These Perfectly Timed Sports Photos Are Full Of Guts And Glory

Scott Croker|23 Oct 2024

Sports photographers have a tough job. They'll take hundreds of photos during an event, and might not have a single usable picture. But sometimes luck shines down on them and they capture the perfect image. These shots deserve to be framed and hung up on walls around the world. Or shown off in this amazing collection we've found. You won't believe which Indians outfielder can fly!

Lord Voldemort?

Now we know who American swimmer Tyler Clary really is. There's no denying he's not a muggle at all! Clary is, in fact, He Who Cannot Be Named. While the revelation is shocking, what's more shocking is that he's such an accomplished competitive swimmer!

Photo Credit: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Fun fact: Tyler Clary wasn't the first name he chose after leaving the life of Lord Voldemort behind him. In late 2006, the evil fiend changed his name to Clary. Before that, he was going by Scott Flowers.

Bull Riders Wanted

Here's an image that is a literal interpretation of the phrase, "you mess with the bull and you get the horns." Matt Boland learned that the hard way during the 2016 PBR Bull Riding Competition.

Photo Credit: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Anyways, after Boland was thrown off, the bull wasn't done with him. Maybe it woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Hitting the ground wasn't enough punishment in the bull's mind. Thankfully we're not looking at the picture after contact.

Around the corner, Lonnie Chisenhall should probably be suspended for being able to fly!

You'll Have To Jump Higher Than That

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Lonnie Chisenhall! The Indians outfielder may be able to fly, but he wasn't able to rob a home run. At least we know the fan didn't interfere with the ball! Seriously though, how high is Chisenhall jumping? Maybe he should have played basketball.

Photo Credit: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

And what about the fan who caught the ball? He looks like a natural. Our best guess is he's a season ticket holder and this isn't the first ball he's caught. He better have found a kid to give it to. Share the wealth, man!

Come At Me, Ball!

We don't play professional ping pong so we had no idea intimidation was an acceptable tactic against the ball. It's also possible this is all Ding Ning could think to do before the ball hit her in the forehead.

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Are concussions a problem in the ping pong community? What's important is we officially have a favorite competitive ping pong player. We don't know if she beat Wang Manyu on day four of the 2018 ITTF World Tour China Open, but we sure hope she did.

Still ahead, some athletes take bragging too far.

That's Has To Hurt

Sometimes the best defense is using your head. David Freese took that advice a little too literally during his time with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. According to our sources, he survived this brutal attack by a headhunting baseball.

Photo Credit: Matt Brown/Angels Baseball LP/Getty Images

Freese didn't survive the incident unscathed, however. He was forced to leave the game with a hand injury. That's what you didn't see. The ball to his face was actually a deflection from a 90 mph pitch bounding off his hand. Ouch!

That's Not How You Play Basketball, Dennis!

It's unfortunate that at some point in his incredible career, Dennis Rodman forgot how to play basketball. Thanks to his bad boy reputation, the two Atlanta Hawks didn't know what to do. Could they ask him nicely for the ball?

Photo Credit: VINCENT LAFORET/AFP/Getty Images

The truth is Rodman fell on the ball during an Eastern Conference Semifinal game in 1997. The Hawks did not win. Going back to the world of MLB next; did you ever notice that Alex Rodriguez doesn't hold the bat when he swings?

Flexibility Is Underrated

The flexibility of this figure skater's body has our backs hurting just looking at it. This incredible backward flexibility shows just how hard it is to be a figure skater. Not even the toughest football players in the world could come close to this.

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Photo Credit: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

The figure skater behind the bend is Michelle Kwan. During the late '90s, she was the face of figure skating in the United States. Graceful and gorgeous, it was impossible to deny her talent. When she retired in 2006 she had won five World Championships. Take that, Tom Brady!

Just Taking In The View

She thought she was competing in a wakeboarding tournament, not a parasailing one. Good thing the board she brought has enough lift to get the job done, anyways! Let's all just hope she doesn't lose her grip.

Photo Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

This photo of Sasha Siew Hoon from 2014 in Thailand is amazing and terrifying all at the same time. She obviously knows what she's doing, she just looks like she got more height than anticipated. We're just glad it's her up there and not us.

Next, the hairy side of weightlifting rears its ugly head.

She Whips Her Hair Back And Forth

We're not exactly sure how the physics of this work. She's pushing the weight up, which is somehow also causing her ponytail to fly straight into the air. The world is full of mystery and wonder! Or, someone is holding a balloon over her head just above the frame.

Photo Credit: GOH CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty Images

The woman in the picture is Luisa Fatiaki Taitapu Peters. She was competing in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games when her hair decided to become the star of the show

On the next slide, you get to play the hot new game "find the nose!"

Does This Shotput Make Me Look Pretty?

Shotput is not an easy sport. You have to take an excessively heavy iron ball and heave it as far as you can. Exerting that much energy really has an ugly effect on people. Just look at our friend above. You might think he has a face for radio, but it's really just the shotput effect.

Photo Credit: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Let's be honest though, how many sports do you participate in that actually make you look good? Sports are great for your heart, but not the red carpet. Unless you're going to the ESPYs.

Still ahead, that one time David Freese took a ball to the face.

Beware Of The Bull's Horns

The running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain is no laughing matter. Every year hundreds of people try to outrun a herd of angry bulls. As you can see from the picture, not everyone gets away unharmed. This poor soul was targeted by two raging animals and couldn't get away.

Photo Credit: ANDER GILLENEA/AFP/Getty Images

What's important is that it looks like he avoided get gored by a horn. Getting trampled is still pretty bad, but not nearly as deadly. We're assuming he had to go to the hospital after the incident, but hey, at least he's alive!

It's Not Nice To Mock The Competition

France may have won the World Cup, but looking at this photo they could have been better sports about it. It's just rude to laugh in the face of the loser, even if he's walking away. Look how sad he is! Give him a hug and tell him he did a good job. Don't mock him. Your mother raised you better than that.

Photo Credit: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images

Croatia settled for second, and now have four years to plot their revenge. Even if they don't win it all in 2022, they just have to beat France. Then again, if history has anything to say it about, France won't make it out the knockout stage. Just ask Germany.

What Kind Of Sorcery Is This?

So this is how Alex Rodriguez hit more than 600 home runs in his Major League Baseball career. It must be pretty easy to hit the ball when you're not even holding the bat. Seriously, though, where did A-Rod learn this sorcery?

Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images

Logically, of course, this really a picture of Alex Rodriguez striking out. He struck out over 2,000 times in his 22-year career! That's a lot of home runs he didn't get to hit, and a lot of bats he flipped in anger.

Ronaldo's Scissor Kick Heard Round The World

Cristiano might be the best soccer player on the planet. Here he is kicking an amazing goal in the most stylish way possible; with a scissor kick. Rarely is a scissor kick necessary, but boy does it look good. And Ronaldo looks amazing doing it!

Photo Credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

This is not the first scissor kick Ronaldo has ever done, but it was one of his most important. The attempted shot took place during the quarterfinal match of the UEFA EURO 2012 against the Czech Republic.

Coming up, learn what size baseball bat you should never swing with.

He Grabbed The Wrong Bat

Either Mike Carp is really confident in the batter's box, or he grabbed the wrong bat leaving the dugout. It looks like one of those mini bats you can buy in any team's dugout store as a souvenir.

Photo Credit: Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Upon closer examination, this appears to a broken bat. Who knows where the rest of the bat went. Probably just a few feet in front of him. And the baseball? It popped up and was caught by the shortstop. Not only did Carp break his bat, he popped out and had to hang his head low on his way back to the bench.

Better Watch Your Fingers

This wrestling move is called the "fish hook." It's supposed to be illegal. We guess the wrestler in red didn't get the memo. That's fine. The wrestler in blue has the advantage; his teeth.

Photo Credit: Hunter Martin/Getty Images

This is really a precarious position for both wrestlers to be in. The one in red has the high ground and what appears to be the upper hand. The one in blue has his hand in his mouth, though, and is leg-locked by his arms. Who wins? To be honest, we have no idea.

No Head, No Problem

This gymnast appears to have replaced her head with a giant golden ball. It's a bold statement to be sure, but maybe not the best life decision. How is she supposed to see, speak, listen, or even think now?

Photo Credit: Franco Romano/Getty Images

Okay, we know the ball is just blocking her head, but it is hard to tell by looking at the picture. The way she's bending backward, the ball fits perfectly at her neck where you'd think her face would be. This might just be the greatest magic trick ever pulled.

The Moment You Realize You're Not Going To The Club After Work

Never forget there was a time in Mike Stanton's career when he didn't wear a faceguard in the batter's box. This is the moment he realized that was a huge mistake. The pitch broke his jaw, requiring surgery. He had to eat his steak through a straw for months.

Photo Credit: Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

Shortly after the injury, the Marlins gave Stanton a $325 million contract. Trust us, he's worth every penny. The problem was they couldn't actually afford to pay him, so they traded him to the Yankees for money and prospects.

Throw Your Face Into It

This shot-putter is really putting his all into his game. He's fully committed through his back, shoulders, arms, and face?

Reddit/Emcee

Yep-- garnering all of your strength while spinning in a circle, as shotput requires, can lead to some incredibly funny facial expressions. Just ask this guy, whose face looks like it was just stung by bees.

Pretty Before The Snap

It's hard to keep your hair and makeup on point when you're playing football. These women came to play, but also to look pretty while doing it.

They don't have long before their makeup will be dripping down their face and their hairstyle barely recognizable from what it looked like in the first quarter.

Sometimes It's Okay To Hit Like A Girl

You know the saying, "you hit like a girl?" It turns out that's not such a bad thing. If girls hit like Cris Cyborg, then guys everywhere are in for a serious surprise! Gina Carano can block the blow all she wants, but it's not going to help. That's solid contact.

Photo Credit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

As they say in sports, "that'll leave a mark." Carano wasn't able to recover from this knockout punch and lost the fight. Still, she's doing just fine as a movie star now. Not many UFC fighters can say they held their own against The Rock in The Fast and Furious franchise!

Digging For Golden State's Weakness

This is LeBron James picking his nose. Or, as the cool kids say, "digging for gold." We like this photo because Golden State seems to be his only weakness on the court. Perhaps by finding some gold of his own, he can crack the code to beating them in the NBA Finals.

Photo Credit: reddit

All booger jokes aside, this picture is everyone's worst nightmare. Imagine being caught on camera, at work, with your finger a mile up your nose. Be honest, what are the chances you'd be back up the next day?

Gael Monfils Bringing Some Gymnastics To The U.S. Open

During the 2010 U.S. Open, French tennis player Gael Monfils played in the quarterfinals against Novak Djokovic. While he lost, a photographer was lucky enough to capture this amazing moment for all time.

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Who needs to win a highly elite tennis tournament when jumping into a mid-air split while hitting a ball between their legs is going to be the talk of the day? Apparently, Monfils just wanted to bring his gymnastics skills to the tennis court.

Hooked His Ankles On The Bars For A Little Something Extra

Honestly, whoever wound up taking this picture of Rob Adelberg during the Moto X Freestyle competition at the X Games in 2019 should get an award. The shot was taken at the perfect time, showing Adelberg's epic form and style during his flip.

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Not only is he flipping his entire bike around, but he's also bending his body mid-flight, placing his ankles over the handlebars to give the trick some extra flying-squirrel flair.

Beam Him Up, Scotty, He Has To Get The Ball

Lonnie Chisenhall has some serious jumping skills. Not only is his head well over the railing, but he was probably only moments away from actually catching that homerun ball. Well, people win some, and they lose some, Chisenhall.

Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

And if he didn't yell, "beam me up, Scotty, when he was jumping into the air, that was a totally missed opportunity, and all Star Trek fans should find him and tell him about his drastic mistake.

Just A Casual Piggyback Ride In The Middle Of The Game

Cleary, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Axel Tuanzebe forgot they were in the middle of a professional soccer match and not at a Labor Day picnic event competing in a piggyback race. The best part about this photo is that both athletes seem to be totally fine with the ridiculous turn of events.

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Iheanacho even lifted his arms to catch the other player's legs. If that's not sportsmanship, then the definition of the term needs to be reworked.

Richard Gasquet Isn't Entirely Sure What To Do With His Hand

Tennis is hard. A very fast, tiny ball is coming toward a person, and they're expected to swing and hit it back across the net. Honestly, it's no wonder Richard Gasquet looks so intense and not overly concerned with his left hand.

Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

He looks like he's either trying to Vogue while playing tennis or just pretending he's in the Single Ladies music video. Either way, someone needs to advise him what to do with his hand.

Synchronized Swimming...Enough Said

The ironic thing about synchronized swimming is that while the swimmers are showcasing artistic and difficult tricks, they almost look like intense fish out of water who are wrestling with one another.

Andre Weening/BSR Agency/Getty Images

This photo of Nevena Dimitrijevic and Jelena Kontic, for intense. Why is she lifting her partner out of the water by her head? If the other lady's face says anything, it's that she's not exactly having the best time of her life. And if they don't win, this move so wasn't worth it.

Becoming One With The Wall

Trent Grisham clearly wanted to get that fly ball. But things took a turn from the worse when he not only missed the catch but ran pretty much shoulder first into the wall.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

In fact, he hit that wall so hard that it looks as though he's about to be absorbed into the green padding. Getting sucked into the wall probably wouldn't go over too well for the San Diego Padres outfielder.

At This Moment, Charles Pagès Is Probably Rethinking His Career

Motocross isn't a sport to be taken lightly. Many things can go wrong, especially once tricks are thrown into the equation. Here, Charles Pagès does a practice run at the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour that went a bit wrong.

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Balazs Gardi/Red Bull via Getty Images

Landing top-heavy on the front wheel, a photographer snapped the moment right before he tumbled over the handlebars of his bike. And this is why people are taught to wear helmets while riding bikes, motorized or other!