Caster Semenya, the favorite in the women's 800 meters, is controversial. The South African runner is widely believed to be intersex, with testosterone levels much higher than other female athletes'.
Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui became a fan favorite due to her unvarnished enthusiasm after medaling in the backstroke. Now, her candor about the misery of menstruation has captured the attention of the Chinese audience, for whom women's menstrual periods are an even more taboo subject than in the West.
Synchronized swimming is known for its demanding precision. Less known are the injuries, like concussions, that can occur in athletes perfecting and performing the moves requiring that precision.
The games are scheduled to begin on Sept. 7. But travel grants from the organizing committee, due to be sent in July, haven't come through — and ticket sales have been weak.
"There's no greater athlete on the planet at the moment," says Cameron Spencer, who shot Sunday's definitive photo of Olympic gold medal sprinter Usain Bolt as he won the semifinals.
It was a bittersweet end to the Olympics for a U.S. squad that had aspired to a medal — and started play in Brazil with wins over world No. 2 Argentina and No. 3 Australia.
Olympics attention shifts to track and field this week. And while fans may be tired of hearing about doping, it's unavoidable seeing that more than a hundred Russian athletes are unable to compete in the Rio Olympics for using banned drugs.
Gunfire and armed conflicts are a near-daily occurrence in some low-income neighborhoods. Residents in those favelas rely on the WhatsApp messaging service for guidance on where it's safe to travel.