Judoka Majlinda Kelmendi won Kosovo's first Olympics medal ever, in the first year the country has been represented at the Olympics. (Oh, and she won gold.)
Kosovo: First Olympic medal —
Judoka Majlinda Kelmendi won Kosovo's first Olympics medal ever, in the first year the country has been represented at the Olympics. (Oh, and she won gold.)
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
The Fijians were the favorites to win the brand-new men's rugby sevens event, and they did so in delightful form. Their win wasn't only Fiji's first Olympic gold, it was also the country's first medal(s!) ever.
Fiji: First Olympic medal —
The Fijians were the favorites to win the brand-new men's rugby sevens event, and they did so in delightful form. Their win wasn't only Fiji's first Olympic gold, it was also the country's first medal(s!) ever.
PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images
Vietnam's Hoang Xuan Vinh is bringing home his country's first gold after he won the men's 10-meter air pistol shooting event.
Vietnam: First gold —
Vietnam's Hoang Xuan Vinh is bringing home his country's first gold after he won the men's 10-meter air pistol shooting event.
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
Fehaid Aldeehani nabbed gold in the men's double trap, marking the first gold for any athlete competing under the Olympic flag. (Aldeehani is from Kuwait, whose Olympic committee was banned from this year's Games.)
Independent Olympic Athletes: First gold —
Fehaid Aldeehani nabbed gold in the men's double trap, marking the first gold for any athlete competing under the Olympic flag. (Aldeehani is from Kuwait, whose Olympic committee was banned from this year's Games.)
PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images
No matter where she appeared on the podium for the women's 100-meter freestyle, U.S. swimmer Simone Manuel would have made history. However, she blew it out of the water, so to speak, when she unexpectedly tied for the gold.
United States: First African-American woman to win an individual swimming medal —
No matter where she appeared on the podium for the women's 100-meter freestyle, U.S. swimmer Simone Manuel would have made history. However, she blew it out of the water, so to speak, when she unexpectedly tied for the gold.
Adam Pretty/Getty Images
So it's not technically a first, but golf returned to the Olympic stage this year for the first time since 1904 (112 years is long enough for it to count).
Golf: Returning after a century —
So it's not technically a first, but golf returned to the Olympic stage this year for the first time since 1904 (112 years is long enough for it to count).
Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Olympic champion judoka Majlinda Kelmendi was the flag bearer for Kosovo for its inaugural walk in the Parade of Nations.
Kosovo: First Olympic appearance —
Olympic champion judoka Majlinda Kelmendi was the flag bearer for Kosovo for its inaugural walk in the Parade of Nations.
PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images
Ten athletes are competing under the banner of this new team. The athletes hail from Syria, Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Refugee Olympic team: First Olympics —
Ten athletes are competing under the banner of this new team. The athletes hail from Syria, Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images
The new country made its Olympics debut with three athletes this year. South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011.
South Sudan: First Olympics —
The new country made its Olympics debut with three athletes this year. South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Ibtihaj Muhammad competed in the women's individual sabre, earning her the title of first U.S. athlete to compete wearing a hijab, a religious head covering sometimes worn by Muslim women.
United States: First hijabi athlete —
Ibtihaj Muhammad competed in the women's individual sabre, earning her the title of first U.S. athlete to compete wearing a hijab, a religious head covering sometimes worn by Muslim women.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
If you noticed something missing from the podium this year, it's probably the large bouquets customarily given to medalists. This year, Olympic officials said the flowers don't represent a sustainable use of resources, and instead chose to hand out these nifty medal stands, which are 3-D versions of the Rio Olympics logo.
The swag: First Olympics without bouquets for the winners —
If you noticed something missing from the podium this year, it's probably the large bouquets customarily given to medalists. This year, Olympic officials said the flowers don't represent a sustainable use of resources, and instead chose to hand out these nifty medal stands, which are 3-D versions of the Rio Olympics logo.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
With these Games taking place in South America for the first time, Africa remains the only populated continent never to have hosted the Olympics.
The venue: First Olympics in South America —
With these Games taking place in South America for the first time, Africa remains the only populated continent never to have hosted the Olympics.
Quinn Rooney/Getty Images