In the magnificent setting of Fort Copacabana, the Rio 2016 triathlon competitions produced some brilliant displays of all-round athleticism. Just as at London 2012, Alistair Brownlee won gold in the men’s event and was joined on the podium once again by his younger sibling Jonathan. In the women’s event, favourite Gwen Jorgensen of the USA outraced the Swiss reigning champion Nicola Spirig.

US triathlete Gwen Jorgensen produced the perfect race to win the Olympic gold. She stayed with her rivals on the bike before surging clear of defending champion Nicola Spirig-Hug of Switzerland on the run.

Great Britain’s Alistair Brownlee won the Olympic triathlon in superb style on 18 August, outrunning brother Jonny to become the first competitor to win consecutive gold medals in the event.

Ferry Weertman of the Netherlands took the Rio 2016 men’s 10km open water title in dramatic fashion off Copacabana beach, prevailing by the narrowest of margins to give his country another marathon swimming triumph to go with team-mate Sharon Van Rouwendaal’s victory in the women’s race on 15 August.

Sharon Van Rouwendaal from Netherlands swam her way to gold on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, with Italy's Rachele Bruni taking silver and Brazil's Poliana Okimoto bronze.

The running marathon is the blue riband race that brings the Olympic athletics programme to a fitting close but swimming's equivalent is still a long way off enjoying the same status, says open water world champion Chad Ho.

Veteran Swiss rider Fabian Cancellera proved his pedigree once more by powering to victory in the Rio 2016 men’s time trial on 10 August. Just as the USA’s Kristin Armstrong had done in the women’s time trial earlier in the day, the 35-year-old Cancellera showed that age is no impediment.

Veteran American Kristin Armstrong capped a stunning return to cycling by winning a third consecutive gold medal in the time trial on a rainy morning at the Rio Games on 10 August.

Anna van der Breggen won the women’s road race title for the Netherlands following a heart-stopping climax to the event by the side of the Copacabana.