Despite the pandemic's impact, this year still served up plenty of highlight-reel moments on the global sports stage.

Jamaica's Hansle Parchment celebrates after winning the men's 110m hurdles final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo on Aug 5, 2021. (PHOTO / AFP)

American gymnast Simone Biles prepares to compete in the balance beam final at Tokyo 2020 on Aug 3, 2021. (PHOTO / AFP)

Lionel Messi is thrown into the air by Argentina teammates as they celebrate winning soccer's Copa America on July 10, 2021. (PHOTO / AFP)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic watches his racket spring across the court after falling to the clay during his quarterfinal match against Italy's Matteo Berrettini at the French Open on June 9, 2021.  (PHOTO / AP)

Frenchman Jeremie Beyou takes on the high seas in his monohull vessel during the Vendee Globe round-the-world solo race off the coast of western France on Feb 6, 2021.  ( PHOTO / AFP)

A butterfly lands on Naomi Osaka during her women's singles match against Tunisia's Ons Jabeur at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Feb 12, 2021. (PHOTO / AFP)

Cyclists caked in dirt dig deep during the 118th edition of the Paris-Roubaix race in northern France on Oct 3, 2021. (PHOTO / AFP)

Ashley Twichell competes in an 800m freestyle race at the TYR Pro Swim Series meet in Mission Viejo, California on April 8, 2021. (PHOTO / AP)

Daniel Yoshizawa sings the Brazilian national anthem with teammates before their men's sitting volleyball semifinal against the Russian Paralympic Committee team at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on Sept 2, 2021. (PHOTO / AP)