Here’s Ken Mainardis, Vice President Sports at Getty Images, on the sporting images that made 2015 unforgettable…
"The IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing, Rugby World Cup and iconic annual events like Wimbledon, the Golf majors and Super Bowl are just some of the events that delivered memorable moments in 2015 - in which elite athletes pushed themselves to their physical and mental limits and had us screaming from sofas and stadiums alike.
"It is the sports photographers’ job to capture this super-human behaviour and immortalise it for the fans for all-time. As the Vice President of Sport at Getty Images, I am privileged to work with a team of award-winning photographers – all experts at the top of their game – who spend their lives capturing these defining moments of desperation, exhilaration, triumph and defeat. It is their sheer talent, passion and experience that allows these photographers to capture these moments that might otherwise be missed. This gallery showcases some of the best sports images of 2015, images which take the viewer from their seat and into the action."
15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 - Day Two
Ian Walton, Getty Images
Super Bowl XLIX - New England Patriots v Seattle Seahawks
Tom Pennington, Getty Images
Dayton v Boise State
Joe Robbins, Getty Images
Four Hills Tournament - Innsbruck Day 6
Alexander Hassenstein, Getty Images
PBC Amir Khan v Chris Algieri
Al Bello, Getty Images
Tonga v Namibia - Group C Rugby World Cup 2015
Richard Heathcote, Getty Images
Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby - Aviva Premiership
Dan Mullan, Getty Images
FC Barcelona v Valencia CF - La Liga
David Ramos, Getty Images
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Windows 10 400
Chris Trotman, Getty Images
Day Twelve The Championships - Wimbledon 2015
Julian Finney, Getty Images
