, Rowing
The Lithuanian quad were called up extremely late after two Russian athletes were banned after failing drugs tests (shock) and the Russian Rowing Federation withdraw the boat.
The quad of Kelmelis, Dziaugys, Nemeravicius and Jancionis came last in the B final but can be celebrated as win for even making it to the start line
New Zealand Mens 8, Rowing
49 years since New Zealand last won the blue ribbon event in Munich in 1972, the Kiwi 8 came through the Final Qualification Regatta in May to qualify for the Olympics
The crew of Mackintosh, Bond, Murray, Brake, Williamson, Wilson, Kirkham, Macdonald and cox Bosworth took a surprise win
After not winning their heat, they also had to come through the repechage to make the final
I do hope you enjoyed reading about these unusual stories and inspires you to get outside and take part in sports. If you would like a mockup image made, start your design now. Don’t forget to add socks!