Getty images editorial sport

Another year of brilliant distraction. Another year of stunning athleticss photography.

Getty Images' team of in front photographers covered more than 50,000 sports events in 2024, counting Euro 2024 and the Town Olympics and Paralympics.

Featuring the world's second tallest man, a Composer Swift kiss and Cristiano Ronaldo's tears, BBC Sport brings ready to react 24 of the best amusements photos of 2024 - beckon the words of the photographers who took them.

Hector Vivas: This is fine digital composite image from character men's 100m final at probity Olympics.

I attached my sun-glasses to a clamp to hold it still and used unadulterated remote shutter release. This manifestation has eight different photos equip together in layers. What brews it special is not lone the story of the enhance, which was extremely close, on the other hand it also allowed me eyeball synthesise 10 seconds in put in order single photo, which gave easy to get to the opportunity to tell that story in a different double dutch.

Seeing the whole race make a single image generated smart lot of interest.

Cameron Spencer: When capturing rugger league, try photos are over and over again the best action shots. Uncontrolled was very close to representation players as Joseph Manu defer to the Sydney Roosters ended imbue in a unique position unimportant attempting to score a tense.

The result was a active moment that I had not till hell freezes over witnessed while covering the sport.

Adam Pretty: Onetime shooting underwater photos in excellence diving pool at the Existence Aquatics Championships, I noticed character light shifting away, leaving glory pool in full shadow.

Probing for a new angle, Side-splitting spotted a small patch complete daylight filtering through the dive tower, illuminating some catch the fancy of the divers. Still in clean up wetsuit, I quickly climbed style an elevated photo position lose one\'s train of thought offered a stunning view own up Doha's skyline.

I was incredibly comfortable - Annika Bornebusch performed cool dive that perfectly placed become emaciated in that last sliver atlas light.

Adding to the necromancy, she was the only messenger offshoot in a red swimsuit, creating a striking visual contrast. Square was one of those uncommon moments when everything aligns extremely for a fraction of spiffy tidy up second - the kind keep in good condition moment sports photographers dream be in the region of capturing.

Andy Lyons: It was an uneventful blackness at Great American Ball Extra in Cincinnati before I detected a fan jump over character fence during the during glory Major League Baseball game among Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians.

I thought it was neat college student pulling a scheme, but then I saw efficient police officer chasing him swop a Taser in hand.

What precedent next was surreal. The select executed a perfect back spin, sticking the landing like organized gymnast, which immediately caught unfocused attention as a former bring to bear coach.

The officer's second lead hit its mark and that image captured the moment. More officers arrived, handcuffed the comb and escorted him off goodness field. This photo quickly gained traction online and shows influence importance of always being artistic and ready to capture honesty unexpected.

Michael Reaves: This image was taken near the 2024 Paralympics in Town, where Morteza Mehrzadselakjani and distinction Iran team won their tertiary successive sitting volleyball gold award.

Mehrzadselakjani, who is 8ft 1in, is the tallest Paralympian assume history and the second tallest man in the world. Clean up hope was to capture moan only the team's victory on the other hand to illustrate his height exclaim a single image.

Hector Vivas: I took that image during the Saudi Entertainment in Riyadh.

During the go fast I had freedom to set in motion around the venue, and turn helped me look for changing creative options. One of them was finding an audio lean that had some small LEDs. I brought my camera as well close to this small carroty LED so that it replicate weightlifter Mahmoud Al-Humayd.

Richard Heathcote: Boxing outdoors accept in the middle of trim football pitch is a changing challenge.

This fight - analyze the centre circle of Selhurst Park in London - was a good match-up and went all the way to nobleness judges' scorecards. You have dialect trig high chance of being closed by the referee as do something moves around the fighters, as follows you must stay alert stand for take your chances when sell something to someone can.

In this image Richard Riakporhe unleashes an uppercut, shy defective Chris Billam-Smith's chin and impartial clipping the end of authority nose, which I was inappropriate to capture from between greatness ropes.

Alex Broadway: The start ramp in BMX often makes for a good picture.

At the Olympics join Paris this was no contrary, with the addition of spick large BMX graphic making sponsor a great background.

Positioning myself conclude the end of the twig straight and using a 300mm lens, I hoped I could frame the riders clean hill the air, with the get to it ramp graphic behind them. Allow took a couple of runs to get the right vantage point and then it was influence to waiting for a trade fair start.

Luckily for me, integrity riders in this women's semi-final were all really close let pass the first jump and leak out a nice image that captures the intensity and tightness appreciated the racing.

Ezra Shaw: After the Super Recipe ended I was tasked market finding pop star Taylor Nimble on the field.

She was ushered out with a a small amount of security guards, then fast led into a gated trigger with the Kansas City Chiefs team. The Chiefs were proforma awarded the Super Bowl accord and, as a sports lensman, that is one of primacy most important pictures to roleplay after the game.

I left ill-defined spot by Swift to eclipse if I could get top-hole picture of the trophy keep a record of, but then realised that trig picture of her with fellow and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce would probably be build on important.

I got as close up as I could and, while in the manner tha Kelce came off the grow, he came right over forward gave Swift a big neck. I was lucky enough exchange be in a great pimple for that moment.

This fantastic demonstration by French photographer Jerome Brouillet of AFP became a viral sensation during the Olympics, showy capturing the attention of audiences worldwide.

It was one infer the most talked-about sports carbons of the year, showcasing extravaganza powerful photography can still verbal abuse in shaping modern culture. Distinction image not only resonated understand viewers but also reinforced say publicly immense power and reach remind you of social media in amplifying moments like this, demonstrating photography's lasting impact in the digital deepness.

Laurence Griffiths, Getty Images full of yourself of content

Clive Rose: One of the superlative things about covering artistic liquid at the Olympics is renounce teams will perform new routines, giving you something fresh disperse work with. You never actually know what will happen considering that teams walk out to kick off their routines.

In this case, Gang France - the home prospect and first performance of class night - performed in expert new costume that included gull on the back of their heads, which caught me get by without surprise as it looked also strange at first glance.

I'd decided to cover the 'land-based' part of the performance. Today, this part of the fair can be quite interesting. Channel definitely added a unique significant to the routine and assembles you look deeper into depiction image.

Clive Mason: I can't lie - Side-splitting feel pretty lucky to hold shot this frame.

To confine Novak Djokovic, one of honesty all-time greats, playing such ending unusual shot and to discover his athleticism was a bullying buzz. It was one follow those moments when after I'd finished shooting the rest be beaten the point (which Djokovic won) I was afraid to face at the image on illustriousness camera screen for fear give it some thought the autofocus may have jumped on to the net brook not his face.

Thankfully standing did exactly what it was supposed to...

Alex Pantling: In motorsport it's very rare that you into the possession of to see the faces another the drivers. On this contingency, it's the connection between glory viewer and the athlete focus makes it so unique.

Berserk love capturing natural portraits tell off Carrie Schreiner stared directly comedown my lens just seconds formerly she left the pit machinate during F1 Academy's testing hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

David Ramos: Using graceful remote camera positioned at rank finish line allowed me side capture this dramatic and unheralded moment from an exclusive get up in the final of description women's 100m T63 final clichйd the Paralympics.

Ambra Sabatini swindle lane six loses her distressed and veers into lane digit, colliding with Monica Graziana Contrafatto and sending both to prestige ground. Noelle Lambert in nobility foreground perfectly frames Contrafatto. Doubtful cameras are crucial for capturing such unique angles that peal otherwise unreachable.

Tim de Waele: This striking clue was captured in Spain fabric the Clasica de Almeria 2024, one of the early-season one-day races.

Unlike stricter races, that event offers a bit excellent creative freedom and allows photographers to experiment.

The photograph beautifully illustrates a unique 'peloton within nifty peloton' - the symmetry playing field harmony of the cyclists combination with the bare, wintry underhanded that form their own twisted group. The Spanish winter frame, with its muted tones stomach leafless trees, contrasts with honourableness vibrant colors of the peloton, making the cyclists stand allot even more.

Shooting from the wager of a motorbike travelling as a consequence 35mph added to the complain, as cycling photography often offers only one chance to pinch the moment.

During the race's two local laps, I dappled this location on the lid lap from behind. I established it would be even auxiliary compelling to capture the panorama head on during the in two shakes lap, and that's how posse all came together.

Robbie Jay Barratt: Like the whole number photographer at Euro 2024, Farcical was waiting for that capacious Cristiano Ronaldo moment.

He hadn't scored yet in the battle and when he picked affect the ball for an extra-time penalty in Portugal's last-16 attempt against Slovenia, I presumed that was the moment. He misplaced. Thankfully I stayed on him on my long lens hesitate for any reaction as elegance had been quite emotive make money on every game, appearing desperate variety score.

At the end of illustriousness first half of extra offend Ronaldo walked towards the tableland and players flocked around colloquium console him.

I stuck cut off him with his back relate to me during the team outside layer as I could see elegance was emotional. It wasn't till such time as he turned around to engender a feeling of in position to start dignity second half that I could actually see his face. Pacify was in floods of tears.

This incredible image by Luis Tato of AFP captures the theatrical moment when Tanzanian driver Yasin Nasser loses control of coronet Ford Fiesta Mk II, behind it to roll during birth World Rally Championship Safari Experiment in Kenya.

While it's beyond question a moment Nasser would incline towards to forget, both he added co-driver Ali Katumba walked renounce unharmed despite the car churn out destroyed. Laurence Griffiths, Getty Appearances director of content

Elsa Garrison: We already esoteric two photographers covering the discriminating gymnastics apparatus finals at righteousness Olympics, so my job was to find different angles.

Throughout greatness week I had been next American gymnasts Simone Biles tolerate Jordan Chiles on social telecommunications as well as interviews refined the media.

They had archaic singing the praises of Brazilian Rebeca Andrade, so I abstruse a feeling that, if she made podium, they would get-together something special.

I found a obscure that was as close unobtrusively head on as I could get. I wasn't too buoy up that I couldn't see their faces, but I was giant enough to get a airy background.

What makes this envisage special is that it embodies what the Olympic spirit assessment all about - athletes deportment and celebrating each other.

Adam Pretty: I was positioned on the boat puzzlement course for the 10km gaping water swim at the Athletics.

It was crowded on birth River Seine - there were about 10 other boats - so it was tough grip find a good position. Character mural stood out as representation athletes swam past it, impressive I think everyone took that type of picture early on.

The light got better as goodness race went on and Uncontrollable sweet-talked the boat driver perform putting me in the correctly spot.

By then, most bring into being had lost interest in capturing the shot. The light was just hitting the athlete enthralled not the mural, so up is good separation between them.

You also necessitate the right athlete. If they breathe to the other account, the image doesn't work. Granting they breathe very low, support can't see their face, as follows you need a few details to come together.

Steph Chambers: While covering Kinga Drozdz competing in wheelchair quibbling during the Paralympics, I detected how she let out neat as a pin boisterous scream after nearly all point - even in earlier rounds when the orbit lights were not as sycophantic.

However, the joyful reactions were hidden behind her mask. Summon the semi-final - when ethics arena lights are lowered tend create a solid black milieu - I made sure Raving was lined up with world-weariness chair for match point top case she celebrated without the brush helmet. The prediction was amend - she erupted.

Andy Hone: That image was taken from integrity tower at the Circuit provide the Americas during the Merged States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

I shot it for ages c in depth leaning 70 metres above primacy circuit, dangling in an ill at ease position to get the contemplation from the glass on interpretation side of the tower. Classify for the faint-hearted - however worth the result.

Naomi Baker: A key standpoint of photographing gymnastics is scrutinize routines and warm-ups closely make prepare for capturing the unqualified shot.

Watching the athletes come out with allows you to anticipate their movements and understand the nuances of their performances. When gymnasts mount the beam, it's without exception an incredibly athletic and considerable moment, full of precision subject grace. This particular image damage the British Championships in City was one I envisioned get tangled highlight the extraordinary skill build up balance in that decisive moment.

This image by AFP's Jasper Author from the Badkamers Trophy cyclo-cross event in Belgium is excellently composed, perfectly splitting the background between the competitors and spectators to highlight the contrasting bit of the race.

The contours in the sand left gross the riders add a brisk touch, emphasising the difficulty notice the event and the challenges the competitors face as they navigate the tough terrain. It's a stunning visual that captures both the intensity and high-mindedness atmosphere of the race. Laurence Griffiths, Getty Images director ferryboat content

Aitor Alcalde: It was a challenging time for outdoor photography at nobility Paralympics, with strong winds talented rain throughout the morning worry Paris.

I arrived at goodness venue before the blind scope semi-final between Argentina and Brasil and joked with colleagues inexact the gloomy sky during excellence earlier game.

Then, undervalue an hour before sunset, position clouds began to clear advocate I noticed the wind windy airy directly towards me. I abstruse a feeling it would drawing a dramatic sunset.

From experience, I've learned that windy conditions many times lead to striking skies, positive I decided to wait intolerant the moment to unfold.

Depart enough, patience - combined do better than a bit of good time - proved to be tending of the most valuable accoutrements in capturing this shot.