The 100 Most Amazing Sports Pictures

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Highlight reels and humorous press conferences may be most entertaining, but it's the creative photographers and their epic action-shots that define the sports realm.

From glaring lights creating an intriguing display to bloopers frozen in time, these awe-inspiring pictures continue to shadow the athletic world.

Now it's time to please your eyes with the most amazing sports shots ever.

Athletics at their finest.

 

All images from The Beauty of Sports unless noted otherwise.

100. The Pinnacle of Beauty

A punt has never been so glorious.

99. Spreading the Wealth

A worldwide phenomenon.

 

Image via JZ Sports

98. Bart Wellens Is a Champion

Anybody have a toothpick?

97. Covering Every Corner

Epic.

 

Image via I Love Snowboarding

96. Eager Warriors at the Rugby World Cup

Their version of the National Anthem is far superior to ours. 

95. Lost in Translation

He immediately knew he made a wrong turn at Albuquerque.

94. Making History

Perfectly timed, as usual.

 

Image via I Love Snowboarding

93. Flight Plan

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Two for the price of one.

 

Image via JZ Sports

92. Rafael Nadal Shares His Secret

Impeccable form.

91. Felix Sturm Gets Pumped

The key is to blind your opponent.

90. Novak Djokovic Revealed

There are actually 10 of him during matches.

89. Robbie Maddison Risks It All

That view must be phenomenal.

88. Quiet Domination

Sheer intimidation.

87. In Retrospect

Treacherous skies never fail to enhance a shot.

86. The Cheap Shot Heard Round the World

Larry Merchant can take care of this one.

85. Richard Howell Hangs Tight

A bit excessive with nobody in sight.

84. Muddy Waters

Row...such a simple word.

83. Rob Gronkowski's Leap of Faith

Nick Laham/Getty Images

‪We thought Rob Gronkowski was tough, but he's just elusive.

82. Beating the Odds

Solid across the board.

 

Image via I Love Snowboarding

81. Diamond Delight

This will happen every time Albert Pujols hits a homerun in Anaheim.

80. By the Horns

It's about time humans stop messing with bulls.

 

Image via Barnorama.com

79. Rugby World Cup at Its Best

While symmetrically enjoyable, this shot displays the pigskin bladder's lack of significance.

78. Fabolina Molina Sustains Greatness

Another nine-to-five in the books.

77. Adam Kleeberger Rises Above

The King of the Castle.

76. David Tyree Defines His Career

The play that headlined 18-1.

 

Image via njmonthly.com

75. Brayan Pena Makes a Friend

Even a mantis is praying for the Royals.

74. Tripoli Patterson Sees Light at the End of the Tunnel

So we're assuming the cameraman gets leveled.

 

Image via 27east.com

73. Jessica Ennis Takes a Breather

Once again combining sexiness and form.

72. Freestyle Running

The start of any productive day.

71. High Expectations for Erik Guay

Yeah it's probably best not to look at how far he's come.

70. Saimaiti Aishan Walks a Tight Line

No big deal.

69. Butterfly Meets Bee

Ali vs. Liston...it doesn't get better.

 

Image via wireeagle.auburn.edu

68. Culture Shock

Constant storms can't stop these youths from hitting the hardwood.

67. Training Camp Confessions

Rookie treatment.

66. Seoul Entertainment

The illustrious sport of underwater taekwondo.

65. Charlotte Voce Takes a Walk on the Wild Side

The emergency exit can be difficult to handle.

64. Swimming with the Fans

You can catch more than a homerun in there.

63. Maria Sharapova Enjoys the Clay

The former World No. 1 looks good on any material.

62. On the Prowl

If only all sports were played in water.

61. Cut from the Same Mold

Cookie-cutter superstars at the ITU world championship series.

60. Rex Ryan's Dream

Putting the best foot forward.

 

Image via Boston.com

59. Reggie Jackson Becomes One with the Plate

This was obviously in October.

58. Treacherous Hurdles

The key is to not look ahead.

57. Kerri Strug Becomes Immortal

Mike Powell/Getty Images

Even deodorant couldn't stop her at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

56. The Play

The band is out on the field...

55. My Chick Bad

She's not to be messed with.

54. Sean MacColl Reaches His Peak

Don't look down.

53. Surf and Turf

Alpacas are actually born with the ability to ride waves.

52. Canucks Bite the Sharks in Game 5

Someone could lose an eye out there.

51. Gametime

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Who could be more intimidating?

50. Jason Clark Meets the Cameron Crazies

The ultimate sixth man.

49. Green Serenity

Leaving a trail of greatness behind.

 

Image via Barnorama.com

48. Joseph and Scoop Jardine Join Forces

Syracuse always displays good chemistry.

47. J.J. Jegede Earns His Money

The British long jump champion was undoubtedly asleep during this.

46. Liang Huo Circles the World

Almost a full moon.

45. Splitting Hairs

Those horses are not entertained.

 

Image via Barnorama.com

44. Waterborne

Is that a fish?

43. Chris Plys' Father Plays His Role

Patriotic support for the U.S. men's curling team.

 

Image via Denverpost.com

42. Technological Advancement

Witness the amazing world we live in.

 

Image via JZ Sports

41. Leap of Lunacy

Safe landing.

 

Image via I Love Snowboarding

40. Turning Water into Wine

That might be Jesus Christ.

39. Shadows of the Viessmann Luge World Cup

The perfect view.

 

Image via Boston.com

38. This Is Sparta

He'll look like King Leonidas from 300 after this workout, in regards to tan of course.

 

Image via funandmania-creatives.blogspot.com

37. Hank Aaron Makes History

The moment when every heart in the stadium skipped a beat.

36. New York State of Mind

All eyes on 'Melo.

35. Say Cheese

Now it's time for the goofy face shot.

34. Anthony Robles Faces Adversity

36-0 on one leg.

33. Ben Zobrist's Nightmare

Don't be afraid of the ball.

32. Jonathan Papelbon's Scouting Report

Slowest 100-mph fastball ever thrown.

31. Sweat and Tears

Dripping perseverance.

30. Ruth Frith Is Like a Fine Wine

At age 100, he's only on the cusp of stardom.

29. James Domain

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The thunderous dunk of LeBron James is unlike any other player in basketball today.

28. Steve Black Enjoys His Wings

Dinner and a show at the 2010 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

27. Proper Defense

Stellar posture.

26. Bobby Orr Takes off

The freeze-frame that defined hockey.

25. Once a King

If only we could see LeBron James on the Cavs once more.

 

Image via blogs.wsj.com

24. Curling the Sunset

Memorable training session aesthetics.

 

Image via Boston.com

23. Scratching the Surface

Fearless.

 

Image via I Love Snowboarding

22. Scott Linebrink Is Frozen in Time

He must be exhausted.

 

Image via Boston.com

21. Quentin Robbins Has Second Thoughts

One step at a time big guy.

 

Image via Denverpost.com

20. Jonathan Casillas Feels the Energy After NFC Championship Victory

One win away from inspiring the world.

 

Image via Denverpost.com

19. Vineman Ironman Escapes Unscathed

Steaming victory.

 

Image via Boston.com

18. John Van Wisse Approaches Immortality

Becoming one with the water before swimming three laps of the English Channel.

 

Image via Denverpost.com

17. Following Directions at the 2010 Asian Games

Arrow points up.

 

Image via fstoppers.com

16. Crickets Chirping

Subtle dominance.

 

Image via sportsphotography.com

15. Breath of Freshness

Lungs of steel.

 

Image via blog.pocketwizard.com

14. Lawyer Milloy Soars into Battle

Chilly intimidation.

 

Image via Rodmarphoto.com

13. Into the Abyss

We'd like to believe it's truly black and white out there.

 

Image via I Love Snowboarding

12. Light Show at the UCI Track World Championships

Late-race hallucinations.

 

Image via Boston.com

11. Packing It in

An almost-complete rainbow seems like the perfect metaphor for the Cheeseheads' 2010-2011 season.

10. Eating Dust

Leave no prisoners, eliminate all competition.

 

Image via graphiics.com

9. Rafael Nadal's Quest

Just living the dream.

 

Image via dailymail.co.uk

8. Riding Through the Night at Maywood Park

Hopefully he's avoiding the horse's droppings.

 

Image via suntimes.com

7. Shadows and Dust

We must explore the new phenomenon of sandboarding.

 

Image via funandmania-creatives.blogspot.com

6. Celebrating Hanuman Jayanti

Rising from the depths are star Indian athletes celebrating the birth anniversary of Hindu God Hanuman.

 

Image via Boston.com

5. Arthur Ashe Stadium Reflections

Each drop has a story to tell.

4. Sunset Hunting

Blue continues to be a great color.

 

Image via I Love Snowboarding

3. Darren Choy Signals the Start of 2010 Youth Olympics

Igniting a future champion.

 

Image via Denverpost.com

2. Explosions in Vancouver

The Olympics are all about presentation.

 

Image via Denverpost.com

1. Revolving Door

Looking at life from a different perspective.

 

Image via I Love Snowboarding