Sports News - Pictures of the year: UPI's top sports images of 2021
UPI Pictures of the Year 2021 - SPORTS
Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan celebrates wearing the Green Jacket after the final round of the 2021 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on Sunday, April 11, 2021. Matsuyama wins his first major with a score of 10 under par. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Italy's Filippo Tortu (L) beats out Great Britain's Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake at the finish line of the Men's 4x100m relay finals at Olympic Stadium during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, August 6, 2021. Italy took gold with a time of 37.50, Great Britain took silver with a time of 37.51 and Canada took bronze with a time of 37.70. Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI
Simone Biles of the United States performs her routine on the balance beam during the women's individual apparatus artistic gymnastics final at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre at the Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Chenchen Guan of China won gold, Xijing Tang of China silver and Simone Biles of United States bronze. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI
Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands celebrates as she crosses the finish ahead of Hellen Obiri of Kenya and Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia to win the gold medal in the Women's 5000m at the Athletics competition during the Tokyo Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, August 2, 2021. Photo by Bob Strong/UPI
Simone Biles of the United States stands with Olympic Rings painted on her fingernails during the awards ceremony for the balance beam for the women's individual apparatus artistic gymnastics final at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre at the Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Chenchen Guan, of China, won the gold, Xijing Tang, of China, the silver, and Simone Biles, of United States, the bronze. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI
Roxana Popa of Spain performs on the balance beam during the women's individual artistic gymnastics all-around final at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre at the Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, July 29, 2021. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI
Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah reacts after crossing the finish line and setting a new Olympic record in the 100m women's final, 10.60 seconds, at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday July 31, 2021. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI
South Africa's Tatjana Schoenmaker sets a new World Record, 2:18.95, during the Women's 200m Breaststroke Final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, July 30, 2021. Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI
Detail of the hands of Armenia's Artur Davtyan, during his routine on the pummel horse during Men's Gymnastics preliminary competition at Ariake Gymnastics Centre during the Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, July 24, 2021. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI
Runners cross the Verrazano Bridge at the 2021 NYRR TCS New York City Marathon in New York City on Sunday, November 7, 2021. Over 50,000 runners from New York City and around the world race through the five boroughs on a course that winds its way from the Verrazano Bridge before crossing the finish line by Tavern on the Green in Central Park. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI
Auston Kim reacts after her ball was stuck in a chair off the 8th fairway during the Augusta National Women's Amateur Tournament at Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia, on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Rory Mcllroy hits out of the bunker on the sixth green on the first day of the Open Golf Championship at Royal St George's in Sandwich, Kent, on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
Brooke Henderson and Gaby Lopez spray Jin Young Ko of Korea with champagne while Jin Young Ko celebrates on the 18th green in the final round after winning the LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, NJ, on Sunday, October 10, 2021. With the win, Jin Young Ko also ties an LPGA record with 14 consecutive rounds under par. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Naomi Osaka from Japan puts on a mask and celebrates after defeating Ajla Tomljanovic from Australia on the stadium court at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Friday, March 26, 2021. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James puts up a shot in front of Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn during the first half of the Lakers' 96-94 loss at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 20, 2021. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Japan's players celebrate after their victory against USA in the final during the Tokyo Olympics Softball at Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Kanagawa-Prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI
Team USA celebrates with spraying champaign on each other after winning the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on Sunday, September 26, 2021, in Kohler, Wisconsin. Photo by Mark Black/UPI
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady stands with one of his children as he is presented the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 to win Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Sunday, February 7, 2021. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a desperation pass as he falls to the ground in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday, February 7, 2021. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Young fans wave amid cutout figures filling seats that are empty due to COVID restrictions before the start of Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday, February 7, 2021. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Ohio State Buckeyes fan "Big Nut" reacts during the Buckeyes game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, September 18, 2021. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Los Angeles Chargers Safety Nasir Adderley (L) breaks up a pass against Cowboys Tight End Blake Jarwin (R) in the end zone during third quarter action at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, September 19, 2021, in Inglewood, California. The Cowboys defeated the Chargers 20-17. Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI
A Detroit Lions fan celebrates on stage after the Lions selected Penei Sewell with the number #7 pick at the 2021 NFL Draft in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, April 29, 2021. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is carried off the field after defeating Ohio State 52-24 in the 2021 NCAA National Championship football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Monday, January 11, 2021. Photo by Hans Deryk/UPI
Washington Football Team quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) dives into the end zone to score against Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers Lavonte David (54) and Kevin Minter (51) during the second half of a wild card playoff game at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. Tampa Bay defeated the Washington Football Team 31-23. Photo by David Tulis/UPI
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker holds the Commissioner's Trophy aloft while surrounded by Braves players as they celebrate winning the World Series over the Houston Astros in six games in the MLB World Series at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, in Houston, Texas. Atlanta wins the World Series 4-2 with a 7-0 shut-out win over Houston. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
The dugout erupts after Atlanta Braves pinch hitter Jorge Solar (12) hits a go-ahead homer against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning of game four in the MLB World Series at Truist Park on Saturday, October 30, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta leads Houston 2-1 in the World Series. Photo by Kate Awtrey-King/UPI
A large American flag is unfurled on the field before the start of game one of the MLB World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. Photo by Maria Lysaker/UPI
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer reacts after the final out against the San Francisco Giants in Game 5 of the National League Division Series at Oracle Park on Thursday, October 14, 2021, in San Francisco. The Dodgers beat the Giants 2-1 to win the National League Division Series. Photo by George Nikitin/UPI
New York Yankees Giancarlo Stanton breaks a bat on a swing in the 4th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, October 3, 2021, in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers (71) throws in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one of the National League Division Series at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday, October 8, 2021. The Giants defeated the Dodgers 4-0. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) in the dugout before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Saturday, July 17, 2021. Photo by Michael Goulding/UPI
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker Jr. is pictured during workouts the day before game one of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox in Houston, Texas, on Thursday, October 14, 2021. Photo by Maria Lysaker/UPI
Boston Red Sox second baseman Christian Arroyo celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the 3rd inning to make the score 9-0 in game three of the MLB ALCS against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, on Monday, October 18, 2021. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Kansas City Royals right fielder Whit Merrifield (15) and catcher Salvador Perez (13) splash center fielder Kyle Isbel (28) with water after defeating the Oakland Athletics at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI