The Best Photos From Rio Olympics 2016

The 16-day glued-to-your-television-fest that is the Rio Olympic Games come to a close on Aug. 21. With various world and Olympic records that have fallen, the coming out party for U.S. gymnast Simone Biles, and swimmer Michael Phelps’ continued domination and subsequent retirement, there were a lot of moments for photographers to snap top-notch shots of throughout the Games. RealClearLife has curated a gallery of those iconic Olympic images we thought captured its spirit best.

Underwater view shows USA’s Michael Phelps taking part in the Men’s 100m Butterfly Semifinal during the swimming event . (François-Xavier Marit/AFP/Getty Images)

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Simone Biles of the United States competes on the balance beam during the Women’s Individual All Around Final on Day 6. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

USA’s Lilly King (L) celebrates with USA’s Katie Meili after she broke the Olympic record to win the Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final. (Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - Armenia's Artur Hovhannisyan (R) lands a punch on Spain's Samuel Carmona Heredia during the Men's Light Fly (46-49kg) match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Riocentro - Pavilion 6 in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016. / AFP / Yuri CORTEZ (Photo credit should read YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Armenia’s Artur Hovhannisyan (R) lands a punch on Spain’s Samuel Carmona Heredia during the Men’s Light Fly (46-49kg) match. (Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images)

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Team China competes in the Teams Technical Routine Final during the synchronised swimming event. (Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images)

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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 13: Competitors are seen during the Gold medal match between Russia and Ukraine during the Women's Team Sabre at Carioca Arena 3 on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Competitors are seen during the Gold medal match between Russia and Ukraine during the Women’s Team Sabre. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - Venezuela's Yaniuska Isabel Espinosa reacts while competing during the Women's weightlifting +75kg event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016 / AFP / POOL / STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Venezuela’s Yaniuska Isabel Espinosa reacts while competing during the Women’s weightlifting +75kg event. (AFP/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas competes in the women's uneven bars event final of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. / AFP / Ben STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas competes in the women’s uneven bars event final of the Artistic Gymnastics. (Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - Britain's Laura Trott competes in the Women's Omnium Points race track cycling event at the Velodrome during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016. / AFP / Eric FEFERBERG (Photo credit should read ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images)

Britain’s Laura Trott competes in the Women’s Omnium Points race track cycling event. (Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - China's Cao Yuan competes in the Men's 3m Springboard final during the diving event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016. / AFP / Martin BUREAU (Photo credit should read MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images)

China’s Cao Yuan competes in the Men’s 3m Springboard final during the diving event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Stadium. (Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - Russia's Dariya Klishina competes in the Women's Long Jump Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 17, 2016. / AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

Russia’s Dariya Klishina competes in the Women’s Long Jump Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 17, 2016. (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - Riders compete in the BMX cycling men's quarterfinals event at the X-Park BMX venue in Deodoro during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016. / AFP / CARL DE SOUZA (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)

Riders compete in the BMX cycling men’s quarterfinals event at the X-Park BMX venue in Deodoro. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - Thailand's Phannapa Harnsujin (L) competes against Iran's Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin during their womens taekwondo repechage bout in the -57kg category as part of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, on August 18, 2016, at the Carioca Arena 3, in Rio de Janeiro. / AFP / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images)

Thailand’s Phannapa Harnsujin (L) competes against Iran’s Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin during their womens taekwondo repechage bout in the -57kg category. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - Jamaica's Usain Bolt does his "Lightening Bolt"pose after he won the Men's 200m Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016. / AFP / OLIVIER MORIN (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt does his “Lightening Bolt”pose after he won the Men’s 200m Final. (Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - Poland's Piotr Lisek competes in the Men's Pole Vault Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016. / AFP / Johannes EISELE (Photo credit should read JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

Poland’s Piotr Lisek competes in the Men’s Pole Vault Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016. (Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images)

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TOPSHOT - A picture taken with an underwater camera shows Israel's Ievgenia Tetelbaum and Israel's Anastasia Glushkov Leventhal competing in the Duets Technical Routine preliminaries during the synchronised swimming event at the Maria Lenk Aquatics at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016. / AFP / François-Xavier MARIT (Photo credit should read FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images)

A picture taken with an underwater camera shows Israel’s Ievgenia Tetelbaum and Israel’s Anastasia Glushkov Leventhal competing in the Duets Technical Routine preliminaries during the synchronised swimming event. (Francois-Xavier Marit/AFP/Getty Images)

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