- Photos of ice dancers competing reveals the tension they put on their bodies
- The comedy collection sees athletes gurning as they leap and land on the ice
- Winter Games is into its first week of competition at the Gangneung Ice Arena
Gravity can do some very strange things to a face – as figure skaters at the Winter Olympics are showing.
It may be one of the more elegant sports at the Games, but it certainly produces the odd inelegant expression.
High-definition photographs of skaters preparing to leap into the air, or landing after a dazzling twirl, offer a glimpse of just how much tension is placed on an athlete’s body during high-octane performances.
Whether the Olympians in question walk away with a medal or not, many of them would certainly win first prize in a gurning competition.
Here, we’ve gathered together some of the strangest expressions that have appeared at the Gangneung Ice Arena in Pyeongchang so far…
Determination! Mirai Nagasu of the United States performs in the ladies single skating free skating in the Gangneung Ice Arena
![Hair going one way, face leaping the other: Mikhail Kolyada of the Olympic Athletes of Russia makes a hair-raising leap](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CC9F400000578-5386777-image-a-30_1518539183378.jpg)
Hair going one way, face leaping the other: Mikhail Kolyada of the Olympic Athletes of Russia makes a hair-raising leap
![I'm not in pain, honest: Alina Zagitova, an Olympic athlete from Russia, looks close to tears mid-routine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CCA6300000578-5386777-image-a-49_1518539865946.jpg)
I’m not in pain, honest: Alina Zagitova, an Olympic athlete from Russia, looks close to tears mid-routine
![Tension! Team USA's Adam Rippon's face in taut with energy as he lands a jump](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CCA9100000578-5386777-image-m-32_1518539237447.jpg)
Tension! Team USA’s Adam Rippon’s face in taut with energy as he lands a jump
![Careful the wind doesn't change! Keiji Tanaka of Japan sees his hair go in opposing directions](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CCA4900000578-5386777-image-m-34_1518539285500.jpg)
Careful the wind doesn’t change! Keiji Tanaka of Japan sees his hair go in opposing directions
![Even a smokey eye can't help Canada's Gabrielle Daleman as she swirls to impress the judges](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CCA4200000578-5386777-Even_a_smokey_eye_can_t_help-a-37_1518539424459.jpg)
Even a smokey eye can’t help Canada’s Gabrielle Daleman as she swirls to impress the judges
![Aimee Buchanan, of Israel, looks nothing short of petrified as she spins](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CC9D900000578-5386777-Aimee_Buchanan_of_Israel_looks_nothing_short_of_petrified_as_she-a-53_1518539919890.jpg)
![...but her dazzling costume distracts from her expression](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CC9E500000578-5386777-image-m-52_1518539907251.jpg)
Pretty in pink: Aimee Buchanan, of Israel, looks nothing short of petrified as she spins…but her dazzling costume distracts from her expression
![The hair isn't moving but the face is! Adam Rippon enjoys the botox effects of gravity mid-turn](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CCADD00000578-5386777-image-m-43_1518539543522.jpg)
![Is Mikhail Kolyada too scared to open his eyes?](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CC9A900000578-5386777-image-m-45_1518539554383.jpg)
The hair isn’t moving but the face is! Adam Rippon enjoys the botox effects of gravity mid-turn. Right: Is Mikhail Kolyada too scared to open his eyes?
![If this was happening to you, your face would look the same! Canada's Meagan Duhamel is flung in the air by partner Eric Radford](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CCAC100000578-5386777-image-a-46_1518539648786.jpg)
If this was happening to you, your face would look the same! Canada’s Meagan Duhamel is flung in the air by partner Eric Radford
![Matteo Rizzo of Italy gurns as he guns for gold in Pyeongchang](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CCACD00000578-5386777-image-a-47_1518539711957.jpg)
Matteo Rizzo of Italy gurns as he guns for gold in Pyeongchang
![Kaori Sakamoto of Japan looks like she might spontaneously combust](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CCAA100000578-5386777-image-a-62_1518540348615.jpg)
Kaori Sakamoto of Japan looks like she might spontaneously combust
![Team USA's Mirai Nagasu looks the picture of elegance from a distance...but gravity can be mischievous close up](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/492CCA1F00000578-5386777-image-a-48_1518539755711.jpg)
Team USA’s Mirai Nagasu looks the picture of elegance from a distance…but gravity can be mischievous close up