🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:
Response:
Calculated Shard: 62 (from laksa183)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:
Response:

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:
Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:
Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

đź“„
INDEXABLE
âś…
CRAWLED
13 days ago
🤖
ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

FilterStatusConditionDetails
HTTP statusPASSdownload_http_code = 200HTTP 200
Age cutoffPASSdownload_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH0.5 months ago
History dropPASSisNull(history_drop_reason)No drop reason
Spam/banPASSfh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0ml_spam_score=0
CanonicalPASSmeta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsedNot set

Page Details

PropertyValue
URLhttps://www.britannica.com/story/rio-recap
Last Crawled2026-04-11 13:15:38 (13 days ago)
First Indexed2016-08-22 20:52:27 (9 years ago)
HTTP Status Code200
Content
Meta TitleRio Recap | Britannica
Meta DescriptionOn August 21, 2016, the Games of the XXXI Olympiad ended in Rio de Janeiro, capping two weeks of drama, record-setting performances, and a fair share of controversy.
Meta Canonicalnull
Boilerpipe Text
Top Questions What are the Olympic Games? Where and when were the 2016 Olympic Games held? Which sports were included in the 2016 Olympic Games? How did Rio de Janeiro prepare for the 2016 Olympics? What were some significant highlights or achievements at the 2016 Olympics? How did hosting the Olympics affect Rio de Janeiro and Brazil afterwards? Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games , athletic festival held in Rio de Janeiro that took place August 5–21, 2016. The Rio Games were the 28th occurrence of the modern Olympic Games . The event marked the first time that either the Summer or the Winter Olympics were held in South America . Rio was awarded the Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2009 over bids from Chicago , Madrid , and Tokyo . The buildup to the Rio Games was beset by more problems than any other recent Olympiad. Like many 21st-century Games, particularly the 2014 Sochi Games , the Rio Olympics were plagued by massive cost overruns and construction that ran far behind schedule. Athletes, coaches, and tourists were wary of traveling to the crime-riddled city, where, in addition, an outbreak of the Zika virus led to the withdrawal of a number of prominent athletes, including golfers Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth . The waterways of the city were filled with debris and so polluted that the World Health Organization suggested that athletes using the open waters should avoid swallowing it, cover any exposed cuts with waterproof bandages, and shower as soon as they leave the site. Fewer than 50 days before the Games started, the state of Rio de Janeiro declared a “state of public calamity,” which gave authorities the ability to ration essential public services and made the state eligible for federal emergency funds. Moreover, the Petrobras scandal plunged the Brazilian economy into a recession in the run-up to the Games. United States: 121 China: 70 United Kingdom: 67 Russia: 56 Germany: 42 Note: Medal count per the IOC website . Despite all of these troubles, the Rio Games started on time and there were few significant problems over the course of the two weeks. The Games featured a new-record 205 participating national Olympic committees, with more than 11,000 athletes competing in 42 sports . Notable new sports that were added for the Rio Games were golf and rugby sevens. The Rio Olympics also featured the debut of a Refugee Team made up of 10 athletes from various war-torn countries who had no permanent new home at the start of the Games. Usain Bolt in 2016 Usain Bolt of Jamaica winning the men's 100-meter sprint final ahead of Justin Gatlin of the United States at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. Like the previous two iterations , the Rio Olympics were highlighted by the achievements of the greatest Olympian of all time, U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps , and the greatest sprinter in Olympic history, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt . After returning from a short-lived retirement, Phelps expanded his Olympic record totals for overall medals (28) and gold medals (23). On the track, Bolt won the 100-meter and 200-meter races for the third consecutive Olympic Games, becoming the first person to accomplish that feat. He also won a gold as a member of Jamaica’s 4 × 100-meter relay team, which temporarily gave him three golds in that event in three straight Olympics—before the January 2017 revelation of a failed drug test by one of his 2008 relay teammates led to the earlier relay medal being stripped. Nevertheless, Bolt’s six total individual sprint Olympic golds still solidified his claim as the fastest man in history. Phelps was not the only American swimmer to dominate the Rio pool. Katie Ledecky won four gold medals (the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle and the 4 × 200-meter relay) and one silver (4 ×100-meter freestyle relay). Her performance in the 800-meter final was one of the most impressive in Olympic swimming history, as she took almost two seconds off the previous world-record time and finished more than 11 seconds faster than the silver medalist. Fellow U.S. swimmer Simone Manuel won two golds and two silvers, and her win in the 100-meter freestyle made her the first African American woman to win an individual swimming gold. Americans also led the way in the women’s gymnastics events, as Simone Biles became the first U.S. woman—and just the fifth female ever—to capture four gymnastics golds at a single Games (all-around, floor exercise , vault , and team). Biles’s fourth gold in the team event was also significant in that the American team won with the largest margin of victory (8.209 points) in that competition since the “open-ended” scoring system began 2006. Quick Facts Date: August 5, 2016 - August 21, 2016 In other events, the home Brazilian men’s football (soccer) team won the first Olympic gold medal in the football-mad country’s history on a dramatic penalty kick in the final by star forward Neymar . The Fiji rugby sevens team won the first gold medal in that country’s history, fittingly in Fiji’s most popular sport, which led to the declaration of a celebratory public holiday in the country. Two Britons also had historic performances at the Rio Games: distance runner Mo Farah repeated as Olympic champion in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races, becoming the second man (after Lasse Virén ) to do so, and cyclist Bradley Wiggins won gold as a member of the men’s pursuit team, giving him eight career Olympic medals, the most in his country’s history.
Markdown
[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https://www.britannica.com/) [![Encyclopedia Britannica](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https://www.britannica.com/) [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen) [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen) Login https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm\_source=premium\&utm\_medium=nav-login-box\&utm\_campaign=evergreen [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=blue) [Ask the Chatbot](https://www.britannica.com/chatbot) [Games & Quizzes](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/browse) [History & Society](https://www.britannica.com/History-Society) [Science & Tech](https://www.britannica.com/Science-Tech) [Biographies](https://www.britannica.com/Biographies) [Animals & Nature](https://www.britannica.com/Animals-Nature) [Geography & Travel](https://www.britannica.com/Geography-Travel) [Arts & Culture](https://www.britannica.com/Arts-Culture) [ProCon](https://www.britannica.com/procon) [Money](https://www.britannica.com/money) [Videos](https://www.britannica.com/videos) [Rio Recap](https://www.britannica.com/story/rio-recap) - [Introduction](https://www.britannica.com/story/rio-recap) - [Learn More About This Topic](https://www.britannica.com/story/rio-recap#ref418818) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/story/rio-recap/additional-info) [Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/rio-recap) [Images](https://www.britannica.com/story/rio-recap/images-videos) [![Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/64/190764-004-E6862DB0/Logo-2016-Rio-de-Janeiro-Olympic-Games-2016.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/64/190764-050-6D8D2A78/Logo-2016-Rio-de-Janeiro-Olympic-Games-2016.jpg) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Contents Ask Anything [Sports & Recreation](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Sports-Recreation) [Olympic Sports](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Olympic-Sports) CITE Share Feedback External Websites [![Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/64/190764-050-6D8D2A78/Logo-2016-Rio-de-Janeiro-Olympic-Games-2016.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/64/190764-050-6D8D2A78/Logo-2016-Rio-de-Janeiro-Olympic-Games-2016.jpg) [Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/64/190764-050-6D8D2A78/Logo-2016-Rio-de-Janeiro-Olympic-Games-2016.jpg) Logo of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. (more) # Rio Recap The highlights—and a few lowlights—from the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Homework Help Written by [Amy Tikkanen Amy Tikkanen is Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica.](https://www.britannica.com/editor/Amy-Tikkanen/6393) Amy Tikkanen Fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything On August 21, 2016, the [Games of the XXXI Olympiad](https://www.britannica.com/event/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games) ended in [Rio de Janeiro](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rio-de-Janeiro-Brazil), capping two weeks of drama, record-setting performances, and a fair share of controversy. While some observers gave the Games mixed reviews, many considered them a [triumph](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/triumph) for a city struggling with political instability, a severe recession, high crime rates, and fears over the [Zika virus](https://www.britannica.com/science/Zika-virus). Indeed, arguably no Olympic host city had faced so many challenges. As described by the IOC president, Thomas Bach, however, the Rio Games were “iconic,” producing a number of memorable moments—and a few that might best be forgotten. Many historic performances took place in the pool—which also attracted attention when water at the various facilities turned [emerald green](https://www.britannica.com/science/brilliant-green), likely owing to too much chlorine. American [Michael Phelps](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Phelps)—whose stony prerace face sparked a [social media](https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-media) meme—extended his lead as the most-decorated athlete in the history of the Games, winning five golds and one silver to bring his career total to 28 medals. When he won the 200-m individual medley, Phelps captured his 13th individual gold medal, leading to claims that he [surpassed](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/surpassed) Leonidas of Rhodes, whose supposed record of 12 individual golds won during the [ancient Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/ancient-Olympic-Games) had stood since 152 BCE. Simone Manuel also made news when she swam to a first-place tie in the 100-m freestyle, becoming the first African American to win an individual swimming medal. She then helped the U.S. women win the 4 × 100-m medley relay, which was the U.S.’s 1,000th overall gold medal at the modern [Summer Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games). Other standouts in the pool included [Katie Ledecky](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katie-Ledecky), who set various records as she won five medals, four of which were gold. In gymnastics, heavily favored [Simone Biles](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Simone-Biles) lived up to expectations, winning four gold medals—the most by an American gymnast at a single Games. She helped the [United States](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States) take the team event before claiming the all-around title. She later won the [floor exercise](https://www.britannica.com/sports/floor-exercise) and the [vault](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/vault) and captured a bronze in the [balance beam](https://www.britannica.com/sports/balance-beam). On the track, Jamaican [Usain Bolt](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Usain-Bolt) continued to prove that he is the fastest man alive. For the third consecutive Olympics, he won both the 100- and 200-m sprints. It was an unprecedented feat, fitting for a man nicknamed “Lightning Bolt.” Other notable moments included the Fiji rugby team’s winning the country’s first gold medal, which resulted in Prime Minister [Voreqe Bainimarama](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frank-Bainimarama)’s declaring a national holiday. Tennis player Monica Puig won [Puerto Rico’s](https://www.britannica.com/place/Puerto-Rico) first gold medal, and weightlifter Sara Ahmed took bronze in the 69-kg weight class to become the first female from Egypt to win an Olympic medal. Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin became the first female medalist from Iran as she won bronze in the 57-kg [tae kwon do](https://www.britannica.com/sports/tae-kwon-do) event. Kosovo made its Olympic [debut](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/debut) in Rio, and Majlinda Kelmendi became the country’s first medal winner, taking gold in the 52-kg women’s judo event. And the host country celebrated its first gold medal in perhaps the only sport that mattered to Brazilians—men’s football (soccer). Related Topics: [Summer Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games) *(Show more)* [See all related content](https://www.britannica.com/facts/rio-recap) Alas, not all moments were golden. From charges of sexism in the media coverage—as when an announcer credited a swimmer’s husband for her success—to controversy with judging decisions in boxing, some events were less than stellar. But perhaps the lowest point of the Games came after American swimmer [Ryan Lochte](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ryan-Lochte) claimed that he and three teammates—Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz, and Jack Conger—had been robbed at gunpoint. Amid [mounting](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/mounting) evidence, notably surveillance camera video, the swimmers admitted that there had been no robbery. Instead, they’d had an altercation with a security guard after urinating on the side of a gas station and damaging a bathroom door. ## Learn More About This Topic 1. [Learn about the Olympics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games) 2. [The U.S. won the most total medals—121. Which country was second with 70?](https://www.britannica.com/place/China) 3. [What city will host the 2020 Summer Games?](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo) [Amy Tikkanen](https://www.britannica.com/editor/Amy-Tikkanen/6393) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI *chevron\_right* Rio Recap *close* [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. [Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/event/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games) [Introduction](https://www.britannica.com/event/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/event/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games) [Images](https://www.britannica.com/event/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games/images-videos) [![Freestyle wrestling](https://cdn.britannica.com/94/215294-004-6761F8F6/Frank-Molinaro-Frank-Chamizo-Marquez-Italy-bronze-medal-match-freestyle-wrestling-2016-Olympic-Games.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/94/215294-050-C5E44A29/Frank-Molinaro-Frank-Chamizo-Marquez-Italy-bronze-medal-match-freestyle-wrestling-2016-Olympic-Games.jpg) [![Usain Bolt in 2016](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/193188-004-93C5BEC5/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-American-2016-Olympics-gold-2016.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/193188-050-5C144B1A/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-American-2016-Olympics-gold-2016.jpg) [![Katie Ledecky](https://cdn.britannica.com/01/193601-004-613E8108/Katie-Ledecky-American-lead-way-women-world-2016.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/01/193601-050-F8F18A9B/Katie-Ledecky-American-lead-way-women-world-2016.jpg) [![Simone Manuel](https://cdn.britannica.com/28/192928-004-AACC3D8A/Simone-Manuel-Penny-Oleksiak-American-women-freestyle-August-11-2016.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/28/192928-050-3725CCC6/Simone-Manuel-Penny-Oleksiak-American-women-freestyle-August-11-2016.jpg) [![Simone Biles performs a mid-air flip above the balance beam during the women's gymnastics team final at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with a crowd in the background.](https://cdn.britannica.com/84/192384-004-65043D02/Simone-Biles-balance-beam-Rio-de-Janeiro-2016.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/84/192384-050-C5FC04D5/Simone-Biles-balance-beam-Rio-de-Janeiro-2016.jpg) [![Daniele Garozzo of Italy celebrates with arms raised after winning gold in men's foil fencing at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.](https://cdn.britannica.com/95/193595-004-BA95117C/Daniele-Garozzo-Italy-foil-gold-medal-men.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/95/193595-050-87498BAE/Daniele-Garozzo-Italy-foil-gold-medal-men.jpg) [![Meng Suping lifts a barbell overhead during the women's 75kg weightlifting event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, wearing a red uniform with "China" in yellow.](https://cdn.britannica.com/05/193605-004-5BCC103D/Meng-Suping-women-weightlifting-event-China-Rio-August-14-2016.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/05/193605-050-862E20C5/Meng-Suping-women-weightlifting-event-China-Rio-August-14-2016.jpg) [![Nathan Adrian](https://cdn.britannica.com/54/232054-004-B6551B71/Swimmer-Nathan-Adrian-2016-Olympics.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/54/232054-050-9482A080/Swimmer-Nathan-Adrian-2016-Olympics.jpg) [![The most-decorated American gymnast](https://cdn.britannica.com/82/244782-004-A5B78C16/Gold-medalist-Simone-Biles-celebrates-medal-at-2016-Olympic-Games.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/82/244782-050-2D2A6EC1/Gold-medalist-Simone-Biles-celebrates-medal-at-2016-Olympic-Games.jpg) [![Simone Biles](https://cdn.britannica.com/38/244138-004-C10CC22F/gymnast-Simone-Biles-Rio-2016-Olympic-Games.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/38/244138-050-74B71DB6/gymnast-Simone-Biles-Rio-2016-Olympic-Games.jpg) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Contents Ask Anything [Sports & Recreation](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Sports-Recreation) [Olympic Sports](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Olympic-Sports) CITE Share Feedback External Websites [![Freestyle wrestling](https://cdn.britannica.com/94/215294-050-C5E44A29/Frank-Molinaro-Frank-Chamizo-Marquez-Italy-bronze-medal-match-freestyle-wrestling-2016-Olympic-Games.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/94/215294-050-C5E44A29/Frank-Molinaro-Frank-Chamizo-Marquez-Italy-bronze-medal-match-freestyle-wrestling-2016-Olympic-Games.jpg) [Freestyle wrestling](https://cdn.britannica.com/94/215294-050-C5E44A29/Frank-Molinaro-Frank-Chamizo-Marquez-Italy-bronze-medal-match-freestyle-wrestling-2016-Olympic-Games.jpg) Frank Molinaro (in red) of the United States and Frank Chamizo Marquez of Italy competing in the bronze-medal match of freestyle wrestling in the 65-kg weight class at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Chamizo won the medal. (more) # Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games Homework Help Also known as: Rio 2016 Written by [Adam Augustyn Adam Augustyn was a senior editor at Encyclopædia Britannica.](https://www.britannica.com/editor/Adam-Augustyn/6394) Adam Augustyn Fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors [History](https://www.britannica.com/event/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games/additional-info#history) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions - What are the Olympic Games? - Where and when were the 2016 Olympic Games held? - Which sports were included in the 2016 Olympic Games? - How did Rio de Janeiro prepare for the 2016 Olympics? - What were some significant highlights or achievements at the 2016 Olympics? - How did hosting the Olympics affect Rio de Janeiro and Brazil afterwards? Show more Show less **Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games**, athletic festival held in [Rio de Janeiro](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rio-de-Janeiro-Brazil) that took place August 5–21, 2016. The Rio Games were the 28th occurrence of the modern [Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games). The event marked the first time that either the [Summer](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games) or the [Winter Olympics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Winter-Olympic-Games) were held in [South America](https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America). Rio was awarded the Games by the [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC) in 2009 over bids from [Chicago](https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago), [Madrid](https://www.britannica.com/place/Madrid), and [Tokyo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo-Yokohama-Metropolitan-Area). The buildup to the Rio Games was beset by more problems than any other recent Olympiad. Like many 21st-century Games, particularly the [2014 Sochi Games](https://www.britannica.com/event/Sochi-2014-Olympic-Winter-Games), the Rio Olympics were plagued by massive cost overruns and construction that ran far behind schedule. Athletes, coaches, and tourists were [wary](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/wary) of traveling to the crime-riddled city, where, in addition, an [outbreak](https://www.britannica.com/science/Zika-fever) of the [Zika virus](https://www.britannica.com/science/Zika-virus) led to the withdrawal of a number of prominent athletes, including golfers [Rory McIlroy](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rory-McIlroy) and [Jordan Spieth](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jordan-Spieth). The waterways of the city were filled with debris and so polluted that the [World Health Organization](https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Health-Organization) suggested that athletes using the open waters should avoid swallowing it, cover any exposed cuts with waterproof bandages, and shower as soon as they leave the site. Fewer than 50 days before the Games started, the state of Rio de Janeiro declared a “state of public calamity,” which gave authorities the ability to ration essential public services and made the state [eligible](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/eligible) for federal emergency funds. Moreover, the [Petrobras scandal](https://www.britannica.com/event/Petrobras-scandal) plunged the Brazilian economy into a recession in the run-up to the Games. Most medals by country - United States: 121 - China: 70 - United Kingdom: 67 - Russia: 56 - Germany: 42 Note: Medal count per the [IOC website](https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/rio-2016/medals). Despite all of these troubles, the Rio Games started on time and there were few significant problems over the course of the two weeks. The Games featured a new-record 205 participating national Olympic committees, with more than 11,000 [athletes](https://www.britannica.com/sports/list-of-Summer-Olympic-athletes) competing in 42 [sports](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sports). Notable new sports that were added for the Rio Games were [golf](https://www.britannica.com/sports/golf) and [rugby](https://www.britannica.com/sports/rugby) sevens. The Rio Olympics also featured the debut of a Refugee Team made up of 10 athletes from various war-torn countries who had no permanent new home at the start of the Games. [![Usain Bolt in 2016](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/193188-050-5C144B1A/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-American-2016-Olympics-gold-2016.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/193188-050-5C144B1A/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-American-2016-Olympics-gold-2016.jpg) [Usain Bolt in 2016](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/193188-050-5C144B1A/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-American-2016-Olympics-gold-2016.jpg)Usain Bolt of Jamaica winning the men's 100-meter sprint final ahead of Justin Gatlin of the United States at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. (more) Like the previous two [iterations](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iterations), the Rio Olympics were highlighted by the achievements of the greatest Olympian of all time, U.S. swimmer [Michael Phelps](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Phelps), and the greatest sprinter in Olympic history, Jamaica’s [Usain Bolt](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Usain-Bolt). After returning from a short-lived retirement, Phelps expanded his Olympic record totals for overall medals (28) and gold medals (23). On the track, Bolt won the 100-meter and 200-meter races for the third consecutive Olympic Games, becoming the first person to accomplish that feat. He also won a gold as a member of Jamaica’s 4 × 100-meter relay team, which temporarily gave him three golds in that event in three straight Olympics—before the January 2017 [revelation](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/revelation) of a failed drug test by one of his 2008 relay teammates led to the earlier relay medal being stripped. Nevertheless, Bolt’s six total individual sprint Olympic golds still solidified his claim as the fastest man in history. [![Katie Ledecky](https://cdn.britannica.com/01/193601-050-F8F18A9B/Katie-Ledecky-American-lead-way-women-world-2016.jpg?w=300)1 of 3](https://cdn.britannica.com/01/193601-050-F8F18A9B/Katie-Ledecky-American-lead-way-women-world-2016.jpg) [Katie Ledecky](https://cdn.britannica.com/01/193601-050-F8F18A9B/Katie-Ledecky-American-lead-way-women-world-2016.jpg)American swimmer Katie Ledecky (center) competing in the final of the women's 400-meter freestyle swim at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, August 7, 2016. (more) [![Simone Manuel](https://cdn.britannica.com/28/192928-050-3725CCC6/Simone-Manuel-Penny-Oleksiak-American-women-freestyle-August-11-2016.jpg?w=300)2 of 3](https://cdn.britannica.com/28/192928-050-3725CCC6/Simone-Manuel-Penny-Oleksiak-American-women-freestyle-August-11-2016.jpg) [Simone Manuel](https://cdn.britannica.com/28/192928-050-3725CCC6/Simone-Manuel-Penny-Oleksiak-American-women-freestyle-August-11-2016.jpg)American Simone Manuel (right) celebrating with Penny Oleksiak of Canada after the women's 100-meter freestyle final at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, August 11, 2016. The race ended in a rare tie and gold medals for both Manuel and Oleksiak. (more) [![Simone Biles performs a mid-air flip above the balance beam during the women's gymnastics team final at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with a crowd in the background.](https://cdn.britannica.com/84/192384-050-C5FC04D5/Simone-Biles-balance-beam-Rio-de-Janeiro-2016.jpg?w=300)3 of 3](https://cdn.britannica.com/84/192384-050-C5FC04D5/Simone-Biles-balance-beam-Rio-de-Janeiro-2016.jpg) [Simone Biles](https://cdn.britannica.com/84/192384-050-C5FC04D5/Simone-Biles-balance-beam-Rio-de-Janeiro-2016.jpg)Simone Biles performing on the balance beam during the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. (more) Phelps was not the only American swimmer to dominate the Rio pool. [Katie Ledecky](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katie-Ledecky) won four gold medals (the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle and the 4 × 200-meter relay) and one silver (4 ×100-meter freestyle relay). Her performance in the 800-meter final was one of the most impressive in Olympic swimming history, as she took almost two seconds off the previous world-record time and finished more than 11 seconds faster than the silver medalist. Fellow U.S. swimmer [Simone Manuel](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Simone-Manuel) won two golds and two silvers, and her win in the 100-meter freestyle made her the first African American woman to win an individual swimming gold. Americans also led the way in the women’s gymnastics events, as [Simone Biles](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Simone-Biles) became the first U.S. woman—and just the fifth female ever—to capture four gymnastics golds at a single Games (all-around, [floor exercise](https://www.britannica.com/sports/floor-exercise), [vault](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/vault), and team). Biles’s fourth gold in the team event was also significant in that the American team won with the largest margin of victory (8.209 points) in that competition since the “open-ended” scoring system began 2006. Quick Facts Date: August 5, 2016 - August 21, 2016 *(Show more)* Location: [Brazil](https://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil) [Rio de Janeiro](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rio-de-Janeiro-Brazil) *(Show more)* [See all related content](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games) [![Daniele Garozzo of Italy celebrates with arms raised after winning gold in men's foil fencing at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.](https://cdn.britannica.com/95/193595-050-87498BAE/Daniele-Garozzo-Italy-foil-gold-medal-men.jpg?w=300)1 of 2](https://cdn.britannica.com/95/193595-050-87498BAE/Daniele-Garozzo-Italy-foil-gold-medal-men.jpg) [Daniele Garozzo](https://cdn.britannica.com/95/193595-050-87498BAE/Daniele-Garozzo-Italy-foil-gold-medal-men.jpg)Italy's Daniele Garozzo celebrating his gold medal in the men's individual foil fencing event at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. (more) [![Meng Suping lifts a barbell overhead during the women's 75kg weightlifting event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, wearing a red uniform with "China" in yellow.](https://cdn.britannica.com/05/193605-050-862E20C5/Meng-Suping-women-weightlifting-event-China-Rio-August-14-2016.jpg?w=300)2 of 2](https://cdn.britannica.com/05/193605-050-862E20C5/Meng-Suping-women-weightlifting-event-China-Rio-August-14-2016.jpg) [Meng Suping](https://cdn.britannica.com/05/193605-050-862E20C5/Meng-Suping-women-weightlifting-event-China-Rio-August-14-2016.jpg)Gold medal winner Meng Suping of China competing in the women's 75-kg weightlifting event at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, August 14, 2016. (more) In other events, the home Brazilian men’s [football (soccer)](https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer) team won the first Olympic gold medal in the football-mad country’s history on a dramatic penalty kick in the final by star forward [Neymar](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neymar). The [Fiji](https://www.britannica.com/place/Fiji-republic-Pacific-Ocean) rugby sevens team won the first gold medal in that country’s history, fittingly in Fiji’s most popular sport, which led to the declaration of a celebratory public holiday in the country. Two Britons also had historic performances at the Rio Games: distance runner [Mo Farah](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mo-Farah) repeated as Olympic champion in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races, becoming the second man (after [Lasse Virén](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lasse-Viren)) to do so, and cyclist [Bradley Wiggins](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bradley-Wiggins) won gold as a member of the men’s pursuit team, giving him eight career Olympic medals, the most in his country’s history. [Adam Augustyn](https://www.britannica.com/editor/Adam-Augustyn/6394) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI *chevron\_right* Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games *close* [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. Load Next Page Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. *print* Print Please select which sections you would like to print: *verified*Cite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Tikkanen, Amy. "Rio Recap". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 13 Jun. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/story/rio-recap. Accessed 11 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/story/rio-recap> Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. *verified*Cite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Augustyn, Adam. "Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 5 Jan. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/event/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games. Accessed 11 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/event/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games> External Websites - [Al Jazeera - Five years on: Revisiting Rio 2016 Olympics� unkept promises](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2021/9/19/five-years-on-revisiting-rio-2016-olympics-unkept-promises) - [ABC listen - Overnights - The 2016 Rio Olympics: What are our chances?](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/overnights/the-2016-rio-olympics-what-are-our-chances/7808560) - [Federation of American Scientists - The 2016 Olympic Games: Health, Security, Environmental, and Doping Issues](https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R44575.pdf) - [International Olympic Committee - Olympic Games Rio 2016](https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/rio-2016) - [Brown University Library - Center for Digital Scholarship - Rio de Janeiro Faces the Olympics](https://library.brown.edu/create/fivecenturiesofchange/chapters/chapter-9/rio-de-janeiro-faces-the-olympics/) - [NBC News - Rio 2016: 16 Fun Facts About This Year's Olympics](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/rio-2016-16-fun-facts-about-year-s-olympics-n510311) - [CNN Sports - Rio 2016: The good, the bad and the ugly of South America�s first Olympics](https://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/22/sport/olympics-rio-2016-ryan-lochte-green-pool)
Readable Markdown
Top Questions - What are the Olympic Games? - Where and when were the 2016 Olympic Games held? - Which sports were included in the 2016 Olympic Games? - How did Rio de Janeiro prepare for the 2016 Olympics? - What were some significant highlights or achievements at the 2016 Olympics? - How did hosting the Olympics affect Rio de Janeiro and Brazil afterwards? **Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games**, athletic festival held in [Rio de Janeiro](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rio-de-Janeiro-Brazil) that took place August 5–21, 2016. The Rio Games were the 28th occurrence of the modern [Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games). The event marked the first time that either the [Summer](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games) or the [Winter Olympics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Winter-Olympic-Games) were held in [South America](https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America). Rio was awarded the Games by the [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC) in 2009 over bids from [Chicago](https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago), [Madrid](https://www.britannica.com/place/Madrid), and [Tokyo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo-Yokohama-Metropolitan-Area). The buildup to the Rio Games was beset by more problems than any other recent Olympiad. Like many 21st-century Games, particularly the [2014 Sochi Games](https://www.britannica.com/event/Sochi-2014-Olympic-Winter-Games), the Rio Olympics were plagued by massive cost overruns and construction that ran far behind schedule. Athletes, coaches, and tourists were [wary](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/wary) of traveling to the crime-riddled city, where, in addition, an [outbreak](https://www.britannica.com/science/Zika-fever) of the [Zika virus](https://www.britannica.com/science/Zika-virus) led to the withdrawal of a number of prominent athletes, including golfers [Rory McIlroy](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rory-McIlroy) and [Jordan Spieth](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jordan-Spieth). The waterways of the city were filled with debris and so polluted that the [World Health Organization](https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Health-Organization) suggested that athletes using the open waters should avoid swallowing it, cover any exposed cuts with waterproof bandages, and shower as soon as they leave the site. Fewer than 50 days before the Games started, the state of Rio de Janeiro declared a “state of public calamity,” which gave authorities the ability to ration essential public services and made the state [eligible](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/eligible) for federal emergency funds. Moreover, the [Petrobras scandal](https://www.britannica.com/event/Petrobras-scandal) plunged the Brazilian economy into a recession in the run-up to the Games. - United States: 121 - China: 70 - United Kingdom: 67 - Russia: 56 - Germany: 42 Note: Medal count per the [IOC website](https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/rio-2016/medals). Despite all of these troubles, the Rio Games started on time and there were few significant problems over the course of the two weeks. The Games featured a new-record 205 participating national Olympic committees, with more than 11,000 [athletes](https://www.britannica.com/sports/list-of-Summer-Olympic-athletes) competing in 42 [sports](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sports). Notable new sports that were added for the Rio Games were [golf](https://www.britannica.com/sports/golf) and [rugby](https://www.britannica.com/sports/rugby) sevens. The Rio Olympics also featured the debut of a Refugee Team made up of 10 athletes from various war-torn countries who had no permanent new home at the start of the Games. [Usain Bolt in 2016](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/193188-050-5C144B1A/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-American-2016-Olympics-gold-2016.jpg)Usain Bolt of Jamaica winning the men's 100-meter sprint final ahead of Justin Gatlin of the United States at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. Like the previous two [iterations](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iterations), the Rio Olympics were highlighted by the achievements of the greatest Olympian of all time, U.S. swimmer [Michael Phelps](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Phelps), and the greatest sprinter in Olympic history, Jamaica’s [Usain Bolt](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Usain-Bolt). After returning from a short-lived retirement, Phelps expanded his Olympic record totals for overall medals (28) and gold medals (23). On the track, Bolt won the 100-meter and 200-meter races for the third consecutive Olympic Games, becoming the first person to accomplish that feat. He also won a gold as a member of Jamaica’s 4 × 100-meter relay team, which temporarily gave him three golds in that event in three straight Olympics—before the January 2017 [revelation](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/revelation) of a failed drug test by one of his 2008 relay teammates led to the earlier relay medal being stripped. Nevertheless, Bolt’s six total individual sprint Olympic golds still solidified his claim as the fastest man in history. Phelps was not the only American swimmer to dominate the Rio pool. [Katie Ledecky](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katie-Ledecky) won four gold medals (the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle and the 4 × 200-meter relay) and one silver (4 ×100-meter freestyle relay). Her performance in the 800-meter final was one of the most impressive in Olympic swimming history, as she took almost two seconds off the previous world-record time and finished more than 11 seconds faster than the silver medalist. Fellow U.S. swimmer [Simone Manuel](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Simone-Manuel) won two golds and two silvers, and her win in the 100-meter freestyle made her the first African American woman to win an individual swimming gold. Americans also led the way in the women’s gymnastics events, as [Simone Biles](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Simone-Biles) became the first U.S. woman—and just the fifth female ever—to capture four gymnastics golds at a single Games (all-around, [floor exercise](https://www.britannica.com/sports/floor-exercise), [vault](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/vault), and team). Biles’s fourth gold in the team event was also significant in that the American team won with the largest margin of victory (8.209 points) in that competition since the “open-ended” scoring system began 2006. Quick Facts Date: August 5, 2016 - August 21, 2016 In other events, the home Brazilian men’s [football (soccer)](https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer) team won the first Olympic gold medal in the football-mad country’s history on a dramatic penalty kick in the final by star forward [Neymar](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neymar). The [Fiji](https://www.britannica.com/place/Fiji-republic-Pacific-Ocean) rugby sevens team won the first gold medal in that country’s history, fittingly in Fiji’s most popular sport, which led to the declaration of a celebratory public holiday in the country. Two Britons also had historic performances at the Rio Games: distance runner [Mo Farah](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mo-Farah) repeated as Olympic champion in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races, becoming the second man (after [Lasse Virén](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lasse-Viren)) to do so, and cyclist [Bradley Wiggins](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bradley-Wiggins) won gold as a member of the men’s pursuit team, giving him eight career Olympic medals, the most in his country’s history.
ML Classification
ML Categories
/Sports
99.6%
/Sports/International_Sports_Competitions
90.3%
/Sports/International_Sports_Competitions/Olympics
80.4%
Raw JSON
{
    "/Sports": 996,
    "/Sports/International_Sports_Competitions": 903,
    "/Sports/International_Sports_Competitions/Olympics": 804
}
ML Page Types
/Article
99.6%
/Article/News_Update
27.1%
Raw JSON
{
    "/Article": 996,
    "/Article/News_Update": 271
}
ML Intent Types
Informational
99.9%
Raw JSON
{
    "Informational": 999
}
Content Metadata
Languageen
AuthorAmy Tikkanen
Publish Timenot set
Original Publish Time2016-08-22 20:52:27 (9 years ago)
RepublishedNo
Word Count (Total)2,485
Word Count (Content)924
Links
External Links15
Internal Links124
Technical SEO
Meta NofollowNo
Meta NoarchiveNo
JS RenderedYes
Redirect Targetnull
Performance
Download Time (ms)186
TTFB (ms)186
Download Size (bytes)19,869
Shard62 (laksa)
Root Hash5455945239613777662
Unparsed URLcom,britannica!www,/story/rio-recap s443