Among the most lasting images of each Olympics: The bevy of emotions flowing out of the athletes. And, from exultation (beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh, far left) to crushing disappointment (US gymnast Jordyn Wieber), London had plenty of emotion. Click ahead to look back at the moments that had us screaming loudest, cheering hardest and crying most heavily.

Usain Bolt’s dart toward history and the gold medal in the greatest race ever run was emotional and awesome. He ran the 100 meters in an Olympic record 9.63 seconds, in a contest in which the fourth-place finisher’s time of 9.80 seconds was the fifth-fastest in Olympic history. It took the world’s breath away to watch greatness boldly assert itself.

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When it was over, and Michael Phelps’ stunning Olympic career had come to an end, the greatest swimmer of all time had notched one last gold medal — his 18th gold and his 22nd overall. To see Phelps close his storied career with such excellence seemed the very distillation of the Olympics. Greatness, achievement, poignancy and emotion were all molded into one perfect moment.

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Gabby Douglas made her own history, becoming the first American to win the gold medal for team and the individual all-around. She also became the first African-American to win the individual gold. Douglas filled us with joy — with her performance, with her unbridled happiness and with her ability to personify the American dream at its finest.

VIDEO: Gabby Douglas’ all-around win brings out the best in proud fans. See their reactions in London.

The London Olympics have showcased the greatness of Britain — its beauty and graciousness and excellence. But it took Andy Murray avenging himself against Roger Federer at Wimbledon to drive home just how special the hosting role has been for Great Britain. Murray’s gold medal triumph, in front of a proud nation basking in his redemption, will resonate for years.

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Not all emotional moments are rooted in joy. When U.S. gymnast Jordyn Wieber faltered and failed to qualify for the individual all-around finals, the disintegration of her dream was palpable. Afterward, she stumbled through the arena with a look of utter shock. It was one of the saddest sights of these games.

VIDEO: Gabby Douglas’ all-around win brings Dominique Dawes to tears.

Anger and disgust infiltrated the games when eight badminton players from China, South Korea and Indonesia were disqualified from competition after attempting to throw their matches to earn a better draw. We come here to watch competition at its highest level — to watch us strive every moment to be our best. Seeing the opposite of that sapped away some of the spirit of the games.

MORE: Take a look at some of the other Olympic controversies that have swirled in London.

It was hard to feel anything other than gushing pride when Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won the women’s volleyball gold medal, 21-16, 21-16, against fellow Americans April Ross and Jennifer Kessy. This was as much a testament to friendship and loyalty — May-Treanor and Walsh had just claimed their third gold together – as it was to our country’s dominance in the sport.

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When the U.S. women’s soccer team had completed its masterful and heart-pounding 4-3 win against Canada — one of the most remarkable moments of these games — the excitement swept over soccer fans and non-soccer fans alike. A great moment in U.S. Olympic history unfolded for all lucky enough to have seen it.

MORE: Find out all about Alex Morgan, who scored the winning goal against Canada.

Serena Williams had done it. She was a gold medalist now, becoming only the second woman to complete a total sweep of the majors and Olympics, and her joy was palpable. Another millionaire had poured herself into these games because national pride — and loving one’s country — drove her to something selfless.

MORE: Full Olympics results.

She stood there, the first American to have a gold medal for judo draped around her neck, and what is best about America came to us in sharp focus. Harrison worked for her dream, fought against the odds, overcame sexual abuse and the doubts of others to be not just a champion but a hero.

MORE: See all of the gold medals won by Americans so far.

Oscar Pistorius, his carbon-fiber legs drawing every eye, became the first amputee to run track in the Olympics, qualifying for the 400-meter semifinals with a time of 45.44 seconds. This was perseverance and the resiliency of the human spirit racing through the Olympics, epitomizing what we love about these games: that despite our differences we can come together and compete and find that the things we share — the very best things we share — are more likely to bring us together than tear us apart.

MORE: Fans show off their colorful Olympic pride.

The surge of love and unbridled joy was overpowering. As Britain’s Jessica Ennis crossed the finish line with a time of 2 minutes, 8.65 seconds — and clinched the gold in the heptathlon — the stadium rocked and roared. A host nation’s best hope for gold had made good on it. It was a beautiful moment.

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Sarah Attar (pictured) and Wojdan Ali Shaherkani became the first Saudi Arabian women to participate in the Olympics, and while Shaherkan's opening judo match was over quickly, the impact should resonate for years to come. Even in losing, these women were winners. They had broken barriers. They stood tall against history and tradition to assert that we are all worthy of what the Olympic Games offer: a chance.

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All the clichés drop away, all the cynicism, when great moments assert themselves. In opening these Olympics with humor and history and poignancy, Britain again ushered in a visceral reminder that we are many people with varying views and traditions but capable of coming together as one. The opening ceremony was a stirring reminder of that fact.

MORE: Look back at the top moments of an incredible opening ceremony.

One of the big questions entering the Olympics was how to get a dozen mega-millionaires motivated to play against what was considered to be lesser competition, particularly on the heels of an NBA season in which a contracted schedule meant less rest between games. Well, while the Americans did struggle for very brief spurts, they delivered the gold that most expected. As for the emotion, Kevin Durant (far left) and LeBron James just battled in the NBA Finals two short months ago . . . you see emotion in this photo?

The Jamaican sweep of the 200 — Bolt in gold, Yohan Blake in silver, Warren Weir in bronze — sent a tiny island nation into fits of hysteria and again hammered home that Bolt is one of the greatest athletes of all time. A point, in fact, Bolt made himself.

The opening ceremony was all about kicking off the games by celebrating the best in British rock history. The closing ceremony, in turn, brought the festivities to an end by also paying tribute to British music, but in a much more subdued manner. While most fans were amped to see the Spice Girls reunite, the real emotion came when images of John Lennon (pictured) and Freddie Mercury serenaded the crowd.

She finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles, and even then she couldn’t dodge the snide comments and hate. She was crushed, she was devastated, and she let her real thoughts tumble out: “So I guess all the people who were talking about me can have their night and laugh about me, I guess.” Sometimes the buildup to a moment is not worth the moment itself.

MORE: See all of the gold medals won by Americans so far.

There is a love for country pulsing through the games that can be almost disquieting — that sense that someone, always, must feel that he or she has let the people down. This was true for Wu Jingbiao of China, who after taking home a silver medal for weightlifting fought back tears and apologized to his country. “I feel terribly guilty for disappointing my country, the Chinese weightlifting team and all the people who supported me. I really wanted to be the best, but I didn't make it. I am sorry!”

MORE: Full Olympics results.

Every Olympics closes the same way ... with the passing of the Olympic flag from no-longer-host-city mayor to next-host-city mayor. During Sunday’s closing ceremony, Brits in the Olympic Stadium seats and watching on television wept as London Mayor Boris Johnson, far left, handed the flag to IOC head Jacques Rogge, who would then hand it to Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes, far right, signifying the end of the London Games and the beginning of the countdown to Rio in 2016.