The United States won 113 medals at the Tokyo Olympics, but SI has its own medals to award for the good and bad of the Games, from the best venue to the most inspiring, the coolest mom and much more.
Ariel Torres won the first-ever U.S. karate medal, but he'll have to wait a long time for another Olympic moment. His sport made its debut in Tokyo, but it's not on the program for Paris 2024 and there's no guarantee of future inclusion.
Despite a loss in the semifinals, 29-year-old U.S. wrestler Helen Maroulis is grateful to be back at the Games—and within one match of the victory podium—after a grueling journey.
Representing Uzbekistan, 46-year-old gymnast Oksana Chusovitina is competing at her eighth Olympics in Tokyo. Over the course of her lengthy career, the gymnast has seen her sport change in many ways.
The Olympic Games are the athletic pinnacle for many athletes. However there's often a dark side to the intense scrutiny that comes with success on a global stage.