We’re only 3 days into the Olympics at Rio 2016, but we have seen some heartwarming moments, some that will go down in history, and others that will touch the hearts of sports fans around the world.
Here’s a look at some of the most iconic moments from the Olympic Games this year:
Yusra Mardini participates
Syrian refugee Yusra Mardini, who currently resides in Berlin, Germany, saved twenty lives pushing a boat in open water to get other refugees to safety as they fled the war-torn nation. Now, the 18-year-old is participating in the Olympics as part of the refugee team.
Egypt vs Italy, women’s volleyball
A single image shows us the differences in culture worldwide and celebrates the true spirit of the Olympic Games.
Here, we see Egypt’s Doaa El-Ghobashy and Italy’s Marta Menegatti fight it out as the two teams take each other on in the volleyball.
Juan Martin del Potro consoles Novak Djokovic
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic saw his dreams of winning an Olympic medal ended by Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina; the Argentine had previously denied Djokovic bronze in 2012 at the London Olympics, and the two men were both emotional after the match.
Gentle giant Del Potro and Djokovic were both incredibly emotional after the match, with the Argentine displaying both sportsmanship and immense kindness in consoling his distraught Serbian rival.
Djokovic’s emotions show just how much the Olympics mean to him, while Del Potro’s kindness shines through.
Tom Daley falls into the pool
Diver Tom Daley and his synchronised diving partner, Dan Goodfellow, won bronze in Rio for Great Britain at the synchronized 10m diving. The new partners, who came together as a diving pair only in October 2015, put in a solid performance at the discipline for the third prize, and celebrated ecstatically.
During their celebration, the two, mid excited hug, fell back into the pool – and climbed right back out, laughing.
Michael Phelps consoles Ryan Held
Experienced Olympian Phelps today won his 20th and 21st gold medals at the Olympics, but his teammates are not as seasoned. Team USA’s Ryan Held, who with Phelps was part of the men’s 4x100 free relay team that won gold, was overcome with emotion following the win, and it was a smiling Phelps who came to the rescue of Held, consoling him.
North and South Korea take a selfie
It has been 70 years since the division of North and South Korea, and only a handful of years less since North Korea became the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and came to be ruled by the Kim dynasty.
Since then, several residents of the DPRK have attempted (many successfully), to defect to South Korea, but at Rio 2016, gymnasts from DPRK and South Korea posed together ahead of training at the Olympics.
Vanderlei de Lima
Almost a gold medal winner at the Athens Olympics in 2004, marathoner Vanderlei Lima was pushed off his winning path by Irishman Neil Horan, then a priest. At the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, de Lima was felicitated at the Opening Ceremony of the Games, carrying the Olympic torch.
Kirsten Flipkens celebrates
Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens was up in the first round against a resurgent Venus Williams, by far the more successful player in that matchup. Despite this, the in-form former World No.1, who had recently had a semi-final finish at Wimbledon, crumbled to Flipkens in a hard-fought three setter, with the older Williams ousted in Round 1.
Flipkens’ relief was both palpable and visible.
“Why is the water green?”
The Olympic diving pool turned an odd shade of green earlier in the week, prompting many – among them diver Tom Daley – to ask exactly why it had turned the colour of sludge.
Michael Phelps wins 21st Gold Medal
Phelps, already the most decorated Olympian in the history of the games extended his medal tally to 21 – winning his 20th and 21st gold medals this morning, one individual and one team. The 21st came with team USA winning the Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final.
A gleeful Phelps is pictured here, biting his medal.
Venus Williams and Father Richard recall one match that 7-time Grand Slam champion "should have won"
