The most iconic photos in the history of sports
Every sports fan knows the importance of never missing a moment because history could be made when you least expect it. The world of sports is filled with so many unbelievable moments of passion, heartbreak, and the pinnacle of human achievement. Often, it becomes a case of “you have to see it to believe it!” So, with that, let’s take a look at 50 of the most iconic photographs in sports history.
Table of Contents
Bobby Orr’s Cup-winning goal.
Possibly the most famous picture in all of hockey, Bobby Orr jumps through the air seconds after scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime on May 10, 1970 against the St. Louis Blues, giving the Bruins their first Cup in 29 years.
Babe Ruth’s goodbye
In 1948, more than a decade after retiring, the great Babe Ruth was struggling with terminal cancer but stood before a crowd of thousands in Yankee Stadium as his No. 3 was retired. The Bambino struggled to stand as he leaned on his bat as a symbol for how important sports are to a community. Months later, he would pass away and photographer Nat Fein would win a Pulitzer Prize for capturing the iconic photo.
Vince Lombardi carried off
After winning the first two Super Bowls ever, the Green Bay Packers carry legendary coach Vince Lombardi off the field celebrating their dominant 33-14 win over the Oakland Raiders in 1968.
Mays hauls it in
MLB Hall of Famer and 12-time Gold Glove winner Willie Mays shows why he’s considered one of the greatest outfielders in all of baseball history. Catching a deep fly ball while running at full speed is no easy task, but The Say Hey Kid always made it seem like it was. This particular catch took place during the 1954 season when Mays would win NL MVP as his Giants swept Cleveland for the championship.
Brandi Chastain’s celebration
Team USA star Brandi Chastain tears her shirt off and celebrates after kicking the World Cup-winning penalty kick on July 10, 1999 to give the host United States a victory on home soil over China. The tightly contested match ended 0-0 after extra time with America winning 5-4 in a penalty shootout.
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The 4-minute mile
Roger Bannister becomes the first person ever to run a four-minute mile, achieving the feat at Oxford University’s Iffley Road track with the help of two other runners as pacemakers. This moment showed the capabilities of the human body when pushed to its limits.
The Black Power salute
As the American anthem begins to play, American medallists Tommie Smith and John Carlos stand on the podium in Mexico City during the 1968 Olympics, raising their fists into the air to protest the hypocrisy of their home nation that claimed to protect freedom but failed to protect black Americans. The two would be kicked out of the Games for this political statement.
Sisterly love
Venus and Serena Williams share a laugh after Venus beat Serena to win the 2001 U.S. Open. It was the first-ever meeting in a Grand Slam final between the two sisters who would go on to face off against each other in Slam finals nine total times by the end of 2019, becoming the faces of tennis in the process.
Touch ’em all Joe!
An image of pure joy as Joe Carter achieved what everyone dreams of doing by hitting the World Series-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth in 1993. Down one run with the game on the line, the Toronto Blue Jays slugger stepped up and delivered at the plate, giving the Jays their second World Series in two years and broadcaster Tom Cheek gifting us with one of the most iconic calls of all time.
Phelps dominates the Olympics
The most decorated Olympian of all time with an unbelievable 28 medals, including 23 golds, Michael Phelps put swimming into the mainstream as he consistently dominated at the Olympics from 2004 to his retirement in 2016. He’s seen here winning gold in the 400 m individual medley at the 2008 Games en route to a record eight golds at a single Games.
Miracle on Ice
Team USA celebrates after beating the four-time defending gold medallist Soviet Union team at the Olympics in Lake Placid in 1980. During a time of Cold War tension, the moment was a piece of instant history as this team of college students beat the most feared and dominant hockey team of all time, leading commentator Al Michaels to ask if we believe in miracles.
The Helmet Catch
New York Giants receiver David Tyree presses the football up against his helmet for every bit of extra leverage he can muster to successfully make the catch while being tackled by New England Patriots defender Rodney Harrison. This miraculous reception in the dying moments of the fourth quarter set New York up for a touchdown as they beat the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, denying them a perfect season.
World Series perfection
Pitcher Don Larsen is embraced by future Hall of Famer Yogi Berra after Larsen pitches the only perfect game in World Series history. Their Yankees would go on to beat local rival Brooklyn Dodgers to claim the 1956 championship.
1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona
Still considered the greatest Paralympics in history, the 1992 Games in Barcelona are considered a turning point for the entire Paralympic movement. For the first time ever there was daily television coverage of the events, leading to packed venues and comparable levels of organization and production to the Olympics.
Tiger’s fist pump
More of a series of moments than a single one, Tiger Woods’ iconic fist pump has become synonymous with the dominance of golf’s greatest athlete.
Jackie Robinson
Breaking baseball’s colour barrier in 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black MLB player in the modern era. He would go on to become an instant star, winning Rookie of the Year and being inducted into the Hall of Fame 15 years later. The Brooklyn Dodgers signing Robinson led to the end of racial segregation in baseball and is considered one of the most iconic moments in all of sports history.
Plante’s mask
It seems crazy to think about, but for decades, NHL goalies didn’t wear masks until Montreal Canadiens netminder Jacques Plante finally threw one on after being hit in the face with a puck during a 1959 game against the New York Rangers.
The luckiest man on the face of the earth
Lou Gehrig gives an iconic speech to the crowd at Yankee Stadium in 1939, weeks after being diagnosed with ALS, now commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The baseball great would retire from the sport he loves to treat the disease but was sure to let baseball fans know just how important they were to him.
Wickenheiser reps Canada
Considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time, Hayley Wickenheiser has done it all: winning multiple gold medals for Team Canada, playing hockey in men’s professional leagues, and being Canada’s flag bearer at the Olympics. As if that wasn’t enough, in 2017 she retired to attend medical school.
Fisk waves it fair
In the bottom of the 12th inning during the 1975 World Series, Carlton Fisk hit a home run hard down the line that looked like it may go foul. The Red Sox catcher began waving his arms, attempting to will it fair as the ball sailed clear and gave the Red Sox the win to force Game 7. The action would change broadcasting forever as cameramen began to focus on the players more than the balls flying over the fence.
Wilt scores 100
Truly one of the most unbelievable achievements in all of sports, Wilt Chamberlain poses to celebrate scoring 100 points in an NBA game in 1962. To this date, no one has ever gotten closer than 81.
Victory and defeat
Roberto Baggio looks down in shame as Claudio Taffarel drops to his knees in celebration following the Italian forward missing a penalty shot in the 1994 World Cup final, giving Brazil the victory over Italy.
Usain Bolt’s dominance
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt smiles as he wins the 100-metre semifinal at the 2016 Olympics well ahead of his opponents. The image showed off just how dominant Bolt was on the track, seeming to not even have to try and still securing victory.
Comaneci is perfect
At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Romanian Nadia Comaneci became the first gymnast ever to be awarded a perfect score at the Olympics en route to winning three gold medals. She would keep it up, winning another two golds four years later in Moscow.
Secretariat dominates
Jockey Ron Turcotte takes a peek over his shoulder to see his competition way in the distance as racehorse Secretariat absolutely dominates the 1973 Belmont Stakes, winning the race in 2:24 by 31 lengths, both of which are still records. The victory also secured Secretariat as the ninth Triple Crown winner of all time.
Federer and Nadal
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal congratulate each other following the 2008 Wimbledon final, a match that many consider to be the greatest tennis match of all time. The two would dominate the sport for many years to follow, becoming the top two players all-time in career Grand Slam victories as they defined an era.
Abebe Bikila runs barefoot
Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia runs the 1960 Olympic marathon in Rome completely barefoot, not only winning the event but setting a world record time of 2:15:16.2. Due to the harsh weather conditions in Rome, the event was held at night so the runners could avoid running in the blistering sunlight.
Beamon’s jump
Bob Beamon flies through the air during the 1968 Summer Olympics as he sets a long-jump world record of 8.9 metres (29 ft. 2 ½ in.), a feat that would stand for over 20 years. The achievement was so remarkable that “Beamonesque” even became a pop-culture term to refer to remarkable feats.
Malice at the Palace
Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest is restrained by teammate Austin Croshere after brawling with Detroit Pistons players and their fans during a 2004 NBA game. Artest would be suspended for the remainder of the season and playoffs, losing nearly US$5 million in salary.
Rapinoe poses
Megan Rapinoe was a controversial figure during the 2019 World Cup as the openly queer Team USA star wasn’t shy about making politically charged comments towards President Donald Trump. She didn’t let the haters get to her en route to winning the Golden Ball and Golden Boot as the tournament’s MVP and top scorer, leading Team USA to their fourth World Cup win.
Tyson bites Holyfield
A 1997 fight between two of the greatest boxers of all time ended in the most unexpected way as Mike Tyson bit the ear of Evander Holyfield. The incident caused Mike Tyson to be fined US$3 million and have his boxing licence temporarily revoked. Why he did it may be his greatest mystery ever.
Kawhi’s shot
The usually stoic and reserved Kawhi Leonard roars in celebration while embraced by teammates after sinking one of the most incredible shots in all of basketball history, throwing up a buzzer-beater against the Philadelphia 76ers that bounced off the rim four times before eventually falling in. The shot would give Kawhi’s Toronto Raptors a Game 7 victory, sending them to the 2019 Eastern finals en route to winning their first-ever NBA championship.
The Fog Bowl
During a 1988 NFL playoff game between the Eagles and Bears, a thick fog rolled onto Soldier Field in Chicago during the second quarter, with players, referees, and fans struggling to see anything through the mist.
Zidane’s headbutt
In one of the strangest moments in all of sports history, French star Zinedine Zidane headbutts Italian midfielder Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final. Zidane got a red card for his foolish action, and without France’s best player in their way, the Italian side would go on to win in a penalty shootout.
Kaepernick takes a knee
Colin Kaepernick takes a knee during the national anthem in 2016 to protest civil and racial injustices in the United States. The movement spread throughout the NFL with many players taking knees, or raising their fists in protest against police brutality and other issues America faced. Despite being blacklisted from the NFL for his actions, Kaepernick continues to push for social activism.
Air Jordan
Michael Jordan dominated the 1988 dunk contest in a big way, claiming victory over fellow future Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins with a behind-the-back dunk and also taking off from the free-throw line to earn a perfect score as he properly secured his “Air Jordan” nickname and inspired the logo on his popular shoe brand.
Gretzky to Lemieux
Considered by many to be the two greatest hockey players of all time, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux teamed up to score the winning goal in the 1987 Canada Cup over the Soviet Union. Canada won the three-game series, with each game ending with a tight 6-5 score. The moment would even go on to inspire the book Gretzky to Lemieux.
Buckner’s blunder
Considered one of the biggest sports gaffes of all time, Bill Buckner lets the ball go between his legs during Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The misplay caused Buckner’s Red Sox to lose the game and they would go on to lose the deciding Game 7 to the New York Mets as their decades-long championship drought continued.
Battleship basketball
North Carolina and Michigan State’s men’s college basketball teams face off on top of an aircraft carrier off the coast of San Diego, kicking off the 2011 season in the most unique way possible.
The hand of God
In one of the most controversial moments in sports history, Argentinian forward Diego Maradona punches the ball into the net during a quarter-final match against England in the 1986 World Cup. The hand ball went unnoticed by the referees and the goal counted, eliminating England and leaving Maradona to say after the game that the goal was a little with his head and a little with the hand of God.
Eddie Gaedel
On August 19, 1951, Eddie Gaedel became the first and only little person to play a game in Major League Baseball when he stepped up to bat for the St. Louis Browns. Wearing the number 1/8on his jersey, Gaedel and his small strike zone made life difficult for the opposing pitcher, who issued a four-pitch walk.
Derek Redmond’s dad helps cross the finish line
After injuries kept runner Derek Redmond from competing in the 1988 Olympics, he was more than ready to go when 1992 came along. However, during the semifinals for the 400-metre event, his hamstring snapped less than halfway into the race. Refusing to be carried off on a stretcher, he stood up and limped his way across the finish line, with his father running to his side for help.
The Golden Bear has still got it
Jack Nicklaus sinks a putt on the 17th hole during the 1986 Masters en route to becoming the oldest man to ever win the event. Shooting a 65 on the final round put him a total of nine under par as he secured his record 18th professional major.
Bourque gets his Cup
Considered one of the greatest defencemen in NHL history, Ray Bourque had played over 1,500 NHL games and never won a Stanley Cup. So when he got traded from the Boston Bruins to the Colorado Avalanche in March 2000 at the age of 39, everyone knew this could be his last chance. Fifteen months later he would finally get his Cup and while it’s tradition for the captain to lift Lord Stanley’s Mug first, Joe Sakic handed the trophy directly to Bourque so the legendary defenceman could be the first to celebrate finally getting his ring.
Battle of the Sexes
When Billie Jean King took on Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes, it was more than just a tennis match—it was a massive cultural moment. The 1973 showdown was seen as a huge victory for the feminist movement as King defeated Riggs in straight sets. The event also helped grow the sport of tennis and would go on to be made into a Hollywood movie.
Kerri Strug vaults through injury
At the 1996 Olympics, American gymnast Kerri Strug injured her ankle during her first attempt landing the vault. Not wanting to let her team down, she took a second attempt and landed perfectly on both feet before hopping up to her only good foot and then collapsing to her knees in pain. The judges awarded her a score of 9.712 which was enough to clinch the gold for the United States. After the event, her coach Béla Károlyi had to carry her off as the Americans celebrated their victory.
The Catch
Known simply as “The Catch,” San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark leaps into the air to score a touchdown from Joe Montana to take the lead with less than a minute remaining in what would be the game-winning touchdown. This 1982 win over the Dallas Cowboys sent San Fran to the Super Bowl where they would defeat the Bengals for their first-ever championship.
Muhammad Ali’s flex
In a 1965 rematch for the heavyweight title, Muhammad Ali knocked out rival Sonny Liston in the very first round, then asserted his dominance with maybe the most iconic flex of all time. Standing over Liston’s body, Ali asserted himself as the world’s greatest fighter, and would stay undefeated for another seven years.
Jesse Owens wins in Nazi Germany
American track and field star Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, leaving Hitler and the Nazi party furious as they tried to propagate the idea of a “superior Aryan race.” Owens proudly saluted the American flag following his victory in long jump as others around him gave the Nazi salute.
Wartime sports
After a brutal civil war left Sierra Leone with more than 6,000 amputees, the community refused to let their love for soccer suffer. This image of two members of the Single Leg Amputee Sports Club in Sierra Leone shows the perseverance, passion, humanity, and love for the game found throughout the world of sports.
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