Picture special: As London 2012 draws to a close, the world's athletes let their hair down – and sometimes their trousers too

London 2012: Carnage as Olympians have their first drink in four years

After four years of sober clean living, the world's Olympians have been relaxing in London's clubs and bars - with mixed results. Some have celebrated the end of their events with dignity, others less so. Introducing the best of the London 2012 party season images so far:

Gold medal partying

Full marks for poise, nothing hanging or dripping out - just clear-minded radiance from the world's most dedicated, Blue-Peter-friendly role models.

Photograph: Copetti/Photofab/Rex Features

1. Louis Smith (left): Swagger to match the facial hair from the pommel horse star. The 23-year-old X-Factor reject and best friend of JLS is eyeing a career in "music or fashion … My agent's had some emails."

Photograph: Rotello/MCP/Rex Features

2. Rebecca Adlington: annoyed the paps by failing to slump or totter. Britain's swimming star made it into her cab looking radiant. As did:

Photograph: PacificCoastNews.com

3.The gymnasts Max Whitlock, Rebecca Tunney and Imogen Cairns – proving to vodka-necking British teens that a big night out doesn't need to end in tears and shame.

Silver medal partying

Photograph: Si Anderson/Eroteme.co.uk

4. Beth Tweddle: Britain's most loved gymnast, looking cool, happy and relaxed after all the pressure – but being snapped next to a bottom loses her points on artistic merit.

Photograph: Copetti/Photofab/Rex Features

5. Kayla Harrison, the US Olympic judo champion, leaving the Mahiki nightclub and kissing her medal for the press. A nice pose – but she loses points for …

Photograph: Copetti/Photofab/Rex Features

… having to be held upright on the way out.

Photograph: Rotello/MCP/Rex Features

6. And after getting over the emotion of her gold medal ceremony, British rowing ace Sophie Hosking is steered out of Chinawhite.

Plus: bronze medal partying

Photograph: GoffPhotos.com

7. The definite star of the week so far: Belgian cyclist Gijs Van Hoecke.

Photograph: WENN.com

Adapting well to the textbook British night out, Gijs let go of four years of abstinence in one wet mess. The 20-year-old cyclist was carried out of Mahiki in drenched trousers which briefly fell down, and then fell asleep in a taxi with a smile on his face. It was one strong lager shandy.

He was sent home by the humourless Belgian Olympic Committee on Thursday. "The Belgian Olympic Committee and the Royal Cycling Federation deplore this incident," they said. Van Hoecke said: "I made a big mistake. I'm happy my parents didn't tell me off. They understand that I needed this."