Winning Olympic moments get the GIFs they deserve
The 2016 Rio Olympics brought us a heap of memorable moments: there was the oily flag-bearer from Tonga, Pita Nikolas Taufatofua, the dancing weightlifter from Kiribati, David Katoatau, and the USA's gold-winning record breaker, Simone Manuel.
While we would normally GIF these crowning achievements for you to watch in an endless loop, the International Olympic Committee won't let us.
But their GIF ban hasn't stopped us from having a little fun, which is why we spent the duration of the games animating our own GIFs with the photographs we were allowed to use. Now you can relive it all in your favorite format, below. You're welcome.
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Michael Phelps is a beast
This was a banner Olympics for Phelps. He walked away with six medals (five golds and one silver), bringing his career-long medal count to 28 as he promises to retire. That's more than Argentina, India, Ethiopia or 87 other countries.
Beyond stuffing his vault with gold, Phelps also blessed us with #PhelpsFace, his epic stare down of Chad Le Clos. Truly an Olympics beast.
The 'Final Five' dominate again and again and again
Team USA's gymnasts gave us jaw-dropping feats every time they entered the Rio Olympic Arena. At least one member of the self-described "Final Five" medaled in every individual competition.
Then there was Simone Biles and all that hardware she collected (four golds and one bronze). She became the first American gymnast to win gold on the vault.
Biles and Aly Raisman were an unstoppable duo, giving the USA a 1-2 punch in gold and silver in both the women's floor exercise and women's individual all-around.
Raisman walked away with three medals (one gold, two silver), bringing her career total to six, the second most collected by an American woman.
Usain Bolt's picture perfect win
Jamaica's Usain Bolt dominated in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4X100-meter relay, giving him the "triple-triple" he wanted. He dominated all three races over three Olympics in a row.
But what took the internet's breath away was a Getty photographer's photo shot during a semifinal round. The world's fastest man was captured grinning to his side as his competition struggled in the background.
After that, Bolt went on to win all his following races in Rio. Making his final dash of the summer games even more sweet, he promises Rio will be his final Olympics. We'll miss watching Sonic Bolt leaving everyone else in the dust.
Mo Farah's mid-race fall couldn't stop him
Our favorite Mobot, Great Britain's Mo Farah, had a tough start to the 10,000-meter race. The distance runner, who inspired a boatload of memes and a cadre of dancers after the London Games, fell in Rio, tangling up with competitors during the 10,000-meter final. But Farah was still able to break away and finish first. Then, when it came time for the 5,000-meter final, he demolished that race, too, taking gold once again.
That makes a "double-double" for Farah. In London, he won gold in the 10,000-meter and 5,000-meter races. The London Olympics shot his famous Mobot pose (he holds his arms above his head in an M shape) into internet stardom, along with a dance he choreographed with the same name.
Simone Manuel made history
Simone Manuel's 100-meter freestyle win was one for the record books. Not only did her finishing time of 52.70 smash an Olympic record, she also became the first African-American swimmer to win gold in an individual event.
Her victory has already inspired black girls across the country to hop in the pool.
Smooth Lorenzo stole our hearts
This horse can hang with us any time. Ridden by Severo Jesus Jurado Lopez of Spain, Lorenzo danced to Santana's "Smooth" as he competed in the Dressage Individual Grand Prix Freestyle.
Lorenzo's perfectly-timed chill moves had us grooving along.
Katie Ledecky's winning streak
Katie Ledecky became the first woman since 1968 to win the 200-meter, 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle. For her 800-meter win, it wasn't even close. She was a mighty force to behold in that race, beating her competitors by roughly 11 seconds.
She took home four golds and a silver from Rio and even had Phelps show her how to properly wear all her medals.
Singapore's first-ever gold
Rio wasn't the first time Joseph Schooling met his idol, Phelps, but it was the moment he snatched gold from the swimming powerhouse.
Schooling met Phelps back in his home country of Singapore eight years ago when he was 13. Back then, he idolized Phelps, but during the 100-meter butterfly, Schooling beat him. Schooling took the gold, relegating Phelps to share second place with two other swimmers.
Fiji's emotional triumph
When the men's rugby sevens team from Fiji defeated Great Britain, 43-7 for their country's first-ever gold, Fijians took to the streets to dance and celebrate. And back in Rio, the team busted out a stirring gospel song before breaking down in tears.
The dancing weightlifter
A cyclone destroyed David Katoatau's newly-built house in 2015. The devastating loss inspired Katoatau to raise awareness of climate change and its impact on his home country of Kiribati. Rising sea levels and coastal erosion threaten the island nation.
To get people to pay attention to climate change, Katoatau dances. He whipped out his trademark dance in Rio when he ranked sixth in the Men’s 105kg Group B final.
Neymar's game-winning moment
It seemed as if Brazil watched with bated breath for the end of the final soccer match in Rio. It was Brazil against Germany, again on home turf. Two years ago at the World Cup, Germany whooped Brazil 7-1, a travesty for the proud nation that has produced soccer superstar after superstar.
It was a tense game, but Neymar, who was out injured for that 2014 game, converted the game-winning penalty. Fans hollered and broke out in song. It tasted like redemption, even as Brazil struggles ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
Oily man glistens
What better way for Olympics fever to kick off than with an oily man? During the Opening Ceremony, Tongan Pita Nikolas Taufatofua stole the show as he marched shirtless and covered in oil during the Parade of Nations.
The buff flag bearer and taekwondo athlete caught the eye of Today show hosts (especially Hoda Kotb) and playful social media users.
Topics Olympics
Brittany Levine Beckman was Mashable's managing editor. She enjoys crafting feature ideas, learning new things, and party parrots. Before working at Mashable, she covered community news at the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register. That's how she met a zonkey and the tallest man in the world.
