Swimming

Swimming's world governing body Fina Monday voted to stop trans athletes from competing in women's elite races if they have gone through any part of the process of male puberty.

The landmark decision set swimming apart from almost all other Olympic sports, with most using testosterone limits as a basis for inclusion.

But Lord Coe has now revealed that World Athletics is set to discuss adopting a new eligibility policy, and welcomed Fina's move.

Swimming is one of 19 sports at the Pacific Games where athletes must hold a passport for the country they are representing (NZ passport for Cook Islands) and have lived there for at least five years.

Papua New Guinea challenged the eligibility of Bede Aitu, Kirsten Fisher-Marsters, Malcolm Richardson and Noah Vilisoni-Heather, who all grew up in New Zealand.

The Cook Islands Olympic Committee immediately withdrew three of the swimmers while the evidence of residency provided for the fourth was deemed insufficient by the Pacific Games Disputes Tribunal.

The crowd exploded in cheers as Samoa's medal-winning Lauren Sale readied herself on the block for the women’s 200m individual medley, the first race of the evening.

Matelita Buadromo of Fiji had a strong showing during the preliminary rounds and New Caledonia’s May Toven looked to podium as well. The buzzer sounded and the women were off.

It was the 4 by 100 metre freestyle races that got the crowd roaring towards the end of the final heats for their respective teams.

Team PNG did well in the 4x100 freestyle relay; it was the men’s race that was every bit a nail-biting experience.

Team PNG’s Sam Seghers opened the race for the lads, maintaining speed with Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.

Next in the pool was 18-year-old Josh Tarere, who put up a good challenge against Samoa’s Sitivi Sooaemalelagi, and one of Fiji’s strongest swimmers, 18-year-old Taichi Vakasama.

Following two weeks of thrilling sports action, we take a look at some of the more memorable quotes from Rio 2016.

Words to inspire

While Rio 2016 endured more than its fair share of problems, the Games produced some iconic moments of sporting greatness that will live long in the memory.

From Neymar's penalty that lifted a nation, to Usain Bolt's 'treble treble' and Michael Phelps' 23rd gold, here we bring you 10 standout highlights.

Speedo USA has announced the termination of its sponsorship of Ryan Lochte and Ralph Lauren will not renew the swimmer's contract following his false robbery claims.

Lochte - along with Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen - alleged that they were robbed at gunpoint at a petrol station after attending a party. 

Brazilian cyclist Kleber da Silva Ramos and Chinese Wimmer Chen Xinyi have been disqualified from Rio 2016 following positive doping tests.

Da Silva Ramos did not finish the men's road race, but tested positive for EPO and accepted a provisional suspension without requesting a hearing.

The Brazilian authorities stopped Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger from boarding the flight at Rio de Janeiro airport, bound for the US, for questioning late on Wednesday.

Two teammates - Ryan Lochte and James Feigen - were barred from leaving the country, but Lochte had already left.

Police have queried their accounts of a robbery they reported in Rio on Sunday.

The four swimmers said they had been robbed at gunpoint in a taxi in Rio.

But police said their account of when they arrived at the Olympic Village did not square with CCTV recordings.

The quartet of Allison Schmitt, Leah Smith, Maya Dirado and Ledecky won in a time of seven minutes 43.03 seconds, with Australia second and Canada third.

America trailed Australia but Ledecky, the 200m and 400m freestyle champion, overtook Tamsin Cook on the last leg.

Ledecky, 19, has now won four Olympic gold medals during her career.