The end is here, Steve Russell's favourite pictures from the games.

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

First off, I'd like to thank all the volunteers. The volunteers were wonderful, I never had a major issue with any of them. I'm sure when they volunteered that they thought they might be doing something other than looking for a number 4 and the word all on a badge at a lonely elevator, but they took it in stride and would greet you with a smile. Thanks! Olympics wouldn't be possible without these great people.

Smoke stacks representing the industrial revolution rise in  the Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London. More from the Opening.

Canada's Christine Sinclair strips the ball from Japan's Mizuho Sakaguchi as Canada loses 2-1 to Japan in their Olympic Soccer opener. More on getting to this soccer game.

Kaylyn Kyle gets head and hair on the ball in front of France's Camille Abily as Canada wins the bronze medal beating France 1-0.

Team Canada celebrates the Bronze medal winning goal.

Jennifer Abel exits the pool during practice as swimmers and divers train at the Aquatic Centre.

Jennifer Abel readies herself for her fourth dive. She finished sixth in the three metre springboard final.

Émilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel win bronze for Canada in the three metre synchronized springboard final. Hetmans won a medal in each of the last four summer Olympiads. 

The Canadian women's synchro team spins out of the water. They would finish fourth in the final.

Japan's opening move wasn't enough to get them to the podium in pairs synchronized swimming, or even overtake Canada in fourth.

Ryan Cochrane wins the silver medal in the 1500 metre freestyle.

Brent Hayden finally gets that elusive Olympic podium winning the bronze medal in the 100 metre freestyle swimming. More on Hayden and "Jubo"

Kim Smith, the human jubo machine, celebrates three of her 20 points as Team Canada nearly upsets heavily favoured Russia in their opening game.

Tamara Tatham has patriotic nails.

Tamara Tatham loses the handle on the ball as Canada plays Great Britain .

Shona Thorburn gets an arm to the face from Austraila's Kristi Harrower.

Canada's Milos Raonic and his big serve defeat Tatsuma Ito 6-3 6-4 in first round action in the Olympic Tennis tournament at Wimbledon. More on the "courts"

Serena Williams yells "Come on" encouragement to herself after missing a point.

A fan watches Roder Federer through a little usher's window on Centre Court.

Daniel Nestor serves, he and doubles partner Vasek Pospisil won their first riound match defeating a Romanian team 6-3 7-6 in the Olympic Tennis.

Victoria Moors .competes on the uneven bars  as Canada earns a fifth place finish, their best all time, in the Artistic Gymnastics team competition. More on our Gymnasts.

Coxswain Brian Price celebrates as the Canadian men's Eight win a silver medal in rowing.

Michele Li lays on the court after missing a return. She and partner Alex Bruce lose to a doubles pair from Japan  in the semi final 2 sets to 1. The Canadians will play Russia for the Bronze medal. The pair were in the group where  four teams were disqualified opening up a shot at a medal. More on shooting badminton.

Jessica Zelinka fails on her second chance at 1.68. Zelinka would fail on all three attempts at 1.68 metres scoring a disappointing 830 points in the high jump.

Canadian Heptathlete Jessica Zelinka reacts to failing on her three attempts at 1.68 metres scoring a disappointing 830 points in the high jump.

Ducks in the in the Serpentine River in Hyde Park share the water with fifty-six women during the women's triathlon.

Paula Findlay already well back of the lead group battles on the bike during the women's triathlon. More on the triathlon.

Simon Whitfield's wife consoles their two daughters after he crashed and would withdraw from the race during the men's triathlon.

Adam Van Koeverden heads to the starts line to begin his Olympic run with the 1000 metre kayak event.

Rosannagh MacLennan qualifies for the final, where she would win Canada's first and only gold of the games with her performance in Trampoline.

Mary Spencer leaves the ring after dropping her quarter final match 17-14 to Jenzi Li in the 75 kg weight class in boxing. More on boxing.

Germany's Helena Fromm beat Vietnam's Hoang Dieu Linh Chu in Taekwondo.

Carol Huynh takes down Isabelle Sambou from Senegal to win the bronze medal.

Haislan Veranes Garcia beats Zalimkhan Yusupov from Tajikistan in 66kg freestyle wrestling.

American Jordan Burroughs goes into the stands to hug his mother stops to pose with fans after winning the gold medal match against Iranian Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi in wrestling's 74 kg weight class.

Canadian sprinter Justyn Warner and Jared Connaughton celebrate thinking they had won bronze.

Canadian sprinter Oluseyi Smith buries his face in the flag as Justyn Warner and Gavin Smellie sit on the track  after Canada was disqualified for the bronze medal.

Canadian sprinter Justyn Warner is consoled by his fiance Nikkita Holder after Canada was disqualified for the bronze medal. More on the heartbreak

Canadian distance runner Cameron Levins, fifth from left, runs the 5,000 at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium.

The final numbers,

Alexandre Despatie in the men's three metre springboard.

And one more.....

Thanks to everyone that took time during the games to visit this blog!

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Ethel]

very nice pictures ! ! congratulations

[Chantelle]

Wonderful pictures. But I have to know -WHAT was with the little cars on the track and field grass? Were they cameras? Remote control message delivery systems? It looks in your pic like they were remote control javelin delivery systems!

[Daniel]

Thanks a lot, Steve !
Wonderful images and information!

[Christifah]

Great pics. I believe those little rc cars took the javelins back after the athletes throws.

[Dan]

Good stuff as always Steve!

[Richard Lautens]

Awesome Steve, you nailed it.

[vincent]

SO real and beautiful, thanks

[Kam]

Stunning ... wish I was lucky enought to shoot something like this.

I'm always want to be a sports photographer so I can making money and enjoy the game at the same time..
How nice is that .... .

[Adam smith]

awesome pictures. love this staff. thanks for sharing this here.

Adam smith
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