World Sports Photography Awards 2022 winners revealed

5 August 2022

An image of a butterfly resting on tennis player Naomi Osaka's fingertips, by David Gray, has been named overall winner of the World Sports Photography Awards.

David Gray Japan’s Naomi Osaka removes a butterfly from her dress as she plays against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur during the women’s singles match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on 12 February 2021.

The photo was taken at the 2021 Australian Open and shows Ms Osaka, Japan's four-time Grand Slam winner, give a helping hand to a stray butterfly when it landed on her.

"This is a breathtaking image," said the competition's co-founder, Simon Burton.

"Sports Photography captures special moments and tells unique stories, but most of all it draws you in and reveals the unexpected. It forces you to look again and reconsider."

The competition, now in its third year, received more than 7,000 entries from around the world, with categories including American Football, Basketball, Cycling, Gymnastics and Football.

Here are the rest of the winners across 23 other categories.

American Football: Army Navy by Dustin Satloff

Dustin Satloff Wilson Catoe, Cade Barnard, and Jakobi Buchanon of the Army Black Knights sit in the locker room before a game against the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium inn East Rutherford, New Jersey, 11 December 2021, — Players for the Army Black Knights, representing the United States Military Academy, sit in the locker room before a game against the Navy Midshipmen, of the US Naval Academy, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Aquatic: Dressel by Ian MacNicol

Ian MacNicol Caeleb Dressel of the USA winning the Men's 100m butterfly final on 31 July 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics — Caeleb Dressel wins 100m butterfly gold for the USA in world record time at the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021.

Athletics: Uno Due Tre by Samuel Barnes

Samuel Barnes/Sportsfile Ambra Sabatini celebrates the100m T63 Paralympic world record, winning gold with compatriots Martina Caironi (silver) and Monica Contrafatto (bronze) Tokyo 2020, Paralympic Games, Athletics — Italian Ambra Sabatini celebrates winning gold and breaking the world record in the Women's Paralympic 100m, alongside compatriots Martina Caironi and Monica Contrafatto, who came second and third, at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Baseball: Home Run Robbery by Abbie Parr

Abbie Parr Adolis Garcia of the Texas Rangers takes a home run away from Mitch Haniger of the Seattle Mariners — Adolis Garcia of the Texas Rangers takes a home run away from Mitch Haniger of the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, in May 2021.

Basketball: Action by Kevin Jairaj

Kevin Jairaj Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) grabs the ball over Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) during the second half at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. — Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith grabs the ball over Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Boxing: Untitled by Richard Pelham

RICHARD PELHAM Ebanie Bridges of Australia with bad eye injury after her world WBA Bantamweight defeat over 10 rounds against rival Shannon Courtenay — Ebanie Bridges of Australia sustains a gruesome eye injury during the vacant WBA world bantamweight title fight in London against Great Britain's Shannon Courtenay. Bridges was defeated by unanimous decision in the April 2021 bout.

Cricket: Untitled by Muhammad Arbaz

Muhammed Arbaz Khushdil Shah batting during a cricket match in National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan — Pakistan's left-handed cricketer, Khushdil Shah, plays a shot during a match in the National Stadium in Karachi.

Cycling: Siena Loves Giro d'Italia by Ashley & Jered Gruber

Ashley & Jered Gruber The peloton rides through Siena, Italy, at the start of stage 12 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia — Spectators in the narrow streets of Siena, Italy, watch the peloton ride through during stage 12 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia.

Equestrian: Egerton Equestrian by Mike Egerton

Mike Egerton Goring is ridden by Charles Bishop during the Play 4 to win at Betway Handicap at Wolverhampton Racecourse — Charles Bishop rides racehorse Goring at Wolverhampton Racecourse in the Betway Handicap.

Football: Championship Photobombing by Eloisa Sanchez de Alba

ELOISA SANCHEZ DE ALBA Players from Club de Futbol Cruz Azul celebrate winning the Mexican Football League Championship — Players from Cruz Azul celebrate winning the Mexican Football League Championship after the club's 23-year championship drought, by beating Santos Laguna 2-1 on aggregate at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Formula 1: Verstappen Crash by Clive Rose

Clive Rose Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Red Bull Racing kicks his tyre as he reacts after crashing during the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan — Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing kicks his tyre after crashing during the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit.

Golf: Untitled by Richard Heathcote

Richard Heathcote Bryson DeChambeau on the ninth hole during the afternoon Fourball Matches at the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin, September 2021 — Bryson DeChambeau, USA, plays a shot at the ninth hole during Saturday Afternoon Fourball Matches at the 43rd Ryder Cup. The United States regained the Ryder Cup with a record 19-9 victory over Europe at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

Gymnastics: Untitled by Ashley Landis

Ashley Landis Guan Chenchen wins the gold medal as she performs on the balance beam with bruises covering her legs in Tokyo, Japan on 3 August 2021, — China's Guan Chenchen, 16, wins the gold medal in the beam final, finishing ahead of her team-mate Tang Xijing and the USA's Simone Biles at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Ice Hockey: What A Mess by Bruce Bennett

Bruce Bennett Players from the Pittsburgh Penguins defend against the New Jersey Devils late in the third period at the Prudential Center on 20 March 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. — Players from the Pittsburgh Penguins defend against the New Jersey Devils late in the third period of their National Hockey League game at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Penguins defeated the Devils 3-1.

Martial Arts: Untitled by John Barry

John Barry Max Holloway beats Calvin Kattar at Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. — Max Holloway (left) hits Calvin Kattar during their UFC Featherweight bout at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Holloway defeated Kattar by unanimous decision.

Motor Sports: Rally Dakar 2021 by Marian Chytka

Marian Chytka Yasi Seidan driving in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, 2021. — Driver Yasi Seidan manoeuvres during the 2021 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.

Other: Chen LiJun Tokyo 2020 by Isaac Julián Morillas Sánchez

Isaac Julián Morillas Sánchez L.J. Chen, celebrates his Gold win in Men’s 67kg Weightlifting, Olympics 2020, Tokyo, Japan. — Chinese weightlifter Chen Lijun secures the gold medal in the Men’s 67kg Weightlifting category at the Toyko Olympics.

Racquet Sports: Paralympics by Donald Miralle

Donald Miralle Alexa Szvitacs of Team Hungary serves the ball during a Women’s Doubles table tennis match at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, September 2020. — Alexa Szvitacs of Team Hungary serves during the Women’s Doubles Table Tennis match at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Rugby: Untitled by Steve Haag

Steve Haag South Africa’s Franco Mostert wins a lineout during the Castle Lager Lions Series, Third Test match at the Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday 7 August 2021 — South Africa’s Franco Mostert wins a lineout against the British and Irish Lions in their Rugby Union match at the Cape Town Stadium. South Africa earned a 19-16 victory to win the third and deciding Test of the series.

Urban & Extreme: Untitled by Morgan Treacy

Morgan Treacy Catalin Preda of Romania dives from the 27 metre platform at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, Downpatrick Head, Ireland September 2021 — Catalin Preda of Romania dives from the 27 metre-platform at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, Downpatrick Head, Ireland, in September 2021.

Venues & Views: Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony by Mark Edward Harris

Mark Edward Harris Fireworks display during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. — Fireworks rise above the Olympic Stadium in Japan during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Water Sports: Untitled by Morgan Treacy

Morgan Treacy Lukas Rohan at the Olympic Games, Sea Forest Waterway, Tokyo, Japan — Czech Republic's Lukas Rohan in action during the Men’s C-1 Slalom at the Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo, Japan. The canoeist won the Olympic silver medal for the event.

Winter Sports: Biathlon World Championships by Joel Marklund

Joel Marklund Linn Presson of Sweden competing in the IBU Biathlon World Championships in Pokljuka, Slovenia — Linn Persson of Sweden competes at the IBU Biathlon World Championships in Pokljuka, Slovenia, on 13 February 2021.