Star of the week
Leonidas of Rhodes – having his highest profile week since 164BC after Michael Phelps beat his tally of 12 individual titles. Leonidas won three races in four straight ancient Games, three in full armour, then died, ascended to Mount Olympus and was declared a god.
Runners-up
Phelps aside, Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana – beating the women’s 10,000m world record by almost 15 seconds after breaking from the pack at 5,200m – and Sir Bradley: finding time after his latest Olympic gold to do his Phil Hindes impression on live TV.
Most content
2015: 5ft 9in, 12.5st Ethiopia swimmer Robel Kiros Habte finishes last out of 115 swimmers at the world championships, but stays focused on his dream. “I just want to be famous.” 2016: Job done.
Quote of the week
Fiji police spokesperson Ana Naisoro, discussing the public mayhem that followed the nation’s rugby sevens gold. “There is disruption on the roads, congestion, it’s chaos here. But, ah – we’re unconcerned.”
Most on message
North Korea weightlifter Om Yun-chol – who credited his 2012 gold to “the warm love of the Great Leader and the Great Comrade Kim Jong-un” – crediting his 2016 silver to “Kim Jong-un, my inspiration forever”. Also staying on message: team-mate Rim Jong-sim: “The first thing I thought when I knew I had won was that I had pleased our beloved leader.”
Least focused
French fencer Enzo Lefort – booed by the crowd after his mobile phone fell out of his pocket during his individual foil match. His pre-Games strategy: “I’ve given everything to get here. It’s so important not to be distracted.”
Most overwhelmed
Finnish weightlifter Milko Olavi Tokola – fainting head first off the stage while celebrating a lift. “It happens. I know it was on TV but I don’t care. I feel no embarrassment at all. Hey, I’m an Olympic athlete. I’m just so happy.”
Tough week for…
Canadian broadcaster CBC: a) apologising after a swimming commentator who thought he was off-air said: “The little 14-year-old from China dropped the ball, baby. Too excited, went out like stink, died like a pig.”; and b) apologising after a different swimming commentator called the whole men’s 200m individual medley event mistaking Michael Phelps for Ryan Lochte.
Also struggling
US broadcaster NBC - paying $1.2bn for the Olympic rights, then spending the week answering complaints over sexism, delays, pundits, geography mix-ups and ad breaks – including five in the first half hour of the opening ceremony. They achieved a personalised hashtag, though: #nbcfail.
Nearest miss
Wednesday, 7.21pm: BBC4 executives feel the excitement as they finally get to show a guaranteed British medal as Steven Scott and Tim Kneale slug it out for double trap bronze. 7.22pm: Dan Walker intervenes and tells viewers to switch to BBC1.
Most surprised
Twitter user @joeclarke – receiving a barrage of tweets congratulating him on a different Joe Clarke’s K1 canoe slalom gold. “Guys, thank you … but I am currently sitting here ready to start my night shift in Worthing. #mistakenidentity.”
Thought for the week
Mario Andrada, spokesperson for Rio 2016, on why there’s no quick fix for sorting out the green water in the diving pool. “Chemistry is not an exact science.”
Best rush job
A Brazilian printing firm, successfully running off a batch of giant new China flags after the originals caused a diplomatic incident. The first set, used in seven ceremonies, contained stars in the wrong pattern; Chinese embassy officials supervised the replacements. China’s state paper People’s Daily: “This botch has been a source of displeasure.”
Most let down
US basketball star Elena Delle Donne, sharing a photo of the warning notice that had been stuck above her Olympic Village toilet.
Cameos of the week
Capybaras on the golf course. Australia captain Ian Baker-Finch: “That bloody thing is huge. Have you seen it? It’s half wombat, half dog.” US player Matt Kuchar: “It’s like a moosehead on a gigantic rat.” US director Andy Levinson: “It looks like a dog. Kind of a like a dog-pig.”
And most righteous
Dutch gymnast Yuri van Gelder, expelled from the Games for late night drinking, denying wrongdoing, taking legal action and demanding “a business class ticket back to Rio”. The court rejected his case. Dutch media: “Once he was Lord of the Rings. Now he’s Lord of the Drinks.”
