25 most iconic sports photos from Getty Images this week

The sports world makes for a beautiful palette but individual images can get lost in the constant shuffle. Here are the most iconic sports photos from Getty Images this week.

Mohamad Haidar of Lebanon reacts during the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 Group D match between Lebanon and Algeria at Al Janoub Stadium on December 4, 2021, in Al Wakrah, Qatar.

This image is of Mohamad Haidar of Lebanon reacting during a group stage match against Algeria. I love photographing soccer as its tempo varies so widely depending on the opponents. It’s not as quick of a back and forth, like basketball, you can’t kick for a field goal to get a few points like football, the goals are all or nothing. I like this image because it shows the frustration of missing one of the few chances Lebanon had. I was also drawn to the heart shapes I can see in the frame — from Haidar’s arms to the tattoos on his chest. To me, this image portrays frustration, determination, and passion, all without seeing the athlete’s face.

— Maddie Meyer

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics reacts to his consecutive 3-pointer during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 7, 2021, in Los Angeles, California.

This moment happened early in the game between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers and was a reaction of Jayson Tatum’s consecutive 3-pointer that kept the game close. Tatum turned to the crowd as he stuck out his tongue in celebration as the Lakers called timeout and the fans booed. The Celtics had the momentum, but it didn’t last as the Lakers played a better second half and ended up winning 117-102.

— Harry How

Travis Ganong of Team United States competes in the Men’s Downhill during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup at Beaver Creek Resort on December 4, 2021, in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

I shot this photo of Team USA downhiller Travis Ganong during the Men’s Downhill race on the famed Birds of Prey racecourse at Beaver Creek Resort in Colorado. This famous racecourse drops almost 2,500 vertical feet from the start house to the finish line. This race is one of my favorite assignments every year. I shot Ganong in a unique spot on the course which features a “bump” that the racers typically launch off and catch air. The position is blind for the photographers, meaning we can’t see the skiers as they approach the gate — we can see the skiers higher on the racecourse and count down and anticipate when the skiers should launch off the bump in the racecourse. This location is backlit, with the sun is behind the skiers. This lighting element combined with the dark trees in the background produce a clean dark background that the racers really stand out against as they fly through the air. Ganong put down a great run and clipped the gate as he skied through this section of the racecourse. All of these elements combine to create a very dramatic action photo!

— Tom Pennington

Daniel Gafford of the Washington Wizards celebrates after dunking in front of Lauri Markkanen of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Capital One Arena on December 3, 2021, in Washington, DC.

One way of keeping our sports coverage fresh is through the use of remote cameras during games and matches. These images are often a gamble as we cannot review the images until the end of the game. In this case, the camera was placed on the floor prior to the game in a cutout called the ‘mousehole’ underneath the basketball standard. With the action happening at the far end of the court from where I was sitting, I triggered the remote and it wasn’t until after the game that I saw that I had gotten this image of Daniel Gafford of the Washington Wizards celebrating after dunking against the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the dunk was probably the moment most fans would like to see, I enjoyed the uniqueness of his body language and the ball floating after the fact. It’s often an image that’s extraordinary of the ordinary that stands out – and an image that makes viewers ask questions that makes it special.

— Patrick Smith

Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 NASCAR Cup Series Ford performs a burnout during the Burnouts on Broadway December 1, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.

The second annual “Burnouts on Broadway” has quickly become one of my favorite events of the year. Playoff contenders are afforded the opportunity to compete in a burnout contest as Nashville closes down Broadway Street to allow fans and tourists to take in the competition. Our team sets up in various locations on Broadway with the event offering many photographic opportunities. I feel being at the end of the street really set the scene as the traffic and streetlights created a true feeling of place. The city wind seemed to whip straight down the thoroughfare, so I learned to shoot early, as those there quickly found themselves in a white haze that was “Music City” seconds beforehand.

— Jared C. Tilton

Mack Hollins of the Miami Dolphins makes a touchdown reception against the New York Giants in the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 5, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Rob Gronkowski of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons with teammate Tom Brady during the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 5, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after diving to make a catch for first down during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on December 5, 2021, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Jared Rhoden of the Seton Hall Pirates takes the floor as he is introduced before a game against the Wagner Seahawks at Prudential Center on December 1, 2021, in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Kurtis MacDermid of the Colorado Avalanche slams Josh Anderson of the Montreal Canadiens into the boards during the second period at Centre Bell on December 2, 2021, in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Hulk of Atletico celebrates with the champion trophy after winning the match between Atletico MG and Red Bull Bragantino as part of Brasileirao 2021 at Mineirao Stadium on December 5, 2021, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)

Remy Siemsen of Sydney FC celebrates scoring a goal during the round one A-League Women match between Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, on December 4, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool takes a corner kick during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux on December 4, 2021, in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Ellen White of England celebrates after scoring their side’s third goal and becoming the England Women All-Time Top Goal Scorer during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Qualifier group D match between England and Latvia at Keepmoat Stadium on November 30, 2021, in Doncaster, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet performs a burnout during the Burnouts on Broadway December 1, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Mick Schumacher of Germany driving the No. 47 Haas F1 Team VF-21 Ferrari climbs from his car after crashing during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on December 5, 2021, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)

Pierre Gasly of France driving the No. 10 Scuderia AlphaTauri AT02 Honda during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on December 4, 2021, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Vincent Kriechmayr of Team Austria competes in the Men’s Super G during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup at Beaver Creek Resort on December 3, 2021, in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

James Crawford of Team Canada competes in the Men’s Super G during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup at Beaver Creek Resort on December 2, 2021, in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill punches challenger Kandi Wyatt during their title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 4, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. McCaskill retained her title with a seventh-round TKO. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney connects with a punch on Joseph Diaz Jr. in a title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 4, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Haney retained his titles with a unanimous decision. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

Yuting Seki of China hits out of the 18th green bunker during the third round of the 2021 JLPGA Qualifying Tournament at Katsuragi Golf Club on December 2, 2021, in Fukuroi, Shizuoka, Japan. (Photo by Ken Ishii/Getty Images)

Captain Shamil Tarpischev, Danil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Aslan Karatsev, Karen Kachanov and Evgeny Donskoy of The Russian Tennis Federation celebrate winning the Davis Cup following the Men’s Singles match between Danil Medvedev and Marin Cilic of the Davis Cup Final between The Russian Tennis Federation and Croatia at Madrid Arena on December 5, 2021, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Annalise Jones competes in the Junior Women Short Program during Day Three of the British Figure Skating Championships at Ice Sheffield on December 2, 2021, in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Riders warm up ahead of UCI Track Champions League Round 3 at Lee Valley Velopark Velodrome on December 3, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)