Eight FC Barcelona medals at Rio 2016 Olympics

The Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games came to an end on Sunday, and FC Barcelona, who had 22 sportspeople competing in different events, have every reason to feel satisfied after its football, basketball and handball players brought back eight medals between them, four of which were gold.

Neymar Jr and Rafinha were in the Brazil football team that won Olympic gold for the first time after a penalty shootout victory over Germany in the final, the former converting the decisive kick after the game had ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.

Also competing for Brazil in the women’s tournament, Barça’s Andressa Alves had to settle for fourth after losing the bronze medal match 2-0 to Canada.

Noddesbo and Lasse Andersson took handball gold as Denmark beat London 2012 winners France 28-26 to top the podium for the first time ever. Sorhaindo and N’Guessan were in the losing team, and take some consolation in the form of a pair of silver medals. Another Barça Lassa star, Syprzak of Poland, missed out on bronze after his side lost 31-25 to Germany, while Wael Jallouz’s Tunisia failed to make it out of their group.

There were medals in basketball too as Navarro and Víctor Claver beat Australia 89-88 in the bronze medal match after losing to the all-conquering United States in the semi-finals. Shane Lawal bowed out in the group stage with Nigeria.

In athletics, it was a first Olympics for all of Caridad Jérez, Sabina Asenjo, Raquel González, Díaz Velázquez, Carlos Tobalina, Jean Marie Okutu and Ilias Fifa, and although they all competed honourably, none of them brought back medals.

In field hockey, Miquel Delàs and Spain went out at the quarter final stage to eventual champions Argentina, while Pol Pla and Joan Losada helped Spain to a very respectable tenth place in rugby sevens.

Barça president Josep Maria Bartomeu will be offering an official reception for the 22 FC Barcelona athletes that were in Rio.

And there’s more to come in the Paralympic Games, where Xavi Porras will be competing in the long jump.