The 55 most insane photos from the Tokyo Olympics

These incredible photos show the absolute joy and heartbreak of incredible performances often over in a matter of seconds.

It takes an athlete a lifetime of training to compete at the Olympics for an event often over in a matter of minutes or just seconds.

On hand to capture images of the joy, heartbreak and incredible athleticism are teams of photographers from around the world.

Incredible moments in history captured at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics include a viral photo of Simone Biles mid air on the vault, Australian athletes winning gold along with the absolute heartbreak of mid event injuries and stinging losses.

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And with the covid pandemic looming over this year’s Olympic Games, events were always going to a look a little different with a lack of spectators.

“Covid restrictions may have got rid of the crowds but the athletes are still the best of the best and this year’s Olympics has produced some of the best sports photos we’ve seen,” said the Herald Sun’s Cameron Tandy, currently in Tokyo.

“When you look at a lot of the images of the games so far you wouldn’t know we were in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.”

Take a look below at some of the best pics from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

After posting to Twitter, this photo of Simone Biles went viral as it clocked up 350,000 likes and 35,000 retweets. Picture: Bryan Keane/Inpho Photography

Aussie Peter Bol captured the hearts of Australia for his efforts in the Men’s 800m event. Picture: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Ashley Moloney after claiming a bronze medal in the Men’s Decathlon. Picture: Alex Coppel

Aussie BMX gold medallist Logan Martin made being mid air on a bike look easy. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Ariarne Titmus is comforted by her coach Dean Boxall as she cries tears of relief and happiness after winning gold in the Women's 200m Freestyle. Picture: Adam Head

France’s Kevin Mayer celebrates his high jump attempt in the Men’s Decathlon. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Mariafe Artacho del Solar of Team Australia reacts after defeating Team Canada during the Women's Quarterfinal beach volleyball event. Picture: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

China's Fan Zhendong was a picture of total concentration during the men’s semi final table tennis match. Picture: Jung Yeon-je / AFP

Australia's Kaylee McKeown celebrates winning gold in the Women's 200m backstroke event. Picture: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP

British diver was spotted knitting a Team Great Britain jumper during the Men’s 3m springboard diving preliminary round. Picture: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Team USA gold medallist Sunisa Lee of Team United States competes on balance beam during the Women's All-round Final. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images

It was heartbreak for Japan’s Misugu Okamoto as she crashed during the Women’s park skateboarding finals event. Picture: Alex Coppel.

In show of excellent sportsmanship, Okamoto was supported by her fellow competitors as they raised her up on their shoulders. Picture: Alex Coppel

Tatjana Schoenmaker couldn’t hide her shock at breaking the world record and claiming a gold medal in the Women’s 200m breaststroke. Picture: Adam Head

Kaylee McKeown gets a congratulatory hug from Australian teammate Emily Seebohm after they won gold and bronze respectively in the Women’s 100m backstroke. Picture: Francois-Xavier Marit/AFP

Heartbreak for Sara Peterson from Denmark after falling during the Womens 400m Hurdles semi-final. Picture: Alex Coppel

Australian Brandon Starc bends his body as he clears a jump in the men's high jump final. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Our Aussie team of Meg Harris, Emma McKeon, Bronte Campbell and Cate Campbell celebrate after winning gold in the Women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay. Picture: Alex Coppel

Handball isn’t for the faint hearted – Russia's right back Antonina Skorobogatchenko (L) shoots and hits the face of Hungary's pivot Reka Bordas during the women's preliminary round group B handball match. Picture: Martin Bernetti/AFP

Team USA's Katie Nageotte reacts as she competes in the women's pole vault final. Picture: Andrej Isakovic/AFP

Hansle Parchment of Team Jamaica gives his all to finish first ahead of Grant Holloway (right) of Team United States and Ronald Levy (centre) of Team Jamaica to win the gold medal in the Men's 110m Hurdles Final. Picture: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Team USA shot put gold medallist Ryan Crouser had this message for his grandpa. Picture: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Australia's Jess Fox was all smiles as she posed proudly with her gold medal after the Women's Canoe Finals. Picture: Adam Head

Aussie Brooke Stratton seemingly defies gravity as she competes in the Women’s long jump event. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Jamaican Women’s 200m gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah kicks off the shoes after her win. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Australian Emily Chalker in action during Australia V Argentina Women's Hockey game. Picture: Adam Head

Kaylee McKeown pictured in this incredible start photo of the 200m backstroke semi final. Picture: Adam Head

Jumping for joy – Australia's Jess Fox wins gold in the Women's Canoe Finals. Picture: Adam Head

They might be graceful but they can also look fierce – Svetlana Kolesnichenko and Svetlana Romashina of Team ROC compete in the Artistic Swimming Duet Free Routine Final. Picture: by Al Bello/Getty Images

Blood pours from Britain's Frazer Clarke as he fights Uzbekistan's Bakhodir Jalolov during their men's super heavy (over 91kg) semi-final boxing match. Picture: Buda Mendes / POOL / AFP

After receiving a near perfect score in the Women’s 10m platform diving event, China's Quan Hongchan is lifted up by her coach. Picture: Attila Kisbenedek / AFP

The face you make when you weren’t expecting to win a medal – 19-year-old Keely Hodgkinson of Team Great Britain reportedly said ‘What the f***’ after she picked up silver in the Women's 800m final. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Thomas van der Plaetsen of Team Belgium suffered a leg injury as he launched himself into the air during the Men's Decathlon Long Jump event. Picture: Rob Carr/Getty Images

The pain shown on van der Plaetsen’s face is heartbreaking. Picture: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Viewers were intrigued after seeing how the marathon swimmers receive mid race hydration. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFP

GOAT Olympic swimmer Emma McKeon shows off her Tokyo 2020 medal haul during a press conference. Picture: Adam Head

Laurine van Riessen of Team Netherlands and Katy Marchant of Team Great Britain fall during the Women's Keirin quarterfinals. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Men’s decathlon athletes are seen after running in the 1500m – the last event of the Decathlon. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Devastating scenes as Australia’s Saya Sakalkibara is stretchered off after a crash during the Women’s BMX semi-finals. Picture: Alex Coppel

Cate Campbell raises teammate Emma McKeon’s arm as they celebrate gold and bronze wins in the Women's 100m Freestyle final. Picture: Adam Head

Gravity defying athleticism from Laila Ali and Hanna Hiekal of Team Egypt was on display during their Artistic Swimming Duet technical routine. Picture: Clive Rose/Getty Images

China's Quan Hongchan competes in the women's 10m platform diving final. Picture: Attila Kisbenedek / AFP

Up in the air – Australia's Keegan Palmer competes in the men's park heats. Picture: Lois Venance / AFP

The biggest upset at the swimming was from Tunisia's Ahmed Hafnaoui as he picked up gold in the men's 400m freestyle event. Picture: Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP

Pint sized 13-year-old Sky Brown of Team Great Britain cries happy tears as she wins the bronze medal during the Women's Skateboarding Park Finals. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

What a diver looks like as they enter the pool. This underwater photograph shows South Korea's Woo Haram after completing his dive in the men's 3m springboard diving final. Picture: Francois-Xavier Marit/AFP

Great Britain's 4 x 200m Men's Relay team celebrate winning Gold at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Pics Adam Head

Heartbreak as Australia are defeated by Belgium in the gold medal hockey match. Picture: Adam Head

Swimmers start the race in the Men's 10km Marathon Swimming on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Odaiba Marine Park. Picture: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Photographers may have needed a change of clothes as they capture the Men's 3000 metres Steeplechase Final. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Heartbreaking scenes as Genevieve Gregson of Team Australia lays injured during the Women's 3000m Steeplechase final. Picture: David Ramos/Getty Images

Kieran Woolley of Team Australia crashed into a TV Cameraman during the Men's Skateboarding Park Preliminary Heat 3. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

You OK, mate? The cameraman gives a thumbs up. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Classy sportsmanship between fierce competitors – Ariarne Titmus and Team USA’s Katie Ledecky embrace after Titmus won gold in the Women’s 400m freestyle final. Picture: Rob Carr/Getty Images

We did it. Joe Ingles and Patty Mills embrace after securing Australia bronze. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)