The most iconic sport photographs from 2016
2016 has been a year of frenetic sporting action, with iconic competitions like the Olympics and the Euros providing us with some memorable moments, and some iconic images. These are our favourites.
2016 has been a year of frenetic sporting action, with the European Championships, the Olympics and Paralympics all taking place in the space of a few months.
These iconic competitions have brought us some iconic moments, and with them some iconic lasting images.
Below we take a look at some our favourites from what’s been a truly vintage year of sport.
Portuguese boy hugs weeping Frenchman
When Portugal beat France in their own backyard on 10 July to take the Euro 2016 trophy, it left one nation joyous and the one other devastated. One of the most shared stories in the days afterwards was this footage of a young Portuguese boy consoling a sobbing Frenchman after the final in a fan park. Touching. And they say there’s no kindness left in the world!
Two runners fall together, and finish together
During the 5000m race at the Olympics, US athlete Abbey D’Agostino and New Zealand runner Nikki Hamblin got their legs tangled with 3000m gone and fell to the floor. While D’Agostino got straight back up, Hamblin struggled to get to her feet, so the American helped her competitor up, ultimately sacrificing her chance to win the race. Both then decided to run the rest of the race and finish it arm and arm together. A beautiful moment.
Fencing, or fighting on a tight rope?
This photo from the Rio Olympics created the optical illusion that Korean fencer Choi Injeong and her Russian opponent Violetta Kolobov were staging their fight on a tight rope. Alas no, it was a trick of the light, but it left a really striking image.
Paralympics: table tennis with no arms
‘Nuff said. Amazing to see from Egyptian ping pong player Ibrahim Hamadtou.
Brother in arms
In the final race of the Triathlon World Championship held in Cozumel, Mexico, when he was within just 300 meters of the finish, leader Jonathan Brownlee, suffering from heat stroke, was left weak and dangerously faint. Cue his third-placed brother, Alistair, 28, who caught him and propped him up up for the final couple of hundred metres before pushing him over the line in second place.They were overtaken by South African Henri Schoeman, the eventual winner.
Better than all the rest
During the heats for the 100m in Rio, this image perfectly captures Usain Bolt's dominance over his competitors. The Jamaican went on to win his third consecutive gold medal in the event.
Cultural clash
This image of the match between Egypt and Germany in women’s beach volleyball was one of the most commented on of the Olympic Games in Rio. The Egyptian couple formed by Doaa Elghbashy and Nada Meawad were facing the German team, Laura Ludwing and Kira Walkenhorst on the Copacabana sand. The contrast in their dress caught the attention: while the German women wore bikinis, the Egyptians were covered with a hijab.
Breaching the divide
During the Olympic gymnastics qualifying round, Lee Eun-ju (from South Korea) and Hong Un-jong (from North Korea) crossed paths and decided to take a selfie which was shared around the world. Their friendliness towards each other helped, if only briefly, to breach the divide between the two countries where tension is well known.
Viking Thunderclap
Iceland won many new admirers during Euro 2016, not only because of their surprise run in the completion, but also because of their good-natured fans and their truly amazing clapping celebration. Watch it below.
Kiss of the year
She is Jamey Jewells. He is Adam Lancia. Both were wheelchair basketball players at the Paralympic Games. When her team won the match, Adam went over quickly to kiss her, and it became one of the most shared images of the games.
