Dec 27, 2012

2012: Sports Pictures of the Year

Jerry Jackson 0 Comment Nation, Olympics, Sports, World England, France, London, Michael Phelps, Olympics

From the Summer Olympics and Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time to boxing fights and Mexican wrestling, here’s a look at the best sports images from around the world in 2012.

: Skiers compete during the men’s team sprint cross-country skiing World Cup at the Sprint Quebec event in downtown Quebec City, December 7, 2012. (Mathieu Belanger/Reuters)

: Hungary’s Andras Parti reacts as he falls during the men’s cross-country mountain bike event at Hadleigh Farm during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 12, 2012. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Michael Phelps of the U.S. holds up his award recognizing him as the most decorated Olympian, during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 4, 2012. Phelps ended his incredible Olympic career on the perfect note on Saturday, winning his 18th gold medal for the United States in the men’s medley relay, the last time he will swim a competitive race. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

: People swim at the start of the annual Lake Zurich crossing swimming event in Zurich August 22, 2012. The participants swam across Lake Zurich on a 1,500 metres (4,921 ft) track. (Michael Buholzer/Reuters)

: British boxer Dereck Chisora (R) slaps the face of Ukrainian heavyweight WBC boxing champion Vitali Klitschko as they stare each other out, after the official weigh-in in Munich February 17, 2012. Klitschko will face challenger Chisora in a title bout on February 18, 2012 in Munich. (Michael Dalder/Reuters)

: Spanish bullfighter Juan Jose Padilla kneels down in front of a bull during the last bullfight of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 14, 2012. Padilla lost an eye after getting gored last October during a bullfight in Zaragoza, northern Spain. He made a comeback five months afterwards. (Susana Vera/Reuters)

: Brazil’s Luciano dos Santos Pereira knocks over an official as he competes in the men’s triple jump – F11 final in the Olympic Stadium at the London 2012 Paralympic Games September 6, 2012. Santos Pereira was competing against other athletes who were also visually impaired. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

: Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates winning the men’s 200m final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 9, 2012. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Mushers and their dogs compete after the mass start of the eighth stage of the La Grande Odyssee sled dogs race in Bessans January 16, 2012. The race crosses the Alps in France covering over 1000 km (621 miles) over 11 days. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters)

: Yamaha MotoGP world champion rider Jorge Lorenzo falls during the Valencia Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Ricardo Tormo racetrack in Cheste, near Valencia November 11, 2012. Lorenzo was denied a victorious season finale on home soil when he crashed out while leading an incident-packed Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday to hand victory to fellow-Spaniard Dani Pedrosa. (Heino Kalis/Reuters)

: New York Yankees’ Nick Swisher (L) yells out looking back at first base after Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar (2) turns a double play during the second inning of their MLB baseball game in Anaheim, California May 30, 2012. (Alex Gallardo/Reuters)

: The pack of riders cycles past a woman on a horse during the 13th stage of the 99th Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux and Cap d’Agde, July 14, 2012. (Stephane Mahe/Reuters)

: Australia’s Marc Willers (R), Switzerland’s Roger Rinderknecht (C, #13), Joris Daudet (Upper #2) of France, Nicholas Long of the US (L,#64) and compatriot David Herman (lower, 2nd L, #5) compete during the men’s BMX cycling heat at the London 2012 Olympic Games, in London on August 9, 2012. (Carl De Souza/GettyImages)

: Runners take the water jump in The Burges Salmon Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase at Newbury racecourse on November 29, 2012 in Newbury, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

: Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain (centre L-R) , President Barack Obama, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and others watch the overtime shootout of the Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich Champions League final in the Laurel Cabin conference room during the G8 Summit at Camp David, Maryland, May 19, 2012. (Pete Souza/White House/Reuters)

: Petr Cech of Chelsea lifts up the UEFA Champions League trophy after his team’s final soccer match against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Munich, May 19, 2012. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

: A woman poses for pictures next to the Euro 2012 trophy during a display to the public in central Kiev May 12, 2012. Kiev is set to host the final match of the Euro 2012 soccer tournament. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

: A riot policeman kicks a fan during clashes after the soccer match between Zenit and Dinamo Moscow in the Russian Premier league soccer match in St.Petersburg April 28, 2012.(Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters)

: Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates winning the world championship with his team after finishing sixth in the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix at Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo November 25, 2012. Vettel became Formula One’s youngest triple world champion at the age of 25 at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

: Spain’s Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets and Xavi Hernandez (L-R) form a defensive wall as Italy’s Andrea Pirlo (not pictured) takes a free kick during their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match at the city stadium in Gdansk, June 10, 2012. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

: A fan of Dynamo Kiev reacts during a local soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev March 18, 2012. The stadium is set to host the final match of the Euro 2012 soccer tournament. (Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters)

: San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Sergio Romo celebrates after the Giants defeated the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 to win the MLB World Series baseball championship in Detroit, Michigan, October 28, 2012. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)

: A wrestler rubs his hands with mud to prevent slipping due to sweat, during a traditional mud wrestling (Kushti) bout at the Akhaara centre in Kolhapur, about 400 kms (250 miles) south of Mumbai, February 14, 2012. Fewer people are taking up Kushti, according to the sport’s coaches, as young athletes turn instead to mat wrestling to gain access to top international sports competitions. (Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)

: Lotus Formula One driver Romain Grosjean (R) of France crashes with Ferrari Formula One driver Fernando Alonso (L) of Spain at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa Francorchamps September 2, 2012. (Jan Van De Vel/Reuters)

: Team Saxo Bank rider Jonathan Cantwell of Australia lies on the ground after a fall during the fifth stage of the 99th Tour de France cycling race between Rouen and Saint-Quentin, July 5, 2012. (Joel Saget/Reuters)

: Ruth Beitia of Spain reacts after winning the women’s high jump final at the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki June 28, 2012. (Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters)

: Maria Sharapova of Russia plays against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their women’s singles semi-final match at the Rod Laver Arena of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 26, 2012. (Daniel Munoz/Reuters)

: Washington Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth shakes beer and champagne out of his hair and beard while celebrating with teammates after the team clinched the National League East Division championship following their MLB baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Washington, October 1, 2012. (Jonathan Ernst /Reuters)

: Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (R) celebrates with Britain’s Mo Farah on the podium after each receiving gold medals, Bolt for men’s 4x100m relay and Farah for men’s 5000m at the victory ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 11, 2012. (Eddie Keogh/Reuters)

: Britain’s Mo Farah reacts as he wins the men’s 5000m final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 11, 2012. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Bulgaria’s Silviya Miteva competes using the ball in the individual all-around rhythmic gymnastics final at Wembley Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 11, 2012. (Marcelo Del Pozo/Reuters)

: China’s Ruixue Jing (L) fights with North Korea’s Un Gyong Choe on the Women’s 63Kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the ExCel venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 8, 2012. (Toru Hanai/Reuters)

: Australia’s Lauren Jackson (15) shoots over China’s Xiaoyun Song (5) in the women’s quarterfinal basketball match at the Basketball Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 7, 2012. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

: Kansas City Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson can’t reach a Cleveland Indians Jason Kipnis triple in the first inning during the Royals’ home opener in their MLB American League baseball game in Kansas City, Missouri, April 13, 2012. (Dave Kaup/Reuters)

: The Union Flag and the rainbow stripes of a world champion cyclist are painted on the fingernails of Britain’s Laura Trott ahead of her women’s track cycling ominium 3km individual pursuit race at the Velodrome during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 7, 2012. (Cathal McNaughton/Reuters)

: Micronesia’s Manuel Minginfel drops weights on the men’s 62Kg Group B weightlifting competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games July 30, 2012. (Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters)

: Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates after defeating Switzerland’s Roger Federer in the men’s singles tennis gold medal match at the All England Lawn Tennis Club during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 5, 2012. (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters)

: Lindsey Vonn of US competes in the women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup downhill in Lake Louise on December 1, 2012. Lindsey Vonn of the US won ahead of Stacey Cook of the US and Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden of Switzerland. Maze took tenth place. (Joe Klamar/Getty Images)

: Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Johnny Sears (L) celebrates his interception against the BC Lions with Brandon Stewart (C) and Jonathan Hefney during the first half of their CFL game in Winnipeg, August 24, 2012. (Fred Greenslade/Reuters)

: Italy’s Giulia Lapi and Mariangela Perrupato are seen underwater as they perform in the synchronized swimming duets technical routine qualification round during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 5, 2012. (Tim Wimborne/Reuters)

: The full moon rises through the Olympic Rings hanging beneath Tower Bridge during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 3, 2012. (Luke MacGregor /Reuters)

: Sprinter Usain Bolt of Jamaica poses with his running spikes and official team uniform for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony during a photo shoot, arranged by his sponsors PUMA, beside a traditional route master bus outside the British Museum in London June 1, 2012. Bolt will defend the 100m and 200m gold medals he won in Beijing in this summer’s Games. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

: Britain’s Jessica Ennis celebrates winning her women’s heptathlon 800m heat at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 4, 2012. Ennis was the overall winner in the heptathlon. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

: Simone Franco, 35, lifts weights next to her 11-month-old son Aquiles Franco (R) at a gym under the Alcantara Machado viaduct in the Mooca neighborhood of Sao Paulo July 18, 2012. Alcantara Machado gym was founded in 2009 by Brazilian former professional boxer Nilson Garrido under the Alcantara Machado viaduct, with the aim of getting young people out of drugs and crime through sports. Currently the gym, which received all its equipment through donations, is visited daily by more than a hundred people, most of whom are unemployed or have financial troubles, who practice bodybuilding and other sports just for pleasure. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

: Boston Bruins’ Shawn Thornton (R) fights with Ottawa Senators’ Chris Neil during the first period of their NHL hockey game at TD Bank Garden in Boston, Massachusetts January 31, 2012. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: The sun reflects off the club as Tiger Woods hits off on the seventh tee during the final round of the AT&T National golf tournament at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland July 1, 2012. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

: John Daly of USA plays a shot from the trees during the first round of the UBS Hong Kong open at The Hong Kong Golf Club on November 15, 2012 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

: Miami Heat’s LeBron James hangs on the rim after his dunk near New York Knicks Tyson Chandler during their NBA basketball game in Miami, Florida February 23, 2012. (Andrew Innerarity/Reuters)

: A young surfer sails his board off a wave as large swells hit the California coastline at dusk in Cardiff, California, January 5, 2012. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

: Calgary Hitmen Pavlo Padakin celebrates his goal in a pile of Teddy Bears at the Hitmen Teddy Bear toss during their major junior hockey game against the Kootenay Ice in Calgary, Alberta, December 2, 2012. The hockey team collects approximately 25,000 stuffed toys at the annual Teddy Bear toss and then delivers the toys to local charities and children at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The team currently holds the world record for collecting the most Teddy Bears at 26,919. (Todd Korol/Reuters)

: Toronto Argonauts Jeff Keeping celebrates with the Grey Cup after the Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampders in the 100th CFL Grey Cup championship football game in Toronto, November 25, 2012. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)

: Toronto Argonauts head coach Scott Milanovich is doused by his players after the Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampeders in the 100th CFL Grey Cup championship football game in Toronto, November 25, 2012. (Mike Cassese/Reuters)

: Team Penske driver Will Power of Australia, bottom, goes under the car of A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver Mike Conway of Britain during the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 27, 2012. (Peter Kirles/Reuters)

: Actress Ashley Judd reacts after her husband Chip Ganassi Racing driver Dario Franchitti of Scotland wins his third Indianapolis 500 autorace at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 27, 2012. (Jeff Roberts/Reuters)

: Laval Rouge et Or Philippe Gagnon (L) knocks the helmet from the head of McMaster Marauders Adam Dickson during the Vanier Cup University Championship football game in Toronto, November 23, 2012. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)

: Horses walk back to the stable after training in preparation for the 2012 Breeder’s Cup at Santa Anita Park on October 31, 2012 in Arcadia, California. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

: Laval Rouge et Or Arnaud Gascon-Nadon blows water from his mouth before the Vanier Cup University Championship football game against the McMaster Marauders in Toronto, November 23, 2012. (Mathieu Belanger/Reuters)

: Fencer Alexander Massialas poses for a portrait during the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Dallas, Texas May 13, 2012. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

: A member of the Edmonton Eskimos cheer squad flies through the air during the first half of their CFL football game against the Calgary Stampeders in Calgary, Alberta September 3, 2012. (Todd Korol/Reuters)

: Boxer Lavarn Harvell (R) connects to the head of Tony Pietrantonio for a knockout during their third round of light heavyweight boxing fight in Atlantic City, New Jersey April 28, 2012. (Tim Shaffer/Reuters)

: Brandon Rios (R) of the U.S. connects to the face with a punch on compatriot Mike Alvarado during the sixth round of their WBO Latino Super Lightweight Title boxing match in Carson, California October 13, 2012. Rios won by TKO in the seventh round. (Danny Moloshok/Reuters)

: New York Mets’ R.A. Dickey (L) scores as the ball gets away from New York Yankees catcher Chris Stewart during the fifth inning of their MLB Interleague baseball game at Citifield in New York, June 24, 2012. (Adam Hunger/Reuters)

: Miami Heat’s LeBron James (L) hugs teammate Dwyane Wade near the end of Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Miami, Florida, June 21, 2012. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

: US swimmer Michael Phelps swims the butterfly leg in the men’s 4x100m medley relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012 in London. (Francois Xavier Marit/GettyImages)

: Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown hoists the Stanley Cup after his team defeated the New Jersey Devils during Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey final in Los Angeles, June 11, 2012. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

: U.S. boxer Timothy Bradley Jr. shows off his physique during an official weigh-in before his bout with Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada June 8, 2012. Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title against the undefeated Bradley at the arena on June 9. (Steve Marcus/Reuters)

: Fans cheer after San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili (20) hit his three-point shot against Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference basketball finals in San Antonio, Texas May 27, 2012. (Mike Stone/Reuters)

: A young baseball fan makes sure there’s not a kernel of popcorn left as she watches the Chicago Cubs play the Arizona Diamondbacks during their MLB National League baseball game in Phoenix, Arizona, June 24, 2012. (Darryl Webb/Reuters)

: China’s Qin Kai performs a dive during the men’s 3m springboard preliminary round at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 6, 2012. (Jorge Silva/Reuters)

: Crew members of Mona Vale surf club break a wave as they compete during their heat at the Ocean Thunder surf boat competition at Dee Why beach in Sydney December 15, 2012. (Daniel Munoz/Reuters)

: Tessa Worley of France crosses the finish line to place third of the women’s Alpine skiing World Cup giant slalom on December 9, 2012 in St. Moritz. Slovenia’s Tina Maze led by over half a second after the first run and held on to take top spot and 100 World Cup points ahead of Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg and Tessa Worley of France. (Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images)

: South Korea’s Hwang Woojin loses control of his horse Shearwater Oscar during the Show Jumping event of the Modern Pentathlon during the 2012 London Olympics at the Equestrian venue in Greenwich Park, London, on August 11, 2012. (John Macdougall/Getty Images)

: North Carolina Tar Heels players take the field for a game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Kenan Stadium on October 27, 2012 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

: Red Bull Renault driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany sits in his Formula One race car during the first practice session of Formula One’s Singapore Grand Prix in Singapore on September 21, 2012. (Punit ParanjpeGetty Images)

: China’s Zheng Tao celebrates breaking the world record after winning the men’s 100m backstroke – S6 swimming event during the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Park Aquatics Centre in east London on August 30, 2012. (Ben Stansall/Getty Images)

: Wrestlers perform during the Lucha Va Voom’s Cinco de Mayan show at the Mayan Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, California on May 04, 2012. Lucha Va Voom is the mixture of elements of Lucha libre, or masked Mexican professional wrestling, with comedy and striptease. Since 2002, the company has toured the US. For the annual Cinco De Mayo show, they have added some more âtraditionalâ Mexican elements like Folklorico dancers, mariachis, Aztec dancers, tequila, and something called “tamales from outer space.” (Joe Klamar/Getty Images)

: US player Serena Williams celebrates with the trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish after her women’s singles final victory over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska on day 12 of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7, 2012. Serena Williams won the match 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. (Glyn Kirk/Getty Images)

: Fireworks light up the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London on July 28, 2012. (Indranil Mukherjee/Getty Images)

: An actor dressed to resemble Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012. (Oliver Morin/Getty Images)

: Li Zijun of China competes during the ladies’ short program at the Cup of China ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Shanghai November 2, 2012. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

: Fireworks explode above Tower Bridge in London on July 27, 2012, to celebrate the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Johannes Eisele/Getty Images)

: US swimmer Michael Phelps competes in the men’s 200m individual medley heats swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 1, 2012 in London. (Francois Xavier Marit/GettyImages)

: US swimmer Michael Phelps competes in the men’s 200m butterfly heats swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Park in London on July 30, 2012. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

: Overall leader’s yellow jersey, British Bradley Wiggins, celebrates at the end of the 53,5 km individual time-trial and nineteenth stage of the 2012 Tour de France cycling race starting in Bonneval and finishing in Chartres, center France, on July 21, 2012. (Pascal Pavani/Getty Images)

: A picture taken with a robotic camera shows a general view of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London. (Francois Xavier Marit/Getty Images)

: Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates after Jamaica won and set a new world record in the men’s 4X100 relay final at the athletics event of the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. (Adrian Dennis/Getty Images)

: Thailand’s Nina Lamsan Ligon riding Butts Leon rides past spectators as she competes in the Cross Country phase of the Eventing competition of the 2012 London Olympics at the Equestrian venue in Greenwich Park, London, July 30, 2012. (Adrian Dennis/Getty Images)

: A lonesome motorcyclist rides across the desert during the stage 11 of the Dakar 2012, between Arica and Arequipa, Chile, on January 12, 2012. French Cyril Despres won stage 11. (Philippe Desmazes/Getty Images)

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2012: Sports Pictures of the Year

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