Poignant Images Of Crying Olympians

Whether celebrating one of the greatest victories of their lives, mourning one of the greatest disappointments, or simply being overwhelmed by the moment, these images embody the power of the Olympics.

1.

US forward LeBron James cries after the basketball game between the United States and France.

Image by MARK RALSTON / Getty Images

2.

Brazil’s Rafaela Silva cries after losing to Hungary’s Hedvig Karakas in their women’s judo match.

Image by TORU HANAI / Reuters

3.

Egypt’s Sherine Ahmed Elzeiny cries after failing to qualify in women’s artistic gymnastics.

Image by DYLAN MARTINEZ / Reuters

4.

Brazil’s Felipe Kitadai cries after winning his Bronze Medal judo match against Italy’s Elio Verde.

Image by ADRIAN DENNIS / Getty Images

Brazil’s bronze medalist Felipe Kitadai cries on the podium.

Image by FRANCK FIFE / Getty Images

5.

Australian equestrian Shane Rose cries as he leaves a media conference after having to pull out of competition due to his horse’s leg injury.

Image by DAVID GRAY / Reuters

6.

Louis Smith cries after giving “the finest gymnastic performance ever delivered in a Great Britain vest” in the men’s gymnastics qualification round.

Image by DYLAN MARTINEZ / Reuters

Image by DYLAN MARTINEZ / Reuters

7.

US gymnast Jordyn Wieber cries after failing to qualify for the women’s all-around finals in artistic gymnastics.

Image by Gregory Bull / AP

Image by Gregory Bull / AP

8.

US Skeet Shooter Kimberley Rhode cries as she listens to the American national anthem after winning gold.

Image by Rebecca Blackwell / AP

9.

Brazilian gymnast Harumy Mariko de Freitas cries after a performance during the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round.

Image by Gregory Bull / AP

10.

China’s Yi Siling cries as she celebrates winning the first gold medal (in women’s air rifle, 10m) of the 2012 Olympics.

Image by KHALED DESOUKI / Getty Images

11.

Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte cries after shocking the world by qualifying for the final of the women’s 100m breaststroke.

Image by FABRICE COFFRINI / Getty Images

12.

North Korea’s An Kum Ae cries on the podium after winning gold in judo.

Image by TORU HANAI / Reuters

EDIT: Getty captioned the photo of LeBron James with “cries.” There are also photos that show him receiving eyedrops. It’s unclear whether this photo is the former or the latter.