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50 Photos That Show The Raw Power Of This Year's Olympic Women

Do not mess with Team USA.
By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

Jenny Arthur of the United States competes in the women's 75kg weight class during the 2015 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships.
Jenny Arthur of the United States competes in the women's 75kg weight class during the 2015 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships.
Scott Halleran via Getty Images

Becoming an Olympic athlete is no small feat. It’s an achievement that takes a lifetime of hard work, dedication and an unstoppable pursuit to be the best. And no one knows that better than the women of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

From Alaska to Florida, 391 women from around the country are representing the U.S. in Rio de Janeiro during the 2016 Olympic Summer games which begin August 5. Each woman is at the top of her game, in peak physical condition and ready to win gold.

In honor of the badass athletes representing the U.S. this summer, we rounded up 50 photos of 2016’s female Olympians doing what they do best: competing. From rugby to taekwondo and weightlifting, these photos reveal the raw power of the female body.

Scroll below to witness the undeniable strength of the female athlete.

1
Gwen Jorgensen, Triathlon
Octavian Cantilli / Reuters
U.S. triathlete Gwen Jorgensen exits the water during the second annual Draft Legal Challenge in Clermont, Florida March 3, 2012.
2
Jenny Arthur, Weighlifting
Scott Halleran via Getty Images
Jenny Arthur of the United States competes in the women's 75kg weight class during the 2015 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships at the George R. Brown Convention Center on November 27, 2015 in Houston, Texas.
3
Kassidy Cook, Diving
Matthew Stockman via Getty Images
Kassidy Cook of the United States competes in the semifinal of the women's 3m Springboard during the FINA Diving World Cup - Aquece Rio Test Event for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
4
Jackie Galloway, Taekwondo
Harry How via Getty Images
Jackie Galloway of the United States of America celebrates victory over Maria Espinoza of Mexico for a gold medal in the women's 67kg plus taekwando final during the 2015 Pan Am Games at the Mississauga Sports Centre on July 22, 2015 in Mississauga, Canada.
5
Simone Biles, Gymnastics
Ezra Shaw via Getty Images
Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during Day 2 of the 2016 U.S. Women's Gymnastics Olympic Trials at SAP Center on July 10, 2016 in San Jose, California.
6
Gwen Berry, Track and Field
Andy Lyons via Getty Images
Gwen Berry competes in the Women's Hammer Throw Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 6, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon.
7
Brittney Reese, Track and Field
ANTONIN THUILLIER via Getty Images
US Brittney Reese jumps to victory during the women's long jump final at the 2013 IAAF World Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on August 11, 2013.
8
Sylvia Fowles, Basketball
David Sherman via Getty Images
Sylvia Fowles (#34) of the Minnesota Lynx goes for a layup against the Chicago Sky on July 5, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
9
Sarah True, Triathlon
Kamil Krzaczynski / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters
Sarah True competes the bicycle portion of the Elite Woman 2015 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Chicago.
10
Brooke Crain, Cycling
Bryn Lennon via Getty Images
Brooke Crain of the United States competes during the Women's BMX Cycling on Day 12 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at BMX Track on August 8, 2012 in London, England.
11
Ibtihaj Muhammad, Fencing
Devin Manky via Getty Images
Ibtihaj Muhammad of the USA waits to fence during the Team Women's Sabre gold medal match against Mexico.
12
Laura Zeng, Rhythmic gymnastics
Ezra Shaw via Getty Images
Laura Zeng of the United States competes in the rhythmic gymnastics hoop finals on Day 9 of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games on July 19, 2015 in Toronto, Canada.
13
Claressa Shields, Boxing
Scott Heavey via Getty Images
Claressa Shields (R) of the United States exchanges punches with Nadezda Torlopova (L) of Russia during the Women's Middle Boxing final bout on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 9, 2012 in London, England.
14
Melissa Gonzalez, Field Hockey
Manuel Queimadelos Alonso via Getty Images
Melissa Gonzalez of United States in action during the match between Germany and United States at Polideportivo Virgen del Carmen during day four of the Hockey World League Semi-Final on June 14, 2015 in Valencia, Spain.
15
Sarah Hammer, Cycling
Bryn Lennon via Getty Images
Sarah Hammer of the USA in action on her way to winning the Women's Omnium during day five of the 2013 UCI Track World Championships on February 24, 2013 in Minsk, Belarus.
16
Gerina Piller, Golf
Scott Halleran via Getty Images
Gerina Piller plays a bunker shot on the tenth hole during the second round of the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout on April 29, 2016 in Irving, Texas.
17
Janay Deloach, Track and Field
Clive Brunskill via Getty Images
Janay Deloach of the United States competes in the Women's Long Jump Final on Day 12 of the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 8, 2012 in London, England.
18
Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Tennis
Clive Brunskill via Getty Images
Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States serves against Coco Vandeweghe of the United States during their Women's Singles Second Round match on Day Three of the 2015 US Open on September 2, 2015.
19
Simone Manuel, Swimming
Otto Greule Jr via Getty Images
Simone Manuel swims in the preliminary 200 Meter Freestyle during the Winter National Championships on December 4, 2015 in Federal Way, Washington.
20
Heather Miller-Koch, Track and Field
Patrick Smith via Getty Images
Heather Miller-Koch competes in the Women's Heptathlon Long Jump during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon.
21
Mariel Zagunis, Fencing
VASILY MAXIMOV via Getty Images
Mariel Zagunis of the United States (R) competes against Yana Egorian of Russia (L) during the women's sabre semi-finals competition at the 2014 World Fencing Championships in Kazan, on July 18, 2014.
22
Richelle Stephens, Rugby
Sean M. Haffey via Getty Images
USA Rugby hopeful Richelle Stephens runs with the ball during a training session at the Olympic Training Center on July 14, 2016 in Chula Vista, California.
23
Laurie Hernandez, Gymnastics
Robert Hanashiro for USA Today Sports / Reuters
Laurie Hernandez during the balance beam in the women's gymnastics U.S. Olympic team trials at SAP Center.
24
Kayla Harrison, Judo
JACK GUEZ via Getty Images
France's Audrey Tcheumeo (blue) competes with US Kayla Harrison (white) during their women's -78kg judo contest gold medal match of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016.
25
Elizabeth Beisel, Swimming
Francois Nel via Getty Images
Elizabeth Beisel of USA competes in the Women's 400m Individual Medley heats during day one of the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships on December 3, 2014 in Doha, Qatar.
26
Bui Baravilala, Rugby
Jordan Mansfield via Getty Images
Honey Hireme (L) of New Zealand is tackled by Bui Baravilala (R) of the USA during the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup Pool B match on August 9, 2014 in Paris, France.
27
Nia Ali, Track and Field
AFP via Getty Images
Nia Ali of the US competes in the Women's 60m Hurdles event at the British Athletics Glasgow International match on January 25, 2014.
28
Ellen Tomek and Megan Kalmoe, Rowing
John Gichigi via Getty Images
Ellen Tomek (L) and Megan Kalmoe (R) of USA compete in the Women's Double Skulls during day one of The World Rowing Championships on August 23, 2009 in Poznan, Poland.
29
Carli Lloyd, Soccer
Rich Barnes via Getty Images
Carli Lloyd (#10) of the United States leaps over the defense of Orianica Velasquez (#9) of Colombia during the second half on April 10, 2016 in Chester, Pennsylvania.
30
Paige Mcpherson, Taekwondo
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA via Getty Images
Slovenia's Franka Anic (blue) fights against US athlete Paige Mcpherson (red) during their women's taekwondo bronze medal bout as part of the London 2012 Olympic games, on August 10, 2012.
31
Anita Alvarez and Mariya Koroleva, Synchronized Swimming
FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT via Getty Images
US duet Anita Alvarez and Mariya Koroleva competes in the women's duet Free final event during the synchronized swimming competition at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan on July 30, 2015.
32
Morolake Akinosun, Track and Field
Christopher Morris via Getty Images
Morolake Akinosun during women's 100 meter semi-finals during athletics competition at the 2015 PanAm Games in Toronto.
33
Helen Maroulis, Wrestling
Jamie Squire via Getty Images
Helen Maroulis (L) and Sharon Jacobson (R) compete during their Women's 53kg challenge match on day 2 of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Wrestling Trials on April 10, 2016 in Iowa City, Iowa.
34
Katrina Young, Diving
Streeter Lecka via Getty Images
Katrina Young competes in the Women's 10m Platform final during day 8 of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for diving on June 25, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
35
Brittany Borman, Track and Field
Patrick Smith via Getty Images
Brittany Borman prepares to throw in the Women's Javelin Throw Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 9, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon.
36
Sarah Robles, Weightlifting
Scott Halleran via Getty Images
Sarah Robles of the United States competes in the women's +75kg weight class during the 2015 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships on November 28, 2015 in Houston, Texas.
37
Megan Rapinoe, Soccer
Christopher Morris via Getty Images
Brazil defender Poliana (13-left) and USA midfielder Megan Rapinoe (15) during an International Friendly at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington.
38
Gabby Douglas, Gymnastics
Damir Sagolj / Reuters
Gabby Douglas competes in the 2016 Rio Olympics for the Artistic Gymnastics Preliminary Women's Qualification.
39
Kelsey Card, Track and Field
Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters
Kelsey Card of Wisconsin places third in the women's discus during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field.
40
Beezie Madden, Equestrian
Tim Clayton via Getty Images
Beezie Madden riding Cortes 'C' in action during the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix presented by the Kincade Group during the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show, North Salem, New York, USA.
41
Kim Rhode, Shooting
Sam Greenwood via Getty Images
Kim Rhode of the United States shoots in a training session prior to the start of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Shooting Centre on August 4, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
42
Serena Williams, Tennis
Stephen White - CameraSport via Getty Images
Serena Williams of USA celebrates a point during her victory over Angelique Kerber of Germany in their Ladies' Singles Final match on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships on July 09, 2016 in London, England.
43
Felisha Johnson, Track and Field
Andy Lyons via Getty Images
Felisha Johnson competes in the Women's Shot Put Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 7, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon.
44
Adeline Gray, Wrestling
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA via Getty Images
US Adeline Maria Gray (red) wrestles Belarus' Vasilisa Marzaliuk (blue) in their women's 75kg freestyle quarter-final match on August 18, 2016, during the wrestling event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
45
Sydney McLaughlin, Track and Field
Patrick Smith via Getty Images
Sydney McLaughlin competes in the Women's 400 Meter Hurdles during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials on July 7, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon.
46
Inika McPherson, Track and Field
Cliff Hawkins via Getty Images
Inika McPherson competes in the Women's High Jump Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials on July 3, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon.
47
Kerri Walsh Jennings
Robert Laberge via Getty Images
Kerri Walsh Jennings of the United States digs the ball during the FIVB Long Beach Grand Slam on July 26, 2014 in Long Beach, California.
48
Maya Moore, Basketball
Leon Bennett via Getty Images
Maya Moore (#23) of the Minnesota Lynx handles the ball against Nneka Ogwumike (#30) of the Los Angeles Sparks during a WNBA basketball game on June 21, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.
49
Kami Craig, Water Polo
Matthias Hangst via Getty Images
Kami Craig (white) of United States competes during the Women's Water Polo Gold Medal match between the United States and Italy on Day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
50
Mikaela Mayer, Boxing
Valery Sharifulin via Getty Images
Mikaela Joslin Mayer (L) of the USA and Russia's Anastasiia Beliakova fight in their women's lightweight (57-60kg) quarterfinal boxing match at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

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