It was a deliriously jubilant finish to an Olympics Games that extolled the Cidade Maravilhosa, Rio’s renowned beach culture, and stunning landmarks such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue, which provided such a magnificent backdrop for South America’s first Olympics. RelatedIn scenes of unrestrained ecstasy that lasted well after the official end of the closing ceremony, Rio finally put on its full party face for several thousand Olympians. “The Rio Games will stay forever in our memories and our hearts,” Carlos Artur Nuzman, president of the Rio de Janiero Organizing Committee, said. With 46 gold medals won, the United States Olympic Committee had many to choose from, but accorded the honour to gymnast Simone Biles, who won four gold medals and a bronze. Perhaps the fairest way of all to determine national rankings may be to combine results from the Rio Games and the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

Source: National Post August 22, 2016 03:00 UTC