Top sports photos of 2016

From Super Bowl 50 to the Rio Olympics, 2016 was a year filled with many major sporting events. It also introduced the world to athletes such as American Gymnast Simone Biles, and saw the retirement of Olympic legends Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. 

Usain Bolt’s only real competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics was the clock. 

The Jamaican superstar competed in what he says was his last Olympic 200-meter race, but finished in 19.78 seconds, more than a half-second short of his own world record -- the one he said he really wanted to break.

Another gold medal though wasn’t such a bad consolation prize.

In this photo, Bolt competes in the Men’s 100 meter semifinal on Day 9 of the 2016 Olympic Games on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Click through to see more of the best sports photos of 2016. 

Michael Phelps

In this photo, Phelps (L) of the United States leads rival Chad le Clos of South Africa in the Men’s 200m Butterfly Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Simone Biles

Simone Biles became a household name in 2016. 

The 19-year-old American completed an extraordinary stretch at the Rio Olympics that included a team gold for the “Final Five” as well as individual golds in the all-around and vault and bronze on balance beam. Her five medals tie the most for an American female gymnast in a single Olympics and her four golds tie an Olympic record shared by four others.

In this photo, Biles competes in the Balance Beam Final on day 10 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Rio Olympic Arena on August 15, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

Rugby

Maryoly Gamez of Venezuela battles for the ball against Victoria Rios of Uruguay during the International Womens Rugby Sevens -- Aquece Rio Test Event for the Rio 2016 Olympics at Deodoro Olympic Park on March 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Paralympic Games

Canada’s Brent Lakatos performs in the Men’s 100m - T53 Round 1 during the Paralympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday 9th September 2016. 

Rio 2016

USA’s Allyson Felix hands the baton to USA’s English Gardner competes in the Women’s 4 x 100m Relay Round 1 during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016. 

Surfing

Hawaiian surfer Paige Alms surfs a big wave at Jaws, off the coast of the Maui Island in Hawaii to win the Peahi Challenge 2016, on November 11, 2016, the first-ever Women’s Big Wave Tour event. Also known as “Jaws,” Pe’ahi is on the northern coastline of Maui and can produce waves that are upwards of 60 feet. 

Table Tennis

Egypt’s Ibrahim Hamadtou competes in table tennis at the Riocentro during the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 9, 2016.

Rio 2016

A photo shows a face painted onto the helmet of China’s Zhong Tianshi as she waits to compete in the women’s Keirin second round track cycling event at the Velodrome during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 13, 2016. 

Field Hockey

Netherlands’ Kitty van Male (R) is hit on the face by Argentina’s Agustina Habif during the women’s quarterfinal field hockey Netherland vs Argentina match of the Rio 2016 Olympics Games at the Olympic Hockey Centre in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016. 

Soccer

Chelsea’s Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois jumps but fails to to save a long-range shot from Liverpool’s English midfielder Jordan Henderson to score his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London on September 16, 2016. 

Laytown Strand races

 Horses compete on the course on Laytown beach in County Meath on the east coast of Ireland on September 13, 2016 during the Laytown Strand horse races. The Laytown Strand races are the only races in the Irish and English calendar that are run on a beach. 

Swimming

Australia’s Brittany Elmslie (L) and Australia’s Bronte Campbell compete in the Women’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016. 

Soccer

Monaco’s French defender Djibril Sidibe scores past Tottenham Hotspur’s French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris during the UEFA Champions League group E football match AS Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur FC at the Louis II stadium in Monaco on November 22, 2016. 

Ironman

Athletes race through the bike transition area during the 2016 IRONMAN World Championship triathlon on October 8, 2016 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. 

Paul Pogba

France’s midfielder Paul Pogba (C) celebrates with supporters after winning the Euro 2016 semi-final football match between Germany and France at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on July 7, 2016.

Usain Bolt

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt takes selfie photos as he celebrates with fans after winning the Men’s 200m Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016. 

Gymnastics

China’s Tan Jiaxin competes in the qualifying for the women’s Uneven Bars event of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 7, 2016.

Beach Volleyball

Italy’s Marta Menegatti (L) jumps for the ball during the women’s beach volleyball qualifying match between Italy and Egypt at the Beach Volley Arena in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016, for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. 

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps of the United States (foreground) celebrates the Americans’ win in the Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay during Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Fans

This picture taken from the Eiffel Tower on June 9, 2016 shows the Paris fan zone on the Champs de Mars during the opening concert of the Paris fan zone one day before the start of the Euro 2016 football championship, in Paris. 

Nico Rosberg

Staff members of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team spray German driver Nico Rosberg (C-R) and his wife Vivian Sibold with champagne as they celebrate at the end of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit on November 27, 2016. 

Nico Rosberg won his maiden Formula One world title by securing second place behind his Mercedes arch-rival Lewis Hamilton in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Paralympic Games

Australia’s Scott Reardon reacts after winning the 100M during the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 15, 2016. 

Rio 2016

France’s Sofiane Oumiha (L) lands a punch on Honduras’ Teofimo Andres Lopez Rivera during the Men’s Light (60kg) match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Riocentro - Pavilion 6 in Rio de Janeiro on August 7, 2016.

Simone Biles

U.S. gymnast Simone Biles celebrates after the women’s individual all-around final of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016. 

US gymnast Simone Biles won the event ahead of her teammate Alexandra Raisman and Russia’s Aliya Mustafina.

Nico Hulkenberg

Sahara Force India F1 Team’s German driver Nico Hulkenberg reacts after crashing during the start of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix in Singapore on September 18, 2016. 

Rio 2016

Danielle Prince of Australia competes during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 19, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Usain Bolt

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (C) competes in the Men’s 100m Round 1 during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 13, 2016. 

Peyton Manning

Denver Broncos’ Peyton Manning holds up the trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game on Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos won 24-10. 

Ironman

Athletes compete in the swim portion of the 2016 IRONMAN World Championship triathlon on October 8, 2016 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. 

Rio 2016

(L-R) Bronze medalist USA’s Kristi Castlin, gold medallist USA’s Brianna Rollins and silver medalist USA’s Nia Ali celebrate after the Women’s 100m Hurdles Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 17, 2016. 

Silkway Rally

Kamaz truck team Airat Mardeev and co-driver Aydar Belyaev compete in the Gobi Desert on July 18, 2016 during the 9th special stage of the Silkway Rally. 

Jordan Spieth

Defending champion Jordan Spieth, left, helps 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett, of England, put on his green jacket following the final round of the Masters golf tournament on April 10, 2016, in Augusta, Ga. 

Rio 2016

Bahamas’s Shaunae Miller crosses the finish line to win the Women’s 400m Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016.

Horse Race

Jockeys and their mounts race along the beach during the annual beach horse race in Loredo, near the northern Spanish city of Santander, on July 24, 2016. 

Diving

A picture taken with an underwater camera shows Britain’s Thomas Daley competing in the Men’s 10m Platform Semifinal during the diving event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 20, 2016. 

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps of USA poses with his gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janiero Olympics. 

Super Bowl 50

Carolina Panthers’ Jonathan Stewart (28) scores a touchdown during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game on Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. 

Soccer

Monaco’s French defender Djibril Sidibe scores past Tottenham Hotspur’s French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris during the UEFA Champions League group E football match AS Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur FC at the Louis II stadium in Monaco on November 22, 2016.

Fencing

 A multi exposure picture shows Hungary’s Emese Szasz (R) competing against France’s Lauren Rembi during their womens individual epee semi-final bout as part of the fencing event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, on August 6, 2016, at the Carioca Arena 3, in Rio de Janeiro. 

Tour de France

France’s Arthur Vichot, Slovakia’s Peter Sagan, Great Britain’s Christopher Froome, Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali, Spain’s Alberto Contador and Colombia’s Nairo Quintana look at alphajets of the French Air Force Acrobatic Patrol, the Patrouille de France, performing prior to the start of the 188 km first stage of the 103rd edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 2, 2016 between Mont-Saint-Michel (background) and Utah Beach Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy.