2016 in Review - Sports

Every year, The Associated Press chooses a selection of photos that best documents the year’s top sports stories as chronicled by photojournalists around the world. Today, this collection was distributed by the AP to its members and subscribers worldwide. 

This year’s set of 50 compelling and newsworthy images was selected by Acting Director of Photography Denis Paquin.

Below is a gallery featuring this year’s sports selection. 

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Anna Marton of Hungary, right, fences against Manon Brunet of France during women's saber individual fencing competition in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

German Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg sprays champagne after winning the Formula One Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom racetrack in Sochi, Russia, on May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Eli Harold, left, quarterback Colin Kaepernick, center, and safety Eric Reid kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Santa Clara, Calif., on Oct. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Canelo Alvarez, left, watches after knocking down Amir Khan during their WBC middleweight title fight on May 7, 2016, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The Chicago Cubs celebrate after Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians on Nov. 3, 2016, in Cleveland. The Cubs won 8-7 in 10 innings to win the series 4-3. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang holds the Stanley Cup overhead in front of some of the crowd packing a parking lot along the victory parade route in Pittsburgh, Pa., on June 15, 2016. The Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks to win the NHL hockey championship. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

A diver takes part in a training session at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Retired NBA basketball player and Legend Award recipient Kobe Bryant poses after being "slimed" onstage during the 2016 Kids' Choice Sports Awards at Pauley Pavilion on July 14, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward catches a fly ball hit by Cleveland Indians' Trevor Bauer during the third inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series on Oct. 30, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant walks off the court after finishing his last NBA basketball game before retirement, against the Utah Jazz, on April 13, 2016, in Los Angeles. Bryant scored 60 points as the Lakers won 101-96. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Icelandic soccer fans celebrate as they watch the Euro 2016 round of 16 match between Iceland and England shown on a screen in Reykjavik, Iceland, on June 27, 2016. Iceland pulled off the shock of the European Championship by beating England 2-1 in the round of 16, continuing the improbable run of the smallest nation at the tournament. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gunnarsson)

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany celebrates after finishing second to win the 2016 world championship during the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Fans line the route for a parade honoring the World Series champion Chicago Cubs baseball team in Chicago on Nov. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

United States captain Davis Love III is surrounded by his players as they pose for a picture during the closing ceremony of the Ryder Cup golf tournament on Oct. 2, 2016, at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Stan Wawrinka, of Switzerland, holds up the championship trophy after beating Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, to win the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Sept. 11, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Regas Woods, of the United States, competes in the men's long jump T42 final, during the Paralympic Games, at the Olympic Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sept. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Mauro Pimentel)

Axel Pons, left, and Xavier Simeon, center on the ground, crash on the opening lap of the San Marino Moto2 grand prix at the Misano circuit, in Misano Adriatico, Italy, on Sept. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

In this photo released by the IOC, wheelchair racer Marcel Hug, of Switzerland, celebrates winning the athletics men's final 800-meter T54 athletics event at Olympic Stadium during the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sept. 15, 2016. (Simon Bruty/OIS, IOC via AP)

Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully gestures in his booth during a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 23, 2016, in Los Angeles. Scully retired in 2016. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Pallbearers wearing Miami Marlins jerseys carry the casket of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, after a funeral service at St. Brendan's Catholic Church in Miami on Sept. 29, 2016. Fernandez was killed in a boating accident along with two friends. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Jamaica's Usain Bolt arrives in the stadium to compete in a men's 100-meter heat during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Justin Rose, of Great Britain, wins the gold medal during the final round of the men's golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Rowers are seen through a screen decorated with the Olympic rings as they practice at the rowing venue in Lagoa at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 7, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

A swimmer enters the pool during a training session prior to the 2016 Summer Olympics on Aug. 4, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jordan Wilimovsky, of the United States, competes in the men's marathon event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Taiwan's Guan-lin is silhouetted as he prepares to shoot during an elimination round of the individual archery competition at the Sambadrome venue during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Andy Murray, of England, embraces Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, right, at the net after winning the gold medal in men's singles at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Hungary's Balazs Baji, center, and Canada's Johnathan Cabral compete in a men's 110-meter hurdles heat during heavy rain at the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Fireworks explode above the Maracana stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez walks back down the tunnel to the clubhouse before the team's baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston on Aug. 9, 2016. Rodriguez played his final Major League Baseball game later the same week in New York. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

The eight national championship trophies won by former Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt stand in front of a video screen showing Summitt's well-known stare on July 14, 2016, during a celebration of her life in Knoxville, Tenn. Summitt died on June 28 at the age of 64. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, Pool)

Phil Mickelson of the United States looks down as he holds the silver plate, for being runner up in the British Open Golf Championships at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland, on July 17, 2016. Henrik Stenson won the Championship. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Portugal's Eder, front right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2016 final soccer match between Portugal and France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on July 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Andy Murray of Britain celebrates after beating Milos Raonic of Canada in the men's singles final on the fourteenth day of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on July 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Australia's Richie Porte, right, breaks away from the group with Britain's Chris Froome, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, as they climb towards Andorra Arcalis in pouring rain and hail during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 184.5 kilometers (114.3 miles) with start in Vielha Val d'Aran, Spain, and finish in Andorra Arcalis, Andorra, on July 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo kisses the trophy at the end of the Euro 2016 final soccer match between Portugal and France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on July 10, 2016. Portugal won 1-0. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Portugal coach Fernando Santos is lifted by the players after winning the Euro 2016 final soccer match between Portugal and France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on July 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James answers questions as he holds his daughter Zhuri, during a post-game press conference following Game 7 of basketball's NBA Finals on June 19, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. Cleveland won 93-89. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic lies on the clay in a heart he drew after defeating Britain's Andy Murray during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2016, in Paris. Djokovic won 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. (AP Photo/David Vincent)

Brooke Henderson, of Canada, second left, and her caddy and sister Brittany Henderson are doused with water and sports drinks on the 18th green after Brooke Henderson won the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament at Sahalee Country Club on June 12, 2016, in Sammamish, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Fans line up to pay their respects to Gordie Howe, the man known as Mr. Hockey, at Joe Louis Arena, the home of the Detroit Red Wings NHL team, his team for much of his Hall of Fame career, on June 14, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool)

Real Madrid players celebrate with the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, on May 28, 2016. Real Madrid won 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in extra time. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Manor driver Rio Haryanto of Indonesia flies over Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson of Sweden during an accident at the start of the Formula One Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom racetrack in Sochi, Russia, on May 1, 2016.(AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)

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. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Moto GP rider Valentino Rossi of Italy, right, celebrates after winning the MotoGP race of Spain's Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Jerez race track in Jerez de la Frontera, southern Spain, on April 24, 2016. In the background is Jorge Lorenzo of Spain who finished second. (AP Photo/Miguel Angel Morenatti)

Villanova's Kris Jenkins (2) shoots a game-winning three-point basket in the closing seconds of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina on April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

England's Dylan Hartley holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with teammates after the Six Nations international rugby match between France and England at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, on March 19, 2016. England won the game to clinch the Grand Slam. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

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. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Angelique Kerber, right, of Germany enjoys a joke with runner-up Serena Williams of the United States after winning their women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

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To see all of the top photos of 2016 galleries, click here.

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