The best sports photos of 2016

Emil Lendof

featured

Dec 28, 2016

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Usain Bolt of Jamaica competes in the men’s 100-meter semifinal on Day 9 of the Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 14, 2016. Getty Images

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64th Four Hills Tournament – Innsbruck Day 2

Andreas Wank of Germany soars through the air during his first competition jump on day 2 of the Innsbruck 64th Four Hills Tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on Jan. 3, 2016. Getty Images

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CFP National Championship – Alabama v Clemson

Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide misses a catch in the end zone in the fourth quarter against Adrian Baker #21 of the Clemson Tigers during the 2016 college football playoff national championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 11, 2016. Getty Images

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Lawrence Erekosima #43 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after defeating the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 college football playoff national championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 11, 2016. The Crimson Tide defeated the Tigers 45-40. Getty Images

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NFC Championship – Arizona Cardinals v Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFC Championship Game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 24, 2016. Getty Images

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Gael Monfils of France dives for a forehand in his fourth-round match against Andrey Kuznestov of Russia during Day 8 of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 25, 2016. Getty Images

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The Cameron Crazies taunt Cody Martin #15 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, on Feb. 6, 2016. Duke won 88-80. Getty Images

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Super Bowl 50 – Carolina Panthers v Denver Broncos

Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers reacts during his postgame press conference after the Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10 to win Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 7, 2016. Getty Images

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Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic dunks over Stuff the Orlando Magic mascot in the Verizon Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Feb. 13, 2016. Getty Images

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The 2016 Cancer Research UK Boat Race – Cambridge Crews Day

The Cambridge University Boat Club women’s crew heads out before sunrise to train on the River Great Ouse ahead of this year’s 2016 Cancer Research UK University Boat Race in Ely, England, on Feb. 17, 2016. Getty Images

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Freddy Di Fede riding Arable competes in the Grosser Preis von St. Moritz Flat Race of the White Turf St. Moritz in St. Moritz, Switzerland, on Feb. 21, 2016. Getty Images

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International Womens Rugby Sevens – Aquece Rio Test Event for the Rio 2016 Olympics

Maryoly Gamez of Venezuela battles for the ball against Victoria Rios of Uruguay during the International Women’s Rugby Sevens – Aquece Rio Test Event for the 2016 Olympics at Deodoro Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 6, 2016. Getty Images

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Dmirti Khomitsevitsj in action during the Ice Speedway World Championship Final in Assen, Netherlands, on March 13, 2016. Getty Images

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Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 Stanley Toyota, leads the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on April 9, 2016. Getty Images

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Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on April 13, 2016. Getty Images

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Marcus Semien #10 of the Oakland Athletics breaks his bat during his at-bat in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on April 21, 2016. Getty Images

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Travis d’Arnaud #7 of the New York Mets catches a pop fly in foul territory hit by Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves to end the first inning at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 22, 2016. Getty Images

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Diego De La Hoya (left) throws a left at Rocco Santomauro during the super bantamweight fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 7, 2016. Getty Images

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33rd LEN European Swimming Championships 2016 – Day 5

Team France competes in the Team Free Final on day 5 of the 33rd LEN European Swimming Championships 2016 at Aquatics Centre in London on May 13, 2016. Getty Images

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2016 Secret U.S. Classic and Men’s P&G Gymnastics Championships

Gabrielle Douglas competes on the balance beam during the Senior Women’s 2016 Secret US Classic at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, on June 4, 2016. Getty Images

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Saddleworld Melbourne International: Cross Country

Tarryn Proctor of Victoria comes off her horse, Esb Irish Quest, and crashes in the water jump in the CCI 3 star Cross Country event during the Saddleworld Melbourne International 3 Day Event at Werribee Park Equestrian Centre in Melbourne, Australia, on June 12, 2016. Getty Images

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LeBron James #23 and Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate after defeating the Golden State Warriors 93-89 in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California, on June 19, 2016. Getty Images

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Oakland Athletics v San Francisco Giants

Gregor Blanco #7 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after getting hit by a pitch from Marc Rzepczynski (not pictured) of the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, on June 28, 2016. Getty Images

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Day Twelve: The Championships – Wimbledon 2016

Serena Williams celebrates victory following the ladies’ singles final against Angelique Kerber of Germany on Day 12 of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on July 9, 2016. Getty Images

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Didi “The Devil” Senft jumps in the air during Stage 16 of the 2016 Le Tour de France, from Moirans-en-Montagne to Berne, in Berne, Switzerland, on July 18, 2016. Getty Images

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Divers in action during training at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, on Aug. 4, 2016. Getty Images

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Samir Ait Said of France breaks his leg while competing in the vault during the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team qualification on Day 1 of the Olympic Games at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 6, 2016. Getty Images

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Ning Ding of China competes against Ying Han of Germany during the Women’s Singles Quarterfinal 1 Table Tennis on Day 4 of the Olympic Games at the Riocentro Pavilion 3 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 9, 2016. Getty Images

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Michael Phelps of the United States (left) leads Chad le Clos of South Africa in the men’s 200-meter butterfly final on Day 4 of the Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 9, 2016. Getty Images

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Sam Dorman and Mike Hixon of the United States compete in the men’s diving synchronised 3m springboard final on Day 5 of the Olympic Games at Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 10, 2016. Getty Images

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Simone Manuel of the United States celebrates winning gold in the women’s 100-meter freestyle final on Day 6 of the Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 11, 2016. Getty Images

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Katie Ledecky of the United States leads the field in the women’s 800-meter freestyle final on Day 7 of the Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 12, 2016. Getty Images

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Ibtihaj Muhammad of the United States reacts against Sofya Velikaya of Russia during the women’s sabre team semifinal 1 at Carioca Arena 3 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 13, 2016. Getty Images

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Sarah Elizabeth Robles of the United States competes during the weightlifting – women’s +75kg Group A on Day 9 of the Olympic Games at Riocentro – Pavilion 2 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 14, 2016. Getty Images

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Gymnastics – Artistic – Olympics: Day 11

Simone Biles of the United States competes in the women’s floor final on Day 11 of the Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 16, 2016. Getty Images

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Gymnastics – Rhythmic – Olympics: Day 15

Yeon Jae Son of Korea competes during the women’s individual all-around rhythmic gymnastics final on Day 15 of the Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 20, 2016. Getty Images

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Mohamed Farah of Great Britain reacts after winning gold in the men’s 5000-meter final on Day 15 of the Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 20, 2016. Getty Images

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Brazil v Germany – Final: Men’s Football – Olympics: Day 15

Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. of Brazil celebrates with his gold medal following the men’s football final between Brazil and Germany at the Maracana Stadium on Day 15 of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 20, 2016. Getty Images

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Patrick Fellows #21, Allan McShane #26, Carson Edwardson #8 and Shaun Bily #23 of the Erie Otters sit on the bench during the first period of an OHL game against the Niagara IceDogs at the Meridian Centre in St Catharines, Ontario, Canada, on Oct. 6, 2016. Getty Images

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Lorenzo Petrarca of Italy and Team Italia crashes during free practice for the 2016 MotoGP of Australia at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Phillip Island, Australia, on Oct. 21, 2016. Getty Images

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Dexter Fowler #24 of the Chicago Cubs makes a catch at the wall of a ball hit by Ben Revere of the Washington Nationals in the 2nd inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on May 6, 2016. Getty Images

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World Series – Chicago Cubs v Cleveland Indians – Game Seven

The Chicago Cubs celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in Game Seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Nov. 2, 2016. The Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years. Getty Images

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Actor Bill Murray reacts on the field after the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in Game Seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Nov. 2, 2016. Getty Images

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Conor McGregor of Ireland celebrates his KO victory over Eddie Alvarez of the United States in their lightweight championship bout during the UFC 205 event at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Nov. 12, 2016. Getty Images

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