As 2015 comes to a close, it presents the opportunity to look back at some of the phenomenal sports that have been occurring throughout the year. I wanted to share my eight favourite images from the sporting world, as seen from a wider number in this feature by The Daily Mail. Β If you are a fan of sporting photographs you should definitely check out my two previous posts, on the best black and white and colour sporting shots.

The Olympic Stadium certainly saw some spectacular moments during London 2012, but this stunning photograph of France’s Renaud Lavillenie in the men’s pole vault shows the magic still lingers even three years later.

As one of the oldest sports, horse racing can also be one of the most dangerous, as this superbly timed shot of jockey David Noonan demonstrates.

As competitive as elite level sport is, it also provides the opportunity for some beautiful images, such a this one of Tania Cognotto of Italy in the 3m springboard semi final in Russia.

Racing at high speed is always going to be dangerous, and it doesn’t take much to go wrong for there to be such a potential disaster. With such a incredible pile up, it’s quite astonishing that NASCAR driver Austin Dillon and those around only suffered mild bruising.

It’s not always glamorous being a footballer, as demonstrated by this well-captured shot of Wolves’ Richard Stearman during an FA Cup tie against Fulham.

With four Olympic gold medals, a Tour de France victory and a knighthood, Sir Bradley Wiggins is almost superhuman. His successful attempt at breaking the hour cycling attempt was therefore perfectly expressed.

This photograph of Nico Rosberg during pre-season testing at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain displays a different side of the high-octane Formula 1 world.

If football referees thought they had it bad, this snapshot of Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte and the unfortunate Howard Foster reminds us all otherwise.
Great photographs!
Pre-season testing in Jerez looks like a UFO has landed!
I know! I thought that too. I had to check it wasn’t Roswell.
Wonderful photos. Thanks, Alex!
So glad you liked them. I really did want a nice balance and eight different sports covered. The guy from the snow picture’s night got worse as they lost on penalties in the end. You’d have thought they’d call it off!
It looks like a flying saucer is following Nico Rosberg. XD
I know. Like Close Encounters of the Third Kind π
That poor referee getting a hook from Joshua.
It was a really great fight. Had a bit of everything. I was watching it with some friends who are big boxing fans. That incident was at the end of the first round. The ref had to give an extra minute for everyone to calm down.
I’m not that into boxing, but I hear about this fight and how good it was. I think the Fury fight sort of overshadowed every other fight happening.
It really was something. The Fury fight was higher profile as it was for the World title, but fights that go to points are rarely as exciting.
I found the whole build up to the Fury fight a bit much, he just has the ability to rub people up the wrong way by chatting rubbish.
Rubbish is a polite way of putting it.
I was thinking of a few other words but I didn’t want to swear on your blog because I don’t know if you’d mind or not.
His way of thinking is beneath contempt. Out of curiosity, what sports are you most into?
He is a major a***hole if ever there was one. I like football, cricket and tennis. Watching them is great, playing them is another story.
I think that goes for most of us haha. Apart from when the main striker misses a sitter!
Oh that is a really bad thing, I’m the person who shouts at the television when that happens.
Wow, these are great shots!! Amazing choices! π
You should have seen some of the ones that didn’t make the cut. Is there one in particular you wish you could have taken?
oh gosh.. it is so difficult to decide.. let me see.. The first one I think π
The framing in that one is really superb. Nice choice π
Yes.. it definitely would have given me vertigo π
Very touching! Beautiful photos π
I’m so glad you like them. They really are astonishing shots.
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