For the last two weeks, Irish athletes took on the world’s best at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Former and current Notre Dame fencers, rowers, runners, soccer players, and basketball players competed at the games as part of Team USA and for other nations. The performance by the Irish in Rio really showed off the strength of the entire ND athletic department. After an exciting two weeks, the athletes returned home with memories, records, and some hardware.

Gold Medal on the Water

Competing as part of the dominant USA Women’s Eight, Amanda Polk won the gold in her rowing event. Polk became the first Irish rower to win gold in the history of the program. The Class of 2008 alumna was the most decorated rower in program history earning All American honors in all four of her years in South Bend. USA Women’s Rowing’s Eight has quietly become one of the best teams in sports. The squad won the last eleven major championships, and set the world record in 2013. Polk was in the boat for the last six titles as well as the world record race.

Gold for Monty Williams and USA Basketball

Despite looking vulnerable in pool play, the US Men’s Basketball team won its third straight gold medal. Making his first Olympic appearance, former Irish star Monty Williams was an assistant coach. Williams was also on the bench during the latest FIBA World Championships. The gold medal comes after a difficult year for Williams in which his wife died in a car accident. The former Irish All American announced he’d be joining Greg Popovich’s staff with the Spurs next NBA season. Coach Pop will be taking over for Coach K as head coach of USA Basketball, so there’s a good chance Williams remains on the team USA staff for the foreseeable future.

Irish Fencers Pick Up Team Bronze Medals

Mariel Zagunis won her fourth Olympic medal as part of the women’s sabre team. Zagunis won individual gold medals in both Athens and Beijing as well as a team bronze in Beijing. Zagunis also was selected as the flag bearer in London. In Rio, she anchored the bronze medal winning sabre team outscoring her Italian counterparts 15-9 in the bronze medal match. Gerek Meinhardt also won a team bronze for team USA. His foil team defeated the top seeded Italian squad in the bronze medal match. The bronze medal was the first for the American foil team since the 1932 games. Kelley Hurley, Courtney Hurley, and Lee Kiefer also competed on the American fencing squad, although they didn’t win any medals.

Canadian Soccer Star Wins Bronze

Class of 2004 soccer player Melissa Tancredi won her second bronze medal as part of team Canada. The Canadian team knocked off host nation Brazil in the bronze medal match after losing a rematch to Germany in the semifinal. Tancredi scored twice in the tournament, both in Canada’s upset win over Germany in pool play. Tancredi first appeared in the 2008 Olympics, and she also appeared in the 2012 Games where she won another bronze medal.

Huddle Sets American Record

Although she didn’t win a medal on her trip to Rio, Molly Huddle broke the American record in the 10000m. Huddle finished sixth in the race in which the winner Almaz Ayana ran a 29:17.45 to obliterate the world record by 12 seconds. Huddle’s time of 30:13.17 was eight seconds faster than the previous American record, and was fast enough to win a medal at every previous Olympics. Huddle also competed at the London Olympics, and will make her marathon debut this fall.