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.

MARK RALSTON / Getty Images

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

2.

TORU HANAI / Reuters

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

3.

DYLAN MARTINEZ / Reuters

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

4.

ADRIAN DENNIS / Getty Images

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

FRANCK FIFE / Getty Images

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

5.

DAVID GRAY / Reuters

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.

6.

DYLAN MARTINEZ / Reuters

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

DYLAN MARTINEZ / Reuters

7.

Gregory Bull / AP

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

Gregory Bull / AP

8.

Rebecca Blackwell / AP

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

9.

Gregory Bull / AP

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

10.

KHALED DESOUKI / Getty Images

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

11.

FABRICE COFFRINI / Getty Images

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

12.

TORU HANAI / Reuters

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

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.