The 2016 Rio Olympics are far from over but my excitement over the display of athletic prowess cannot be contained. Here is my positive news only highlights reel.
First, I will give love to veteran Olympian, Allyson Felix, who claimed her seventh Olympic medal after coming in 2nd place in the 400m sprint. She has now become the most decorated female track and field athlete in history. At this time, making history is little consolation after losing on a technicality when Shaunae Miller of Barbados dove head-first across the finish line.
Simone Biles, at her first Olympics, can’t stop winning medals. She won 4 gold medals (vault, team all-around, individual all-around, and floor exercise) and bronze on the beam. The U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team includes Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Aly Raisman, and Madison Kocian.
Michelle Carter became the first American to win a gold medal in shot put after throwing an impressive 20.63 meters.
Simone Manuel made history in Rio becoming the first African American woman to win gold in an individual swimming event (100m freestyle). She also won gold alongside teammates in the 4x100m medley relay and silver in the 50m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay.
Congratulations to Katie Ledecky who won 4 gold medals (200m, 4x200m, 400m, and 800m) which included setting a world record for the 800m freestyle. She also nabbed a silver medal in the 4x100m relay that she swam with the aforementioned olympic medalist Simone Manuel. Ledecky made history becoming the first woman to win gold in the 200, 400, and 800-meter freestyle races since Debbie Meyer of 68’.