Sure, there’s heartbreak, but the Olympics are also full of inspiring moments and expressions of joy. Some athletes are winning their first medals. Others are adding to their large trophy collections. And still more are just winning a pivotal point that they hope will pave the way to victory. From the South African swimmer who beat Michael Phelps to Spain’s beach volleyballers, see 15 of the best athlete celebrations.
Nicknamed “Rain Storm,” Sheng Lei of China celebrated winning gold in the men’s individual foil fencing competition. The lefty bested Alaaeldin Abouelkassem of Egypt to take home the top prize.
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French Judo star Automne Pavia came into the London Olympics seeded fourth in the women’s under-57 kg weight class. But the 23-year-old fought her way to a bronze medal when she defeated Hedvig Karakas of Hungary. Here’s her reaction to victory.
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Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov rejoices at winning a hard-fought point against Denmark’s Michael Maze during their quarterfinal table-tennis match. Ovtcharov, who is known for his unique and sometimes disorienting serve, would go on to win the contest 4-3.
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Mixed doubles badminton partners Joachim Fischer and Christinna Pedersen of Denmark are pumped after defeating Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam on Day 5 of the London Olympics.
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Denmark’s Mikkel Hansen, the International Handball Federation’s 2011 World Player of the year, reacts after his handball team won a preliminary match against Spain.
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Peter Joppich of Germany rejoices after beating Great Britain’s James-Andrew Davis during the men's individual foil fencing competition.
Dmitry Lovetsky / AP Photo
Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark celebrate after beating China’s Yunlei Zhao and Qing Tian, the second-seeded team in the women’s doubles badminton tournament.
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France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made history after winning his second-round match against Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-3, 3-6, 25-23. Tsonga and Raonic’s three-set match clocked in at three hours and 57 minutes, an Olympic record.
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Nineteen-year-old Yujie Sun of China revels in her win over South Korea’s Shin A-Lam to take the bronze in the women’s epee individual fencing tournament.
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Spain’s Liliana Fernandez and Elsa Baquerizo celebrate their 2-0 win over Argentina at the end of the women’s beach volleyball prelims.
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Italy’s Simona Gioli is fired up after winning a point against Japan during their preliminary volleyball match on July 30. Italy went on to defeat Japan in four sets.
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Few expected South Africa’s Chad le Clos to beat Michael Phelps to take the gold in the men’s 200-meter butterfly. So when the first-time Olympian edged out the most decorated Olympian in history by five-hundredths of a second, he could barely contain his joy.
Martin Bureau, AFP / Getty Images
