25 Photos From Rio 2016 That Show How Powerful Women's Bodies Can Be

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There are more women taking part in this yearโ€™s Olympics than ever before, which means more moments to marvel at the sheer strength, speed and agility of the female body.

According to data for Rio 2016 from the International Olympics Committee (IOC), there are some 4,700 female athletes taking part (45% of the total number) and 145 womenโ€™s events. Both figures are unprecedented.

But despite these giant leaps forward, sexism is still rife. Whether itโ€™s a BBC commentator likening a womenโ€™s judo match to a โ€œcat fightโ€ or referring to bronze medal winner Corey Cogdell-Unrein using her husbandโ€™s name rather than her own, it feels like weโ€™re in 1956 not 2016.

To counter this we wanted to celebrate the incredible feats of women of this yearโ€™s Olympics, from Jessica Ennis-Hill to Simone Biles and everyone in between.

25
Jessica Ennis (GBR) 30, Heptathlon
DDP USA/REX/Shutterstock
24
Sarah Elizabeth Robles (USA) 28, Women's +75kg Weightlifting
DDP USA/REX/Shutterstock
23
Tania Cagnotto (ITA) 31, Women's 3m Springboard
DDP USA/REX/Shutterstock
22
Taliqua Clancy (AUS) 24, Volleyball
REUTERS
21
Simone Biles (USA), 19 Gymnastics
Reuters
20
Lisa Hahner (GER) and Anna Hahner (GER) 26, Marathon
Reuters
19
Yaniuska Espinosa (VEN) 29, Women's +75kg Weightlifting
Reuters
18
Olga Rypakova (KAZ) 31, Triple Jump
Reuters
17
Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 27, Women's 200m Backstroke
Getty Images
16
Cleopatra Borel (TTO) 37, Women's Shot Put
Getty Images
15
Garielle Douglas (USA) 20, Gymnastics
Reuters
14
Heather Miller-Koch (USA) 29, Women's Heptathlon
Getty Images
13
Cheong Jun Hoong (MAS) 26 and Pandelela Rinong (MAS) 23, 10-meter Platform Diving
AP
12
Cyclists compete in the women's road race near Fort Copacabana.
AP
11
Zheng Wang (CHN) 28, Hammer
Getty Images
10
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) 29, 100m
Getty Images
9
Antoinette Nana Djimou Ida (FRA) 31, Heptathlon
Getty Images
8
Almaz Ayana (ETH) 24, 10,000 meters
Getty Images
7
Laura Ikauniece-Admidina (LAT) 24, Heptathlon
Getty Images
6
Kawanaka Kaori (JPN) 25, Archery
Getty Images
5
Anita Alvarez (USA) 20 and Mariya Koroleva (USA) 26, Synchronised Swimming Duet
Getty Images
4
Maya Moore (USA) 27, Women's Basketball
Getty Images
3
Fan Yilin (CHN) 16, Gymnastics
Reuters
2
Olga Kharlan (UKR) 25, Fencing Sabre
AFP/Getty Images
1
Gemma Tattersall (GBR) 31, Eventing Team Cross Country
Sportsfile via Getty Images
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