Germany’s Ariane Friedrich reacts after a successful attempt during the women’s high jump qualification at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 9, 2012. MARK BLINCH/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive432060
The Olympics seem to come through almost like a hurricane – there are months of preparation and anticipation; then they hit and we had 17 days of furious coverage with the stories of triumph, heartbreak, tragedy, scandal, and sportsmanship; now they’re gone and they’ve left us with hundreds of thousands of pictures to dig through and try to put together some meaning in the huge void the Olympics have left in our lives.
Perhaps that’s waxing a bit dramatic.
There were so many story lines to follow, so many fabulous pictures, and so much to tell that we couldn’t sum up the Olympics in one blog post or one lightbox. So we’ve put 50 of our favorite photos from all sports and stories in this post. But make sure you get all the way to the bottom, because we’ve got links to other posts and lightboxes that have some more of our favorite photos of athletes like Michael Phelps and Gabby Douglas, or sports like swimming or diving. Check out the links at the bottom of the post.
If you like these photos you’ll like part 1 and part 2 of our favorite photos from the Olympics.
Michael Phelps of the U.S. is reflected as he swims his men’s 100m butterfly semi-final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 2, 2012. DAVID GRAY/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive421169
Jessica Ennis of Britain competes in her women’s heptathlon 100m hurdles heat during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in this August 3, 2012 file photo. LUCY NICHOLSON/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive444208
Chrystalleni Trikomiti of Cyprus competes during the individula all-around qualification match of Gymnastics Rhythmic at London 2012 Olympic Games, London, Britain, Aug. 9, 2012. Chen Jianli/Xinhua/Sipa Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: sipaphotosthree686809
Britain’s Mo Farah reacts as he wins the men’s 5000m final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in this August 11, 2012 file photo. LUCY NICHOLSON/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive444056
- Great Britain’s Peter Kirkbride reacts during his men’s 94Kg group B weightlifting competition at the ExCel venue at the London 2012 Olympic Games August 4, 2012. DOMINIC EBENBICHLER/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive414929
France’s Kevin Mayer competes in the men’s decathlon discus throw event at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 9, 2012. PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive432422
France’s Damien Cely competes in the men’s 3m springboard preliminary round during the diving event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 6, 2012 in London. FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour640268
Norway’s Bartosz Piasecki celebrates his victory against South Korea’s Jinsun Jung at the end of their men’s epee individual semifinals fencing competition at the ExCel venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 1, 2012. FABRIZIO BENSCH/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive402707
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt kisses the track as he celebrates winning the men’s 200m final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 9, 2012. DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive434742
Gabrielle Douglas of the US on the uneven bars during the Women’s Individual All-Around Final at the London 2012 Olympic Games Artistic Gymnastics competition, London, Britain, 02 August 2012. ANDREW GOMBERT/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos512099
Turkey’s Servet Tazegul (L) fights during his men’s -68kg gold medal taekwondo match against Iran’s Mohammad Bagheri Motamed at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the ExCeL arena August 9, 2012. KIM KYUNG-HOON/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive435505
Xiang Liu of China reacts in frustration after he droped out in the heats for the men’s 110m Hurdles at the London 2012 Olympic Games Athletics, Track and Field events at the Olympic Stadium, London, Britain, 07 August 2012. FRANCK ROBICHON/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos525326
Kristina Cook of Britain is pictured through a wall of rain as she rides Miners Frolic during the equestrian Eventing Individual Dressage Day 2 in the Greenwich Park during the London 2012 Olympic Games, July 29, 2012. MIKE HUTCHINGS/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive390165
Japan’s Yukari Kinga (L) commits a foul on Tobin Heath of the U.S. in their women’s soccer final gold medal match at Wembley Stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 9, 2012. MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive434770
USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings, left, celebrates with teammate Misty May-Treanor after clinching the gold medal in women’s beach volleyball at Horse Guard Parade during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, Wednesday, August 8, 2012. Nhat V. Meyer/MCT/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: krtphotoslive565750
Synchronized swimming duets final in London. imago sportfotodienst/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagosports658692
Jamaica’s Yohan Blake at the start of the heats of the 200 Meters Men at athetics in the 2012 London Olympics Games in London, UK on August 7th, 2012. Szwarc Henri/ABACA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: abausaphotos780781
South Korea’s Shin A Lam reacts after being defeated by Germany’s Britta Heidemann (not seen) during their women’s epee individual semifinal fencing competition at the ExCel venue at the London 2012 Olympic Games July 30, 2012. Losing at the Olympics hurts. But suffering an injustice, real or imagined, is agony. The 2012 Games have been peppered with debatable refereeing, a technical glitch in fencing, post-race relegation and – this one a first – the controversial expulsion of eight badminton players judged to have broken the spirit, but not the rules, of their sport. Shin A-lam sat on the fencing piste, weeping, for an hour in protest at her elimination from the epee semi-final. She thought she had triumphed over Heidemann, only to see a single second put back on the clock during which she was hit, and eliminated. Picture taken July 30, 2012. DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive410349
Gabriella’s Szucs from the U.S controls the ball during their women’s preliminary round Group A water polo match against Hungary at the Water Polo Arena at the London 2012 Olympic Games, July 30, 2012. LASZLO BALOGH/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive395437
London 2012 Olympics Womens 4x100M Relay Final. Sportsphoto / Splash News/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: spnphotosfour025426
Giant projections marking the opening of the 30th summer Olympic Games, are seen on the walls of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, July 27, 2012. CHINE NOUVELLE/SIPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: sipaphotosthree676567
Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva competes during the women’s pole vault final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 6, 2012. KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive423081
McKayla Maroney won the silver for the U.S. after falling on her landing of her second vault. Bruce Chambers/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumasportsworldtwo262967
Members of the U.S. national team prepare for the start of their women’s Group A basketball match against Croatia at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the Basketball arena July 28, 2012. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive386656
China’s Wu Yiwen, China’s Chen Xiaojun, China’s Liu Ou, China’s Jiang Wenwen, China’s Chang Si, China’s Jiang Tingting, China’s Huang Xuechen and China’s Luo Xi compete in the team free routine final during the synchronised swimming competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 10, 2012 in London. FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour655945
South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius competes in his men’s 400m semi-final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in this August 5, 2012 file photograph. DAVID GRAY/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive445916
Belarus’ Ioseb Chugoshvili rests on mate after been defeated by Sweden’s Johan Euren for the bronze medal on the Men’s 120Kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the ExCel venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 6, 2012. KIM KYUNG-HOON/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive424968
Spain’s Anni Espar Llaquet (R) shoots over U.S. defenders during their Women’s Gold Medal water polo match during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 9, 2012. LASZLO BALOGH/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive434506
France’s Etienne Daille competes during the kayak single men’s 2nd round at Lee Valley Water Park, in London on July 29, 2012. OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour605700
Usain Bolt wins gold in the men’s 100m final. imago sportfotodienst/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagosports656041
The full moon rises through the Olympic Rings hanging beneath Tower Bridge during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 3, 2012. LUKE MACGREGOR/Reuters/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive412486
Poland’s Natalia Partyka serves to Liu Jia of The Netherlands in the table tennis women’s singles round match at the Excel centre in London July 29, 2012 during the London 2012 Olympic Games. SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour605714
Alise Post, of St. Cloud, Minnesota, was seeded 8th in the Women’s Cycling BMX, Wednesday, August 8, 2012, in London. Brian Peterson/MCT/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: krtphotoslive565634
Jordyn Wieber of the U.S. is seen during the women’s gymnastics floor exercise final in the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 7, 2012. MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive426180
Rich Fellers of the U.S. riding Flexible performs during the equestrian individual jumping final at the London 2012 Olympic Games in Greenwich Park August 8, 2012. BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive429353
Canada’s goalkeeper Erin McLeod (L) looks at the ball shot by USA’s Alex Morgan (R, background) to win the women’s semi final soccer match at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Old Trafford in Manchester, August 6, 2012. DAVID MOIR/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive423711
Travis Stevens of the USA is injured in a judo competition at the London Olympics. imago sportfotodienst/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagosports650292
Roger Federer of Switzerland in action during the Men’s Final against Andy Murray of Britain during the London 2012 Olympic Games Tennis competition in Wimbledon, Greater London, Britain, 05 August 2012. ANDY RAIN/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos520232
China’s Wu Minxia performs a dive during the women’s 3m springboard final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 5, 2012. JORGE SILVA/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive418994
USA’s Tyler Clary celebrates after winning the Men’s 200m Backstroke Final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park, London, UK, on the sixth day of the London 2012 Olympics, Thursday August 2, 2012. Marshall Tony/PA Photos/ABACA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: abausaphotos777011
China’s gymnast Yao Jinnan performs on the uneven bars during the women’s qualification of the artistic gymnastics event of the London Olympic Games on July 29, 2012 at the 02 North Greenwich Arena in London. BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour604469
South Korea’s Shin A Lam (L) competes against China’s Sun Yujie during their women’s epee individual bronze medal fencing match at the ExCel venue at the London 2012 Olympic Games July 30, 2012. MAX ROSSI/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive395384
Lynsey Sharp of Great Britain collapses after competing in the Women’s 800M semifinals at the London 2012 Summer Olympics on August 9, 2012 in Stratford, London. BRIAN KERSEY/UPI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: upiphotostwo179636
Afghanistan’s Rohullah Nikpah celebrates winning his men’s -68kg bronze medal taekwondo match against Britain’s Martin Stamper at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the ExCeL arena August 9, 2012. DARREN STAPLES/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive435187
(L-R) US swimmers Dana Vollmer, Rebecca Soni and US swimmer Missy Franklin react after they won the women’s 4x100m medley relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012 in London. LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour631856
A member of the Chinese men’s team performs on the rings at the 2012 London Olympics games. imago sportfotodienst/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagosports648793
Abby Wamback and Christie Rampone of the US women’s soccer team celebrate after taking gold at the 2012 London Olympics. imago sportfotodienst/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagosports660918
Composite photo shows sequence of the men’s 100-meter final (from back to front) at the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 London Olympics on Aug. 5, 2012. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt in Lane 7 finished first with a time of 9.63 seconds. Kyodo/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: kyodowc083746
Great Britains Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott dive into the water in celebration after winning the gold in the canoe double C2 mens race in the Mens Canoe Double (C2) Slalom Finals on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Lee Valley White Water Centre on in London, England. Mirrorpix / Splash News/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: spnphotosfour016832
Ready for more Olympics pictures? Check out some of these other links:
Best photos of equestrian events.
Best photos of Missy Franklin.
Best photos of Michael Phelps.
Best photos of the US swim team.
Best photos of the US women’s volleyball team.
Best photos of the US men’s basketball team.
Best photos of the US women’s basketball team.
Best photos of the US women’s gymnastics team.
Best photos synchronized swimming.
Best photos of rhythmic gymnastics.
Tags: 2012, best of, favorites, london, Olympics, photography, photos