2016 Olympic GamesAug 23, 2016 by Meg Bellino
FloTrack's Top 11 Olympic Moments
FloTrack's Top 11 Olympic Moments
After 10 days of action-packed track and field, the Olympics are finally over. If you followed it as closely as we did, you're probably suffering from an Ol
After 10 days of action-packed track and field, the Olympics are finally over. If you followed it as closely as we did, you're probably suffering from an Olympic hangover. Here, we compiled our top Olympic moments from Rio:
1. Matt Centrowitz is an Olympic Champion
Matthew Centrowitz won the world indoor title in March, suffered from a stress reaction shortly after, and raced only twice before the U.S. Olympic Trials.
No matter! Centrowitz is now an Olympic champion. He beat Asbel Kiprop, the kicker of all kickers, at his own game.
He won the first American gold medal in the event since 1908. And though the time, 3:50.00, is the slowest Olympic final since 1932, who cares? Kiprop, the 2008 Olympic champion and back-to-back-to-back world champion in the 1500m, was highly favored to win yet again this year.
2. Mo Farah, Usain Bolt and Ashton Eaton Attain GOAT Status
Mo Farah defended his Olympic 5K and 10K titles, and became the second man to accomplish this feat in Olympic history.
Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Ashton Eaton defended his decathlon gold, which makes him only the third decathlete to win two Olympic titles.
Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Usain Bolt won back-to-back-back 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles. Yeah.
Photo: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Each of these men delivered under pressure, and in the process, made history.
3. Wayde van Niekerk Nearly Runs Sub-43 in the 400m Final
South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk smashed Michael Johnson's 400m 17-year-old world record on the third evening of the Olympics by running 43.03. Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt earned silver and bronze, but van Niekerk blew us all away.
What makes his record-breaking run even sweeter? He was running IN LANE 8! Typically an unfavored position for laned races, van Niekerk shot down any future complaints made by athletes who draw lane 8.
4. Shaunae Miller over Allyson Felix with a DIVE at the Line
Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas pulled off the ultimate upset over Olympic legend Allyson Felix in the 400m final. Miller's finish time of 49.44 bettered Felix's 49.51, but how she did it sparked controversy.
Miller was in the lead around the final turn, which is when Felix started to make her move to close in on the Bahamian. But as they neared the end of the race, Miller began to tighten up and lean so aggressively that she had to dive for the finish line. Ultimately, the conclusion of the race was a combination of Felix running out of real estate as Miller executed a well-timed dive, but this really enraged some viewers who thought Felix was cheated out of another Olympic victory.
Former 400m world record-holder Michael Johnson, who was in Rio doing commentary for the BBC, was quick to shut down the negativity.
5. Abbey D'Agostino, Nikki Hamblin Collide, Pick Each Other Up With the 'Olympic Spirit'
Abbey D'Agostino and Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand broke the internet after they collided during the preliminary round of the 5K. Hamblin went down first, and D'Agostino helped her out. Then, D'Agostino, grimacing in pain, went down and Hamblin helped her out. Remarkably, both finished the race and were awarded spots in the final after a protest.
Afterward, D'Agostino's MRI revealed a tear in her ACL, a meniscus tear and a strained MCL.
She ran 2K with a torn ACL!
6. Emma and Evan Make History with the Same Hair Tie
Emma Coburn earned Team USA's first-ever medal in the women's steeplechase by taking bronze in an American record performance of 9:07.
Evan Jager then earned America's first men's steeplechase medal since 1984 with his 8:04 silver-medal run.
So besides recording historic performances in the same event, Coburn and Jager had yet another thing in common in Rio: They both tied their long blonde locks up with the same hair tie for their races.
7. Historic U.S. Women's 100m Hurdle SWEEP!
The U.S. women have always been dominant in the 100m hurdles on the world stage, but they made Olympic history in Rio this year by sweeping the podium! Bri Rollins, Nia Ali and Krist Castlin won gold, silver and bronze. Comedian Leslie Jones said it best: "SLAY ALL DAY."
8. Clayton Murphy, Jenny Simpson, Paul Chelimo and Galen Rupp Made Us Lose Our Minds
These four athletes stunned the world by earning medals that we just didn't see coming!
-- Clayton Murphy, 21, grabbed a bronze medal in the 800m in 1:42.93. Forget about running 1:43--Murphy went from a PR of 1:44 to 1:42 to claim his first Olympic medal after his junior year at Akron.
--Jenny Simpson--yes, I know she was the 2011 world champion. And the 2013 world silver medalist. But despite failing to make the Olympic final in 2012 and losing her shoe in last summer's world championship final, Simpson rebounded to earn the first-ever U.S. women's medal in the 1500m (bronze), behind favorites Faith Kipyegon and world record-holder Genzebe Dibaba.
--Paul Chelimo only earned his U.S. citizenship in June of 2015. He entered Rio with a 13:21 personal best, lowered that to 13:19 in the prelims, and then ran 13:03 to earn silver and nearly kick down Mo Farah in the process. WOW!
--I almost forgot about Galen Rupp's Olympic double until the day before the men's marathon. After placing fifth in the Olympic 10K, Rupp earned bronze in the marathon eight days later. He out-ran some of the best in the world--I'm talking Boston winners, New York City winners, world champions--and held on to Eliud Kipchoge's pace as long as he could.
9. Holy Moly! 10,000m World Record, Molly Huddle American Record
Almaz Ayana's World record performance in the 10K was stunning, whether you think of it positively or negatively. Ayana ran 29:17.46, which shaved more than 13 seconds off the previous record set by Wang Junxia of China in 1993.
While the world was trying to follow the race, which strung out almost immediately, American Molly Huddle was smashing Shalane Flanagan's American record by running 30:13.17 and finishing sixth. Though she didn't bring home a medal, Huddle's brave response to the extremely quick pace paid off.
10. Team USA Women Slay 4x100m Relay; U.S. Men Add Another DQ
The U.S. women's 4x100m relay almost didn't get to run in the Olympic final.
Allyson Felix was impeded by a Brazilian athlete in the prelims, which caused her and English Gardner's exchange to end with a dropped baton. After finishing their race in over 1:00, the U.S. successfully protested the outcome, and they were granted a time trial a few hours later. They qualified. And then they won the final in 41.01--the second-fastest time in history.
Did the U.S. men really surprise anyone with their disqualification?
Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Trayvon Bromell, the exact same team (switch Rodgers and Bromell's legs) from 2015, which resulted in another DQ in the finals at the world championships, completed their bronze-medal victory lap before they found out they were disqualified for a botched hand-off between Rodgers and Gatlin.
Maybe Team USA's relay at next summer's London world championships will omit Rodgers, Gatlin and Gay, who have been involved in numerous relay blunders since 2008.
11. Longhorns Sweep Shot Put Golds
Michelle Carter won the first gold medal for the U.S. in the women's shot put with an American-record effort of 20.63m on her very last throw! She's the first American woman to win Olympic gold, and the first American woman to medal in the event since 1960.
Later in the week, Ryan Crouser won the men's shot put and broke the Olympic record with a huge PB of 22.52m. He extended his family's Olympic legacy with the win--his father, uncle and cousin have all competed in the Games in various years.
Both throwers are University of Texas alumni--I think that's what they refer to as "Texas Fight."
What was your favorite Olympic moment?
1. Matt Centrowitz is an Olympic Champion
Matthew Centrowitz won the world indoor title in March, suffered from a stress reaction shortly after, and raced only twice before the U.S. Olympic Trials.
No matter! Centrowitz is now an Olympic champion. He beat Asbel Kiprop, the kicker of all kickers, at his own game.
He won the first American gold medal in the event since 1908. And though the time, 3:50.00, is the slowest Olympic final since 1932, who cares? Kiprop, the 2008 Olympic champion and back-to-back-to-back world champion in the 1500m, was highly favored to win yet again this year.
2. Mo Farah, Usain Bolt and Ashton Eaton Attain GOAT Status
Mo Farah defended his Olympic 5K and 10K titles, and became the second man to accomplish this feat in Olympic history.
Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Ashton Eaton defended his decathlon gold, which makes him only the third decathlete to win two Olympic titles.
Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Usain Bolt won back-to-back-back 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles. Yeah.
Photo: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Each of these men delivered under pressure, and in the process, made history.
3. Wayde van Niekerk Nearly Runs Sub-43 in the 400m Final
South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk smashed Michael Johnson's 400m 17-year-old world record on the third evening of the Olympics by running 43.03. Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt earned silver and bronze, but van Niekerk blew us all away.
#Athletics WR splits@WaydeDreamer @MJGold
— PJ Vazel (@pjvazel) August 15, 2016
100m 10.7 / 11.10
200m 20.5 / 21.22
300m 31.0 / 31.66
400m 43.03 / 43.18https://t.co/jAvCG38eEr
What makes his record-breaking run even sweeter? He was running IN LANE 8! Typically an unfavored position for laned races, van Niekerk shot down any future complaints made by athletes who draw lane 8.
4. Shaunae Miller over Allyson Felix with a DIVE at the Line
Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas pulled off the ultimate upset over Olympic legend Allyson Felix in the 400m final. Miller's finish time of 49.44 bettered Felix's 49.51, but how she did it sparked controversy.
Miller was in the lead around the final turn, which is when Felix started to make her move to close in on the Bahamian. But as they neared the end of the race, Miller began to tighten up and lean so aggressively that she had to dive for the finish line. Ultimately, the conclusion of the race was a combination of Felix running out of real estate as Miller executed a well-timed dive, but this really enraged some viewers who thought Felix was cheated out of another Olympic victory.
Former 400m world record-holder Michael Johnson, who was in Rio doing commentary for the BBC, was quick to shut down the negativity.
Shaunae Miller unbelievable effort diving for the finish line to take the 400,one of the best moments of the Games so far! Amazing race!
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) August 16, 2016
Wish @allysonfelix could've pulled it off tonight. Probably let Shaunae get a little too far away.
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) August 16, 2016
Shaunae Miller's dive was to recover from falling. Sprinters know the quickest way across the line is a well timed lean. Trust me on that.
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) August 16, 2016
My final comment on this. Diving across gets you there SLOWER than running across. Shaune gained no advantage. https://t.co/C9juOr02nf
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) August 16, 2016
5. Abbey D'Agostino, Nikki Hamblin Collide, Pick Each Other Up With the 'Olympic Spirit'
Abbey D'Agostino and Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand broke the internet after they collided during the preliminary round of the 5K. Hamblin went down first, and D'Agostino helped her out. Then, D'Agostino, grimacing in pain, went down and Hamblin helped her out. Remarkably, both finished the race and were awarded spots in the final after a protest.
Here is what Nikki Hamblin had to say about Abbey D'Agostino after their collision in today's Olympic 5,000m heat. pic.twitter.com/HxTFsKkcZy
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) August 16, 2016
Afterward, D'Agostino's MRI revealed a tear in her ACL, a meniscus tear and a strained MCL.
She ran 2K with a torn ACL!
After colliding, @abbey_dags (#USA) & @NikkiHamblin (#NZL) show true #Olympic spirit. https://t.co/LJf9pvPIbV https://t.co/HTfixzxCVS
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) August 16, 2016
6. Emma and Evan Make History with the Same Hair Tie
Emma Coburn earned Team USA's first-ever medal in the women's steeplechase by taking bronze in an American record performance of 9:07.
Evan Jager then earned America's first men's steeplechase medal since 1984 with his 8:04 silver-medal run.
So besides recording historic performances in the same event, Coburn and Jager had yet another thing in common in Rio: They both tied their long blonde locks up with the same hair tie for their races.
7. Historic U.S. Women's 100m Hurdle SWEEP!
The U.S. women have always been dominant in the 100m hurdles on the world stage, but they made Olympic history in Rio this year by sweeping the podium! Bri Rollins, Nia Ali and Krist Castlin won gold, silver and bronze. Comedian Leslie Jones said it best: "SLAY ALL DAY."
SLAY ALL DAY USA USA USA USA pic.twitter.com/xTnvb0FXny
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) August 19, 2016
8. Clayton Murphy, Jenny Simpson, Paul Chelimo and Galen Rupp Made Us Lose Our Minds
These four athletes stunned the world by earning medals that we just didn't see coming!
-- Clayton Murphy, 21, grabbed a bronze medal in the 800m in 1:42.93. Forget about running 1:43--Murphy went from a PR of 1:44 to 1:42 to claim his first Olympic medal after his junior year at Akron.
--Jenny Simpson--yes, I know she was the 2011 world champion. And the 2013 world silver medalist. But despite failing to make the Olympic final in 2012 and losing her shoe in last summer's world championship final, Simpson rebounded to earn the first-ever U.S. women's medal in the 1500m (bronze), behind favorites Faith Kipyegon and world record-holder Genzebe Dibaba.
--Paul Chelimo only earned his U.S. citizenship in June of 2015. He entered Rio with a 13:21 personal best, lowered that to 13:19 in the prelims, and then ran 13:03 to earn silver and nearly kick down Mo Farah in the process. WOW!
--I almost forgot about Galen Rupp's Olympic double until the day before the men's marathon. After placing fifth in the Olympic 10K, Rupp earned bronze in the marathon eight days later. He out-ran some of the best in the world--I'm talking Boston winners, New York City winners, world champions--and held on to Eliud Kipchoge's pace as long as he could.
9. Holy Moly! 10,000m World Record, Molly Huddle American Record
Almaz Ayana's World record performance in the 10K was stunning, whether you think of it positively or negatively. Ayana ran 29:17.46, which shaved more than 13 seconds off the previous record set by Wang Junxia of China in 1993.
While the world was trying to follow the race, which strung out almost immediately, American Molly Huddle was smashing Shalane Flanagan's American record by running 30:13.17 and finishing sixth. Though she didn't bring home a medal, Huddle's brave response to the extremely quick pace paid off.
10. Team USA Women Slay 4x100m Relay; U.S. Men Add Another DQ
The U.S. women's 4x100m relay almost didn't get to run in the Olympic final.
Allyson Felix was impeded by a Brazilian athlete in the prelims, which caused her and English Gardner's exchange to end with a dropped baton. After finishing their race in over 1:00, the U.S. successfully protested the outcome, and they were granted a time trial a few hours later. They qualified. And then they won the final in 41.01--the second-fastest time in history.
Did the U.S. men really surprise anyone with their disqualification?
Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Trayvon Bromell, the exact same team (switch Rodgers and Bromell's legs) from 2015, which resulted in another DQ in the finals at the world championships, completed their bronze-medal victory lap before they found out they were disqualified for a botched hand-off between Rodgers and Gatlin.
| Year | Meet | Team USA's Exchanges |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Olympics (Rio) | FAIL (Rodgers -> Gatlin) |
| 2015 | World Championships (Beijing) | FAIL (Gay -> Rodgers) |
| 2015 | World Relays (Bahamas) | GOOD |
| 2014 | World Relays (Bahamas) | FAIL (Kimmons -> Salaam) |
| 2013 | World Championships (Moscow) | FAIL (Salaam -> Gatlin) |
| 2012 | Olympics (London) | FAIL (Doping) |
| 2011 | World Championships (Daegu) | FAIL (Patton -> Dix) |
| 2009 | World Championships (Berlin) | FAIL (Crawford -> Patton) |
| 2008 | Olympics (Beijing) | FAIL (Patton -> Gay) |
Maybe Team USA's relay at next summer's London world championships will omit Rodgers, Gatlin and Gay, who have been involved in numerous relay blunders since 2008.
11. Longhorns Sweep Shot Put Golds
Michelle Carter won the first gold medal for the U.S. in the women's shot put with an American-record effort of 20.63m on her very last throw! She's the first American woman to win Olympic gold, and the first American woman to medal in the event since 1960.
Later in the week, Ryan Crouser won the men's shot put and broke the Olympic record with a huge PB of 22.52m. He extended his family's Olympic legacy with the win--his father, uncle and cousin have all competed in the Games in various years.
Both throwers are University of Texas alumni--I think that's what they refer to as "Texas Fight."
What was your favorite Olympic moment?