by Messianic Grealish leads Treble celebrations
“Hang it in the Louvre,” suggested the subject of this instantly iconic photo from Manchester City’s treble-winning trophy parade. Jack Grealish certainly has a point, and boy does he know how to have fun. Not since we had seen such an intoxicating atmosphere since the Ashes win, AKA the Pieterson and Flintoff parade. When Grealish is caught in a half-believing stupor, Grealish absorbs every drop of greed that such a thing deserves. And why not?
Lexy Ilsley (Getty Images)
The big outside
There is always something special about watching sporting events outdoors, away from stadiums. This beautiful image taken of the peloton cycling down the Coll de la Creueta during Stage 3 of the 102nd Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in La Molina, Spain is a perfect example. You can almost feel the relief as the riders descend the hill after battling through the captured landscape behind them.
(David Ramos/Getty Images)
Wide bows out in style
What a way to make a bow. When batting in England’s second spell in the fifth Ashes test, Broad denied singles from the first five balls of Starc’s innings; the sixth was smashed over square leg for a six. It would prove to be the last ball of Broad’s batting career, but the last ball of his bowling career was just as crucial. After capturing his 603rd wicket in the previous round, Broad came to take the last wicket of Australia’s second innings to win the Test and draw the series with his 604th and final wicket for England.
Gareth Copley (Getty Images)
Agony and ecstasy
The pleasure and the pain. Alexis Holmes of the United States celebrates after anchoring her team to the gold medal, as Femke Bol of the Netherlands falls short of the finish in the final of the 4×400-meter medley relay during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Bol, however, would finish the games with two gold medals.
Petr David Josek (AP)
Technical excellence
In photography, we often talk about light, color and composition – and they all come together in this image of Coco Gauff, attending a third-round singles match against Bernarda Pera at the Australian Open 2023. An equally strong component, a great example of this is form – how we see three-dimensional objects within a two-dimensional photograph. It is about the art of perspective, the study of light and the mastery of shadows. It gives a picture closer to reality – you may not see the details in the shadows here, but it’s more realistic than in many images where you can.
(Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Much of the impact of this goal was due to its unexpected nature. Manchester United haven’t had their best of seasons and Everton were furious and fired up courtesy of a 10-point deduction for breaking the Premier League’s financial rules. Alejandro Garnacho silenced the fiery home faithful at Goodison Park with his incredible third-minute effort, taking a few steps back before leaping to convert Diogo Dalot’s cross with an unstoppable bicycle kick that lifted the ball past Jordan Pickford and into the net . It was one of the greatest of its genre. The feat was captured by Telegraph regular Jon Super, who, as it happens, captured something similar a few years ago – Wayne Rooney’s 2011 stunner against Manchester City.
Jon Super (AP)
The brutality of ‘gentle science’
Robert Helenius of Finland delivers a left hook to the side of Anthony Joshua, the British heavyweight, in an image that perfectly captures the violence and brutality of the sport often called ‘the sweet science’. Joshua would go on to win in the seventh round at the O2 Arena in London, although fans booed him throughout the bout and he didn’t land anything of note until the huge right that ended the competition. After outclassing Otto Wallin in December, former unified champion Joshua should get another title shot in 2024, against Filip Hrgovic for the IBF belt, or maybe even Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk for the other titles .
Andrew Couldridge (Reuters)
Snyman defies the odds
More than a number and hunt at the pack – but, on this occasion, to any advantage. South African green RG Snyman runs towards the line to score the only try of the game during the Springboks’ World Cup semi-final win over England.
Thomas Samson (Getty Images)
Rubiales sparks anger
Technically this isn’t the best photo, but in terms of narrative, news value and impact, this is the sports picture of the year. Jenni Hermoso is kissed by Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Association, after Spain beat England in the World Cup final: cue ferocious recriminations, international scandal, national soul-searching in Spain, lost job, hunger strike and court. case.
Noah Llamas (Shutterstock)
Earps dive in vain
Remote cameras have come to the fore recently, especially in football where they can cover angles that photographers can’t reach. Here, England goalkeeper Mary Earps dives in vain as Australia’s Sam Kerr scores her team’s first World Cup semi-final goal, leading the Lionesses to a 3-1 win over the hosts in Sydney. Much of the power of this picture comes from the connection the viewer gets from Mary’s long gaze at the ball as it enters the unseen net.
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Verstappen gets wet
A traditional F1 celebration which is now routine for Max Verstappen. Here we see him celebrating with champagne on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. What sets this particular image apart is the detail captured in such close collaboration. Bubbles anyone?
Stephane Mahe (Reuters)
relieved Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood shows us a very different side of victory: the relief and exhaustion that is so evident in his expression as he basks in the afternoon sunshine after winning his singles match on the final day of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club, as Europe saw from the Americans.
Andrew Medicini (AP)
Packer powers through
Humor, determination and relief are captured here as England’s Marlie Packer scores a try during the Women’s Six Nations match against Scotland at Kingston Park. Packer scored a hat-trick of tries in the Red Roses 58-0 win.
Will Matthews (PA)
Goodbye Frankie (sort of)
It is fitting that we end with another major break and, by way of symmetry, another picture stretched from a hand to the sky. Frankie Dettori, here with groom Chetan Singh after The Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes, has amassed 3,345 wins in his 35-year career, including 23 classics. Not bad. Not bad at all. He will continue to race in the United States – and some believe he may even return to Ascot next year – but this year was his official, European farewell for a long time.
Steven Cargill (Racingfotos.com)
