The Rio Olympics, Portugal winning the Euro Championships, the passing of the great Mohammad Ali, Russian track & field athletes being banned for the Olympics -- what an eventful year 2016 has been!
As we prepare to cruise into the New Year, Rediff.com gives you a glance back, through photos, into all the sporting moments that made the last 12 months memorable.
IMAGE: Usain Bolt of Jamaica looks at Andre De Grasse of Canada as they compete in the men’s 100m semi-final at Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 14. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
IMAGE: Hundreds of seagulls fly over the pitch as Tasmania bat during Day 2 of the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, on October 26. Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
IMAGE: Neymar kisses his gold medal following the Men's Football Final between Brazil and Germany at the Maracana Stadium on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 20 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photograph: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
IMAGE: Leicester City players celebrate with manager Claudio Ranieri after winning the EPL title on May 8. Photograph: Leicester City/Twitter
IMAGE: Spain's Juan Jose Mendez Fernandez competes in the Men's 3km Pursuit C1 Individual Pursuit Qualifying on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Paralympics at Rio Olympic Velodrome in Rio de Janeiro, on September 9. Photograph: Buda Mendes/Getty Images
IMAGE: Rickie Fowler of the United States wears a funny look as J.B. Holmes, Erica Holmes, Jimmy Walker, Erin Walker, Jordan Spieth, Annie Verret, Justine Reed and Patrick Reed celebrate during singles matches of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, on October 2. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
IMAGE: San Francisco Giants' Gregor Blanco leaps for a home run hit by Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant in the ninth inning of Game Three of their National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, on October 10. Photograph: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
IMAGE: Spain's Garbine Muguruza overpowered Serena Williams to claim her maiden Grand Slam title, the French Open final on June 4. Photograph: Corinne Dubreuil/Reuters
IMAGE: Team Ukraine competes in the Synchronised Swimming, teams technical routine final on August 16. Photograph: Michael Dalder/Reuters
IMAGE: Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP celebrates after finishing second and winning the F1 World Drivers Championship during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on November 27. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images
