Full coverage: 2016 Rio Olympics

The 2016 Olympic games began under a cloud of uncertainty… with some questioning whether it should be held in Rio at all. But as the action took center stage, those doubts slid away.

American wins 6 more medals, finishing with 23 golds, 28 total

Michael Phelps did not wait long to add to his medal haul. The most decorated Olympian of all time added a further 5 golds and a silver to his collection, giving him 28 Olympic medals in all, 23 of them gold.

Swimmer grabs three golds, sets world record in 400m IM

Hungary’s Katinka Hiosszu almost walked away from swimming after a disappointing London 2012… but Rio would be an altogether different story – winning three golds and a silver… as well as a world record in the 400 meter individual medley.

There was plenty for China to cheer in Rio.

Lang Ping leads women's volleyball squad to title

The country's women’s volleyball team under the guidance of Lang Ping won gold for the first time since 2004… beating Serbia in the final.

But that wasn’t the only standout performance for China.

Shi Tingmao grabs double gold in women's 3m springboard

Chen Aisen doubled up, winning two golds in the 10-meter diving competition. That achievement was matched by Shi Tingmao in the women’s 3-meter diving.

Ding Ning grabs singles and team titles in women's events

Ma Long also did the double in table tennis, winning both the singles and the team event.

And not to be outdone, Ding Ning repeated the feat in women’s table tennis.

Jamaican wins 100m, 200m, and 4x100m golds at three Games

When the athletics program began, the spotlight fell on Usain Bolt. Was the Jamaican over his hamstring injury? Could he make it a treble-treble of gold medals?

The answer to both... was an emphatic yes.

South Africa's Caster Semenya golden in women's 800m

Elsewhere, there were record breaking performances on the track. Wayde van Niekerk smashed the 400-meter record in the final to claim gold.

While fellow South African Caster Semenya blitzed her rivals and critics to take the women’s 800-meter gold.

USA women claim sixth straight Olympic gold in basketball

Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana demolished the 10,000-meter women’s record by 14 seconds.

The US women’s basketball team continued their dominance of the competition, wining gold for the 6th straight Olympics.

Fiji earn first ever gold in capturing inaugural men's Rugby sevens

While in gymnastics, Simone Biles dazzled the world on her way to four gold medals and a bronze.

Fiji won a first ever Olympic medal and in some style, winning the men’s rugby 7s.

Games also welcomed its first-ever team comprised of refugees

And there was delight too for the home fans… as Brazil’s men’s football team finally won that elusive gold

But one of the stories of the games saw a team of ten refugees compete in Rio. A message of hope to refugees around the world… and a reminder of how sport can bring people together.