People.com Entertainment Sports Unforgettable Photos of Athletes Finding Out They Won Gold at the Tokyo Olympics Photographers managed to capture the greatest moments of these athletes' careers in these spectacular photos By Diane J. Cho Diane J. Cho Diane J. Cho was the Features Editor of PEOPLE Digital from 2019 to 2022. She worked at the brand for nearly four years covering news, features, human interest, evergreen, holiday gift guides and more. She launched the How I Parent and What It's Really Like to Be …. digital series and has interviewed several celebrities and influential leaders within the entertainment industry. Prior to joining PEOPLE, Diane worked at Bustle, VH1 and Complex. She received her bachelor's degree in Journalism from Rutgers University and her master's degree from Columbia Journalism School. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 9, 2021 05:10 PM Share Tweet Pin Email 01 of 104 Abbie Parr/Getty Team China's Yiwen Sun explodes with emotion after defeating Team Romania's Maria Popescu in the women's épée fencing competition at Makuhari Messe Hall on July 24. 02 of 104 Ezra Shaw/Getty Japan's Yuto Horigome brings home gold for the home team at the Skateboarding Men's Street Finals at Ariake Urban Sports Park on July 25. 03 of 104 MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Team USA's Lee Kiefer celebrates as she makes history as the first American woman to win a medal in individual foil. Not only did she place, she won gold at the Makuhari Messe Hall on July 25. 04 of 104 Maja Hitij/Getty USA's Anastasija Zolotic became the first American woman to win gold in taekwondo after defeating Team ROC's Tatiana Minina at Makuhari Messe Hall on July 25. 05 of 104 Bob Strong/UPI/Shutterstock Japan's Judo star Uta Abe lets her victory sink in as she makes history as the first Japanese gold medalist in her division after defeating France's Amandine Buchard at Nippon Budokan on July 25. Abe has more to celebrate at the Games: Older brother and fellow Olympian Hifumi also won gold in the men's 66-kg division. 06 of 104 Tom Daley Tears well in the eyes of British diver Tom Daley as he waits to receive his medals after wining the men's synchronized 10m platform diving event during the Tokyo Olympic Games on Monday. Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images The British diver was overcome with emotion after taking home his first gold medal at his third Olympic competition, in the synchronized diving event. 07 of 104 Shutterstock Yui Ohashi of Team Japan lights up upon discovering her Women's 400m Individual medley final win at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 25. 08 of 104 LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt triumphantly holds up the Olympics banner following his men's individual triathlon competition win at the Odaiba Marine Park on July 26. 09 of 104 Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Canada's Margaret MacNeill receives a big hug from Sweden's Sarah Sjoestroem after grabbing gold in the 100m Butterfly for Women at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre on July 26. 10 of 104 Momiji Nishiya. Naoki Morita/AFLO/Shutterstock Momiji Nishiya wins the first-ever women's skateboarding gold medal and becomes one of the youngest Olympians ever — at just 13 — at Ariake Urban Sports Park on July 26. 11 of 104 ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty South Korea archery star's Kim Je-deok fist bumps teammate Oh Jin-hyek as they become gold medalists following their men's team gold medal match against Taiwan at Yumenoshima Park Archery Field on July 26. 12 of 104 Davis Ramos/Getty Team USA's Bowen Becker, Blake Pieroni and Caeleb Dressel win gold in the Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Final at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 26. 13 of 104 FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Russia's Sofia Pozdniakova continues the Pozdniakova family Olympic legacy by winning against Sofya Velikaya in the women's individual sabre at the Makuhari Messe Hall on July 26. Pozdniakova's father is a four-time Olympic champion and the current president of the Russian Olympic committee, according to NBC. 14 of 104 Brendan Moran/Sportsfile/Getty Hidilyn Diaz becomes overwhelmed with emotion as she brings home the gold to the Philippines — the country's first gold medal — and sets a new Olympic record of lifting 127kg in the clean and jerk during the women's 55kg group A weightlifting final at the Tokyo International Forum on July 26. 15 of 104 Jamie Squire/Getty Team ROC's David Belyavskiy, Artur Dalaloyan, Nikita Nagornyy and Denis Abliazin burst into tears after winning gold in the Men's Team Final at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 26. 16 of 104 Maja Hitij/Getty Team Croatia's Matea Jelic waves the Croatian flag after defeating Lauren Williams of Team Great Britain at Women's -67kg taekwondo at Makuhari Messe Hall on July 26. 17 of 104 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Team Slovenia's Benjamin Savsek enjoys his gold medal run in the Men's Canoe Slalom Final at Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre on July 26. 18 of 104 Fred Lee/Getty Adam Peaty of Team Great Britain makes waves to celebrate his Men's 100m Breaststroke Final win at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 26. 19 of 104 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Team USA's gold medalist Vincent Hancock takes a selfie with his coach following his Skeet Men's Finals win at the Asaka Shooting Range on July 26. 20 of 104 Christian Petersen/Getty Images Team USA's Jacquelyn Young, Stefanie Dolson, Kelsey Plum and Allisha Gray embrace as they win gold in the 3x3 Basketball competition at Aomi Urban Sports Park on July 28. 21 of 104 FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images Team Georgia's Lasha Bekauri soaks in his judo men's -90kg gold medal win against Germany's Eduard Trippel at the Nippon Budokan on July 28. 22 of 104 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images USA swim star Katie Ledecky earns gold in the Women's 1500m Freestyle Final at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 28. 23 of 104 Dan Mullan/Getty Images Jerry Tuwai of Team Fiji falls to his knees following his team's victory in the Rugby Sevens Men's Gold Medal match between New Zealand and Fiji at Tokyo Stadium on July 28. 24 of 104 Roger Sedres/Gallo Images/Getty Images Great Britain's James Guy gets overcome with emotion after winning the gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 28. 25 of 104 FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images South Korea's Gu Bongil celebrates scoring a point against Italy's Luca Curatoli in the men's sabre team gold medal bout at the Makuhari Messe Hall on July 28. 26 of 104 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Gymnast Daiki Hashimoto of Team Japan brings home the gold during the Men's All-Around Final at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 28. 27 of 104 Kaz Photography/Getty Images Team Romania's Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis raise their hands in victory after winning the gold for Women's Double Sculls at Sea Forest Waterway on July 28. 28 of 104 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Zongyuan Wang and Siyi Xie of Team China cheer as they win gold during the Men's Synchronized 3m Springboard final at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 28. 29 of 104 Abbie Parr/Getty Team USA's Caleb Dressel is in shock as he wins gold in the Men's 100 meter freestyle final at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29. 30 of 104 Naomi Baker/Getty Federica Cesarini and Valentina Rodini of Team Italy are stunned after winning the gold medal during the Lightweight Women's Double Sculls Final A at Sea Forest Waterway on July 29. 31 of 104 Naomi Baker/Getty Fintan Mccarthy and Paul O'Donovan of Team Ireland win the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls Final A at Sea Forest Waterway on July 29. 32 of 104 Naomi Baker/Getty Gold medalists Martin Sinkovic and Valent Sinkovic of Team Croatia take top prize in the Men's Pair Final A at Sea Forest Waterway on July 29. 33 of 104 Yannick Verhoeven/BSR Agency/Getty Team Japan's Aaron Wolf gets emotional after winning gold at the Men -100 kg Final at the Nippon Budokan on July 29. 34 of 104 Jamie Squire/Getty Team USA's Sunisa Lee wins the gold medal in the Women's All-Around Final at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 29. 35 of 104 YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Team USA's Carissa Moore wraps herself in the American flag after winning the women's Surfing gold medal final at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach July 27. 36 of 104 Getty USA's Valarie Allman jumps for joy after winning the gold medal in the Women's Discus Final at Olympic Stadium on August 2. 37 of 104 Getty Team Netherlands' Sifan Hassan lays on the track after placing first in the Women's 5000 metres Final at Olympic Stadium on August 2. 38 of 104 Getty Cuba's Mijain Lopez Nunez raises his arms in triumph after defeating Georgia's Iakobi Kajaia in the men's greco-roman 130kg wrestling final match at the Makuhari Messe on August 2. 39 of 104 Getty Bronze medallist Ana Peleteiro of Spain and gold medallist Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela soak in their wins following the women's triple jump final at the Olympic Stadium on August 1. 40 of 104 Getty Gold medalist Mutaz Essa Barshim of Team Qatar takes a victory lap around the track following the Men's High Jump Final at Olympic Stadium on August 1. 41 of 104 Getty Brazil's Rebeca Andrade raises her flag with pride after winning gold in the vault event of the artistic gymnastics women's vault final at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre on August 1. 42 of 104 Getty Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy drops to his knees after earning gold in the Men's High Jump Final at Olympic Stadium on August 1. 43 of 104 Getty Italy's Lamont Marcell Jacobs celebrates his gold with the Italian flag following the Men's 100m Final at Olympic Stadium on August 1. 44 of 104 Getty Indonesia's Apriyani Rahayu and Greysia Polii embrace after winning their women's doubles badminton gold medals at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza on August 2. 45 of 104 Getty China's Wenwen Li celebrates gold with a heart following the Women's +87kg Group A Weightlifting at Tokyo international Forum on August 2. 46 of 104 Getty Jasmine Camacho Quinn of Puerto Rico wins the Women's 100m Hurdles Final at the Olympic Stadium on August 2. 47 of 104 Getty Liu Yang of China sheds a tear as he celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Mens Rings Final at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on August 2. 48 of 104 Getty Soufiane Elbakkali of Morocco wins the gold medal after the Men's 3000m Steeplechase at Olympic Stadium on August 2. 49 of 104 Ryan Pierse/Getty Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk wears Olympic-themed glasses to celebrate winning gold in the Women's Hammer Throw Final at Olympic Stadium on August 3. 50 of 104 Luis Robayo - Pool/Getty Team Cuba's Roniel Iglesias falls to his knees after winning the gold medal against Pat McCormack of Team Great Britain during the Men's Welter (63-69kg) final at Kokugikan Arena on August 3. 51 of 104 Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Gold medalist Chenchen Guan of Team China waves to the crowd of athlete spectators after her big win at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on August 3. 52 of 104 Malaika Mihambo of Team Germany jumps with her country's flag after winning the gold medal in the Women's Long Jump Final at Olympic Stadium on August 3. 53 of 104 Phil Walter/Getty Dylan Fletcher (right) and Stuart Bithell of Team Great Britain raise their fists in victory as they win gold in the Men's Skiff 49er class at Enoshima Yacht Harbour on August 3. 54 of 104 USA's Athing Mu is all smiles after winning gold in the women's 800m final at the Olympic Stadium on August 3. 55 of 104 Tom Pennington/Getty Tamyra Mensah-Stock of Team USA defeats Blessing Oborududu of Team Nigeria to win wrestling gold following the Women's Freestyle 68kg Gold Medal Match at Makuhari Messe Hall on August 3. 56 of 104 ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Gold medallist China's Xie Siyi points to the sky as he steps up to the podium after winning the men's 3m springboard diving final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on August 3. 57 of 104 Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Japan's Sena Irie is overcome with emotion after winning gold at boxing at Kokugikan arena on August 3. 58 of 104 mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Norway's Karsten Warholm is in disblief after winning the gold medal in the Men's 400m Hurdles Final at Olympic Stadium on August 3. 59 of 104 Chen Yichen/Xinhua via Getty Viktor Axelsen of Denmark falls to the ground after winning the men's singles gold medal badminton match between Chen Long of China and Viktor Axelsen of Denmark on August 2. 60 of 104 Getty Italy's Simone Consonni is in shock after winning gold and setting a new world record in the men's track cycling team pursuit finals at Izu Velodrome on August 4. 61 of 104 Getty Japan's silver medalist Kokona Hiraki (left) and gold medalist Sakura Yosozumi (right) celebrate their wins during the women's park final at Ariake Sports Park Skateboarding on August 4. 62 of 104 Getty Andre de Grasse of Team Canada wins gold in the Men's 200m Final at Olympic Stadium on August 4. 63 of 104 Getty Team Georgia's Lasha Talakhadze gets emotional after lifting 265kg to break the world record and win gold during the Weightlifting - Men's +109kg Group A at Tokyo International Forum on August 4. 64 of 104 Getty Kenya's Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir celebrates winning gold alongside silver medal winner Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich after the Men's 800m Final at Olympic Stadium on August 4. 65 of 104 Getty Hannah Mills (left) and Eilidh McIntyre (right) of Team Great Britain jump into the water after winning gold in the Women's 470 class medal race at Enoshima Yacht Harbour on August 4. 66 of 104 Getty Team Uganda's Peruth Chemutai soaks in her gold medal in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase Final at Olympic Stadium on August 4. 67 of 104 Getty Jonathan Milan of Team Italy is congratulated by his coach Marco Villa after winning the gold medal and setting a new World record during the Men's cycling team pursuit finals at Izu Velodrome on August 4. 68 of 104 Getty Gold medalist Ana Marcela Cunha of Team Brazil sheds tears after winning gold in the Women's 10km Marathon Swimming at Odaiba Marine Park on August 4. 69 of 104 Getty Japan's Yukako Kawai gets emotional after winning her gold medal in the women's freestyle 62kg wrestling competition at the Makuhari Messe on August 4. 70 of 104 Julian Finney/Getty Team Belgium celebrates their victory in the Men's Gold Medal match between Australia at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 5. 71 of 104 Berengui/DeFodi Images via Getty Sandra Sanchez of Spain wins the first-ever Karate gold medal at Nippon Budokan on August 5. 72 of 104 Clive Rose/Getty Team China's Hongchan Quan gets lifted up in the air after winning gold in the Women's 10m Platform Final at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on August 5. 73 of 104 Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty USA's David Taylor wins gold against Hassan Yazdani of Iran during the Men's Freestyle 86kg wrestling final match on August 5. 74 of 104 Lintao Zhang/Getty Massimo Stano of Team Italy wins gold in the Men's 20km Race Walk Final at Sapporo Odori Park on August 5. 75 of 104 Tim de Waele/Getty Team Netherlands' Shanne Braspennincx wins the gold medal following the Women's Keirin final at Izu Velodrome on August 5. 76 of 104 Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Florent van Aubel of Team Belgium celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Men's Gold Medal match between Australia at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 5. 77 of 104 Steven Gardiner of Team Bahamas soaks in his gold medal win at the Men's 400m Final at Olympic Stadium on August 5. 78 of 104 David Ramos/Getty Nafissatou Thiam of Team Belgium reacts after winning the gold medal in the Women's Heptathlon alongside Annie Kunz of Team United States at Olympic Stadium on August 5. 79 of 104 MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Silver medallist Miho Nonaka of Japan (left) , bronze medallist Akiyo Noguchi of Japan (right) and gold medallist Janja Garnbret of Slovenia (center) celebrate after competing in the Women's Sport Climbing Lead Final. 80 of 104 ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Serbia's Jovana Prekovic reacts as she wins the gold medal in the Women's Kumite -61kg Final in the karate competition. 81 of 104 Ryan Pierse/Getty Faith Kipyegon of Team Kenya reacts after winning the gold medal during the Women's 1500m Final. 82 of 104 Team Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei reacts to winning the gold medal during the Men's 5000m Final. 83 of 104 ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Italy's Luigi Busa reacts to winning the gold medal in the Men's Kumite -75kg karate competition. 84 of 104 Aleksandra Szmigiel - Pool / Getty Liu Shiying of Team China celebrates with the national flag after winning gold in the Women's Javelin Final. 85 of 104 Richard Heathcote/Getty Shaunae Miller-Uibo of Team Bahamas celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Women's 400m Final. 86 of 104 Tom Weller/DeFodi Images via Getty April Ross and Alix Klineman of Team USA cheer after winning Gold in Beach Volleyball. 87 of 104 Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Team ROC's Zaurbek Sidakov reacts to his gold medal victory in the Men's 74kg Freestyle Wrestling Final. 88 of 104 Clive Brunskill/Getty Peres Jepchirchir of Team Kenya celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the Women's Marathon Final. 89 of 104 Al Bello/Getty Yuan Cao of Team China reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 10m Platform Final. 90 of 104 Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Mariya Lasitskene of Team ROC reacts after winning the gold medal in the Women's High Jump. 91 of 104 Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Jayson Tatum of USA Men's National Basketball Team has a moment during the Gold Medal Game of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 92 of 104 GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Britain's Jason Kenny waves after winning gold in the Men's Track Cycling Keirin Final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 93 of 104 Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway is stunned after winning the gold medal in the Men's 1500m Final. 94 of 104 Jamie Squire/Getty Team Bulgaria reacts after winning the gold medal during the Rhythmic Gymastics the Group All-Around Final. 95 of 104 Phil Walter/Getty Team USA's women's volleyball team reacts after defeating Team Brazil during the Women's Gold Medal Match, winning their very first gold medal. 96 of 104 Phil Walter/Getty Kelsey Robinson and Justine Wong-Orantes react after Team USA wins their first gold medal in Women's Volleyball. 97 of 104 Allyson Felix. Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Allyson Felix of the USA looks up after winning the gold medal with her team in the Women's 4x400m Relay Final. Felix now has 11 medals, making her the most decorated American track-and-field athlete in Olympic history. 98 of 104 Toru Hanai/Getty Team France reacts after defeating Team ROC to win gold in Men's Volleyball. 99 of 104 ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Egypt's Feryal Abdelaziz reacts as she wins the gold medal in Women's Kumite Final of the Karate Competition. 100 of 104 Lintao Zhang/Getty Eliud Kipchoge of Team Kenya celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Men's Marathon Final. 101 of 104 Ayman Aref/NurPhoto via Getty Players of Team Canada's Women's Soccer Team celebrate following their victory in the penalty shoot-out in the Women's Gold Medal Match between Canada and Sweden. 102 of 104 Luis Robayo - Pool/Getty Busenaz Surmeneli of Team Turkey wins the gold medal in the Women's Welter (64-69kg) Final after competing against Hong Gu of Team China. 103 of 104 Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Dani Alves of Team Brazil celebrates victory after the Men's Gold Medal Soccer Match between Team Brazil and Team Spain. 104 of 104 VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty As did the rest of Team Brazil, who fell to the ground following their win.