22 Most Iconic Sports Photos of All Time
The iconic sports photos are not just photographs but there is a long story behind them. These photos are mode to trace the past and present of elite athletics, the art of sports photography must be the main focus. A picture truly is worth a thousand words. So get ready to squeeze a visual feast with the most iconic sports photos of all time.
1. Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston – 1965
This is the one of the iconic sports photos in which Muhammad Ali Knocked out Sonny Liston in the first round in their heavyweight title rematch. Ali would hold the heavyweight title until 1967.
2. Diego Maradona “Hand of God” goal: World Cup, 1986
Diego Maradona single-handedly beat England in the quarter-final of the 1986 World Cup and became a national hero in Argentina when he left the trophy. The goal is known as “Hand of God goal.”
3. Diego Maradona – World Cup, 1982
Diego Maradona deceiving six Belgian defenders in his first World Cup in 1982. The foundations were laid in his five games in the tournament and four years later the Argentina legend directed his country to the world cup victory.
4. Terry Butcher- World Cup Qualifier Sweden vs England
England defender Terry Butcher refused to let a cut forehead prevent him marshaling England’s defense in Sweden in 1989. Stitches and bandage didn’t really stand up to Butcher heading the ball as England secured a draw to reach Italia 90.
5. Maxwell Fornah and Victor Musa – Sierra Leone, 2006
The members of the Single Leg Amputee Sports Club of Sierra Leone chase for the ball in Freetown. A brutal civil war left more than 6,000 amputees in Sierra Leone.
6 Yelberton Abraham Tittle – NY Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1964
This iconic photo taken during the last season of Y. A. Tittle’s storied career as an NFL quarterback captures Tittle after having just thrown an interception that was returned for a touchdown. On the play he suffered both a concussion and a cracked sternum. Tittle says of the photo, “It was the end of my dream. It was over.”
7. Reggie Bush – USC vs. UCLA, 2005
USC running back Reggie Bush jump over UCLA defender Marcus Cassel and into the end zone for a touchdown.
8. Bobby Martin – Belmont High at Colonel White High, 2005
Three-foot, 112-pound Bobby Martin played on punt and kickoff coverage and was the backup varsity nose guard for Dayton’s Colonel White High. Born without legs, he can’t wear prosthetics because he has no thighs to affix them to.
9. Dennis Rodman – Pacers at Bulls, 1997
Chicago Bulls power forward Dennis Rodman goes horizontal for a loose ball during a game against the Pacers at the United Center in Chicago, Ill.
10. Casey Sanders and Julius Peppers – Chapel Hill, N.C., 2001
Casey Sanders of Duke (20) tries to stop North Carolina’s Julius Peppers at the Dean E. Smith Center.
11. Björn Borg – Final of the Wimbledon Championships 1977
Björn Borg looks to the sky as he takes the acclaim for retaining his Wimbledon men’s singles title vs. Jimmy Connors.
12. Greg Olson – World Series Game 1, 1991
Atlanta Braves catcher Greg Olson goes head over heels after tagging Minnesota left fielder Dan Gladden out at home during Game 1 of the 1991 World Series.
13. Mickey Mantle – Yankee Stadium, New York City, 1965
This is the defining photo of one of baseball’s greatest players. This is another version of a happy-go-lucky guy; Angry, Frustrated, Complex.
14. Muhammad Ali and Cleveland Williams – 1966
Muhammad Ali knocks out Cleveland ‘Big Cat’ Williams in three rounds at the Houston Astrodome to defend his heavyweight title in November 1966.
15. Andrew Strauss – 4th Test England vs. Australia, Ashes 2005
Andrew Strauss dives full length to catch Aussie Adam Gilchrist off the bowling of Andrew Flintoff on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test in 2005
16. Norm Provan and Arthur Summons – Rugby League Grand Final, 1963
Provan and Summons captained their respective sides in the 1963 NSW Rugby League Premiership Grand Final at the SCG. Captured in the famous John O’Gready photograph upon which the NRL trophy is modeled. It is an iconic moment in sporting history.
17. Tommie Smith and John Carlos – Summer Olympics, 1968
American sprinters Tommie Smith (center) and John Carlos (right) raise their black-gloved fists on the Olympic medal podium in Mexico City to signify Black Power. Both were kicked out of the Games for their overtly political statement.
18. Vasily Alexeyev – Clean & Jerk, 1969
Russia’s Vasily Alexeyev completes a Clean & Jerk during a weightlifting competition in 1969. Alexeyev set 80 world records between 1970 and 1977, and is widely considered the greatest heavyweight weightlifter of all time.
19. Bob Beamon – Summer Olympics, 1968
U.S. track and field athlete Bob Beamon flies through the air during his world record long jump of 8.9 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
20. Nadia Comaneci – Montreal Summer Olympics, 1976
Nadia Comaneci of Romania completes a somersault during the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Comaneci was the first gymnast to ever be awarded a perfect score in an Olympic gymnastics event.
21. Eddie Gaedel: The Only Little Person to Play Major League Baseball
Gaedel is the Only Little Person to Play Major League Baseball. At 3’7” tall, Eddie Gaedel had a nearly invisible strike zone, which is just what St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck had in mind when he staged this publicity stunt.
22. The Americans Defeat the Soviet Union in the “Miracle on Ice” 1980
This is one of the most iconic sports photos of an icy Lake Placid night in 1980, the Herb Brooks-led Americans brought home arguably the most riveting victory in the history of sports.The Soviet hockey team was legendary. They had won the gold medal in every Olympics since 1964. They were a collection of college players and no-names, who should have had been crushed by the vastly superior Soviets. But in 1980, the U.S. squad completed the impossible, defeating the Soviets before moving on to the final. Since then, we’ve fully believed in miracles.
