Olympic athletes make some ridiculous faces

Getty Images/Richard Heathcote

Winning gold medals isn't always pretty.

But if you want to perform superhuman feats of strength, endurance, and artistry at the Olympic games, sometimes you have to twist your face into strange contortions. 

We salute these 25 athletes who care more about winning than being photogenic — and the photographers who captured their expressions forever. 

Patricio Garino shoots the ball during a preliminary round game between Nigeria and Argentina.

Brazil's Neymar Jr. heads the ball during a match against Iraq.

Team USA's Laurie Hernandez prepares to land on the balance beam.

This is why 16-year-old Hernandez is about to tear up the gymnastics world.