Athletes train for years to become the best of the best. They strive through the harshest conditions for a chance to grasp at that coveted gold medal, putting their bodies and minds to the ultimate test.
Some of these Olympic gladiators emerge victorious. Some walk away in shame.
See also: 12 Pairs Figure Skaters Millimeters From Disaster
These are the Olympians whose performances ended in tears — and possibly bumps and bruises. These unlucky athletes won't go home with shiny medals draped around their necks, but they do deserve recognition for getting up and continuing to compete after their cringe-worthy wipe outs.
Shaun White of the United States hits the edge of the half pipe during the men's snowboard halfpipe final.
Thomas Mermillod-Blondin of France crashes during the alpine skiing men's super combined slalom.
Italy's Greta Laurent falls as Norway's Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg skis past as they compete in the women's cross-country skiing individual sprint free quarterfinals.
Slovenia's Robert Kranjec falls during the men's normal hill ski jumping qualification.
Hedvig Wessel of Norway crashes out in the women's moguls qualification.
Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond falls as she performs in the women's figure skating team free program.
South Korea's Sin Da Woon falls as he competes in the men's short track 1500m semifinals.
Italy's Deborah Scanzio lands on the netting after falling during a warmup to the women's freestyle skiing moguls qualifications.
A linesman falls on the ice while Erika Grahm #24 of Sweden and Kanae Aoki #5 of Japan fight for the puck during the women's ice hockey preliminary round Group B game.
Daniel Greig of Australia falls while competing during the men's 500m race.
American Laurenne Ross falls during the women's alpine skiing super combined downhill.
Florence Schelling #41 of Switzerland and Jocelyne Lamoureux #17 of United States fall into the goal during the women's ice hockey preliminary round Group A.
Hanae Kubo #21 of Japan falls onto the ice during the women's ice hockey preliminary round Group B.
South Korea's Lee Han-Bin falls as he competes in the men's short track 1500 m semifinals.
Italy's Greta Laurent, top left, as, from left, Norway's Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg, Sweden's Ida Ingemarsdotter, Canada's Daria Gaiazova, and Sweden's Norgren Britta Johansson pass by during their women's quarterfinal heat of the cross-country sprint.
Dolf van der Wal of the Netherlands falls as he competes in the snowboard men's halfpipe qualification heats.
Nathalie Weinzierl of Germany falls while competing in the figure skating team ladies short program.
Ioan Valeriu Achiriloaie of Romania slides into the safety net after crashing on the Lake Jump during training for the alpine skiing men's downhill.
A member of Austria's delegation lies on the ground after falling during the opening ceremony.
Lucien Koch of Switzerland falls during the snowboard men's slopestyle semifinals.
Russia's Sergey Volkov falls in the men's freestyle skiing moguls qualifications.
Netherlands' Sjinkie Knegt and South Korea's Park Se Yeong fall as they compete in the men's short track 1500 m Final B.
Netherlands' Stefan Groothuis falls during the men's speed skating 500m.
Australia's David Morris falls during a training for the men's freestyle skiing aerials.
France's Vanessa James falls as she performs with France's Morgan Cipres during the figure skating pairs team short program.
James Woods of Great Britain takes a fall during a ski slopestyle official training session.
Sweden's Jenni Asserholt falls after missing a hit on Germany's Julia Zorn during the women's ice hockey Group B match.
Slovenia's Robert Kranjec lies in the snow after falling in the men's ski jumping normal hill individual qualification round.
France's Johann Baisamy crashes in the men's snowboard halfpipe semifinals.
Anna Mirtova of Russia falls while competing in the freestyle skiing women's ski Slopestyle Qualification on day four of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on February 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.