The Paris Olympics has created new household names but has also seen the final hurrah for a number of stars.
Some left with medals around their necks while for others the experience was bittersweet.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the big names bowing out.
Andy Murray
One of Britain’s all-time sporting greats, Murray had an emotional farewell at Wimbledon last month but chose the Olympics for his final event. The two-time singles gold medallist could not add more silverware in men’s doubles with Dan Evans but the pair won two dramatic matches to reach the quarter-finals.
Max Whitlock
![Max Whitlock, left, shows his disappointment during the pommel horse final](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/bc63b99557e8f4b9ef5b2814a777dfbaY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzMDUxMzY1/2.77045933.jpg?w=640)
Britain’s most successful Olympic gymnast came back for one final tilt on his signature pommel horse. Whitlock won gold in Rio and Tokyo on the apparatus, and six medals in total across three Games, but he was disappointed to finish fourth this time.
Helen Glover
![Helen Glover with husband Steve Backshall and their three children](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/91cfc07d3af0a52aa09964d963debfc6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzMDUxNDM5/2.77022073.jpg?w=640)
Glover won rowing gold in London and Rio in dominant fashion with Heather Stanning in the women’s pair before taking several years out of the sport and having three children. She just missed out on a medal in Tokyo but finished with silver in the women’s four having been one of Britain’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony.
Carl Hester
At the age of 57, dressage rider Hester all but confirmed his Olympic career is over. A Games that began with the shock revelations about his protege Charlottle Dujardin ended with Hester winning a medal at a fourth successive Olympics with bronze in the team competition.
Lizzie Deignan
![Lizzie Deignan among the peloton in Paris](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/dc45f3f85b463b9a765f2531607e98a2Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzMDUxNjQ3/2.77058449.jpg?w=640)
Cyclist Deignan was the first British athlete to win a medal on home soil at London 2012 with silver in the women’s road race. The 35-year-old mother of two, a former world champion on the road and the track, competed in her fourth Games in Paris, finishing 12th in the road race.
Rafael Nadal
While Murray was unequivocal that Paris would be his career swansong, 38-year-old Nadal has kept things open for now, but he will certainly not be in Los Angeles. The Spaniard, who won gold in singles in 2008 and doubles in 2016, teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s doubles here but they bowed out in the quarter-finals.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here