What made us laugh, and cry, at Rio 2016

You can admit it: Rio 2016 elicited a response.

Ten-thousand athletes spilling their guts, and at the same time representing the flags, creeds, values, and ideals that us on couches and at computers can identify with.

It had something for everyone. We know it had plenty for us.

Here's what made us laugh, and cry, at Rio 2016.

Usain Bolt

He'd be a cartoon character, if it weren't for those super powers.

We can certainly debate who the greatest Olympian is, but the fastest man on the planet for the last decade-plus is objectively the most engaging. From the Samba party in lieu of a presser, to the smiles flashed back to the racers who don't belong in his playground, to the Ali-like pronouncements, Bolt's as magnetic as he is extraordinary.

Monica Puig

Puig's out-of-nowhere victory in women's singles tennis was so much more than an individual triumph.

The Puerto Rican's tears, and evident disbelief as she looked up and down at the first Olympic gold medal won in her country's history - which was draped around her neck - was one of the most emotional moments in Rio.

That camera in the ready room

There were thousands, if not millions, of cameras in Rio to assist in Olympic coverage. None had a greater impact than that spare device mounted in the corner of the swimmers' ready room.

We'd have never laughed at Chad Le Clos' futile shadow boxing (and later the #PhelpsFace memes), "oohed" at the Lilly King fingerwag, or consumed swimming with pay-per-view intrigue if it weren't for that brilliant little idea.

Jeffrey Julmis

Julmis' showing in the 110m hurdle semifinals was that Rio moment where you didn't want to laugh, but, man, was it difficult.

After a Bolt-like pre-race routine in his introduction, in which he pointed to his watch, suggesting he'd go fast, the Haitian came up lame out of the blocks and literally flipped over the first hurdle. But when Julmis picked himself up after the crash, cleared every remaining obstacle, and posted a time in an Olympic semifinal, his performance suddenly turned heartwarming.

Hope Solo

Don't worry, laughter was the correct response to Solo's shameful criticism of Sweden after the U.S. women's upset loss.

Lutalo Muhammad

Many hearts need mending, but none shattered quite like Muhammad's.

The British Taekwondo athlete sobbed uncontrollably through his postmatch interview conducted moments after losing gold when his opponent's desperation spin kick connected in the final second of the gold medal match match.

I was a second away from being an Olympic champion and accomplishing my dream. I'm sorry, I don't want to cry on TV but I'm so distraught. I'm so sorry for the people who stayed up late to watch and cheer me on - to let them down at the last second.

Fu Yuanhui

In the dog-eat-dog world that is competitive swimming, Yuanhui was nothing if not refreshing.

From finding out she won bronze in her post-race interview (and providing the most genuine and hilarious response to the news: "Whoa, I was so fast!"), and delivering cartoonish facial expressions as she posed on the podium, the Chinese swimmer delivered with some of the funnier moments in Rio.

Renaud Lavillenie

If we were to assign an athlete to the controversy surrounding behavior from locals inside Olympic venues, it would have to be the French pole vaulter Lavillenie.

The unbecoming conduct prevalent throughout the 16-day event was at its ugliest in the final moments of the pole vault final, as fans hissed at the reigning world champion and cheered on the Brazilian Thiago Braz da Silva.

This mistreatment continued during the podium ceremony the next day, as fans who were successful in knocking Lavillenie down pounced again, bringing him to tears as he accepted his silver medal.

Biles et al.

It's quite possible we'll never see a team as talented, charming, interesting, and downright fun to watch as the women's gymnastics team the United States brought to Rio.

There was Laurie Hernandez's wink toward the judges before starting her floor routine, Aly Raisman's parents still having no clue how to even, and the prodigious Simone Biles laughing at every opportunity.

Pita Taufatofua

That greased-up Tongan flag bearer was hilarious until it was incredibly sad when broadcasters thought it was a good idea to actually apply the oil.

Ryan Lochte

Stupidity can be both funny and very, very sad.