OPENING CEREMONY FLAG BEARER: ANDY MURRAY.
2016: PERFORMANCE = GOLD MEDALLIST.
CLOSING CEREMONY FLAG BEARER: KATE RICHARDSON-WALSH.
2016 PERFORMANCE = GOLD MEDALLIST
TOTAL GREAT BRITAIN MEDALS: 67
GOLD: 27
SILVER: 23
BRONZE: 17
FINAL LIST OF GREAT BRITAIN OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ONE AND ALL.
1. ADAM PEATY - Swimming (100m breaststroke) WORLD RECORD: 57.13 seconds
2. JOE CLARKE - Canoeing (K1 slalom)
3. JACK LAUGHER/CHRIS MEARS - Diving (3m Synchronised Springboard)
4. PHILIP HINDES/JASON KENNY/CALLUM SKINNER - Cycling (Mens Team Sprint)
5. HELEN GLOVER/HEATHER STANNING - Rowing (Womens Pair)
6. CONSTANTINE LOULOUDIS/GEORGE NASH/MOE SBIHI/ALEX GREGORY - Rowing (Mens Four)
7. ED CLANCY/STEVEN BURKE/OWAIN DOULL/SIR BRADLEY WIGGINS - Cycling (Mens Team Pursuit)
8. SCOTT DURANT/TOM RANSLEY/ANDREW HODGE/MATT GOTREL/PHELAN HILL/PETE REED/PAUL BENNETT/MATT LANGRIDGE/WILLIAM SATCH - Rowing (Mens Eight)
9. LAURA TROTT/JOANNA ROWSELL SHAND/ELINOR BARKER/KATIE ARCHIBALD - Cycling (Womens Team Pursuit)
10. MO FARAH - Athletics (10,000m)
11. MAX WHITLOCK - Gymnastics (Floor)
12. JUSTIN ROSE - Golf (Strokeplay)
13. MAX WHITLOCK - Gymnastics (Pommel Horse)
14. JASON KENNY - Cycling (Sprint)
15. ANDY MURRAY - Tennis (Mens Singles) - Opening ceremony flag bearer
16. CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN on VALEGRO - Equestrian (Dressage)
17. GILES SCOTT - Sailing (Finn Class)
18. LAURA TROTT - Cycling (Omnium)
19. JASON KENNY - Cycling (Mens Keirin)
20. ALISTAIR BROWNLEE - Triathlon (1500m swim/40km Cycle Ride/10km Run)
21. HANNAH MILLS/SASKIA CLARK - Sailing (470 Dinghy class)
22. JADE JONES - Taekwondo (57kg division)
23. NICK SKELTON on BIG STAR - Equestrian (Showjumping)
24. MADDIE HINCH/KATE RICHARDSON-WALSH (Captain and Closing ceremony flag bearer)/HELEN RICHARDSON-WALSH/SAM QUEK/GEORGIE TWIGG/SOPHIE BRAY/ALEXANDRA DANSON/LILLY OWSLEY/NICOLA WHITE/CRISTA CULLEN/HANNAH MACLEOD/SUSANNA TOWNSEND/HOLLIE WEBB/SHONA MCCALLIN/GISELE ANSLEY/LAURA UNSWORTH - Hockey (Womens Field Hockey)
25. LIAM HEATH - Canoeing - (Mens K1 200m Sprint)
26. NICOLA ADAMS - Boxing (Womens 51kg flyweight division)
27. MO FARAH - Athletics (5000m)
That DQ is going to rankle for the next four years...
Loved the Super Mario Entrance for the Japanese PM have to say looking forward to a japanese opening ceremony will be bloody mental
Why the fuck didn't they start with all this.
What a fabulous Olympic Games that was.
So many stories, so many near misses and so many glorious successes, so many inspiring moments and achievements.
From Adam Peaty with Gold and a world record in the 100m breaststroke to Mo Farah and his 5000m grand finale.
From Ayana's 10,000m world record in the opening athletics session to the Lightning Bolt capturing the triple triple to launch himself into sporting immortality.
From Brazil despair in the womens football to the glory in the mens event. From equal despair in the womens beach volleyball to glory in the mens.
For more of Britain, well agony and ecstasy a plenty.
From first to last for Tom Daley in less than 24 hours.
Last second heartbreak for Lutalo Mohammad in Taekwondo.
Three thousandths of a second away from Bronze - that pain suffered by Adam Gemili.
Disqualification for the 4x400m relay squad when to all intents and purposes a sound qualification had looked assured but for a mere red line.
Not quite the golden Olympic swansong for Katherine Grainger or Jessica Ennis-Hill, both having to settle for silver lining.
Fourth place - that worst of fates and most painful heartbreak.
Oh how the Brits suffered none more so than in the pool.
Hopes and dreams shattered, with just the thought that another four years of toil lies ahead with no certainty of reward.
In the shadows till Rio of Sir Ben. But in 2016 the waves were ruled by Giles Scott claiming Gold in the Finn class.
That Golden swansong denied to some was not to be denied Saskia Clark as she along with Hannah Mills converted medal potential to ultimate glory in the 470 dinghy.
Control of the water was not unique to Messrs Peaty, Scott, Clark or Mills however. Withstanding the rapids with a mere canoe Joe Clarke was to paddle his way to Gold for GB.
And then there was rowing. Ah yes the rowing.
Pressure to maintain tradition of glories past.
No problem for Stanning and Glover who powered to the defence of their womens pair title with stunning aplomb.
Double the rowers to four and surely even more power - Right?
Right indeed. Louloudis, Nash, Sbihi and Gregory saw to that.
Double it again. Could eight be great? Oh yes. The mens eight sealing GBs place at the top of the rowers medal table once again.
Mastery of so many an Olympiad seat.
Boat and canoe mastery now achieved it would be time for a special two wheel feat.
The golden couple of Trott and Kenny were to seal Gold medals a many. With invaluable help from Team Pursuit and Team Sprint colleagues mastery of sprint and stamina were to break or match records for both. Trott became Britain's most successful female Olympian. Kenny levelled with Sir Chris Hoy on 6 career golds.
Ten Olympic titles between them with Hoy watching on from the studio above.
The yellow jersey not required any longer for Sir Bradley Wiggins. Instead cementing of legacy assured with triumph in the Team Pursuit with help from Messrs Clancy, Doull and Burke. With yellow jersey memories still fresh for Chris Froome attention quickly turned to the steep climbs and descents of Rio's roads. Bronze this time for the Tour de Force of the Tour de France.
One last dash and splash required?
Liam Heath upgrading K2 silver to K1 gold in 200m of mayhem.
Two canoe titles for Union Jack.
While Brazil's men sought ball in net in which to land ther kicks it was kicks of a different kind for Jade Jones in Taekwondo.
Kicks to head and body to successfully defend her Olympic crown. Lutalo Mohammad made to look back at 1 second in time that he wishes he could kick into touch.
As the ball went into touch for the final time in Rugby Sevens it was to signal Olympic history for Fiji after romping to victory in the Gold medal match. A step too far for GB this time.
While the Rugby ball flew into touch Justin Rose had the Midas touch with a ball of a very different shape and size.
A final round battle with Henrik Stenson going to the 72nd and final hole. Rose it was who claimed the Gold medal that Rory McIlroy amongst others had declined upon the first Olympic Golf event for 112 years.
While Rose was waving his wand of a club Andy Murray was aiming to start a club of one. Could he become the first man to successfully defend a mens singles Olympic title.
Trials and trivulations a plenty even before the final but the man from Dunblane battled his way to a final with Juan Martin Del Potro. The Gold medal match will live long in the memory for both men. As commentator Simon Reed said they had already achieved so much but they would have a special bond after what had happened over the four hours of that match.
Four hours of toil, struggle and at times mind boggling quality of tennis.
Murray it was who held his nerve before emotion took over for both men. A truly wonderful match and a fitting and heartfelt embrace at the end.
The flag bearer takes Gold before promptly flying to Cincinatti for another tournament on the ATP tour.
British mastery of ball however was not to end just yet.
One more history making and potentially legacy creating moment was yet to come. A tight knit group of ladies set out on their quest for Gold. Five group matches played and five won.
The momentum was building. Spain seen off in the last eight.
New Zealand defeated in the semi final.
One final obstacle stood between Great Britain and Olympic Hockey glory. Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh in her 375th and final match as both captain and player.
The stage was set. Ebb and flow. 1-0 up to 1-2 down.
Level again at 2-2 before the swarming Dutch take the lead again.
Did GB have anything left? Oh yes. Back they bravely fought to force an equaliser. The clock wins out and in an encounter where Maddie Hinch had already performed heroics she would step forward one more time to drive her team to victory.
No Dutch penalty taker could pass the GB stopper.
Hollie Webb sealed Rio glory. Celebrations deserved as the world number one team and reigning champions were beaten.
So Webb delivers the knockout blow with her stick.
Meanwhile in the ring it was Nicola Adams who would be delivering the knockout blows. A successful defence from London to Rio of her flyweight title. Yorkshire's finest delivers once again.
Simone Biles of the USA dominated in Gymnastics like no other. For Britain though this was to be joy and excitement to the Max and indeed for the Max.
Max Whitlock delivering double gold on the floor and the pommel horse with team mate Louis Smith also sealing a silver. And 16 year old Amy Tinkler set new heights in delivering a quite outstanding bronze.
Speaking of heights Bryony Page was achieving plenty of those on the trampoline and produced a superb routine to claim silver for Team GB.
So a trampoline of destiny for Page.
Early in the Games though there had been a springboard to diving glory. A three metre springboard to be precise.
In glorious synchronicity Chris Mears and Jack Laugher somersaulted their way to Gold and Laugher was to later claim a silver medal in the solo event.
So Gold and silver for Laugher.
But one man in Rio was aiming one step higher for double gold. Over 10,000 metres and 5000 metres Mo Farah would prove imperious, glorious and stupendous in achieving a double only achieved by one other man in Olympic history.
A true master of his art.
Artistry was to be the very definition of the Gold medal routine of Charlotte Dujardin on her horse Valegro. Another successful and magnificent defence of Olympic Dressage title sealed in style.
So to another magnificent title defence.
A three discipline marathon on water, bike and foot.
Alistair Brownlee once again the Triathlon King.
Younger brother Jonny sealing a British 1-2.
Faster, higher, stronger.
Faster than the opposition.
To jump higher and better than the opposition.
To be stronger in will and perseverance than all the rest.
Two allies for this Olympic odyssey have my final word.
A horse and a man.
The horse: Big Star. And what a star.
The man: Nick Skelton.
58 years young.
Since 1980 attempts at glory with no reward.
Try, try and try again through Olympic cycle after Olympic cycle. Years of dedication finally rewarded.
As he stood on rostrum with Gold medal intact the emotion was clear for all to see. No bother in records of countless Golds for Skelton. Proof if any were needed that just one will do. One moment in time to never forget.
And so it's goodbye to Copacabana with a Samba farewell.
The flame of 2016 now dimmed. Look forward to Tokyo 2020 for the next Summer Olympiad.
Farewell Rio. It's been fun.
I wonder what lessons the IOC will learn from Rio 2016? Certainly I don't think there isn't another City in South America other Mexico city that could stage the Olympics and looking at Tokyo I wonder how much of their infrastructure will change to accommodate not only new stadia for the 2019 Ruby World Cup and then the Olympics less than probably a year later. Not only I think they have to look at sheer costs it takes to put the Olympics on for any host city, I'm sure there is some kind of funding in the IOC that is given to any host city to help with the cost.
I don't think from what I've seen of Rio 2016 is that not very many venues were sold out because of ticket prices being too high.
I would not be surprised in the next few months after the dust settles, that we start getting the familiar drip drip stories of positive drugs tests for certain athletes of certain countries who won medals.
Tokyo will be something very special I am sure in 2020, But even so I do think that in future it is better to have joint bids by cities in certain areas of the world where costs could be shared escpecially if the IOC wanted Africa to stage the Games and that even would be amazing. But I genuinely feel that future Games would probably end up being hosted by two cities as costs rise. I do not think that certain countries are able to solely stage the Games on their own with the possible exception of a few.
This is according to Wikipedia, is the profit loss of all Olympic games: -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_of_the_Olympic_Games
Excellent Olympics. The location more than made up for the problems.
There need to be a few changes for Tokyo.
The boxing marking needs looking at, and the golfing tournament would have been better as matchplay or even a team 4 ball competition.
And they really need to ditch the walking medal.
(22-08-2016 08:58 )Charlemagne Wrote: [ -> ]Excellent Olympics. The location more than made up for the problems.
There need to be a few changes for Tokyo.
The boxing marking needs looking at, and the golfing tournament would have been better as matchplay or even a team 4 ball competition.
And they really need to ditch the walking medal.
I think the golf would work better as match play for maybe both steam and individual, they need to go back to the gloves with the white spots in boxing and use points not judges as scoring system for boxing.
Marathons should be run on opening day of Olympics and I feel the triathlon should be run on the last day.
Swimming programme needs to be streamlined better along with football and certain sports dropped to suit Tokyo. When the soccer starts before he games open it is crazy it may be better to ditch the group thing in Olympics and have straight knockout/repechage system for football I feel if the IOC looked at what sports have been well supported in games over the years those sports should form the Olympic programme, but ultimately
they should leave it up to each host city to decide which sports work best for them and their city. I think there are some athletics events that could be dropped too. If it could be done in a certain way I'd like to see the last three days as being used as finals days in certain events. One event I would drop would be beach volleyball. Exciting a it is to some, I feel it has no place in the Olympic programme as well as handball and possibly water polo.
Even now I think broadcasting costs are also rising along with the costs of the games itself.
Personally I'd kick boxing out. Still can't get over the Russian heavyweight winning when he could hardly stand at the end.
Disagree with water polo and handball. Both are big sports in Europe and let's the little countries like france have a chance.
The swimming needs streamlining. Get rid of the relays.
I wouldn't lose any sleep if basketball wasn't there but with American audiences this won't happen. It's all about the sponsers now so won't be surprised if they add a team match play golf tournament as well.
Like I've mentioned here before the track and field without Bolt and farah will be like going back 15 years. They need to sort out the drug issues as well.
But overall rio was fantastic from a British point of view. Even better if you read some of the reports from australian newspapers about there athletes. They said they would get 11 golds in swimming alone but ended up with 8 from the whole games.
