The desire to win has led to some very unsportsmanlike behaviour at the Rio Games.
Forced to settle for silver, Azerbaijan's Mariya Stadnik couldn't take it anymore and France's Renaud Lavillenie was reduced to tears, while Egypt's Islam El Shehaby was sent home for not shaking hands with his Israeli opponent.
The world's No 1 ranked women's wrestler in her 48kg class, Stadnik arrived in Rio for her third straight Olympics and was desperate for a gold medal after winning bronze in 2008 and silver in London four years ago.
But she came unstuck in a dramatic final and could not hide the pain of being second best when it came to the medal ceremony.
Her unhappy demeanour on the podium where she took her silver medal off as soon as she stepped down and wouldn't pose for photos with it followed Eri Tosaka's win over her in the showdown for the gold medal.
The pair has a lengthy history with Japan's Tosaka dominating her rival. She won a major global title for the fourth year in a row after Stadnik had held a narrow 2-1 lead late in the gold medal match.
But Tosaka managed to get Stadnik to the mat and score a two-point takedown with about four seconds left on the clock. It gave Tosaka a 3-2 victory and her first Olympic gold medal.
For silver medalist Stadnik, it marks the third straight Olympics at which she has attained a medal. She previously won bronze in 2008 and silver in 2012. But the gold being snatched from her proved too much emotionally.
French world champ upset
French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie was grim faced on Wednesday as he received his silver medal after being beaten by Brazil's Thiago da Silva.
The world record holder couldn't manage a smile and was booed by the crowd as he took his place on the podium. As Brazil's national anthem began, so did the tears.
Against a back drop of raucous fan cheering, Da Silva on Monday skipped an attempt at 5.98 metres and pushed hot favourite Lavillenie to 6.03, which the Frenchman failed twice and the Brazilian passed at the second attempt to set an Olympic record.
The upset gold was assured after Lavillenie, who was continually booed by the passionate Rio crowd, failed to clear 6.08.
It was Da Silva's highest jump ever by 10cm, earning the host country's second gold of South America's first Olympics.
It was also the first athletics gold achieved by a Brazilian man since Joaquim Cruz won the men's 800m at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Sam Kendricks took bronze for the United States and beamed as he received his medal.
Egyptian judoka sent home
Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby was sent packing after refusing to shake the hand of Israeli Or Sasson following the end of their bout.
The 32-year-old, who was sent home by his own team, lost the fight last weekend and was reprimanded by the International Olympic Committee for his actions.
The athlete said he did not want to shake hands with an Israeli, nor was he obliged to do so under judo rules, but the IOC said his behaviour went against the rules and spirit of the Olympic Games and the rules of fair play.
After Sasson defeated El Shehaby and the pair retook their places in front of the referee, the Egyptian backed away when Sasson bowed and approached him to shake hands. When called back by the referee to bow, El Shehaby gave a quick nod before walking off amid loud boos from the crowd.
El Shehaby had reportedly been pressured by fans on social media not to show up for the match with his Israeli opponent, who went on to win bronze in the +100kg category, because it would shame Islam.
- NZ Herald and Reuters
