Here is a compilation of some of the best photos from 2021...
IMAGE: Tara Davis of Team United States competes in the Long Jump Final.
Photograph: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
IMAGE: India skipper Virat Kohli reacts during the presentation ceremony at the end of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, in Southampton.
Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images
IMAGE: South Africa's Kyle Blignaut in action during the Men's Shot Put Qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at Olympic Stadium, Tokyo.
Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters
IMAGE: Lamont Marcell Jacobs (right) is congratulated by compatriot and high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi after winning the men's 100m final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
IMAGE: Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during the Paris Masters semi-final against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz at Accor Arena, Paris.
Photograph: Christian Hartmann/Reuters
IMAGE: Tokyo 2020 Olympics Men's Heavyweight boxing gold medallist Julio Cesar La Cruz of Cuba poses for photos during the medal ceremony at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.
Photograph: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
IMAGE: Athletes in action during the Men's 3000m Steeplechase final at the Olympic Stadium, Tokyo.
Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
IMAGE: Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands in action against Lauren Price of Britain during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Women's Middleweight Semifinal at Kokugikan Arena.
Photograph: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
IMAGE: Runners and riders compete in race 6 during the annual one-day Laytown races held on the beach under official horse racing turf club rules in Laytown, Ireland.
Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
IMAGE: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal against Crystal Palace during a Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool.
Photograph: Peter Powell/Reuters
IMAGE: Lionel Messi celebrates with his Argentina teammates after victory over Brazil in the Copa America final, at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Photograph: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters
IMAGE: Great Britain's Emma Raducanu celebrates victory over Canada's Leylah Annie Fernandez in the US Open women's singles final.
Photograph: Elsa/Getty Images
IMAGE: Ravi Dahiya sensationally turned around the 57kg semi-final bout by pinning Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev, at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Photograph: Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters
IMAGE: Draymond Green (#14) of Team United States drives to the basket against Victor Claver (#10) of Team Spain during the Tokyo Olympics quarter-final.
Photograph: Bryan Snyder-Pool/Getty Images
