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Faces of Olympic heartbreak

yahoo sports staff
  • <p>Brazil’s Maria Portela reacts after losing against Austria’s Bernadette Graf during the women’s 70-kg judo competition at at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) </p>
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    Maria Portela, Brazil

    Brazil’s Maria Portela reacts after losing against Austria’s Bernadette Graf during the women’s 70-kg judo competition at at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

  • <p>Tom Mitchell of Britain reacts with tears in his eyes following a loss to Fiji in the gold medal match of the mens rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) </p>
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    Tom Mitchell, Great Britain

    Tom Mitchell of Britain reacts with tears in his eyes following a loss to Fiji in the gold medal match of the mens rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

  • <p>Aleksandra Socha of Poland reacts after losing to the USA in the Women’s Sabre Team Quarterfinals on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Carioca Arena 3 on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) </p>
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    Aleksandra Socha, Poland

    Aleksandra Socha of Poland reacts after losing to the USA in the Women’s Sabre Team Quarterfinals on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Carioca Arena 3 on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

  • <p>Armenia’s Vladimir Margaryan reacts after losing to Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias with a technical knockout for injury in the first round during a men’s welterweight 69-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) </p>
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    Vladimir Margaryan, Armenia

    Armenia’s Vladimir Margaryan reacts after losing to Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias with a technical knockout for injury in the first round during a men’s welterweight 69-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

  • <p>Serena Williams of the United States reacts after losing against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in a Women’s Singles Third Round match on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by William Volcov/Brazil Photo Press/LatinContent/Getty Images) </p>
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    Serena Williams, USA

    Serena Williams of the United States reacts after losing against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in a Women’s Singles Third Round match on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by William Volcov/Brazil Photo Press/LatinContent/Getty Images)

  • <p>Rieko Ioane of New Zealand reacts after a loss to Fiji in a men’s rugby quarterfinal at the Rio Olympics on August 10, 2016. (REUTERS/Phil Noble) </p>
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    Rieko Ioane, New Zealand

    Rieko Ioane of New Zealand reacts after a loss to Fiji in a men’s rugby quarterfinal at the Rio Olympics on August 10, 2016. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)

  • <p>Ecuador’s Carlos Eduardo Quipo Pilataxi cries as he walks off after losing a match against United State’s Nico Miguel Hernandez during a men’s light flyweight 49-kg quarterfinals boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) </p>
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    Carlos Eduardo Quipo Pilataxi, Ecuador

    Ecuador’s Carlos Eduardo Quipo Pilataxi cries as he walks off after losing a match against United State’s Nico Miguel Hernandez during a men’s light flyweight 49-kg quarterfinals boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

  • <p>Ireland’s Paul Gleghorne puts his hands to his head after losing to Argentina during a men’s field hockey match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) </p>
    8/22

    Paul Gleghorne, Ireland

    Ireland’s Paul Gleghorne puts his hands to his head after losing to Argentina during a men’s field hockey match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

  • <p>Lauren Rembi of France reacts after losing a bronze medal fencing bout at Carioca Arena in Rio on August 6, 2016. (REUTERS/Issei Kato) </p>
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    Lauren Rembi, France

    Lauren Rembi of France reacts after losing a bronze medal fencing bout at Carioca Arena in Rio on August 6, 2016. (REUTERS/Issei Kato)

  • <p>Laura Gomez of Spain is comforted in defeat during the Women’s -52kg Elimination round of 16 against Andreea Chitu of Romania on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) </p>
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    Laura Gomez, Spain

    Laura Gomez of Spain is comforted in defeat during the Women’s -52kg Elimination round of 16 against Andreea Chitu of Romania on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

  • <p>Novak Djokovic of Serbia shows his emotion as he waves to the crowd after his defeat against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in their singles match on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) </p>
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    Novak Djokovic, Serbia

    Novak Djokovic of Serbia shows his emotion as he waves to the crowd after his defeat against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in their singles match on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

  • <p>Terry Bouhraoua of France reacts after their loss to Japan in the men’s rugby quarterfinals at the Rio Olympics on August 10, 2016. (REUTERS/Phil Noble) </p>
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    Terry Bouhraoua, France

    Terry Bouhraoua of France reacts after their loss to Japan in the men’s rugby quarterfinals at the Rio Olympics on August 10, 2016. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)

  • <p>Alanna Kennedy of Australia is embraced after their 0-0 (6-7 PSO) loss to Brazil during the Women’s Football Quarterfinal match at Mineirao Stadium on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 12, 2016 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images) </p>
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    Alanna Kennedy, Australia

    Alanna Kennedy of Australia is embraced after their 0-0 (6-7 PSO) loss to Brazil during the Women’s Football Quarterfinal match at Mineirao Stadium on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 12, 2016 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)

  • <p>Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli of Argentina is consoled as he cries after their match as Argentina is eliminated from the Rio Olympics soccer tournament on August 10, 2016. (REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino) </p>
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    Geronimo Rulli, Argentina

    Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli of Argentina is consoled as he cries after their match as Argentina is eliminated from the Rio Olympics soccer tournament on August 10, 2016. (REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino)

  • <p>France’s Paul Omba Biongolo cries after losing a match against Azerbaijan’s Abdullayev Abdulkadir during a men’s heavyweight 91-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) </p>
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    Paul Omba Biongolo, France

    France’s Paul Omba Biongolo cries after losing a match against Azerbaijan’s Abdullayev Abdulkadir during a men’s heavyweight 91-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

  • <p>Manon Brunet of France reacts after losing the women’s sabre individual bronze medal bout on August 8, 2016. (REUTERS/Issei Kato) </p>
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    Manon Brunet, France

    Manon Brunet of France reacts after losing the women’s sabre individual bronze medal bout on August 8, 2016. (REUTERS/Issei Kato)

  • <p>Oleksandr Pyelyeshenko of Ukraine fails a lift during the men’s 85kg weightlifting final on August 12, 2016. (REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov) </p>
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    Oleksandr Pyelyeshenko, Ukraine

    Oleksandr Pyelyeshenko of Ukraine fails a lift during the men’s 85kg weightlifting final on August 12, 2016. (REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov)

  • <p>Lv Bin of China reacts after losing the bout to Peter Mungai Warui of Kenya during the men’s light fly (49kg) round of 32 at the Rio Olympics on August 8, 2016. (REUTERS/Peter Cziborra) </p>
    18/22

    LV Bin, China

    Lv Bin of China reacts after losing the bout to Peter Mungai Warui of Kenya during the men’s light fly (49kg) round of 32 at the Rio Olympics on August 8, 2016. (REUTERS/Peter Cziborra)

  • <p>Ibtihaj Muhammad of USA reacts after losing the match in her women’s sabre team semifinal on August 13, 2016. (REUTERS/Issei Kato) </p>
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    Ibtihaj Muhammad, USA

    Ibtihaj Muhammad of USA reacts after losing the match in her women’s sabre team semifinal on August 13, 2016. (REUTERS/Issei Kato)

  • <p>Federico Fernandez of Argentina reacts to the loss to Croatia n Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Future Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Croatia defeated Argentina 27-26. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) </p>
    20/22

    Federico Fernandez, Argentina

    Federico Fernandez of Argentina reacts to the loss to Croatia n Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Future Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Croatia defeated Argentina 27-26. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

  • <p>Britain’s Galal Yafai is comforted by his coach after losing to Cuba’s Joahnys Argilagos in a men’s light flyweight 49-kg preliminary boxing match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) </p>
    21/22

    Galal Yafai, Great Britain

    Britain’s Galal Yafai is comforted by his coach after losing to Cuba’s Joahnys Argilagos in a men’s light flyweight 49-kg preliminary boxing match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • <p>Habibollah Jomeh Akhlaghi of the Islamic Republic of Iran looks dejected following defeat in his bout against Denis Kudla of Germany in the Men’s Greco-Roman 85 kg Repechage on Day 10 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 15, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) </p>
    22/22

    Habibollah Jomeh Akhlaghi, Iran

    Habibollah Jomeh Akhlaghi of the Islamic Republic of Iran looks dejected following defeat in his bout against Denis Kudla of Germany in the Men’s Greco-Roman 85 kg Repechage on Day 10 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 15, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

<p>Brazil’s Maria Portela reacts after losing against Austria’s Bernadette Graf during the women’s 70-kg judo competition at at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) </p>
<p>Tom Mitchell of Britain reacts with tears in his eyes following a loss to Fiji in the gold medal match of the mens rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) </p>
<p>Aleksandra Socha of Poland reacts after losing to the USA in the Women’s Sabre Team Quarterfinals on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Carioca Arena 3 on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Armenia’s Vladimir Margaryan reacts after losing to Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias with a technical knockout for injury in the first round during a men’s welterweight 69-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) </p>
<p>Serena Williams of the United States reacts after losing against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in a Women’s Singles Third Round match on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by William Volcov/Brazil Photo Press/LatinContent/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Rieko Ioane of New Zealand reacts after a loss to Fiji in a men’s rugby quarterfinal at the Rio Olympics on August 10, 2016. (REUTERS/Phil Noble) </p>
<p>Ecuador’s Carlos Eduardo Quipo Pilataxi cries as he walks off after losing a match against United State’s Nico Miguel Hernandez during a men’s light flyweight 49-kg quarterfinals boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) </p>
<p>Ireland’s Paul Gleghorne puts his hands to his head after losing to Argentina during a men’s field hockey match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) </p>
<p>Lauren Rembi of France reacts after losing a bronze medal fencing bout at Carioca Arena in Rio on August 6, 2016. (REUTERS/Issei Kato) </p>
<p>Laura Gomez of Spain is comforted in defeat during the Women’s -52kg Elimination round of 16 against Andreea Chitu of Romania on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Novak Djokovic of Serbia shows his emotion as he waves to the crowd after his defeat against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in their singles match on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Terry Bouhraoua of France reacts after their loss to Japan in the men’s rugby quarterfinals at the Rio Olympics on August 10, 2016. (REUTERS/Phil Noble) </p>
<p>Alanna Kennedy of Australia is embraced after their 0-0 (6-7 PSO) loss to Brazil during the Women’s Football Quarterfinal match at Mineirao Stadium on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 12, 2016 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli of Argentina is consoled as he cries after their match as Argentina is eliminated from the Rio Olympics soccer tournament on August 10, 2016. (REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino) </p>
<p>France’s Paul Omba Biongolo cries after losing a match against Azerbaijan’s Abdullayev Abdulkadir during a men’s heavyweight 91-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) </p>
<p>Manon Brunet of France reacts after losing the women’s sabre individual bronze medal bout on August 8, 2016. (REUTERS/Issei Kato) </p>
<p>Oleksandr Pyelyeshenko of Ukraine fails a lift during the men’s 85kg weightlifting final on August 12, 2016. (REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov) </p>
<p>Lv Bin of China reacts after losing the bout to Peter Mungai Warui of Kenya during the men’s light fly (49kg) round of 32 at the Rio Olympics on August 8, 2016. (REUTERS/Peter Cziborra) </p>
<p>Ibtihaj Muhammad of USA reacts after losing the match in her women’s sabre team semifinal on August 13, 2016. (REUTERS/Issei Kato) </p>
<p>Federico Fernandez of Argentina reacts to the loss to Croatia n Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Future Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Croatia defeated Argentina 27-26. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Britain’s Galal Yafai is comforted by his coach after losing to Cuba’s Joahnys Argilagos in a men’s light flyweight 49-kg preliminary boxing match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) </p>
<p>Habibollah Jomeh Akhlaghi of the Islamic Republic of Iran looks dejected following defeat in his bout against Denis Kudla of Germany in the Men’s Greco-Roman 85 kg Repechage on Day 10 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 15, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) </p>

Only the best of the best can take home a medal from the Olympic Games, and that means disappointment for many dedicated Olympians. Take a look at the heartbroken faces of these competitors after being defeated in Rio.