Olympians’ parents react to their kids’ performances [Pictures]

France’s centreback Nikola Karabatic (C) celebrates with his mother Radmila (L) after winning the men’s gold medal handball match between Sweden and France for the London 2012 Olympics Games on August 12, 2012 at the Basketball Arena in London. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON, AFP/Getty Images)

Baltimore Sun

Aug. 3, 2012 3:58 PM PT

It must be hard to be the mother or father of an Olympic athlete. Only watching, having no control, and, unless you’re a coach, having to be up in the stands instead of down on the floor or by the pool with them. As you might imagine, the facial expressions that result are heartfelt -- and often priceless.

Ashton Eaton (L) celebrates with his mother Roselyn after he won the athletics event men’s decathlon during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 9, 2012 in London. (ADRIAN DENNIS, AFP/Getty Images)

Indian shooter Vijay Kumar (R) shows his silver medal to his father Subedar Banku Ram on his arrival from London at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on August 8, 2012. Indian shooter Vijay Kumar, who won the silver medal in the 25 metre rapid fire pistol event in the London 2012 Olympics, was greeted with a hero’s welcome from family members, fans and Army officials on his arrival at the Delhi Airport. (PRAKASH SINGH, AFP/Getty Images)

Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal shows the Olympic bronze medal to her father prior to press conference in Hyderabad on August 7, 2012. Nehwal became the first Indian badminton player to earn an Olympic medal when world number one Wang Xin retired in tears from their bronze medal play-off. (NOAH SEELAM, AFP/Getty Images)

Silver medalist Serbia’s Ivana Maksimovic (L) hugs her mother and coach after winning her medal at the 50m rifle 3 positions women’s final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London on August 4, 2012. (MARWAN NAAMANI, AFP/Getty Images)

This photo taken on August 7, 2012 shows Ki Sook-Hyang, mother of South Korean gymnast Yang Hak-Seon, with Yang’s photos and medals in a shabby converted greenhouse at Gongeum town in Gochang county, 245 km south of Seoul. A South Korean construction firm said it would give Olympic hero Yang Hak-Seon an apartment after he overcame grinding poverty to win the country’s first gold in artistic gymnastics. (YONHAP, AFP/Getty Images)

Mother of US swimmer Michael Phelps, Debbie Phelps and Phelps’ sister Whitney congratulates her son after he won the gold medal in the men’s 4x100 medley relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012 in London. (FABRICE COFFRINI, AFP/Getty Images)

Mother of US swimmer Michael Phelps, Debbie Phelps (C) reacts next to Phelps’ sisters Hilary (L) and Whitney (R) after he competed and won gold in the men’s 4x100m medley relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012 in London. (MARTIN BUREAU, AFP/Getty Images)

Mother of US swimmer Michael Phelps, Debbie Phelps (C) react next to sisters Hilary (L) and Whitney (R) after Phelps competed and won gold in the men’s 4x100m medley relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012 in London. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON, AFP/Getty Images)

Mother of US swimmer Michael Phelps, Debbie Phelps (c) and Phelps’ sister Whitney applaud after Phelps competed and won gold in the men’s 4x100m medley relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012 in London. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON, AFP/Getty Images)

Natalie Hawkins, the mother of US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas, sings her country’s national anthem as her daughter poses on the podium after winning gold in the artistic gymnastics women’s individual all-around final at the 02 North Greenwich Arena in London on August 2, 2012 during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Douglas won ahead of Russia’s gymnasts Victoria Komova and Aliya Mustafina. (Ben Stansall, AFP/Getty Images)

Natalie Hawkins, the mother of US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas, reacts after her daughter won the artistic gymnastics women’s individual all-around final at the 02 North Greenwich Arena in London on August 2, 2012 during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Douglas won ahead of Russia’s gymnasts Victoria Komova and Aliya Mustafina. (Ben Stansall, AFP/Getty Images)

Mother of Michael Phelps, Debbie (C) applauds after Michael won the men’s 200m individual medely final swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 2, 2012 in London. (Leon Neal, AFP/Getty Images)

Mother of US swimmer Michael Phelps, Debbie Phelps (C) and sisters Hilary (CL) and Whitney (CR) cheer for Michael as he wins the men’s 200m individual medley final swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 2, 2012 in London. (Martin Bureau, AFP/Getty Images)

Relatives of Palestinian judo champion Maher Abu Rmilah, including his mother carrying a national flag (R), follow on television his participation in the London 2012 Olympic Games in the Arab east Jerusalem on July 30, 2012. (Hazem Bader, AFP/Getty Images)

Great Britain’s Peter Robert Russell Wilson (R) kneels on the ground as his father Charles comes to congratulate him after his victory in the men’s double trap men final of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London, on August 02, 2012. (Marwan Naamani, AFP/Getty Images)

France’s Teddy Riner celebrates with his parents after he won the men’s +100kgs final contest match of the judo event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 28, 2012 in London. (Emmanuel, Dunand, AFP/Getty Images)

Great Britain’s Peter Robert Russell Wilson is congratulated by his mother after winning the gold medal in the men’s shooting double trap final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London, on August 02, 2012. (Marwan Naamani, AFP/Getty Images)

Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte’s grandmother Aldona (R) celebrates after her grand daughter won the women’s 100m breaststroke swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 30, 2012 in London. (Odd Andersen, AFP/Getty Images)

Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte’s grandmother Aldona (C) celebrates after her granddaughter won the women’s 100m breaststroke swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 30, 2012 in London. (Odd Andersen, AFP/Getty Images)

Debbie Phelps (R) and Hilary (C) mother and sister of US swimmer Michael Phelps, applaud next to Israel’s model Bar Refaeli (2L,up) and US surfer Shaun White (C,up) during the podium ceremony of the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 31, 2012 in London. (Christophe Simon, AFP/Getty Images)

US swimmer Michael Phelps’ mother Debbie cheers as her son competes in the men’s 200m back strokefinal of the 2012 Olympic Games in London on July 30, 2012. (Odd Ansdersen, AFP/Getty Images)