50 of our favourite sport photos from 2014 – in pictures

Our picture editors have received more than one million sport photographs in the past 12 months, covering everything from Winter Olympics and cliff diving to the World Cup and mud-runs. After much deliberation, they’ve put together a collection of their favourite shots

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  • 5 January:

    Australia’s Mitchell Johnson celebrates the wicket of England’s Alastair Cook, who was caught out by Brad Haddin in the fifth Test of the Ashes at Sydney Cricket Ground, while the crowd is awash with pink as part of a fund-raiser for breast cancer awareness
    5 January: Australia’s Mitchell Johnson celebrates the wicket of England’s Alastair Cook who was caught out by Brad Haddin in the fifth Test of the Ashes at Sydney Cricket Ground, while the crowd is awash with pink as part of a fund-raiser for breast cancer awareness

  • 8 February:

    Paul O’Connell of Ireland feels the force of a collapsed scrum during the Six Nations match between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland
    8 February: Paul O’Connell of Ireland feels the force of a collapsed scrum during the Six Nations match between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland

  • 13 February:

    Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu and his figure-skating coach Yoshiko Kobayashi reacted with delight during the Figure Skating Men’s Short Program at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics
    13 February: Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu and his figure-skating coach Yoshiko Kobayashi reacted with delight during the Figure Skating Men’s Short Program at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

  • 14 February:

    Great Britain’s Lizzy Yarnold eyes the track through her visor during a training session at the Sliding Centre Sanki at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games
    14 February: Great Britain’s Lizzy Yarnold eyes the track through her visor during a training session at the Sliding Centre Sanki at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games

  • 27 February:

    Michael Hendry of New Zealand warms up on the driving range before round one of the New Zealand Open at the Millbrook Resort
    27 February: Michael Hendry of New Zealand warms up on the driving range before round one of the New Zealand Open at the Millbrook Resort

  • 9 March:

    Sportsmen and women take part in the Engadin cross country skiing marathon from Maloya to S-Chanf in south-eastern Switzerland
    9 March: Sportsmen and women take part in the Engadin cross country skiing marathon from Maloya to S-Chanf in south-eastern Switzerland

  • 10 March:

    Kelly Gallagher of Great Britain and guide Charlotte Evans celebrate after winning gold in the women’s Super-G Visually Impaired class during day three of Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia
    10 March: Kelly Gallagher of Great Britain and guide Charlotte Evans celebrate after winning gold in the women's Super-G Visually Impaired class during day three of Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia

  • 15 March:

    Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll walks on the field after his team defeated France in their Six Nations match at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris – his last match for Ireland
    March 15: Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll walks on the field after his team defeated France in their Six Nations match at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris – his last match for Ireland

  • 16 March:

    Kamui Kobayashi of Caterham crashes wildly after colliding with into Felipe Massa during the Australian F1 Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne
    March 16: Kamui Kobayashi of Caterham crashes wildly after colliding with into Felipe Massa during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne

  • 28 March:

    Dwayne Bravo of West Indies catches Australia’s James Faulkner off the bowling of Krishmar Santokie during their World Twenty20 match in Dhaka, Bangladesh
    March 28: Dwayne Bravo of the West Indies catches James Faulkner of Australia off the bowling of Krishmar Santokie during their ICC World Twenty20 match in Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • 1 April:

    Travis Hamonic of the New York Islanders is hit into the glass by Nick Bjugstad of the Florida Panthers during the first period of their ice hockey match at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York
    1 April: Travis Hamonic of the New York Islanders is hit into the glass by Nick Bjugstad of the Florida Panthers during the first period of their ice hockey match at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York

  • 4 April:

    Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull drives during practice for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix
    April 4: Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull drives during practice for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix

  • 4 April:

    Tahiti Pearl ridden by Ryan Mania falls at Becher’s Brook during the Grand National meet
    4 April: Tahiti Pearl ridden by Ryan Mania falls at Becher’s Brook during the Grand National meet

  • 7 April:

    The Connecticut Huskies celebrate after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 60-54 in the NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship at AT&T Stadium in Texas
    April 7: The Connecticut Huskies celebrate after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 60-54 in the NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship at AT&T Stadium in Texas

  • 20 April:

    Beleaguered Manchester United manager David Moyes is mocked by a man dressed as the Grim Reaper at Goodison Park
    <strong>20 April:</strong> Beleaguered Manchester United manager David Moyes is mocked by a man dressed as the Grim Reaper at Goodison Park

  • 25 April:

    Sam Burgess of the Rabbitohs is tackled during an NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia
    25 April: Sam Burgess of the Rabbitohs is tackled during an NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

  • 27 April:

    José Mourinho keeps the ball despite the efforts of Steven Gerrard during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea which handed momentum in the title race back to Manchester City
    27 April: Jose Mourinho keeps the ball despite the efforts of Steven Gerrard during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea which handed momentum in the title race back to Manchester City

  • 3 May

    : Luis Collazo is caught good and proper by Amir Khan during their WBA International welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
    3 May: Luis Collazo is caught good and proper by Amir Khan during their WBA International Welterweight Title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

  • 24 May:

    Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with team-mates after scoring his side’s second goal in the Champions League final against Atlético Madrid at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, thereby helping Real to win ‘La Decima’
    24 May: Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, thereby helping Real to win ‘La Decima’

  • 24 May:

    Jonny Wilkinson holds the Heineken Cup trophy after the Toulon beat Saracens in the final at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff
    24 May: Jonny Wilkinson holds the Heineken Cup trophy after the Toulon beat Saracensin the final at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff

  • 2 June:

    Fernando Verdasco puts his fingers in his eyes due to frustration while playing Britain’s Andy Murray in a fourth-round match of the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris
    2 June: Fernando Verdasco puts his fingers in his eyes due to frustration while playing Britain’s Andy Murray in the fourth round match of the French Open at the Roland Garros in Paris

  • 24 June:

    Luis Suárez of Uruguay clutches his teeth after biting Giorgio Chiellini of Italy during the World Cup
    24 June: Luis Suarez of Uruguay clutches his teeth after biting Georgio Chiellini of Italy during the World Cup

  • 28 June:

    James Rodríguez of Colombia scores a wonderful goal for Colombia v Uruguay during their World Cup last16 match at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    28 June: James Rodriguez of Colombia scores a wonderful goal for Colombia v Uruguay during their World Cup last16 match at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  • 5 July:

    The main peloton gets ready to hit the amphitheatre of Buttertubs Pass – or Côte de Buttertubs, as the French renamed it for the day – during the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in Yorkshire
    5 July: The main peloton gets ready to hit the amphitheatre of Buttertubs Pass - or Cote de Buttertubs, as the French renamed it for the day - during the Tour de France's Grand Depart in Yorkshire

  • 6 July

    : Roger Federer of Switzerland watches the ball flash past his outstretched racket during his men’s singles final tennis match against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon
    6 July: Roger Federer of Switzerland watches the ball flash past his outstretched racket during his men’s singles final tennis match against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon

  • 9 July:

    Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali, in the leader’s yellow jersey, wears an intense look as he crosses the finish line of the fifth stage of the Tour de France
    9 July: Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali, in the overall leader’s yellow jersey, wears an intense look as he crosses the finish line of the fifth stage of the Tour de France

  • 13 July:

    The final score is projected on a screen after Germany humiliated hosts Brazil 7-1 at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte
    13 July: The final score is projected on a screen after the Germany humiliate hosts Brazil 7-1 at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte

  • 13 July:

    The victorious German team on their way to lift the World Cup after defeating Argentina in the final at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro
    13 July: The victorious German team on their way to lift the World Cup after defeating Argentina in the final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro

  • 13 July:

    Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany lifts the World Cup
    13 July: Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany lifts the World Cup

  • 24 July:

    India compete in the men’s team sprint qualifying at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome during day one of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
    24 July: India compete in the men’s team sprint qualifying at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome during day one of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

  • 27 July:

    Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, and Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Time Warner Cable Chevrolet, lead the field to a restart during a Nascar race at the Brickyard Indianapolis Motor Speedway
    27 July: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, and Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Time Warner Cable Chevrolet, lead the field to a restart during a NASCAR race at the Brickyard Indianapolis Motor Speedway

  • 28 July:

    Nick Matthew of England is pictured alongside James Willstrop of England (and his reflection) during the men’s squash gold-medal match at the Commonwealth Games
    28 July: Nick Matthew of England is pictured alongside James Willstrop of England (and his reflection) during the men’s squash gold medal match at the Commonwealth Games

  • 2 August:

    Matthew Mitcham of Australia competes in the men’s 10m platform final at Royal Commonwealth Pool during day 10 of the Commonwealth Games
    2 August: Matthew Mitcham of Australia competes in the men's 10m platform final at Royal Commonwealth Pool during day ten of the Commonwealth Games

  • 6 August:

    Everton’s Ross Barkley is drenched with rain during a pre-season friendly with Celta Vigo
    6 August: Everton’s Ross Barkley is drenched with rain during a pre-season friendly with Celta Vigo

  • 8 August

    : Louis Delmas of the Miami Dolphins bears his teeth after a pre-season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Georgia
    8 August: Louis Delmas of the Miami Dolphins bears his teeth after a pre-season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Georgia

  • 13 August:

    Mo Farah of Great Britain celebrates winning gold in the men’s 10,000m final during day two of the 22nd European Athletics Championships at Stadium Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland
    13 August: Mo Farah of Great Britain celebrates winning gold in the men’s 10,000m final during day two of the 22nd European Athletics Championships at Stadium Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland

  • 15 August:

    Ukraine’s Anna Voloshina performs in the synchronised swimming solo free routine preliminaries during the European Swimming Championships in Berlin, Germany
    15 August: Ukraine’s Anna Voloshina performs in the synchronised swimming solo free routine preliminaries during the European Swimming Championships in Berlin, Germany

  • 17 August:

    England’s women’s rugby team celebrate during their World Cup match against Canada at the Jean Bouin Stadium in Paris, France. England beat Canada 21-9 to win the World Cup for the first time in 20 years
    17 August: England’s women’s rugby team celebrate during their World Cup match againstCanada at the Jean Bouin Stadium in Paris, France. England beat Canada 21-9 to win the World Cup for the first time in 20 years

  • 4 September:

    Drama before the race as Arbitrageur flies into the air while jockey Johnny King tries to mount him at Laytown Races in Ireland
    4 September: Drama before the race as Arbitrageur flies into the air while jockey Johnny King tries to mount him at Laytown Races in Ireland

  • 11 September:

    Michael Kacer of the USA competes in the men’s shot put IF1 final during the Invictus Games at Lee Valley Athletics Stadium in London
    11 September: Michael Kacer of USA competes in the men’s shot put IF1 final during the Invictus Games at Lee Valley Athletics Stadium in London

  • 20 September:

    Orlando Duque of Colombia dives from the 27m platform on La Salves Bridge next to the Guggenheim Museum during the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Bilbao, Spain
    20 September: Orlando Duque of Colombia dives from the 27m platform on La Salves Bridge next to the Guggenheim Museum during the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Bilbao, Spain.

  • 26 September:

    China’s Tu Xiao competes in the men’s trampoline event during the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea
    26 September: China’s Tu Xiao competes in the men’s trampoline event during the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea

  • 28 September:

    Rory McIlroy celebrates on the 15th green as Europe win the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland
    28 September: Rory McIlroy celebrates on the 15th green as Europe win the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland

  • 2 October:

    Kung Yun of Chinese Taipei competes in the Gymnastics Rhythmic Individual All-Around Final at the Asian Games in South Korea
    2 October: Kung Yun of Chinese Taibei competes in the Gymnastics Rhythmic Individual All-Around Final at the Asian Games in South Korea.

  • 1 November:

    Chris Brunt of West Brom celebrates as he jumps over Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester City during their Premier League match at The King Power Stadium in Leicester, England
    1 November: Chris Brunt of West Brom celebrates as he jumps over Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester City during their Premier League match at The King Power Stadium in Leicester, England.

  • 2 November:

    Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes celebrates on the podium after winning the United States F1 Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, USA
    2 November: Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes celebrates on the podium after winning the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, USA

  • 23 November:

    Odell Beckham of the New York Giants scores a touchdown with an extraordinary catch in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA
    23 November: Odell Beckham of the New York Giants scores a touchdown with an extraordinary catch in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA

  • 24 November:

    Steam rises from a runner after finishing at Kempton Park racecourse in Sunbury, England
    24 November: Steam rises from a runner after finishing at Kempton Park racecourse in Sunbury, England

  • 10 December:

    During the first Test between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval, Steve Smith of Australia celebrates his century next to the No408, displayed as a tribute to the late Phillip Hughes, who was the 408th Test player for Australia and who died after being struck by a cricket ball
    10 December: During the first Test between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval, Steve Smith of Australia celebrates his century next to the number 408 displayed as a tribute to the late Phillip Hughes who was the 408th Test player for Australia and who died after being struck by a cricket ball

  • 10 December:

    Supporters of Argentinian football side River Plate cheer for their team during the Copa Sudamericana 2014 final against Colombian team Atlético Nacional at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina
    10 December: Supporters of Argentinian football side River Plate cheer for their team during the Copa Sudamericana 2014 final against Colombian team Atletico Nacional at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina
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