Yesterday, Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik made history as she won the bronze medal in the women’s 58kg freestyle wrestling. Much has been written about her historic victory, but here’s a look at that brilliant Rio 2016 journey in pictures from last night, which show just how difficult that fight really is:
Able support: Malik’s coach holds aloft India’s first medal winner
Breaking down: the gravity of that mammoth win has just hit Sakshi
Caught in the tussle
In a tussle – Sakshi spars with her Kyrgyzstani opponent
Caught in a tangle!
Going out on a limb to fight for the title
Got her to the mat: Sakshi fought tooth and nail to keep her opponent down
Aisuluu Tynybekova lets her loss sink in – after all, she's just narrowly missed out on Olympic glory
Tangled!
Malik put everything into a tough fight en route to a medal
Caption
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Sakshi Malik of India is declared the winner against Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan during the Women's Freestyle 58 kg Bronze match on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Caioca Arena 2 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Sakshi Malik of India celebrates after defeating Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan during the Women's Freestyle 58 kg Bronze match on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Caioca Arena 2 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Sakshi Malik of India celebrates after defeating Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan during the Women's Freestyle 58 kg Bronze match on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Caioca Arena 2 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Sakshi Malik of India (red) competes against Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan during the Women's Freestyle 58 kg Bronze match on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Caioca Arena 2 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Sakshi Malik of India is declared the winner against Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan during the Women's Freestyle 58 kg Bronze match on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Caioca Arena 2 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Sakshi Malik (bottom) of India competes against Valeriia Koblova Zholobova of Russia during a Women's Freestyle 58kg Quarterfinal bout on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Caioca Arena 2 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Sakshi Malik (R) of India competes against Valeriia Koblova Zholobova of Russia during a Women's Freestyle 58kg Quarterfinal bout on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Caioca Arena 2 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Sakshi Malik (R) of India competes against Valeriia Koblova Zholobova of Russia during a Women's Freestyle 58kg Quarterfinal bout on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Caioca Arena 2 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Sakshi Malik (R) of India competes against Valeriia Koblova Zholobova of Russia during a Women's Freestyle 58kg Quarterfinal bout on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Caioca Arena 2 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Sakshi Malik (R) of India competes against Valeriia Koblova Zholobova of Russia during a Women's Freestyle 58kg Quarterfinal bout on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Caioca Arena 2 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Before the bronze: Sakshi Malik gives it her all and then some against Valeriia Koblova Zholobova of Russia
“I will fight you till the end!" Valeriia Koblova Zholobova of Russia is locked in battle with Sakshi Malik
On the way there: Mariana Cherdivara Esanu of Moldova puts in some muscle against Sakshi Malik
