Rio Olympic Games one to remember

The sporting spectacle that comes only every four years, capturing the attention of the world, came to a close last month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when the 2016 Summer Olympic Games ended its two-week run.

A total of 11,303 athletes from 207 nations subjected themselves to the daunting Zika virus all for a chance at winning an Olympic medal.

Team USA was represented well with a total of 558 athletes and came out on top with 121 medals, 46 of which were gold. Great Britain fell to second with a total of 67 medals.

Swimming, women’s gymnastics, and track and field were some of the highly anticipated sports for the games this year, with veteran star swimmer Michael Phelps, young gymnastics powerhouse Simone Biles, and track stars Allyson Felix and Usain Bolt leading the way.

Many unforgettable events took place and caught much attention amidst the already craziness of the games themselves.

Of course there was the Ryan Lochte drama, which involved him being “held at gunpoint” after supposedly vandalizing a gas station restroom with some of his teammates. The truth to what actually happened remains unknown, as it seems that his story is ever changing. Hopefully Lochte will come back around and prove to America that he really is a good guy. As a result of his actions, he was suspended for 10 months by the USA Swimming. He will also lose his $100,000 bonus that comes with winning a gold medal.

Phelps official retirement announcement was not surprising to many. But after seeing his incredible performance in this year’s games, it is possible that he may still be infected by the Olympic bug come 2020.

Phelps walked away from Rio having captured his 28th Olympic medal. If he returns in four years, not many people will be shocked.

And of course the women’s gymnastics team’s “Final Five,” which included Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, and Aly Raisman, captured the hearts of many and became America’s Sweethearts with their breathtaking performances and infectious, spunky personalities.

It was an Olympic games to remember. Yes, viewership was down compared to previous years because American viewers were not pleased with NBC’s coverage of the games.

What else is new?

But Tonga’s grand entrance with shirtless flag bearer and taekwondo athlete Pita Nikolas Taufatofua caught the attention of thousands and instantly reeled them in.

As these games came to a close people were already talking about what is in store for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. At this point it is understood that five new sporting events will be added:  baseball/softball, karate, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing.

It is unclear at this point as to what stars from the games this year will be competing in the 2020 games in Tokyo, it is possible that some members of the “Final Five” will return and surely some familiar faces will be seen.