Gr8at: Striking Sporting Images from 2021

When I saw this feature on the BBC website celebrating their favourite images of the year I just had to share my favourites with you. 2021 has been tough but I hope you all have a wonderful 2022. All photographs from Getty Images and subject to copyright

This explosive image is Joey Logano and Cole Custer following an on-track incident at the Nascar Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida

This scenic shot is of USA’s David Colturi diving from the 27.5m rock platform at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Mayo, Ireland

Taken in March, Players of the Ordynskoye district ice hockey team and HC Sibir Novosibirsk take part in a friendly on the frozen Orda River in Russia’s Novosibirsk region

The inspirational American gymnast Simone Biles captured using combined multiple exposures, warming up prior to the women’s balance beam final during the Tokyo Olympics

Britain’s Emma Raducanu tosses a tennis ball to fans just after beating Maria Sakkari to reach the US Open women’s final. She would win the final two days later, in my sporting highlight of the year.

China’s Zheng Tao competes in the men’s 100m freestyle on day two of the Tokyo Paralympics. He winning 4 gold medals in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic

China’s badminton team cheer in a circle before the Uber Cup final against Japan of the Thomas & Uber Cup in Aarhus, Denmark. China won 3-1.

Germany’s Tobias Muller falls in this brilliantly timed photograph as Austria’s Johannes Aujesky competes in the men’s ski cross at the FIS Cross World Cup in Zhangjiakou, China