American swimming legend Michael Phelps added four more gold in Rio Olympic Games to his vastly decorated trophy cabinet and signed off with an amazing 23 gold, something distined to last for centuries.

Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt might have won nine, but by completing a triple-triple (100m, 200m and 4x100m) in Rio he set a benchmark that others can only dream of. Not only that, Bolt has been so dominant since his Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008 that he never won anything but gold.

41-year-old Hoang Xuan Vinh secured Vietnam's first-ever gold in the men's 10m air pistol event.

Joseph Schooling beat his idol Michael Phelps to win Singapore's first Olympic Games gold.

Majlinda Kelmendi's -52kg Judo gold marked Kosovo's golden Olympic debut in Rio.

Monica Puig's victory against world No 2 Angelique Kerber in the women's tennis singles final gave Puerto Rico its first ever Olympic Games gold medal.

Fiji men's rugby sevens team not only won their first Olympic Games gold medal, it was their first ever medal of any colour.

Neymar and his young brigade fittingly fulfilled Brazil's dream of a first Olympic football gold, defeating Germany 5-4 in the shootout at the iconic Maracana Stadium.

German slalom coach Stefan Henze is a tragic sporting casualty in Rio Games. The 35-year-old, also former Olympic silver medalist, died of the wounds he sustained in a car accident. The most heartening news was that his four donated organs helped save four lives.

Great Britain's Mohamed Farah completed a magnificent twopeat in Rio Games, retaining his 10,000m and 5,000m titles against all adversities.

South Africa's Van Niekerk. Photo: Afp

American swimmer Ryan Lochte earned the bad boy reputation for fabricating a mugging story.

American shooter Ginny Thrasher won Rio Olympics' first gold.

Her compatriot gymnast Simone Biles and swimmer Katie Ledecky (bellow) were sensational in their respective fields, winning four gold each -- their only regret was not to hit a perfect five.

Her compatriot gymnast Simone Biles (top) and swimmer Katie Ledecky were sensational in their respective fields, winning four gold each -- their only regret was not to hit a perfect five.

Hungary's Katinka Hosszu also missed a perfect four in swimming, winning three gold against a silver. Photos: Reuters