Crash, bang, wallop – calamitous Olympic moments on camera

Riding a bicycle in London is never the safest pursuit. Throw in a few jumps, a hairpin bend and seven other riders with no appreciation for the merits of braking and you've got a potential problem Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters

Then again, sometimes it's no-one else's fault but your own, as Carlos Mario Zabala Oquendo can attest Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action images

From the bike track to the running track … when it comes to hitting the deck, runners sure know how to do it in style. Spain's Diego Ruiz produced this wonderful gambol in his 1500m heats Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images

Morgan Uceny had a Mary Decker moment in the women's 1500m. No doubt she, too, blamed Zola Budd for her fall Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

In a display of unified incompetence, three competitors in the 110m hurdles heats bulldozed their way through the barriers. Shamar Sands of the Bahamas came off worst Photograph: Ian Walton/Getty Images

The harder they come, the harder the fall …. (yes, that bar really is bending around his neck) ... a wince-inducing failure if ever there was one Photograph: Grigory Dukor/Reuters

Of course, the athlete isn't isn't always to blame. Lazaro Borges of Cuba could hardly have imagined the tool of his trade would prove so inadequate midway through a pole-vault attempt. Fortunately, very fortunately, he landed on the fringe of the mat Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The danger in hockey ought to be minimal, but when your opponent whacks you in the chops with her stick it's certain to hurt … and produce a handful of blood Photograph: Bullit Marquez/AP

Evidently volleyball is little safer – sit within 10 yards of the action and you're asking for trouble
Photograph: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters

Wear a purple Games Maker outfit and you're practically a flashing target Photograph: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters

Renowned for its grace, athleticism and, let's be honest, inherent danger, gymnastics is always a bountiful realm for crash-seeking punters … Kazuhito Tanaka of Japan produced a dismount of unrivaled inelegance Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

While Gabrielle Douglas discovered why the underside of the high beam is seldom used. Nadia Comaneci would weep Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

Samuel Mikulak had grip issues with the uneven bars … Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

… and with the floor Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP

Sitting down when landing from the vault: turns out that's not a great idea Photograph: Julie Jacobson/AP

Another bad idea – expecting a horse to know what to do when faced with a series of ludicrous London-themed jumps. No wonder this horse, Matrix, was bamboozled
Photograph: David Goldman/AP

Though this was a needlessly theatrical reaction
Photograph: John MacDougall/AFP

Meanwhile, this horse particularly objected to the idea of a bath midway round the eventing course
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

It's hard to tell whether basketball player Clarissa Santos is falling or just break-dancing. The latter probably Photograph: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

It's catchy Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Supporters weren't immune from trouble. The question is, how many over-priced beers were to blame for this tumble?
Photograph: Lee Harper / Demotix

Naturally, there can only be one winner of the most inglorious Olympic performance. Luckily for all of the above, they have fallen short. China's Liu Xiang takes the gong ... Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Once arguably the greatest hurdler in the world, Liu had nowhere to hide after this wonderful bow-legged departure from the heats at the very first hurdle
Photograph: Chen Xiaowei/Rex

Confirmation of his unwanted status as the chief blunderer of the 2012 Games was swiftly provided thanks to Hungary's Balazs Baji Photograph: Anja Niedringhaus/AP