Sport is a field packed with a myriad of emotions: from the disappointments of defeat to the joys of victory. Having these moments captured on camera can elevate them to another level.
Sports photography has the ability to tell a story in every frame, and today we are about to show you some of the best sports images of recent times. Here, we present the winners of the 2022 World Sports Photography Awards. These jaw-dropping photos show the world of sports as you rarely see it.
"Sports Photography captures special moments and tells unique stories, but most of all it draws you in and reveals the unexpected. It forces you to look again and reconsider," says the competition's co-founder, Simon Burton.
Now in its third year, the competition received more than 7,000 entries from around the world across various categories, including basketball, baseball, boxing, ice hockey, diving, and many more. Let’s now check out the best winning images from the World Sports Photography Awards 2022.
Related: Perfectly Timed Sports Shots!
Tennis: 'One With Nature' by David Gray
This beautiful shot of a butterfly resting on tennis player Naomi Osaka's fingertips has been named the overall winner of the competition.
Aquatic: 'Dressel' by Ian MacNicol
American swimmer Caeleb Dressel wins 100m butterfly gold at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Athletics: 'Uno Due Tre' by Samuel Barnes
Italian Ambra Sabatini celebrates with fellow countrywomen Martina Caironi and Monica Contrafatto upon winning gold and breaking the world record in the Women's Paralympic 100m. The other two finished second and third respectively.
Baseball: 'Home Run Robbery' by Abbie Parr
Adolis Garcia of the Texas Rangers stops a home run from Mitch Haniger of the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, in May 2021.
Basketball: 'Action' by Kevin Jairaj
Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith seizes the ball from Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Boxing: 'Untitled' by Richard Pelham
An injured Ebanie Bridges of Australia takes a breather during the vacant WBA world bantamweight title fight in London against Great Britain's Shannon Courtenay.
Cricket: 'Untitled' by Muhammad Arbaz
Khushdil Shah, a left-handed batsman from Pakistan, smashes the ball during a match in the National Stadium in Karachi.
Equestrian: 'Egerton Equestrian' by Mike Egerton
Charles Bishop rides racehorse Goring at Wolverhampton Racecourse in the Betway Handicap in England.
Football: 'Championship Photobombing' by Eloisa Sanchez de Alba
Cruz Azul players celebrate winning the Mexican Football League Championship by beating Santos Laguna 2-1 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It was their first title win in 23 years.
Formula 1: 'Verstappen Crash' by Clive Rose
Ax Verstappen of Red Bull Racking loses his cool after crashing during the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku city, June 2021.
Martial Arts: 'Untitled' by John Barry
Max Holloway (left) hits a bloodied Calvin Kattar during their UFC Featherweight clash at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Motor Sports: 'Rally Dakar 2021' by Marian Chytka
Driver Yasi Seidan maneuvers his car deftly at the 2021 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
Other: 'Chen LiJun Tokyo 2020' by Isaac Julián Morillas Sánchez
Chinese weightlifter Chen Lijun exults after clinching the gold medal in the Men’s 67kg (147.7lb.) Weightlifting category at the Toyko Olympics.
Racquet Sports: 'Paralympics' by Donald Miralle
Para-athlete Alexa Szvitacs of Team Hungary serves during the Women’s Doubles Table Tennis match at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Rugby: 'Untitled' by Steve Haag
South Africa’s Franco Mostert in action against the British and Irish Lions in their Rugby Union match at the Cape Town Stadium.
Urban & Extreme: 'Untitled' by Morgan Treacy
Catalin Preda from Romania dives from the 27-meter (88.5ft) platform at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Downpatrick Head, Mayo.
Venues & Views: 'Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony' by Mark Edward Harris
The Olympic Stadium in Japan is lit by fireworks during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Water Sports: 'Untitled' by Morgan Treacy
Lukas Rohan of the Czech Republic in action during the Men’s C-1 Slalom at the Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo, Japan. He went on to win the Olympic silver medal in the event.
Winter Sports: 'Biathlon World Championships' by Joel Marklund
Biathlete Linn Persson shoots during the Biathlon World Championships 2021, organized by the International Biathlon Union (IBU), in Pokljuka, Slovenia.
Ice Hockey: 'What A Mess' by Bruce Bennett
Pittsburgh Penguins players defend against the New Jersey Devils in a National Hockey League game at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
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