The highs and lows of the 2012 Olympic 'crying games'

(CNN) -- Dominican runner Felix Sanchez has been holding back tears throughout the 2012 London Olympics ahead of his chance to claim the gold in memory of his grandmother. He was the 400-meter hurdles champion in Athens in 2004 but failed to repeat that victory in Beijing in 2008 after learning that his beloved "abuela" had died shortly before his first race. He didn't advance to the semifinals but resolved to return in four years. "I kind of made a promise I would win one more championship for her," Sanchez told CNN. "I was holding a lot of emotions, a lot of tears throughout the week just watching other medal ceremonies prior to the semifinals and prior to the finals, just picturing myself on the medal stand winning gold and how it would feel in that moment." When the moment came Tuesday, just after his win was confirmed, he tearfully collapsed on the track, pulling a picture of his grandmother out of his bib. The tears continued on the podium as his country's anthem played.