Photos: Maria Sharapova helps light the Olympic flame

Tennis star Maria Sharapova brings the Olympic torch into Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia. (John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images)

Tennis got some of the spotlight during the Sochi Olympic opening ceremony when Maria Sharapova came jogging into Fisht Olympic Stadium brandishing a huge smile and the Olympic torch. The Sochi native was one a group of six decorated Russian Olympians in the torch-lighting finale.

Sharapova, a silver medalist two years ago in London, joined a group that included two-time gold medalist Yelena Isinbayeva (pole vaulter), three-time gold medalist Aleksandr Karelin (wrestling), gold medalist Alina Kabaeva (rhythmic gymnastics), and three-time gold medalists Irina Rodnina (figure skating) and Vladislav Tretyak (hockey). Rodina and Tretyak paired up for the final jog out of the stadium to light the cauldron for the official Olympic flame.

That was the best jog of my life! Running will never feel the same. #OpeningCeremony
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) February 7, 2014

More photos of Sharapova's memorable run below:

Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images

Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Photo: Michael Kappeler/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Photo: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: Fredrik Von Erichsen/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images)