News Olympic athletes don't always have to endure the loneliness of the long distance runner to write their names in history At recent Games, these gold medal-winnings duos have inspired each other to ever greater feats and to lasting sporting fame Unstoppable sisters Venus and Serena Williams have won an unprecedented three Olympic gold medals in tennis doubles, not forgetting individual golds for both They'll be back in Rio to defend their title Few would bet against the iconic duo swatting away all challengers to their throne We now have to call both Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent 'Sir;' such was the scale of their achievements on the rowing lake  At Barcelona 1992 and then again at Atlanta 1996, the British duo powered their way to coxless pairs history The partnership of Brazilian footballers Bebeto and Romário was forged at Seoul 1988, where the seleção won silver and Romário was the top scorer Their greatest triumph came at the 1994 World Cup, where they led Brazil to an unforgettable fourth world title after a 24-year wait When beach volleyball became an Olympic sport at Atlanta 1996, Brazilian duo Jacqueline Silva and Sandra Pires not only carved their name in history as the first gold medal winners Their dominant performance and flamboyant Brazilian style helped establish the new discipline as one of the most popular events in the Games   Kerri Walsh and Misty May went even better than Jacqueline and Sandra, winning an unprecedented three consecutive gold medals from Athens 2004 to London 2012 With the dominant duo now retired, which new pairing will emerge to take over their title on Copacabana beach this August? In the male version of the sport, an all-conquering partnership between popular Brazilians Ricardo Alex Santos and Emanuel Rego took home gold at Athens 2004; the two also competed with other partners but never scaled those heights again   Basketball stars Maria Paula Gonçalves da Silva (known as Magic Paula) and Hortência Marcari had to settle for silver at Atlanta 1996 but no Brazilian will ever forget the national side built around them The two took Brazilian women as close as they have been to Olympic gold They also led Brazil to Pan American glory in Cuba in 1991, against the home side and in the presence of Fidel Castro   At Rio 2016, few competitors will enjoy greater support than brother and sister gymnasts Diego and Daniele Hypólito, two of the most popular sports personalities in the country  Crowds will go crazy if either of the veteran duo finally manage to take home that elusive first Olympic medal One of the only home successes that could top a Hypólito medal would be the triumph of the Brazilian women's football team Led by the veteran attacking partnership of Cristiane Rozeira and football superstar Marta, the side will be desperate to win gold on home soil Expect the Maracanã to erupt on 19 August if they do the business