Scowl intimidatingly. Scream exuberantly. Stay calm and concentrate. Exhibiting or concealing intense emotion can be an essential tactic in competitive sport, but with gold, silver and bronze glistening within grasp, no mask can be held forever. Here’s a selection of Olympians who’ve faced victory and defeat, and what their faces revealed.
China's Jun Zhang competes during qualification round in the men's shot put finals at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England August 3, 2012. (Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)
Singapore's Wang Yuegu and Li Jiawei (rear) play against Poland's Katarzyna Grzybowska and Natalia Partyka in their women's team first round table tennis match at the ExCel venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 3, 2012. (GRIGORY DUKOR/REUTERS)
Canadian Marie-Andree Lessard reacts to a point against Russia's Evgeniya Ukolova and Ekaterina Khomyakova during beach volleyball competition at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)
Canadian Marie-Andree Lessard, left, and teammate Annie Martin celebrate a point against Russia's Evgeniya Ukolova and Ekaterina Khomyakova during beach volleyball competition at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)
Canadian beach volleyball player Martin Reader competes against Norway's Martin Skarlund and Tarjei Spinnangr at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England Monday, July 30, 2012. (Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)
Canada's Crispen Duenas grimaces after a shot in the archery competition at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England Monday, July 30, 2012. (Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)
Marianne Vos of The Netherlands, celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the Women's Road Cycling race at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England Sunday, July 29, 2012. (Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)
Italy's Aldo Montano reacts during their men's sabre team quarterfinals fencing competition against Belarus at the ExCel venue at the London 2012 Olympic Games, August 3, 2012. (DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS)
South Korea's Kim Ji-yeon celebrates after defeating Russia's Sofa Velikaya during the gold medal match in women's individual sabre fencing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in London (Andrew Medichini/AP)
Dagmara Wozniak of the U.S. celebrates her victory against Tunisia's Azza Besbes during their women's sabre individual round of 16 fencing competition at the ExCel venue at the London 2012 Olympic Games August 1, 2012. (DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS)
Sophie Van Gestel of Norway digs out a ball during a beach volleyball match against Brazil at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, in London. (Dave Martin/AP)
Cuba's Idalys Ortiz celebrates after defeating Japan's Mika Sugimoto to win the gold medal in the women's over 78-kg judo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, in London. (Mike Groll/AP)
Canadia'a Sergio Pessoa prepares to face Kazakhstan's Yerkebulan Kossayevin in Judo during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England Saturday, July 28, 2012. Pessoa lost to Yerkebulan in the men's 60kg elimination round. (Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)
Italy's Domenico Valentino celebrates after defeating Britain's Josh Taylor in their Men's Light (60kg) Round of 16 boxing match during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 2, 2012. (MURAD SEZER/REUTERS)
Christine Girard of Canada competes during the women's 63-kg, group A, weightlifting competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in London. (Hassan Ammar/AP)
Denmark's Ann Grete Norgaard cries after their loss to Norway in their women's handball Preliminaries Group B match at the Copper Box venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 3, 2012. (MARKO DJURICA/REUTERS)
Honduras' Bayron Molina Figueroa reacts after his loss to India's Devendro Singh Laishram in the Men's Light Fly (49kg) Round of 32 boxing match during the London 2012 Olympic Games July 31, 2012. (MURAD SEZER/REUTERS)
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