NPR's team in Tokyo put together our favorite moments of the Games, where participants showed their athleticism, sportsmanship, and what motivated them to compete.
Ashleigh Johnson, the first African American woman to make a U.S. Olympic water polo team, blocked 11 out of 15 shots from Spain during the gold medal match – a rate of 73%.
The 27-year-old from Wisconsin pulled off an upset and is leaving Japan with a bronze medal around her neck. Her first-ever marathon was when she qualified to run in the Olympics.
The U.S. players had a 1-0 loss against Canada in the semifinal. They'll take bronze if they win their next game. The U.S. lost its star goalie to an injury in the first half.
Suddenly well behind the leaders, Dutch distance runner Sifan Hassan stood up and turned on the gas. Eleven of the world's fastest runners stood between her and victory.
Saunders said she's been open about her mental health struggles so others don't feel alone. It's also why she wears her identities so proudly as a gay Black woman.
Lee flipped and twisted from bar to bar in a sparkly blue leotard. She smiled and looked confident as she walked off the mat, and seemed a little surprised at her score.
"Simone has withdrawn from the event final for floor and will make a decision on beam later this week," USA Gymnastics said. "Either way, we're all behind you, Simone."
Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica has won the fastest women's track race at the Tokyo Games in Olympic record time. She was the defending gold medalist in this event. Jamaica swept the final.
After winning her second gold medal, swimmer Kaylee McKeown invited Emily Seebohm to share the top step of the podium. "It was quite emotional. She had some tears in her eyes, so did I," McKeown says.