It takes Olympic athletes years of hard work and sacrifice to go for gold. When those few cross over and become winners, there's a moment when something clicks, when they realize they did it. This beautifully visceral and personal reaction — pride, elation, solemnness — offers us mere mortals a glimpse into what it takes to become the world's greatest competitors. Below, enjoy this celebration of hard work and athleticism, in all its wondrous forms, from this year's Summer Games in Rio.
Rafaela Silva of Brazil wins the host country's first gold, in judo, on Aug. 8, 2016. | (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)
Davit Chakvetadze of Russia wins gold in Greco-Roman wrestling on Aug. 15. | (REUTERS/Issei Kato)
Team USA wins the gold in the women's team gymnastics final on Aug. 9. | (REUTERS/Mike Blake)
Usain Bolt of Jamaica wins gold in the 100-meter dash on Aug. 15. | (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)
Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova of Russia win gold in doubles tennis on Aug. 14. | (REUTERS/Toby Melvill)
Emilie Andeol (right) of France beats Idalys Ortiz (left) of Cuba to win the gold in judo on Aug. 12. | (REUTERS/Murad Sezer)
The men's foil team of Russia wins gold in fencing on Aug. 12. | (REUTERS/Issei Kato)
Simone Manuel of USA wins gold in the 100-meter freestyle on Aug. 11. | (REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)
Andy Murray of Great Britain wins gold in tennis singles on Aug. 14. | (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
Rusian Nurudinov of Uzbekistan wins gold in the men's 105kg weightlifting. | (REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov)
Elaine Thompson of Jamaica wins gold in the 100-meter dash on Aug. 13. | (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Martin Sinkovic and Valent Sinkovic of Croatia win the gold in men's double sculls rowing on Aug. 11. | (REUTERS/Patrick Smith/Pool)
Katinka Hosszu of Hungary wins the gold in the 200-meter individual medley on Aug. 9. | (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Sopita Tanasan of Thailand wins the gold in women's 48 kg weightlifting on Aug. 6. | (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)
Michael Phelps of USA waves to the crowd after his team won gold in the 4 x 100-meter medley relay on Aug. 13. The medley was Phelps' last Olympic race. | (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
