Best sports photos of 2024: Photographers explain stories behind images
2024-12-29
Category: sports

Another year of brilliant sport. Another year of stunning sports photography.Getty Images' team of award-winning photographers covered more than 50,000 sports events in 2024, including Euro 2024 and the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.Featuring the world's second tallest man, a Taylor Swift kiss and Cristiano Ronaldo's tears, BBC Sport brings you 24 of the best sports photos of 2024 - in the words of the photographers who took them.
Hector Vivas: This is a digital composite image from the men's 100m final at the  Olympics. I attached my lens to a clamp to keep it still and used a remote shutter release. This image has eight different photos edited together in layers. What makes it special is not only the story of the race, which was extremely close, but it also allowed me to synthesise 10 seconds in a single photo, which gave me the opportunity to tell this story in a different way. Seeing the whole race in a single image generated a lot of interest.
Cameron Spencer: When capturing rugby league, try photos are often the best action shots. I was very close to the players as Joseph Manu of the Sydney Roosters ended up in a unique position in attempting to score a try. The result was a dynamic moment that I had never witnessed while covering the sport.
Adam Pretty: While shooting underwater photos in the diving pool at the World Aquatics Championships, I noticed the light shifting away, leaving the pool in full shadow. Searching for a new angle, I spotted a small patch of daylight filtering through the scaffold dive tower, illuminating some of the divers. Still in my wetsuit, I quickly climbed to an elevated photo position that offered a stunning view of Doha's skyline.I was incredibly fortunate - Annika Bornebusch performed a dive that perfectly placed her in that last sliver of light. Adding to the magic, she was the only athlete in a red swimsuit, creating a striking visual contrast. It was one of those rare moments when everything aligns perfectly for a fraction of a second - the kind of moment sports photographers dream of capturing.
Andy Lyons: It was an uneventful night at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati before I noticed a fan jump over the fence during the during the Major League Baseball game between Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians. I thought it was a college student pulling a stunt, but then I saw a police officer chasing him with a Taser in hand.What happened next was surreal. The fan executed a perfect back flip, sticking the landing like a gymnast, which immediately caught my attention as a former gymnastics coach. The officer's second shot hit its mark and this image captured the moment. Additional officers arrived, handcuffed the fan and escorted him off the field. This photo quickly gained traction online and shows the importance of always being alert and ready to capture the unexpected.
Michael Reaves: This image was taken during the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, where Morteza Mehrzadselakjani and the Iran team won their third successive sitting volleyball gold medal. Mehrzadselakjani, who is 8ft 1in, is the tallest Paralympian in history and the second tallest man in the world. My hope was to capture not only the team's victory but to illustrate his height in a single image.
Hector Vivas: I took this image during the Saudi Games in Riyadh. During the competition I had freedom to move around the venue, and that helped me look for different creative options. One of them was finding an audio panel that had some small LEDs. I brought my camera very close to this small orange LED so that it overlapped weightlifter Mahmoud Al-Humayd.
Richard Heathcote: Boxing outdoors and in the middle of a football pitch is a different challenge. This fight - on the centre circle of Selhurst Park in London - was a good match-up and went all the way to the judges' scorecards. You have a high chance of being blocked by the referee as he moves around the fighters, so you must stay alert and take your chances when you can. In this image Richard Riakporhe unleashes an uppercut, missing Chris Billam-Smith's chin and just clipping the end of his nose, which I was able to capture from between the ropes.
Alex Broadway: The start ramp in BMX often makes for a good picture. At the Olympics in Paris this was no different, with the addition of a large BMX graphic making for a great background.Positioning myself at the end of the first straight and using a 300mm lens, I hoped I could frame the riders clean in the air, with the start ramp graphic behind them. It took a couple of runs to get the right angle and then it was down to waiting for a good start. Luckily for me, the riders in this women's semi-final were all really close over the first jump and produced a nice image that captures the intensity and tightness of the racing.
Ezra Shaw: After the Super Bowl ended I was tasked with finding pop star Taylor Swift on the field. She was ushered out with a lot of security guards, then quickly led into a gated pen with the Kansas City Chiefs team. The Chiefs were being awarded the Super Bowl trophy and, as a sports photographer, that is one of the most important pictures to get after the game.I left my spot by Swift to see if I could get a picture of the trophy presentation, but then realised that a picture of her with boyfriend and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce would probably be more important. I got as close as I could and, when Kelce came off the stage, he came right over and gave Swift a big kiss. I was lucky enough to be in a great spot for that moment.
This fantastic image by French photographer Jerome Brouillet of AFP became a viral sensation during the Olympics, quickly capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. It was one of the most talked-about sports images of the year, showcasing how powerful photography can still be in shaping modern culture. The image not only resonated with viewers but also reinforced the immense power and reach of social media in amplifying moments like this, demonstrating photography's enduring impact in the digital age. Laurence Griffiths, Getty Images director of content
Clive Rose: One of the best things about covering artistic swimming at the Olympics is that teams will perform new routines, giving you something fresh to work with. You never really know what will happen when teams walk out to start their routines.In this case, Team France - the home nation and first performance of the night - performed in a new costume that included faces on the back of their heads, which caught me by surprise as it looked very strange at first glance. I'd decided to cover the 'land-based' part of the performance. Nowadays, this part of the performance can be quite interesting. It definitely added a unique aspect to the routine and makes you look deeper into the image.
Clive Mason: I can't lie - I feel pretty lucky to have shot this frame. To capture Novak Djokovic, one of the all-time greats, playing such an unusual shot and to show his athleticism was a real buzz. It was one of those moments when after I'd finished shooting the rest of the point (which Djokovic won) I was afraid to look at the image on the camera screen for fear that the autofocus may have jumped on to the net and not his face. Thankfully it did exactly what it was supposed to...
Alex Pantling: In motorsport it's very rare that you get to see the faces of the drivers. On this occasion, it's the connection between the viewer and the athlete that makes it so unique. I love capturing natural portraits and Carrie Schreiner stared directly down my lens just seconds before she left the pit lane during F1 Academy's testing session in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
David Ramos: Using a remote camera positioned at the finish line allowed me to capture this dramatic and unexpected moment from an exclusive viewpoint in the final of the women's 100m T63 final at the Paralympics. Ambra Sabatini in lane six loses her balance and veers into lane seven, colliding with Monica Graziana Contrafatto and sending both to the ground. Noelle Lambert in the foreground perfectly frames Contrafatto. Remote cameras are crucial for capturing such unique angles that are otherwise unreachable.
Tim de Waele: This striking image was captured in Spain during the Clasica de Almeria 2024, one of the early-season one-day races. Unlike stricter races, this event offers a bit more creative freedom and allows photographers to experiment.The photograph beautifully illustrates a unique 'peloton within a peloton' - the symmetry and harmony of the cyclists blending with the bare, wintry trees that form their own natural group. The Spanish winter backdrop, with its muted tones and leafless trees, contrasts with the vibrant colors of the peloton, making the cyclists stand out even more.Shooting from the back of a motorbike travelling at 35mph added to the challenge, as cycling photography often offers only one chance to capture the moment. During the race's two local laps, I spotted this location on the first lap from behind. I decided it would be even more compelling to capture the scene head on during the second lap, and that's how it all came together.
Robbie Jay Barratt: Like every photographer at Euro 2024, I was waiting for that big Cristiano Ronaldo moment. He hadn't scored yet in the tournament and when he picked up the ball for an extra-time penalty in Portugal's last-16 game against Slovenia, I presumed this was the moment. He missed. Thankfully I stayed on him on my long lens waiting for any reaction as he had been quite emotive in every game, appearing desperate to score.At the end of the first half of extra time Ronaldo walked towards the bench and players flocked around to console him. I stuck with him with his back to me during the team talk as I could see he was emotional. It wasn't until he turned around to get in position to start the second half that I could actually see his face. He was in floods of tears.
This incredible image by Luis Tato of AFP captures the dramatic moment when Tanzanian driver Yasin Nasser loses control of his Ford Fiesta Mk II, causing it to roll during the World Rally Championship Safari Rally in Kenya. While it's undoubtedly a moment Nasser would prefer to forget, both he and co-driver Ali Katumba walked away unharmed despite the car being destroyed. Laurence Griffiths, Getty Images director of content
Elsa Garrison: We already had two photographers covering the artistic gymnastics apparatus finals at the Olympics, so my job was to find different angles.Throughout the week I had been following American gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles on social media as well as interviews with the media. They had been singing the praises of Brazilian Rebeca Andrade, so I had a feeling that, if she made podium, they would do something special.I found a spot that was as close to head on as I could get. I wasn't too high that I couldn't see their faces, but I was high enough to get a clean background. What makes this picture special is that it embodies what the Olympic spirit is all about - athletes supporting and celebrating each other.
Adam Pretty: I was positioned on the boat on course for the 10km open water swim at the Olympics. It was crowded on the River Seine - there were about 10 other boats - so it was tough to find a good position. The mural stood out as the athletes swam past it, and I think everyone took this type of picture early on.The light got better as the race went on and I sweet-talked the boat driver into putting me in the right spot. By then, most people had lost interest in capturing the shot. The light was just hitting the athlete and not the mural, so there is good separation between them. You also need the right athlete. If they breathe to the other side, the image doesn't work. If they breathe very low, you can't see their face, so you need a few things to come together.
Steph Chambers: While covering Kinga Drozdz competing in wheelchair fencing during the Paralympics, I noticed how she let out a boisterous scream after nearly every point - even in her earlier rounds when the arena lights were not as flattering. However, the joyful reactions were hidden behind her mask. For the semi-final - when the arena lights are lowered to create a solid black background - I made sure I was lined up with her chair for match point in case she celebrated without her helmet. The prediction was correct - she erupted.
Andy Hone: This image was taken from the tower at the Circuit of the Americas during the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. I shot it while leaning 70 metres above the circuit, dangling in an awkward position to get the reflection from the glass on the side of the tower. Not for the faint-hearted - but worth the result.
Naomi Baker: A key aspect of photographing gymnastics is observing routines and warm-ups closely to prepare for capturing the perfect shot. Watching the athletes rehearse allows you to anticipate their movements and understand the nuances of their performances. When gymnasts mount the beam, it's always an incredibly athletic and impressive moment, full of precision and grace. This particular image at the British Championships in Liverpool was one I envisioned to highlight the extraordinary skill and balance in that decisive moment.
This image by AFP's Jasper Jacobs from the Badkamers Trophy cyclo-cross event in Belgium is beautifully composed, perfectly splitting the frame between the competitors and spectators to highlight the contrasting elements of the race. The lines in the sand left by the riders add a dynamic touch, emphasising the difficulty of the event and the challenges the competitors face as they navigate the tough terrain. It's a stunning visual that captures both the intensity and the atmosphere of the race. Laurence Griffiths, Getty Images director of content
Aitor Alcalde: It was a challenging day for outdoor photography at the Paralympics, with strong winds and rain throughout the morning in Paris. I arrived at the venue before the blind football semi-final between Argentina and Brazil and joked with colleagues about the gloomy sky during the earlier game. Then, about an hour before sunset, the clouds began to clear and I noticed the wind blowing directly towards me. I had a feeling it would create a dramatic sunset.From experience, I've learned that windy conditions often lead to striking skies, so I decided to wait for the moment to unfold. Sure enough, patience - combined with a bit of good timing - proved to be one of the most valuable qualities in capturing this shot.