Most touching and emotional moments of Sochi 2014 Olympic Games
![Most touching and emotional moments of Sochi 2014 Olympic Games](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/000_arp3791369.si.jpg)
The quest for Olympic gold has more than once been paved in a trail of tears, and Sochi 2014 has proven no exception, with some of the Games' most heartfelt and heart wrenching moments coming in victory as well as defeat.
The ecstasy of a life changing performance can come over an athlete like a storm
![Russia's Adelina Sotnikova reacts at the end of her program during the Figure Skating Women's free skating Program at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, February 20, 2014. (Reuters / David Gray)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/rtx197fd.jpg)
And then the indescribable joy when the judges score cards reflect what you knew in your heart to be true...
The scores were just announced. Much joy for Adelina Sotnikova of Russia (@USATsportsImage) pic.twitter.com/csGBcEZrZX
— Joe Fleming (@ByJoeFleming) February 20, 2014
You are an Olympic champion!
![Russia's Adelina Sotnikova celebrates in first place, Korea's Yuna Kim stands in second place and Italy's Carolina Kostner stands in third place on the podium during the Figure Skating Women's free skating Program at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, February 20, 2014. (Reuters / Alexander Demianchuk)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/rtx197ko.jpg)
But for every young star who rises, a legend learns that time and tide eventually catch up with us all
![Evgeni Plushenko, who has withdrawn from the men's figure skating competition at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi due to a back injury. (RIA Novosti / Vladimir Pesnya)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/959801133.jpg)
And your body starts to tell you, 'champ, it might be time to hang it up'
#SOCHI: “Something clicked in my back," Plushenko told his coach after failing warm-up jump http://t.co/h5ls9MyWEKpic.twitter.com/MRDT1U5eL0
— RT (@RT_com) February 13, 2014
But that's okay, the joy you brought to the world won't soon be forgotten
Because as one champion and his brother taught us, the Olympics are all about the love
![Winner Canada's Alex Bilodeau (L) embraces his brother Frederic after the men's freestyle skiing moguls competition at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Rosa Khutor February 10, 2014. (Reuters / Mike Blake)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/rtx18k1m.jpg)
About sharing your trials and tribulations with those we are blessed enough to call family
![Winner Canada's Alex Bilodeau and his brother Frederic celebrate following the freestyle skiing moguls competition at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Rosa Khutor February 10, 2014. (Reuters / Mike Blake)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/rtx18k2g.jpg)
Or shedding your tears with your teammates when Olympic glory is overshadowed by tragedy
![Winner Maiken Caspersen Falla (L) of Norway and her team mate, second placed Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg (C) comfort Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen after competing in the women's cross-country sprint free final at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Rosa Khutor February 11, 2014. (Reuters / Sergei Karpukhin)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/rtx18lid.jpg)
And you feel like you can't make it on your own
Norway's Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen proud of her cross-country finish, 4 days after her brother's death http://t.co/lU9u2AkXwb#Sochi2014
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) February 12, 2014
When victory is bittersweet, it can be hard to find the world's eye on you
![Third-placed Bode Miller (R) of the U.S. cries after the men's alpine skiing Super-G competition during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Cente February 16, 2014. (Reuters / Mike Segar)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/miller.jpg)
Just as the world will surely come to your defense when they feel one of their hero's has been pushed past the breaking point
Well, at least someone gave Christin Cooper's Wikipedia page an update after that shameful Bode Miller interview. pic.twitter.com/2tDsvzNxIT
— Dan Skinner (@soccerhaus) February 17, 2014
Because really, sometimes they just keep pushing
But relax! We're all just human, and life is going to get the best of us from time to time
I appreciate everyone sticking up for me. Please be gentle w christin cooper, it was crazy emotional and not all her fault. #heatofthemoment
— Bode Miller (@MillerBode) February 17, 2014
The important thing is you keep pushing on. Some of us will become world champions through our grit and determination
Yeesss I did it again!!! :-) pic.twitter.com/4i7nXuQfnH
— Dario Cologna (@dariocologna) February 14, 2014
But sometimes the real joy comes in embracing the spirit of competition and the will to persevere 'til the end
![Switzerland's Dario Cologna (R) smiles as Peru's Roberto Carcelen and Nepal's Dachhiri Sherpa (L) embrace after crossing the finish line in the men's cross-country 15km classic event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics February 14, 2014. (Reuters / Stefan Wermuth)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/rtx18t3q.jpg)
It's true, even the best of us are going to get knocked down from time to time
![Russia's Anton Gafarov lies on the ground after crashing in the men's cross-country sprint semi-final at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Rosa Khutor February 11, 2014. (Reuters / Stefan Wermuth)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/rtx18lgx.jpg)
And then out of the blue, a stranger comes to lend a helping hand
![Canadian coach Justin Wadsworth fastens a ski to the foot of Russian athlete Anton Gafarov (RIA Novosti / Konstantin Chalabov)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/900x500.jpg)
So if the Games teach us anything, it's that we should stay humble, because we never know when it's going to be our turn
Canada Coach needed help,shoelace broke.2nd best fairplay moment #Sochi2014#IOCAChttp://t.co/AQYKHEZUPF@pedroAyangpic.twitter.com/n0NnuH4HoG
— Claudia Bokel (@ClaudiaBokel) February 16, 2014
Because life, like the Olympics, can be a rocky road from time to time
![Jamaica-1 two-man bobsleigh pilot Winston Watts and brakeman Marvin Dixon compete in the Bobsleigh Two-man Heat 3 at the Sliding Center Sanki during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 17, 2014. (AFP Photo / Leon Neal)](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/news/22/be/50/00/000_dv1657090.jpg)
But in the end, we have every reason to celebrate
Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up it's bobsled time! Don't miss the Jamaican bobsleigh tonight #CoolRunningspic.twitter.com/m4mflHlSlw
— Sochi 2014 (@Sochi2014) February 16, 2014
Because if the Jamaicans can have a bobsled team
The Jamaican bobsled song and 8 bit Nintendo video, the best (Watch http://t.co/mRShZIYqBF) pic.twitter.com/kd4cLLYkkq
— Mikey (@fsmikey) February 17, 2014
Then, really, anything is possible!
For that which you strived your whole life to achieve can come to pass in a moment
Watch the #closingceremony to see Legkov, Vylegzhanin, Chernousov take the podium for the 50km Mass Start #sochi2014pic.twitter.com/fQ3COQayh3
— Sochi 2014 (@Sochi2014) February 23, 2014