These Olympic Friendships Are Solid Gold

— -- As the age-old adage prescribes, athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics are making new friends and keeping the old. But in these new, budding friendships, while some are silver, most are gold.

Take the "bromance" blossoming between the star-studded U.S. men's basketball team and Olympic gold medalists Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, Conor Dwyer and Townley Haas as an example.

It began with the swimming finals.

Members of the basketball team, including Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Klay Thompson and DeAndre Jordan, showed their support in the aquatics facility. They held down the bench with Olympians Dana Vollmer and Kelsi Worrell, both swimmers. Olympic swimmer Cody Miller was also part of the squad.

The bonds continued to build behind the scenes as the basketball players greeted their fellow Olympians and congratulated them on their wins. "Bro hugs" abounded.

Phelps sent his thanks to the basketball team for their support with this photo of the crew. It was only a matter of time before the basketball players were posting pictures with Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky as well.

Durant, posting a picture with Ledecky, recognized their mutual statehood. Both are Maryland natives, as is Phelps.

The gold friendships of the Rio games extend beyond the swimming-basketball relationship.

Pics from other athletes, like sprinter Mike Rodgers, show support for the women on the "Final Five" gymnastics team, and gold medalist Simone Biles tweeted pictures to congratulate swimmers Phelps and Nathan Adrian after their wins.

Keep spreading the love, Team USA.