Every two years, athletes compete at the Olympic Games to bring home the gold for their country. While their talents are plenty to celebrate, so is the sports photography that commemorates these historic moments.
Not only do photographers manage to capture the excitement of the Games, but they also bring to life the emotional challenges that these athletes face in and out of the global spotlight. These are the best Olympics highlight photos from the past decade for an in-depth look at the fierce competition.
Adam Rippon Performs During 2018 Winter Olympic Games
Morry Gash / AP Photo
Synchronized Swimmers in 2012 Summer Olympic Games
Michael Sohn / AP Photo
BMX Cycling in 2012 Summer Olympic Games
Matt Rourke / AP Photo
Kelly Clark Competing in 2014 Winter Olympic Games
Jae C. Hong / AP Photo
Chisaki Oiwa’s Flor Routine at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Natacha Pisarenko / AP Photo
Jessica Ennis High Jumping at 2012 Summer Olympic Games
Mark Duncan / AP Photo
Kaori Sakamoto Figure Skates at 2022 Winter Olympic Games
David J. Phillip / AP
Kobe Bryant’s Dunk at 2012 Summer Olympic Games
Eric Gay / AP Photo
Michael Phelps Celebrates at 2016 Summer Olympic Games
Michael Sohn / AP Photo
Ma Long at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Kin Cheung / AP Photo
Racers at 2014 Winter Olympic Games
Jonathan Hayward / AP Photo/The Canadian Press
Liadagmis Povea Runs in 2020 Summer Olympic Games
David Goldman / AP Photo
Ryan Locthe Swims at 2012 Summer Olympic Games
David J. Phillip / AP Photo
Lara Wolf Warms Up at 2022 Winter Olympic Games
Sean Kilpatrick / AP
Karsten Warholm’s Ecstatic at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Charlie Riedel / AP Photo
Sergio Alvarez Moya Competing at 2016 Summer Olympic Games
John Locher / AP Photo
Benjamin Savsek Takes to the Waves in 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo
David Wise in Action at 2014 Winter Olympic Games
Andy Wong / AP
Dimitri Pavade Long Jumps at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Eugene Hoshiko / AP Photo
Serena Williams Strikes a Pose at 2012 Summer Olympic Games
Elise Amendola / AP Photo
Racers Take a Curve at 2018 Winter Olympic Games
Michael Sohn / AP Photo
Timna Nelson Levy at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Vincent Thian / AP Photo
Michael Phelps Competes at 2016 Summer Olympic Games
Michael Sohn / AP Photo
Thomas Daley Dives Into the 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Dmitri Lovetsky / AP Photo
Shaun White’s Victory at 2018 Winter Olympics
Gregory Bull / AP Photo
Jagger Eaton Street Skateboarding at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Jae C. Hong / AP Photo
Ryan Murphy and Caeleb Dressel React at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Gregory Bull / AP Photo
Sydney McLaughlin Competes at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
David J. Phillip / AP Photo
Niklas Edin Throws Stone at 2018 Winter Olympic Games
Natacha Pisarenko / AP Photo
Simone Biles Doing Her Thing at 2020 Summer Olympics
Gregory Bull / AP Photo
Kawan Figueredo Pereira Dives at 2020 Summer Olympics
Dmitri Lovetsky / AP Photo
Team Japan Victory at 2020 Summer Olympics
Jae C. Hong / AP Photo
Kevin Durant Celebrates at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Eric Gay / AP Photo
Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor Jumping for Joy at 2012 Summer Olympic Games
Jae C. Hong / AP Photo
Andy Murray Hugging Juan Martin del Potro at 2016 Summer Olympic Games
Charles Krupa / AP Photo
Archery Event at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Jae C. Hong / AP Photo
Allyson Felix Shares a Moment With Her Daughter at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Ashley Landis / AP Photo
Chloe Kim Shows Excitement at 2022 Winter Olympic Games
Lee Jin-man / AP Photo
Women’s Soccer Team Dons Masks at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press via AP Photo
Danell Leyva Competing on the Rings at 2016 Summer Olympic Games
Jeff Roberson / AP Photo
Carissa Moore Surfs in 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Francisco Seco / AP Photo
Lasha Talakhadze Weightlifting at 2020 Summer Olympic Games
Luca Bruno / AP Photo
Shaun White Gets Emotional at 2022 Winter Olympics
Lee Jin-man / AP Photo