No matter the sport, athletes put themselves through the ringer when it comes to training and fitness across at every level. Sports aren’t exactly glamorous, though, and athletes aren’t always the most photogenic when caught in action. Take a look at these hilarious photos and you’ll know what we mean…
Diggin’ Deep
Lebron is arguably the best NBA player that ever lived, but you might not know that he’s also a great digger.
Tennis Universe
While up-close photos of the universe are impossible to come by, this photographer’s shot of a wet tennis ball spinning in the air creates a spiral formation that looks just like the Milky Way.
Broke Back
Michelle Kwan is a super-star figure skater, but this shot makes her look like she’s about to suffer from a career-ending spinal injury…
Run Forest Run!
This may just be some really good photoshop, but it’s equally hilarious. This kid is running like the wind beating out all the cyclists—run, kid, run!
Reflecting on that Run
This reflection photo is extremely cool, and wake-boarding is even cooler. Combining the two is just a mashup of talent.
Hair Monster
This Olympic lifter was caught in an awkward moment as her hair claimed her as its victim.
Head Case
Hey pal, you’re supposed to jump over those things, not crawl under them. Let’s just hope he learned his lesson for the next race.
Watch My Dive
That form, such grace! And then… there’s his face. Hard not to full on belly laugh at this one!
Wear It!
This is one of those moments in baseball where you just gotta pray he didn’t break his face. Not sure if the pitcher was throwing at him, but that’s a pretty direct hit.
Headless Gymnastics
This moves takes skill, grace, and the ability to dislocate your own head from your neck. Sounds simple, right?
Tennis Anyone?
Michelle Obama is a really relatable First Lady. She’s down to earth and loves all things fitness. Tennis, however, might not be her forte...
Parallel Universe
Dennis Rodman was a controversial player during his time in the NBA and beyond, but this perfectly-timed photo of him leaping for the book surely makes it to the record books.
Alien Invasion
Olympic athletes get tested for all types of performance-enhancing drugs, but are they tested to make sure they’re human?
Dirty Diggin’
Athlete’s are good at their sports, but when it comes to manners, they’re clearly not the best.
Facelift
This boxer’s punch, caught mid-jab, landed directly on his opponent’s cheek. Just be glad you’re on the viewing end of this one.
Couples Crash
Couples figure skating is so beautiful, that is, until they catch an edge and everything falls flat…
Using Your Noggin
These synchronized swimmers are really using their heads here. Picture proof of teamwork!
Not so Tough
Rugby is a tough game, but this guy looks far from tough wearing the ball on his face. You’re supposed to catch it, pal.
Another Headless Gymnast
This gymnast grew .a foot where her head should be. The flexibility of these girls is unmatched!
Balancing Act
Putting all her weight on her chin is quite a talent—don’t try this one at home kids!
Caught in the Act
These wrestlers look like they’re just about to yank each other’s heads off. Someone tap out…
Man -vs- Wave
This surfer battling the elements is a breathtaking moment. With a wave like that, we’d be swimming ashore…
Optical Illusion
This photo was captured at the oddest moment making it look like the second swimmer’s legs belong to the first person’s body.
One Body, One Soul
These two are connected at the hip…literally.
Broken Bat…
…and a broken face. This poor guy is just having an all-around bad day.
Arch Rivals
Look, we know it’s football, but kicking a guy in the face is a new low.
Judo-Chop!
This player’s just trying to make a sweet catch and the fan is trying to get on SportsCenter. Nobody wins.
Rodeo Clowns
If you’re not a rodeo connoisseur, you might not know that rodeo clowns serve a very real purpose. They’re there to distract the bull when a rider is dismounted. Seems like he’s doing his job here…
Thank God Ledge
Alex Honnold was the first climber to successfully free solo El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He’s captured here after his ascent on the record-breaking 3000-foot “Thank God Ledge.”
Sweat Happens
No, that’s not rainwater or a water balloon, that’s straight sweat coming from this soccer player.
Mid-Jump
Figure skaters are known for their grace and beauty on the ice. Landing a difficult jump is the best accomplishment for a skater, and for this one in particular, she was concentrating quite hard.
Big Air
While this shot may have been captured during a soccer match, this players got some serious ups making him worthy of a career on the basketball court.
Riding High
Riding a bull isn’t the hard part, it’s avoiding getting clobbered by him when you land that’s the most difficult.
Invisible Player
This picture is so perfectly-timed that it looks like the player on the right is invisible. After all, hockey is a violent sport.
Foot Face
A cleat to the face cannot feel good. This photographer sure captured a rough moment for this soccer player.
These rings are no joke for gymnasts, but in this case, he decided to do without them and just fly instead.
Tennis Toss
You’re supposed to hit the ball with the racquet, not throw the racquet at the ball…
Clean-Up, Row 1
Not only did that fan catch a glove to the face, but he also caught the ball with his beer cup. What a moment!
Volley Bloopers
This volleyball player is looking a little too frightened at the sight of the ball. Perhaps this isn’t the sport for him…
Quick Hands
Call this Dad-instinct, because this father’s quick reaction time saved his son a serious trip to the hospital.
Hat Trick
We all joke around at game thinking we’ll snag a ball with our hats, and yet, this guy actually pulled it off. Now, the guy on the left, we’re not so sure about…
Eyes on the Prize
We all known gymnasts are super talented, but we didn’t know that they could also fly!
Long Way Down
Imagine being that skateboarder…your board is nowhere in sight and you’re 80 feet in the air looking down. Yikes!
Major Waves
On January 2013, Garrett McNamara surfed a 100-foot wave in Nazare, Portugal. Nothing like a little thrill to keep you going.
No-no Zone
Jiu Jitsu is a hardcore sport, but this move by the red opponent was just uncalled for.
In the Family
These three gymnasts showed off their amazing balancing skills, and they just so happen to all look very alike, as well.
Rippling Punch
A blow like this would have anyone down for the count. But in this fight, Lucian Bute defended his IBF super middleweight title over Glen Johnson.
Not Photoshop
No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Robbie Maddison is known for his motor bike stunts, and here he combined that passion with his love of surfing, and well, the rest is history…
A Thousand Hands
This spectacular dance, the “Dance of a Thousand Hands”, is performed by 63 deaf dancers of the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe.
In Memoriam
Back in July 2015, Ian Flanders, a professional BASE jumper and climber fell to his death in a parachute accident in Turkey. Matt Blank, his climbing & BASE jumping partner made a video as a tribute to his friend and partner on the edge.
Life in His Hands
This amazing trick from adagio pair, Fiona Zaldua and Dmitry Sukhanov, was performed in Shanghai during an ice show in 2012.
A Glimpse of Magic
The photographer allows you to see a female surfer in wave tunnel and the slow setting sun from a professional surfer’s point of view.
Hard Ball
This perfectly timed photo deceives your eyes and makes it look like the outstretched statue has shot the basketball. Do you think it made the shot?
Speed Skate
While speed skating probably isn’t one of the most popular sports, it’s certainly an impressive one. This photo was taken during the 2015 World Cup Race in Erfurt, Germany. Skaters reach speeds averaging 30 mph.
All Terrain
This mountain bike stage race in South Africa is over 700 kilometers (435 miles) and lasts 8 days. This is some serious athleticism.
Rough Landing
Michael Ferland of the Calgary Flames gets thrown during a fight against Corey Tropp of the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL game at Scotiabank on March 21, 2015, in Alberta, Canada.
Token Sunset Photo
The photographer choreographed the model to pose as though he’s juggling with the sun, and they captured the perfect shot.
Horsin’ Around
No, this photo wasn’t altered, just perfectly-timed. It got snapped when the horse turned, covering the woman’s face and giving an impression of a mythical creature.
Stronger in Numbers
Fish evolved to swim in schools to better protect themselves from predators, improve their foraging and swim more efficiently. This large gathering is much safer than being single.
Anti-Gravity
This picture was taken at the 2015 NCAA Basketball tournament, where Dayton won the game over Boise State University. During this game, Dayton’s Kyle Davis is leaping over Boise State’s Chandler Hutchison.
Serious Sky
This sky-diver was living for the thrills and was captured in an iconic upside-down shot that went viral.
Glove-Save
Sergei Bobrovsky, the goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets, reaches back to make a diving glove-save.
Fins Up
Eli Martinez, diver, and editor of a shark diving magazine, was interacting with this lemon shark in waters off the coast of the Bahamas. He said that initially, it laid back and then came swimming towards him when he raised his arm. Unexpectedly, it took a slight turn and tapped him with its fin like a high-five.
Competitive Beauty
Emilia Bottas, a Finnish record holder in swimming, took part in the 2008 Olympics; she competed in the 100m butterfly competition and swam 1:02:31, ranking 46th.
Inspired Athlete
Aaron Fotheringham is an extreme wheelchair athlete who performs tricks adapted from skateboarding and BMX. He has been on a wheelchair since the age of 8.
Big Air
Allison Rebecca Stokke is a track and field athlete and national-ranked pole vaulter. Today, she’s a professional vaulter and fitness & sports model.
Ending the Drought
Winning the World Series in 2016 after a 108-year drought for the Chicago Cubs was a major feat. This fan in-particular shows just how emotional it was for him.
Perfectly-Timed, Extremely Awkward
This odd capture during a basketball game is enough to make anyone uncomfortable. How does that even happen?!