It's the XXX Olympiad, that makes it the kissing Olympics.
The athletes know this, they kiss their apparatus, before competition for luck and after in thanks.
After the vault that had him in medal competition, briefly, U.S. gymnast Samuel Mikulak kisses the apparatus.
Silver medallist China's Chen Yibing kisses the support after his performance on the rings and it brought him second degree luck, a silver medal.
After falling on the first hurdle and injuring himself, China's Liu Xiang left the field. He reconsidered, came back and kissed the last hurdle. It was a touching metaphor for what could be the end of his athletic career.
Kissing the volleyball on the court or on the beach was quite popular, here Turkey's Busra Cansu (20) kisses the ball before serving to South Korea during a women's volleyball preliminary match.
An after kiss by Kazakhstan's Ilya Ilyin once he lifted a world record 233-kg clean-and-jerk during the men's 94-kg, group A.
No apparatus is too exteme, if it is warranted it gets a kiss. Here, Slovakia's Danka
Bartekova kisses her gun after a shot in the women's skeet final where she won the bronze medal.
Really, do well you get a kiss. Helen Langehanenberg of Germany gives her horse Damon Hill a sweet smack after the equestrian dressage event.
In thanks for a good send off, Bronze medalist Brent Hayden of Canada kisses the starting block after the mens' 100-meter freestyle race.
Thanks for the journey, Italy's Massimo Fabrizi kisses the podium as he mounts it to receive a silver medal in men's trap shooting.
Thanks for the thermal qualitites of layering, here, Poland's Grzegorz Fijalek during beach volleyball's quarterfinal against Brazil.
Thanks for the memories. Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic kisses a family photograph he had pinned to the inside of his shirt as he ran his gold medal win in the men's 400-meter hurdles.
In an election year kissing babies is expected here, gold medalist for the U.S.A. Vincent Hancock kisses his 5-month-old daughter Brenlyn after winning in the men's skeet event.
Even a second place finish in a semifinal is kiss-worthy among team mates, here, Italy's Niccolo Mornati kisses teammate Lorenzo Carboncini
Andy Murray of Great Britain, celebrated shutting down Roger Federer for the gold medal in singles tennis by kissing his girlfriend, Kim Sears.
Gold medalist for U.S.A., Sanya Richards-Ross finds her husband in the stands after winning gold in the women's 400-meter final.
Finally, someone gives the coach his due. France's Teddy Riner kisses the shoe of his coach after winning the gold medal in the men's 100kg judo competition.
Even the ground gets a smooch, here, Italy's Valentina Vezzali gives the fencing mat a hearty peck after winning gold in the women's team foil fencing.
The medals get the most kisses and it doesn't seem to matter their metal. Here,
---Gaile Robinson
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