39 Of The Most Epic Photos From The 2016 Rio Olympics
The games of the XXXI Olympiad summed up in 39 amazing photos.
Young performers fly kites in the shape of doves, an Olympic tradition that symbolizes peace, to usher in the 2016 Games.
Fireworks illuminate Maracanã Stadium as participating nations converge at the opening ceremony.
A view of the sunset over the Beach Volleyball Arena at Copacabana on the first day of the games.
A spectator stands in the empty Deodoro Stadium prior to a rugby match.
Kosuke Hagino of Japan takes the gold in the men's 400-meter individual medley final.
Alexander Massialas of the United States (right) defeats Artur Akhmatkhuzin of Russia during a men's individual foil event.
Mathlynn Sasser of the Marshall Islands in jubilation during the women's 58-kilogram weightlifting contest.
Brazilian rugby player Isadora Cerullo kisses her girlfriend, Marjorie, a volunteer, after accepting her marriage proposal on the sideline of the women's rugby medal ceremony.
Michael Phelps of the United States competes in the men's 200-meter butterfly heat. Phelps went on to win gold for the event, finishing with six medals from Rio — and a total of 28 medals during his Olympic career.
Jamaica's Usain Bolt well ahead of his competition during the men's 100-meter sprint semifinal.
Egypt's Doaa Elghobashy and Germany's Kira Walkenhorst approach the net at a beach volleyball event.
Brazilian water polo players yell to their teammates during a match against Russia.
A view of the Olympic diving pool (left) after the wrong chemicals were dumped in the water, turning it green.
Spain's Andres Eduardo Mata Perez lifts during the men's 77kg weightlifting contest.
Samir Ait Said of France in excruciating pain after breaking his leg while competing on the vault during the artistic gymnastics men's team qualification.
Chad le Clos of South Africa looks over to his archrival, USA's Michael Phelps, during the men's 200m butterfly final.
Oscar Albeiro Figueroa Mosquera of Colombia removes his shoes to symbolise his retirement, as he celebrates his final win at the men's 62-kilogram weightlifting contest.
Fu Yuanhui of China (left) makes a funny face during the medal ceremony for the women's 100-meter backstroke event.
US gymnast Simone Biles gets in the zone as she competes in the women's balance beam event final.
In a true act of diplomacy, South Korea's Lee Eun-ju (right) takes a selfie with North Korea's Hong Un Jong during a gymnastics practice.
Katie Ledecky of the United States (center) totally wiping out her competition during the women's 800-meter freestyle final.
China's Yang Bin (red) in combat with Morocco's Zied Ait Ouagram during the men's Greco-Roman competition.
Cyclists ride past an eco barrier along a polluted canal in the Leblon neighborhood during the women's road race.
South Africa's Caster Semenya ecstatic over her women's 800-meter final win during the athletics event.
Lucas William Savola gets a feel of the gold medal won by his mother, USA's Kristin Armstrong, in the cycling road women's individual time trial.
Spectators sit in the shade during the equestrian dressage grand prix freestyle event.
Zhong Tianshi of China waits to compete in the women's keirin second-round cycling event.
Suffering from an injury following a mid-race collision, USA's Abbey D'Agostino (right) is assisted by her competitor, New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin, during the women's 5,000-meter heat.
Michael John Conlan of Ireland gives the finger to the judges after his defeat to Vladimir Nikitin of Russia in the boxing men's bantam (56 kilogram) quarterfinal.
Dutch players wait for the start of their women's quarterfinal volleyball match against South Korea.
An underwater view of Britain's Thomas Daley competing in the men's 10-meter platform semifinal.
The Brazilian football crowd cheering on their national team before they beat Germany in the men's final.
Japan's Saori Yoshida (left) in tears as Helen Maroulis of the USA celebrates her win in the women's freestyle 53-kilogram wrestling event.
China's synchronized swimming team practices at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center.
Mongolia's wrestling coaches protest the judges' decision after Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (red) was defeated by Ikhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan in the men's freestyle 65-kilogram match for the bronze medal.
Athletes rest after finishing the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase final.
Athletes participate during the parade at the closing ceremony.
Brazilian singer Roberta Sa performs during the closing ceremony.
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe holds up a red glowing ball as Rio de Janeiro hands over the Olympic Games to Tokyo.
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Matt Tucker is the UK Picture Editor for BuzzFeed and is based in London.
Contact Matthew Tucker at matthew.tucker@buzzfeed.com.
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Anna Mendoza is a photo editor for BuzzFeed and is based in Sydney, Australia.
Contact Anna Mendoza at anna.mendoza@buzzfeed.com.
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Contact Gabriel H. Sanchez at gabriel.sanchez@buzzfeed.com.
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Kate Bubacz is the Photo Director for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.
Contact Kate Bubacz at kate.bubacz@buzzfeed.com.