21 Incredible Moments From the Olympics That'll Make You Damn Proud to Be a Woman

Despite the constant comparison to their male counterparts, and even the attribution of their victories to their partners, women have crushed the Olympics. From breaking world records to showing a compassionate Olympic spirit, these are the women who inspired us the most during Rio.

01
When two runners tripped and helped each other finish.
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When two runners tripped and helped each other finish.

Abbey D'Agostino, an American, tripped and fell with four and a half laps left during the women's 5,000m race; she brought down Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand with her. Instead of continuing while Hamblin was down, D'Agostino picked her up and they helped each other finish the race. The two runners embraced at the finish line, representing the true spirit of the Olympics.

02
When a 42-year-old mother won her third consecutive gold medal in cycling.
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When a 42-year-old mother won her third consecutive gold medal in cycling.

When Kristen Armstrong came out of retirement to compete in cycling, there were predictably many doubters. Armstrong proved them entirely wrong when she became the first female athlete to win three gold medals in a row for the same sport. (Later in the Games, however, a female wrestler won her fourth consecutive gold.)

03
When a Chinese swimmer ignored taboos and talked about her period.
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When a Chinese swimmer ignored taboos and talked about her period.

After a disappointing fourth-place finish in the 4x100m medley relay, Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui told an interviewer she was on her period. In China, and globally, some might find talking about periods taboo, which made her comment equally surprising and brave. To make her even more badass, Yuanhui added, "But this isn't an excuse for not swimming well."

04
When an Ethiopian runner lost her shoe and continued to run.
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When an Ethiopian runner lost her shoe and continued to run.

Etenesh Diro lost her shoe with about 800 meters left of the steeplechase. After attempting to put her shoe back on, she decided to continue without it. Diro's time wasn't fast enough to qualify, but she still amazed us with her dedication.

05
When Simone Biles won gold and grabbed Aly Raisman, who won silver, to join her on the podium.
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When Simone Biles won gold and grabbed Aly Raisman, who won silver, to join her on the podium.

Simone Biles beat teammate Aly Raisman in the individual all-around gymnastic finals, but that didn't stop her from sharing the love. After Biles finished her flawless floor routine, she pulled Raisman up to celebrate with her.

06
When Mónica Puig shocked the tennis world and won the first gold medal for Puerto Rico.
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When Mónica Puig shocked the tennis world and won the first gold medal for Puerto Rico.

Against the odds and her international tennis ranking of 34, Puig won gold in tennis against Germany's Angelique Kerber. Her win was the first for Puerto Rico in the Games and their ninth ever. Even more impressive? Puig had never made it into a quarterfinal in any major tournament before her win.

07
When Sarah Elizabeth Robles shut down bullies and won a bronze medal in weightlifting.
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When Sarah Elizabeth Robles shut down bullies and won a bronze medal in weightlifting.

Sarah Elizabeth Robles was the first American woman to win a weightlifting medal since 2000. Robles also became an instant hero when she tweeted, "Things that used to get me bullied are the things that made me to [sic] become an Olympian. Consider that when some jerk tries to tear you down."

08
When the first female Indian gymnast competed in the Olympics.
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When the first female Indian gymnast competed in the Olympics.

Dipa Karmakar was the first female Indian gymnast to ever compete in the Olympics and the second to attempt the infamous Produnova "vault of death" during Rio. She landed it and came in fourth, just shy of the bronze. Her story became even more inspiring after we learned she wore a poorly fitted leotard and no shoes at the first tournament she ever competed in.

09
When Simone Manuel became the first black woman to win an individual gold in swimming.
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When Simone Manuel became the first black woman to win an individual gold in swimming.

Simone Manuel won a gold medal in the 100m freestyle. With her victory, she became the first black woman to win an individual gold in swimming. It was a particularly powerful moment since black citizens in America were kept out of pools for many generations.

10
When the first woman to compete for the US wearing a hijab won a bronze medal.
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When the first woman to compete for the US wearing a hijab won a bronze medal.

Ibtihaj Muhammad made history as the first woman to compete for the US wearing a hijab and she cemented her legendary status when she won a bronze medal in fencing.

11
When Sakshi Malik won India's first medal at Rio.
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When Sakshi Malik won India's first medal at Rio.

Sakshi Malik, a 23-year-old 58kg freestyle wrestler, won a bronze medal for India. Malik's journey to bronze wasn't easy: her opponent was ahead by five points at the beginning of their match.

12
When Gabby Douglas fought back against internet haters.
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When Gabby Douglas fought back against internet haters.

Gabby Douglas faced intense criticism throughout the Olympics for her appearance, seeming unpatriotic, and apparently not being enthusiastic enough for her teammates. Despite the backlash, Douglas responded to her critics perfectly: "Are you going to stand or are you going to crumble? In the face of everything, still stand."

13
When four brave women competed on the refugee team.
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When four brave women competed on the refugee team.

Four female athletes competed on the first-ever Olympics refugee team. While they didn't place, Anjelina Lohalith of South Sudan, Rose Lokonyen of South Sudan, Yolande Mabika of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Yusra Mardini of Syria proved no boundary can stop a motivated woman. Lohalith and Lokoyen competed in athletics, Mabika in judo, and Mardini in swimming.

14
When a 41-year-old Russian gymnast attempted "the vault of death."
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When a 41-year-old Russian gymnast attempted "the vault of death."

While Oksana Chusovitina didn't land the illustrious Produnova vault, her effort was just as powerful. As the oldest competing gymnast, Chusovitina sought to land a handspring onto the vault and two front somersaults in the air — a jump so precarious that Simone Biles won't even try it.

15
When Katie Ledecky beat her own world record.
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When Katie Ledecky beat her own world record.

Katie Ledecky is 19, but she has already won four gold medals this year — including three individual golds. The highlight of Ledecky's races was when she crushed her own world record by two seconds in the 800m freestyle. She also beat her competition in that race by a whopping 11.38 seconds.

16
When Team USA won all-around team gold (again).
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When Team USA won all-around team gold (again).

For the second Olympics in a row, Team USA's gymnasts won the women's all-around competition. They didn't just win, either; they were victorious by an unprecedented eight points.

17
When an Ethiopian runner set a world record in the 10,000m race.
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When an Ethiopian runner set a world record in the 10,000m race.

Almaz Ayana set a new world record when she won the 10,000m race with a time of 29:17.45 . . . meaning her pace for six miles was around a 4:42-minute mile. Wow.

18
When Simone Biles won her fourth individual gold medal.
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When Simone Biles won her fourth individual gold medal.

Biles proved she was the "greatest gymnast of all time" and a female icon when she won her fourth gold medal. After people started comparing her to other male greats, she had only had one thing to say to their sexist comparison: "I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I'm the first Simone Biles."

19
When gymnasts from North Korea and South Korea took a selfie.
Kim Do-hoon/Yonhap via AP

When gymnasts from North Korea and South Korea took a selfie.

You wouldn't know North and South Korea were still technically at war by looking at their gymnasts. Hong Un-jong from North Korea and Lee Eun-ju from South Korea exchanged smiles and took a selfie together, promoting world peace one snap at a time.

20
When a Japanese wrestler made history after she won a fourth consecutive gold medal.
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When a Japanese wrestler made history after she won a fourth consecutive gold medal.

Kaori Icho, a Japanese freestyle wrestler, became the first woman ever in any sport to win individual gold medals in four consecutive Olympics. Impressively, Icho was undefeated from 2003 to 2016.

21
When three American women won gold, silver, and bronze in the women's 100-meter hurdles.
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When three American women won gold, silver, and bronze in the women's 100-meter hurdles.

Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali, and Kristi Castlin swept the competition in the hurdles final. Rollins won gold, Ali won silver, and Castlin won bronze, with times just milliseconds apart. After the race, Castlin took the opportunity to dedicate her win to victims of gun violence.

Now let's hear it for all these incredible ladies.
CBS

Now let's hear it for all these incredible ladies.