There really are some fantastic sporting sculptures around the world. After writing posts on colour and black and white sporting photographs, I thought it was about time to celebrate another form of creativity that captures the legacies within sport. Have you seen any of them up close? Is there one that particularly jumps out at you?
Supreme Formula 1 star Ayrton Senna racer tragically died on the track in Imola, San Marino in 1994. The three-time World Champion’s legacy is commemorated with this reflective statue, which contains a quote from the iconic Brazilian: “I think I’m very far from a way of life that I would like .”
Eagled eyed readers will be aware that that this statue came from one of my favourite sporting photographs. This fantastic statue of Sir Tom Finney is located in the footballer’s tome town of Preston, outside of The National Football Museum.
One of only two in the list to feature a sports star still living, the bronze portrayal of former Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee is a delight. Located outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, it perfectly captures the motion that used to strike fear in opposition batsmen (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images).
Nottingham Forest are the only team to have won the European Cup and later be playing in the third tier within their domestic league. The statue of manager Brian Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor celebrates the 1980 and 1981 winning teams.
Second baseman Frank White was as near to a safe pair of hands as you are ever going to get. Winner of the Gold Glove Award eight times, including six consecutive seasons from 1977 to 1982, he has had his number 20 jersey retired by his Kansas City Royals team, as well as this graceful statue. White has since coached and commented, and won an at-large seat on the jackson County Legislature.
Of course, sport wouldn’t be anything without its fans. The Green Bay Packers unveiled this statue to celebrate the post-touchdown celebration of a player jumping into the stands behind the end zone, known as the Lambeau Leap.
Alex Raphael 
I like the Zidane one.
It’s kind of been forgotten, but before he got sent off he did an incredible dinked penalty. In a World Cup Final, with the whole world watching. Zidane would have taken one of the penalties too. An astonishing player. His volley to win the European Cup against Leverkusen was sensational.
He was an amazing player.
Great post, Alex. The one that jumps out at me is the statue of Sir Tom Finney.
Thanks Ann 🙂 If you check the link to the black and white photos above, you can find out more about the photo it was based on.
Tom Finney, for dramatic art; Dennis Lilee, because I’d like to have been half as good a fast bowler
Lillee really was ferocious, wasn’t he? Amazing to think the batsmen at the time didn’t have helmets. It’s a shame Finney didn’t win anything. It would be great to see footage of him. Did you have a favourite footballer?
Actually, rugby was my game. I played that and cricket until I was 45. Not that I know much about it, Steven Gerard seems a good man to me.
My father is Welsh so has a huge love for the game too. That 70s side they had with JPR Williams and Gareth Edwards sounded incredible. I was ok at playing. In cricket, my bowling was classed at chucking 😦
P.S. You might find this one interesting: http://derrickjknight.com/2012/06/17/six-leg-byes/
These are wonderful Alex. Great post, thanks for sharing
I’m glad you liked them. If you like this post, you’ll definitely like the two posts mentioned in the intro.
As always great post mate. The Zidane one was apparently on display in Doha a while back. In Athens this weekend I saw an incredible sculpture http://memorysensory.com/sculpture-runner-in-athens/ in honour of the first man to win the modern marathon in 1896.
From what I understood, it was outdoors but someone complained so they moved it to a museum. That statue is awesome. Athens must have been incredible. Would love to go at some point.
Lovely article. The Brian Clough/Peter Taylor statue looks like the Derby County 1972 league championship win. Nottingham Forest were European cup winners in 1979 v Malmo and 1980 v Hamburg.
Lovely pictures. Thank you
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