The Year's Most Interesting Pictures

SI Staff | Dec 21, 2006

The Year's Most Interesting Pictures /

The Year's Most Interesting Pictures

A Bavarian holds on to her rational sleigh in an annual race in southern Germany.

Sweepers create a hypnotic spiral while cleaning the courts at the 2006 U.S. Open.

Peter Crouch of Liverpool scores on an acrobatic kick against Galatasary in a UEFA Champions League, Group C match at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool.

Roger Federer's straight-sets victory took only one hour and 26 minutes to play, but two delays stretched the match to two hours and 50 minutes from start to finish.

Mark Giordano (46) reaches for the puck while defending against Richard Park (18) of the Vancouver Canucks.

Xiaopeng Han of China flies through the air during the first run of men's aerials, which he won gold for during the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Houston center Yao Ming is reflected on the baseboards as he takes a shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home. Yao scored 24 points in Houston's 81-63 win.

Sailboats make their way out toward the fog on San Francisco Bay.

U.S. players duel for the ball against Japan during the women's hockey world cup.

Andre Agassi serves to Andrei Pavel of Romania during the first round of the 2006 U.S. Open.

Wake and stuntboarder Duncan Jessiman shows his tricks on the Red River in Winnipeg.

Steve McNair glides through a blur of cheerleaders during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jason Romero fishes in Bremerton, Wash., as the clouds are reflected in the calm, serene water.

Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy of Vietnam serves the ball in a match against China in the game of Sepak Takraw during the Asian Games in Qatar.

An aerial view of the 2006 New York Marathon shows street congestion from runners rather than vehicles.

Competitors swim in a pack at the beginning of the Escape from Alcaltraz Triathlon in San Francisco.

Tyler Grisham of Clemson is tackled by Jay Jones of Georgia Tech.

Gareth Jones of England competes in the men's 10m platform final at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Wide receiver Joseph Gaskins of St. Augustine High in New Orleans watches his team, which had its 2005 season wiped out in the wake Hurricane Katrina.

Athletes compete during the women's steeplechase final of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Through a dust cloud, a player dives for home during the College World Series.

Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia bends over backwards for the gold medal in the women's pole vault final at the 11th IAAf World Indoor Championships in Moscow.

Michael Phelps (black cap) dives into the pool at the start of the 200-meter IM final, which he won at the Santa Clara International.

Austria's A. Schmid in action during standing men's downhill at the '06 Turin Winter Paralympics.

Jim Lanier of Chugiak, Alaska, drives his team on the Yukon River during the Iditarod race.

Participants at the annual Engadin skiing marathon are on their way from Maloya to S-Chanf in southeastern Switzerland.

Northeastern University swimmers warm up in the pool at Jacobs Aquatics Center in Key Largo.

A racer takes charge crossing a bridge in the 2006 New York marathon.

A lacrosse player from Duke is blocked by a flying defenseman.

Oly Slivets of Belarus flips for joy during the freestyle skiing ladies' aerials final at the 2006 Olympics.

Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovski of Israel compete during the figure skating ice dancing - original dance event at the Torino Games.

Monika Wolowiec of Poland (15) curves the ice in the skeleton women's heat at the 2006 Olympics.

Janne Ahonen of Finland races down the slope at the ski jumping during the Winter Games.

Olympian Scott Shipley paddles down rapids during the training session for the U.S. Slalom Kayaking Championships in Charlotte.

Rafael Nadal serves against Gael Monfils during the ATP Masters Series in Italy. Nadal went on to defeat Roger Federer in the final.

Jan Koller of the Czech Republic watches his header sail pass Kasey Keller of the United States in a 3-0 victory in the World Cup.

Buffalo Sabres center Derek Roy and rightwing Mike Grier collide during Ggame 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Horse racing fans watch the thoroughbreds break from the gate at the start the 132nd Kentucky Derby.

New York Knicks rookie guard Nate Robinson attempts a dunk during the 2006 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest, which he won.

Skiers in the Biathlon Men's 15 km Mass start their long journey at the 2006 Winter Games.

Kari Traa of Norway crosses her skis as she goes for gold in the Freestyle Skiing Moguls at the Winter Olympics. She ended up with the silver medal.

Published Dec 21, 2006

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