A global pandemic added poignancy to these Olympic Games and social media embraced the emotions that were revealed by many of those competing in Tokyo over the two weeks.
Clockwise from top left: Simone Biles, Karsten Warholm, Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi and Tom Daley. Photo: AFP
Whether it was high jumpers sharing their gold medals or the mental health problems revealed by superstar gymnast Simone Biles, Twitter and Instagram ensured the world was being kept abreast of developments almost in the instant they happened.
So here's a summary of all the most treasured moments from Tokyo 2020.
'Can we have two golds?'
After three failures each at the height of 2.39m, an Olympic official offered high jumpers Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim and his friend and rival, Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi a jump-off to decide the winner.
"Can we have two golds?", Barshim asked him.
The official nodded, and the two athletes clasped hands and whooped for joy. Many social media users have named it their favourite Olympic moment.
The moment when Gianmarco Tamberi and Muta Essa Barshim agreed to share the gold medal after tying in the men's high jump ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9BLJeo83I0
— ESPN (@espn) August 1, 2021
Joy in Bermuda
With a population of just 63,000, Bermuda became the smallest nation or territory to win an Olympic gold medal at a summer Games when Flora Duffy won the triathlon.
"I think the whole of Bermuda is going crazy. That's what makes it so special to me is that, yes, this was my dream, but I also knew it was bigger than me," Duffy said.
Congratulations @floraduffy. You've worked so hard and you've made an entire island proud! pic.twitter.com/ScG1AW0A5G
— Premier David Burt (@BermudaPremier) July 26, 2021
Still with athletics - Dutch runner Sifan Hassan won not only a 1500m gold medal but plenty of admiration after recovering from an early setback.
Wow, I wept like a baby! pic.twitter.com/J1K7d3yd6C
— This girl is on Pfizer (@Eulogs) August 3, 2021
There were shock results on the track too - including for the athlete achieving the feat.
1996: Michael Johnson lowers 200m world record by .34 of a second = 1.7 percent drop
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) August 3, 2021
2021: Karsten Warholm lowers 400m hurdles world record by .76 of a second = 1.6 percent drop
h/t @DavidWoods007 / AP/Getty photos pic.twitter.com/XX8wogftzU
Others were admired for their achievements over several Games campaigns.
Allyson Felix: forever an Olympic legend
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 7, 2021
5 Olympic Games
7 golds
11 total medals
Most decorated American track and field athlete of all time pic.twitter.com/5En1E00VDw
Many were also amazed that teens have made it to the Olympic podium - like UK skateboarder Sky Brown who won a bronze and Chinese diver Quan Hongchan who nailed a gold medal.
Sky Brown, 13, becomes Great Britain's youngest Olympian in park skateboard contest. #Tokyo2020 #skateboarding pic.twitter.com/8j7dH2OJJx
— Football & All (@FootballAndAll) August 4, 2021
China’s Quan Hongchan won gold in the women’s 10m diving event after scoring two perfect s
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 5, 2021
She’s 14 years old
(via @NBCOlympics) pic.twitter.com/LByEQZbI2I
But there were also those who captured hearts not just for their sporting prowess. Britain's Tom Daley secured gold and bronze in diving, advocated for LGBTQ+ awareness and spent his leisure time at the pool knitting a bag for his medals and a Team GB jersey.
(Cardigan) Olympics?
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 5, 2021
Completed it mate!
@TomDaley1994#Tokyo2020 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/Jml2osgWMN
Biggest shock
US gymnast Simone Biles arrived in Tokyo with many expecting her to leave the city with five gold medals.
Instead she sent shock waves around the world when she withdrew from the teams' competition early on, citing concerns for her mental health and physical safety.
Celebrities from swimmer Michael Phelps to musician Taylor Swift applauded her honesty.
| Inspirational words of @TaylorSwift13 to @Simone_Biles at the #Olympics #Tokyo2020
— The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) August 3, 2021
"Her honesty as beautiful as the perfection that has long been her signature."pic.twitter.com/4jpgGkMZpZ
the outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before.
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) July 29, 2021
And fans loved it when Biles stayed on the sidelines to cheer her team-mates.
Simone Biles cheered on her teammates after withdrawing from the Women’s Gymnastics Team Final ❤️
— ESPN (@espn) July 27, 2021
USA Gymnastics said Biles left because of a “medical issue.”
Ultimate teammate pic.twitter.com/E7AUjgN0xI
It wasn't just the athletes who went viral. Take Aussie coach Dean Boxall's celebrations after Ariarne Titmus beat USA superstar Katie Ledecky in the women's 400m freestyle.
Here's Aussie swim coach #DeanBoxall winning Gold in celebrations category at #TokyoOlympics. pic.twitter.com/WUeX8Ujstm
— Rajendra Chaudhary (@Bombaymoshai) July 26, 2021
So as the 32nd Olympics draw to a close the curtain comes down on an event that was clouded in controversy throughout but has also thrown up a fair share of joy, pride, disappointment and the unexpected.
