The enduring images of the 2016 Rio Games:

- Sealed with a kiss -

Swimming great Michael Phelps regained his cherished 200m butterfly Olympic crown, dominating a grudge match with Chad le Clos in which the 2012 champion from South Africa was relegated to fifth place. Phelps, 31, held off the challenge of young rivals Masato Sakai of Japan and Tamas Kenderesi of Hungary -- then enthralled the Olympic Aquatics Stadium crowd with a climb into the stands to share his moment of triumph with three-month-old son Boomer, snuggled in the arms of his mother Nicole Johnson with Phelps's mother Debbie, at their side.

- Diniz drama -

World record-holder Yohann Diniz's courageous effort in the 50km race walk ended in an eighth place finish and a stretcher. The Frenchman set a torrid pace in the sultry heat and led by one minute, 40 seconds at the halfway stage. He soldiered on through severe intestinal trouble before collapsing at the 38km mark, only to rise and finish the race, five minutes and 45 seconds behind winner Matej Toth of Slovakia.

- Another world -

The Rio Olympics threw the economic disparities of Brazil into sharp relief. The August 5 opening ceremony at Maracana was low on technology and high on invention thanks to the economic constraints faced by the recession-hit nation. But the festivities seemed a world away from those watching the fireworks from a terrace in the Mangueira favela, a slum where some of the nation's poorest live less than a kilometer from the iconic stadium.

- To our leader -

North Korean gymnast Ri Se-Gwang had tears in his eyes as he stood to attention on the podium, giving a military-style salute as his national anthem blasted out in honor of his men's vault gold. The two-time world champion crushed his rivals with the hardest combination then lauded North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

"It does not mean anything to me," he said. "It is a gift that I present to my country."

- Shattered -

A horrifying injury to French gymnast Samir Ait Said in men's vault qualifying shocked competitors and prompted questions about a scoring system that pushes athletes to try increasingly dangerous moves. Ait Said snapped the lower part of his left leg in an awkward landing, suffering a double tibia and fibula fracture. He was in agony as his leg flopped to one side to gaspos of horror from the crowd and other gymnasts. Ait Said, who missed the 2012 games after breaking his right leg in a vault, was out and about in Rio on crutches before the Games ended, visiting France House and insisting "The adventure of Tokyo 2020 is still possible".

- Worth the pain -

Middleweight Misael Rodriguez begged for money on Mexico City's streets and buses to fulfil his dream of reaching the Rio Olympics, saying the trip was "well worth all the pain" despite coming away not with gold but bronze in a division won by Cuba's Arlen Lopez.

- Handshake snub -

Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby was jeered out of the Olympic arena after refusing to shake hands with his Israeli opponent Or Sasson, or make the customary post-bout bow. The snub reverberated beyond the bounds of Rio, with the International Olympic Committee saying the Egyptian Olympic committee "strongly condemned" El Shehaby's action and he was given a strong reprimand.

- Vilifying Lavillenie -

French pole vault star Renaud Lavillenie was reduced to tears on the medal podium as a hostile crowd showered him with boos for a second time. Lavillenie had lashed out at fans who subjected him to deafening booing and catcalls during his dramatic duel with Brazilian Thiago Braz da Silva -- which the home favorite won. Lavillenie compared it to the treatment of black runner Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. But pleas for sportsmanship and respect for the Olympic spirit brought no relief as he accepted his silver medal.

- Three times three -

Usain Bolt danced for joy with his Jamaican relay teammates after anchoring the squad to a 4x100m victory that sealed his Olympic "triple-triple" -- his third straight sweep of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m golds.

Bolt, who says Rio was his last Olympics, departed the Games with nine gold medals, level with Carl Lewis and Paavo Nurmi for most among track and field athletes.

"We wanted to win to make Usain immortal and he is immortal," relay teammate Yohan Blake said.

Source: AFP