Katie Ledecky (USA) made Olympic history when she became the first female swimmer to win gold in an event at four straight Summer Olympic Games, winning the 800 free. She also became the female Olympic swimmer with the most medals of all time (14 medals). Xinhua/VNA

For two hours and 30 minutes, French art director Thomas Jolly and 270 artists turned France's largest stadium into a Hollywood extravaganza. Superstar Tom Cruise descended from the top of the stadium to the “Mission Impossible” theme song, took the Olympic flag from star gymnast Simone Biles, put it on the back of a motorcycle, and drove it out of the stadium.

Using the theme "Records", the Organizing Committee tried to reflect the Olympic spirit and the idea that "each of us lives in our own world, but shares it to connect and overcome difficulties together, and looks to the past and to the future.”

Team USA led the final medal count, clinching 40 gold, 44 silver and 42 bronze medals. Team China won the same number of gold medals as the US, but won only 27 silver and 24 bronze. China was the first country to win all 5 table tennis gold medals in one Olympics. Japan finished third, followed by Australia and host France.  The next Olympics will take place in Los Angeles, the US, in 2028.