Brazilian women's rugby player Isadora Cerullo melted hearts when she accepted a marriage proposal from her girlfriend at the medals ceremony for the first Olympic rugby sevens competition on Monday. Television cameras and photographers captured the moment that Marjorie Enya, a manager at the Deodoro stadium in Rio where the competition was played, took the microphone to pop the question to Cerullo on the pitch.
Dressed as a mermaid with shells covering his nipples, Brazilian Murilo Sousa voiced hope that the record number of openly gay athletes at the Rio Games would boost acceptance in his South American nation, amid a backlash over same-sex marriage.
China's He Zi received the shock of her life when team-mate and boyfriend Qin Kai rushed up with a diamond ring during the medal ceremony of the women's 3 metre springboard event, marking the second marriage proposal of the Olympics.
As we prepare to cruise into the New Year, Rediff.com gives you a glance back, through photos, into all the sporting moments that made the last 12 months memorable.
Here is a flashback of the top moments from the just concluded quadrennial Games...
