30 iconic sports photos from Getty Images at the second week of the 2021 Olympics

The 2021 Olympics were a daily deluge of incredible moments, unique achievements and iconic sports photos. Here are the best Getty Images from the second week.

Tamyra Mariama Mensah-Stock of Team United States celebrates defeating Blessing Oborududu of Team Nigeria during the Women’s Freestyle 68kg Gold Medal Match on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Makuhari Messe Hall on August 3, 2021, in Chiba, Japan.

This image of Tamyra Mariama Mensah-Stock of Team USA was captured after she won the Women’s Freestyle 68kg Gold Medal Match. Immediately after she was declared the official winner of the match, Mensah-Stock circled the wrestling mat hoisting the American flag overhead while celebrating. She was overcome with so much emotion and pointed overhead. I was anticipating some type of intense reaction from the Gold Medal Match, so I had positioned myself where I could shoot into a clean, uncluttered background hoping to isolate the winner. Everything came together to create a powerful photo of Mensah-Stock’s historical win.

— Tom Pennington

Hansle Parchment of Team Jamaica finishes first ahead of Grant Holloway of Team United States in the Men’s 110m Hurdles Final on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.

This image was taken with a remote camera which the Getty Images team had set up throughout the stadium to capture all the Athletics events. For every big race, we had 15 remote cameras just pointing at the finish line to cover every possible angle of the finish. During the Men’s 110m Hurdles Final, I was assigned to cover the infield, so I was responsible for the cameras next to the finish line. The low position gave the frame a very intensive, powerful look. This was one of the big races of the track events and always makes great photos at the last several meters when the athletes push really hard to cross the finish line first.

— Matthias Hangst

Team ROC celebrate after winning the Women’s Sabre Team Fencing Gold Medal Match against Team France on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Makuhari Messe Hall on July 31, 2021, in Chiba, Japan.

This image was taken during the Women’s Sabre Team Fencing Gold Medal Match between Team ROC and France. I used a remote camera that was installed in the trusses above the final piste. I had shot several matches before I got an image that finally worked and this one was it! I knew when Team ROC fell to the ground that I had a chance to capture the moment from above. I triggered this camera at the same time that I was using my handheld camera. I use remote cameras as a way to be in two places at once. It gives me multiple angles on a moment that can be used to tell the story of a game or match. They don’t always work out, but when they do, they are really tremendous.

— Elsa

Luiz Francisco of Team Brazil warms up prior to the Men’s Skateboarding Park Preliminary Heat 3 on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Urban Sports Park on August 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.

This image was taken during warmups prior to the Men’s Skateboarding Finals. During warmups, photographers are allowed right up to the edge of the bowl, however, during the competition we have to be much farther back and have to use a longer lens to capture the action. All the skateboarding images I have ever seen are taken with a fisheye lens pretty much right in the riders’ faces. I used this opportunity to get up close to the competitors to get the fisheye perspective while I could. The result is a much stronger and immediate image than what we are regularly able to capture during the actual event.

— Jamie Squire

Tara Davis of Team United States competes in the Women’s Long Jump Final on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.

There were several female athletes with great hair competing in the Athletics competition. One of them was Tara Davis of Team USA. It looks really cool as she lands during the Women’s Long Jump Final and really adds to the intensity of the moment and provides a sense of motion to the picture. Our team tried hard to find different angles of this, and luckily with long jump events, there is more than one round. Covering this discipline was a bit challenging during this year’s Games. We were asked to stay socially distanced in our photo positions, so we could not easily move and act as we would normally would. As photographers, it’s about the one perfect spot for all of us, so it took some patience to get this frame.

— Matthias Hangst

Jorge Urena of Team Spain competes in the Men’s Decathlon Pole Vault on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.

One of the best things about covering Athletics is the variety of track and field events. There were not many opportunities to shoot pole vault in daylight so when I was assigned to the infield for the Men’s Decathlon Pole Vault event, I had this image in mind. I used a fisheye lens to show the roofline of the whole Olympic Stadium and positioned myself low to capture Jorge Urena of Team Spain clearing the bar silhouetted against the blue sky with the sun blazing behind him. I like the pattern of the stadium lights and the focus of the image being the jumper clearing the bar in the center of frame.

— Cameron Spencer

Neisi Patricia Dajomes Barrera of Team Ecuador competes during the Weightlifting – Women’s 76kg Group A on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo International Forum on August 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.

Emotions ran high and were really intense during the weightlifting events throughout the Games. The amount of time these athletes put into training, along with mastering the precision and movement of getting 2-3x their body weight above their heads was truly incredible to witness. In this image, Neisi Patricia Dajomes Barrera of Team Ecuador was on her way to winning a gold medal in the 76kg category and reacted with a big roar. The venue was a beautiful theater and really added to the ambiance of our photos. With no fans, it was so silent as each athlete completed their lift. I shot this photo from out in the audience where you could hear the athletes breathing heavily. As photographers, we took great care in making sure the sound of our cameras didn’t interfere with the athletes’ extreme concentration.

— Chris Graythen

Irek Rizaev of Team ROC practices prior to the Men’s Park Final of the BMX Freestyle on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Urban Sports Park on August 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.

This image was taken during warmups of the Men’s Park Final of BMX Freestyle. There was a little foxhole cutout in the arena for a TV cameraman to sit and capture the action. The photo manager at the venue allowed one person to go into it during warmups before the competition to allow for a unique perspective. The hole was positioned such that the riders could ride up and over. I used a wide-angle lens and waited for one of them to come my way. When Irek Rizaev of Team ROC did, I was able to frame him against the blue sky with the curving edge of the cut-out to make the interesting composition you see here.

— Jaime Squire

Sandrine Gruda of Team France tips off against Brittney Griner of Team United States during the first half of a Women’s Basketball Preliminary Round Group B game on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on August 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.

To get this type of shot during tip-off, I turned my camera upside down and put it on the floor. This camera position helps clean up the background and elevates the players even more, giving them a more heroic feel. When I saw this frame afterward, all I could think about was how isn’t this what these athletes are to many of us, heroes. It was a really cool moment and I was really pleased with the result. This is something I’ve done for a long time while shooting both men’s and women’s basketball and it also paired really nicely with the red pop of color from the floor.

— Mike Ehrmann

Rebeca Andrade of Team Brazil poses with her women’s all-around silver and vault gold medals during the Women’s Floor Exercise Final on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on August 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Jinya Kim of Team South Korea looks dejected following defeat in the Men’s Quarter Final match between Republic Of Korea and Mexico on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at International Stadium Yokohama on July 31, 2021, in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Eden Blecher and Shelly Bobritsky of Team Israel compete in the Artistic Swimming Duet Technical Routine on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on August 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (L) of Team Jamaica leads her Women’s 100m Semi-Final field on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Heimana Reynolds of Team United States competes during the Men’s Skateboarding Park Preliminary Heat 1 on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Urban Sports Park on August 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Swimmers start the race in the Men’s 10km Marathon Swimming on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Odaiba Marine Park on August 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Jang Woo-jin of Team South Korea serves as he competes against China’s Fan Zhendong during their men’s team semifinal table tennis match on day twelve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on August 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Nikoletta Kiss of Team Hungary passes the ball while being challenged by Anna Lagerquist of Team Sweden during the Women’s Preliminary Round Group B handball match between Hungary and Sweden on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yoyogi National Stadium on August 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Caeleb Dressel of Team United States competes in the Men’s 50m Freestyle Final on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on August 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Jorge Urena of Team Spain competes in the Men’s Decathlon High Jump on day twelve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Clarissa Johnston and Laura Strugnell of Team South Africa compete in the Artistic Swimming Duet Technical Routine on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on August 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Simone Consonni and Filippo Ganna of Team Italy celebrate after setting a new World record and winning a gold medal during the Men’s team pursuit finals, gold medal of the track cycling on day twelve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Izu Velodrome on August 4, 2021, in Izu, Japan. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Lexi Thompson of Team United States plays during a practice round at Kasumigaseki Country Club ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games on August 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Max Hoff and Jacob Schopf of Team Germany compete during the Men’s Kayak Double 1000m Semi-final 2 on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Sea Forest Waterway on August 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Koki Saito of Team Japan riding Chilensky competes during the Jumping Individual Final on day twelve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Equestrian Park on August 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Elina Svitolina of Team Ukraine celebrates victory in her Women’s Singles Bronze Medal match against Elena Rybakina of Team Kazakhstan on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 31, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Kevin Peponnet and Jeremie Mion of Team France head out to compete in the Men’s 470 class on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Enoshima Yacht Harbour on August 1, 2021, in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Anna-Maria Wagner of Team Germany and Guusje Steenhuis of Team Netherlands compete during the Mixed Team Bronze Medal A on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Nippon Budokan on July 31, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Gian Marco Berti of Team San Marino competes in Trap Mixed Team Qualification on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Asaka Shooting Range on July 31, 2021, in Asaka, Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Viktor Axelsen of Team Denmark competes against Kevin Cordon of Team Guatemala during a Men’s Singles Semi-final match on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza on August 1, 2021, in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Tingmao Shi of Team China competes in the Women’s 3m Springboard Final on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on August 1, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)