20 of the Most Iconic Sports Photos Ever Taken

zachnading Published 10/28/2023 in wow

We've collected the 20 most iconic and intriguing photos from throughout sports history.

Even if you're not a sports fan, you can't deny that sports are part of our history. And it's okay to appreciate the people who have worked to capture and preserve that history.

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1.
Beijing Olympics, 2008. Usain Bolt breaks the men's 200-meter world record. Photo by: Bill Frakes.
2.
Super Bowl XLIII, 2009. Santonio Holmes catching the game-winning touchdown pass. Photo by: Al Tielemans.
3.
Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates hits the game-winning home run against the Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series. Photo by: AP.
4.
Barry Bonds, 2007. Home run number 756. Photo by: Brad Mangin.
5.
David Tyree 'helmet catch' against Rodney Harrison. Super Bowl XLII 2008. Giants beat Patriots 17-14. Photo by: Damian Strohmeyer.
6.
Cubs vs. Reds, 1975. Pete Rose with his patented head-first slide. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.
7.
Gold Medal number 7 of 8 for Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.
8.
USA! USA! USA! 1980 Olympics at Lake Placid. Miracle on ice. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.
9.
North Carolina vs. Michigan State, 2011. The season started on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson. Photo by: John W. McDonough.
10.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the Summer Olympics, 1968. The iconic fist raise at the Olympic medal podium to signify Black Power. Photo by: Neil Leifer.
11.
Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, May 25, 1965. Another K.O. for Ali. Photo by: Neil Leifer.
12.
Women's World Cup, 1999. Brandi Chastain wins it all for the United States. Photo by: Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated.
13.
Roberto Clemente, 1972. This would be Clemente's last season before his untimely death. Photo by: Neil Leifer.
14.
Dennis Rodman, 1997. Photo by: Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images.
15.
Lou Gehrig, 1939. "Luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech. Photo by: UPI/Bettman/Corbis.
16.
Tiger Woods, 2001 Masters. Photo by: Fred Vuich.
17.
Colonel White High's Bobby Martin in 2005. He was born without legs, and couldn't use prosthetics. He played backup noseguard, punt, and kick coverage. Photo by: Thomas E. Witte.
18.
1998 NBA Finals. Michael Jordan's buzzer-beater. Photo by: Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty Images.
19.
Slam Dunk Contest, 1988. Michael Jordan. From the free throw line. Enough said. Photo by: Walter Iooss Jr.
20.
Cleveland Williams and Muhammad Ali. Ali with the K.O. at Houston Astrodome, 1966. Photo by: Neil Leifer.

1.
Beijing Olympics, 2008. Usain Bolt breaks the men's 200-meter world record. Photo by: Bill Frakes.
2.
Super Bowl XLIII, 2009. Santonio Holmes catching the game-winning touchdown pass. Photo by: Al Tielemans.
3.
Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates hits the game-winning home run against the Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series. Photo by: AP.
4.
Barry Bonds, 2007. Home run number 756. Photo by: Brad Mangin.
5.
David Tyree 'helmet catch' against Rodney Harrison. Super Bowl XLII 2008. Giants beat Patriots 17-14. Photo by: Damian Strohmeyer.
6.
Cubs vs. Reds, 1975. Pete Rose with his patented head-first slide. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.
7.
Gold Medal number 7 of 8 for Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.
8.
USA! USA! USA! 1980 Olympics at Lake Placid. Miracle on ice. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.
9.
North Carolina vs. Michigan State, 2011. The season started on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson. Photo by: John W. McDonough.
10.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the Summer Olympics, 1968. The iconic fist raise at the Olympic medal podium to signify Black Power. Photo by: Neil Leifer.
11.
Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, May 25, 1965. Another K.O. for Ali. Photo by: Neil Leifer.
12.
Women's World Cup, 1999. Brandi Chastain wins it all for the United States. Photo by: Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated.
13.
Roberto Clemente, 1972. This would be Clemente's last season before his untimely death. Photo by: Neil Leifer.
14.
Dennis Rodman, 1997. Photo by: Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images.
15.
Lou Gehrig, 1939. "Luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech. Photo by: UPI/Bettman/Corbis.
16.
Tiger Woods, 2001 Masters. Photo by: Fred Vuich.
17.
Colonel White High's Bobby Martin in 2005. He was born without legs, and couldn't use prosthetics. He played backup noseguard, punt, and kick coverage. Photo by: Thomas E. Witte.
18.
1998 NBA Finals. Michael Jordan's buzzer-beater. Photo by: Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty Images.
19.
Slam Dunk Contest, 1988. Michael Jordan. From the free throw line. Enough said. Photo by: Walter Iooss Jr.
20.
Cleveland Williams and Muhammad Ali. Ali with the K.O. at Houston Astrodome, 1966. Photo by: Neil Leifer.

Beijing Olympics, 2008. Usain Bolt breaks the men's 200-meter world record. Photo by: Bill Frakes.

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Beijing Olympics, 2008. Usain Bolt breaks the men's 200-meter world record. Photo by: Bill Frakes.

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NEXT GALLERY 49 Fresh Pics and Memes to Spend the Day With

1. Beijing Olympics, 2008. Usain Bolt breaks the men's 200-meter world record. Photo by: Bill Frakes.

2. Super Bowl XLIII, 2009. Santonio Holmes catching the game-winning touchdown pass. Photo by: Al Tielemans.

3. Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates hits the game-winning home run against the Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series. Photo by: AP.

4. Barry Bonds, 2007. Home run number 756. Photo by: Brad Mangin.

5. David Tyree 'helmet catch' against Rodney Harrison. Super Bowl XLII 2008. Giants beat Patriots 17-14. Photo by: Damian Strohmeyer.

6. Cubs vs. Reds, 1975. Pete Rose with his patented head-first slide. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.

7. Gold Medal number 7 of 8 for Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.

8. USA! USA! USA! 1980 Olympics at Lake Placid. Miracle on ice. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.

9. North Carolina vs. Michigan State, 2011. The season started on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson. Photo by: John W. McDonough.

10. Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the Summer Olympics, 1968. The iconic fist raise at the Olympic medal podium to signify Black Power. Photo by: Neil Leifer.

11. Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, May 25, 1965. Another K.O. for Ali. Photo by: Neil Leifer.

12. Women's World Cup, 1999. Brandi Chastain wins it all for the United States. Photo by: Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated.

13. Roberto Clemente, 1972. This would be Clemente's last season before his untimely death. Photo by: Neil Leifer.

14. Dennis Rodman, 1997. Photo by: Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images.

15. Lou Gehrig, 1939. "Luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech. Photo by: UPI/Bettman/Corbis.

16. Tiger Woods, 2001 Masters. Photo by: Fred Vuich.

17. Colonel White High's Bobby Martin in 2005. He was born without legs, and couldn't use prosthetics. He played backup noseguard, punt, and kick coverage. Photo by: Thomas E. Witte.

18. 1998 NBA Finals. Michael Jordan's buzzer-beater. Photo by: Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty Images.

19. Slam Dunk Contest, 1988. Michael Jordan. From the free throw line. Enough said. Photo by: Walter Iooss Jr.

20. Cleveland Williams and Muhammad Ali. Ali with the K.O. at Houston Astrodome, 1966. Photo by: Neil Leifer.

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eBaum's Picks

1.
Beijing Olympics, 2008. Usain Bolt breaks the men's 200-meter world record. Photo by: Bill Frakes.

2.
Super Bowl XLIII, 2009. Santonio Holmes catching the game-winning touchdown pass. Photo by: Al Tielemans.

3.
Bill Mazeroski of the Pirates hits the game-winning home run against the Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series. Photo by: AP.

4.
Barry Bonds, 2007. Home run number 756. Photo by: Brad Mangin.

5.
David Tyree 'helmet catch' against Rodney Harrison. Super Bowl XLII 2008. Giants beat Patriots 17-14. Photo by: Damian Strohmeyer.

6.
Cubs vs. Reds, 1975. Pete Rose with his patented head-first slide. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.

7.
Gold Medal number 7 of 8 for Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.

8.
USA! USA! USA! 1980 Olympics at Lake Placid. Miracle on ice. Photo by: Heinz Kluetmeier.

9.
North Carolina vs. Michigan State, 2011. The season started on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson. Photo by: John W. McDonough.

10.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the Summer Olympics, 1968. The iconic fist raise at the Olympic medal podium to signify Black Power. Photo by: Neil Leifer.

11.
Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, May 25, 1965. Another K.O. for Ali. Photo by: Neil Leifer.

12.
Women's World Cup, 1999. Brandi Chastain wins it all for the United States. Photo by: Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated.

13.
Roberto Clemente, 1972. This would be Clemente's last season before his untimely death. Photo by: Neil Leifer.

14.
Dennis Rodman, 1997. Photo by: Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images.

15.
Lou Gehrig, 1939. "Luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech. Photo by: UPI/Bettman/Corbis.

16.
Tiger Woods, 2001 Masters. Photo by: Fred Vuich.

17.
Colonel White High's Bobby Martin in 2005. He was born without legs, and couldn't use prosthetics. He played backup noseguard, punt, and kick coverage. Photo by: Thomas E. Witte.

18.
1998 NBA Finals. Michael Jordan's buzzer-beater. Photo by: Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty Images.

19.
Slam Dunk Contest, 1988. Michael Jordan. From the free throw line. Enough said. Photo by: Walter Iooss Jr.

20.
Cleveland Williams and Muhammad Ali. Ali with the K.O. at Houston Astrodome, 1966. Photo by: Neil Leifer.