Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerFlorian Wellbrock (GER) circles a buoy as he competes in the men's 10km marathon swimming competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, Aug. 5, 2021, at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo, Japan. Wellbrock won gold in the event.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerXavier Musketeers guard Adam Kunkel (5), forward Jason Carter (25), guard Paul Scruggs (1), forward Zach Freemantle (32) and guard Nate Johnson (10) get set on defense in the second half of an NCAA men's basketball game against the Providence Friars, January 10, 2021, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati. The Xavier Musketeers won, 74-73.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams (81) catches a deep pass as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (22) defends in the first quarter during a game on Dec. 5, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerMount Healthy High School senior guard Namaray McCalley, pictured March 9, 2021, at the school in Mount Healthy, Ohio
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerCincinnati Reds center fielder Delino DeShields (26) advances to third base on a throwing error after hitting a double in the second inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sept. 1, 2021, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Reds won, 12-2.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerJapan player Yuta Watanabe (12) sits on the bench after Japan lost to Argentina during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games on Aug. 1, 2021, at Saitama Super Arena. The loss ended the team’s Olympic Games.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerMorehead State Eagles forward Jaylon Hall (left) and Xavier Musketeers guard Dwon Odom compete for a loose ball in the second half of a game, Dec. 15, 2021, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati. The Xavier Musketeers defaced the Morehead State Eagles, 86-63.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerCincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is up-ended by Green Bay Packers free safety Darnell Savage (26) in the second quarter of a game on Oct. 10, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerCincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell (left) and Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) celebrate the victory in the American Athletic Conference championship football game on Dec. 4, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats defeated the Houston Cougars, 35-20.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerXavier Musketeers guard Dwon Odom (11) dunks during the slam-dunk contest of Musketeer Madness on Oct. 22, 2021, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerCincinnati Bearcats forward Tari Eason (13) hugs his mother in the stands at the conclusion of a basketball game against the Tulane Green Wave on Feb. 26, 2021, at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won, 91-71. The game marked Eason’s last in a Bearcats uniform before entering the transfer portal.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerCincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) raises the trophy of the American Athletic Conference following the championship football game against the Houston Cougards on Dec. 4, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats defeated the Houston Cougars, 35-20.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerFrom left: Team Spain forward Victor Claver (10), Team Slovenia centre Mike Tobey (10) and Team Spain guard Ricky Rubio (9) compete for a loose ball during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games on Aug. 1, 2021, at Saitama Super Arena.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerA general scene of the men's 50m rifle 3 position qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games on Aug. 2, 2021, at Asaka Shooting Range in Tokyo, Japan.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerView of Yokohama Baseball Stadium from center field while Canada and Japan play during the round robin phase of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games on July 26, 2021, at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. It was the first time in history the Olympic Games were not held in the year originally scheduled. No fans were permitted to attend games due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerTeam Japan infielder Yu Yamamoto (5) falls over the barricade to try to make a catch in the sixth inning against Team United States in the opening round softball match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, July 26, 2021, at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. The Japan Olympics Committee elected not to build a softball-specific venue, opting to use an existing baseball stadium to stage the games ahead of the baseball competition. Athletes weren’t used to some of the nuances of the retrofitted field of play.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerTeam United States utility Kelsey Stewart (7) rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off home run in the seventh inning against Team Japan in the opening round softball game during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, July 26, 2021, at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerThe grounds crew prepares the field for an opening-round softball game between Canada and Italy during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, July 26, 2021, at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerTeam Italy infielder Giulia Longhi (14) walks back to her third base position between pitches during a game against Canada in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, July 26, 2021, at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. It was the first time Italy fielded a team in the softball competition of the game. They exited the competition without winning a game.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerA member of Team Canada staff supports the team in the fourth inning during an opening-round game against Canada in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, July 26, 2021 at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. Fans were not permitted to watch the games due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerTeam Canada infielder Jennifer Salling (7) scores a run in the fifth inning before Team Italy catcher Marta Gasparotto (19) can apply the tag during an opening-round game of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, July 26, 2021, at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerYokohama, Japan; Team Canada celebrates the win against Mexico during the Bronze Medal Game of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, Jul 27, 2021, at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. Canada won, 3-2.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerTeam United States left fielder Janette Reed (9) makes a catch at the wall, robbing a potential two-run home run against Japan during the seventh inning in the gold medal game of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, July 27, 2021, at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Japan won 2-0.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerTeam Japan celebrate after their win over the United States of America in the gold medal game of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, July 27, 2021, at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Japan won 2-0. The Japanese defeated the Americans for the second consecutive Olympics.
Third place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerTeam United States left fielder Janette Reed (left) hugs shortstop Delaney Spaulding (right) after their loss to Japan in the gold medal game of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, July 27, 2021, at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Japan won 2-0. The Japanese defeated the Americans for the second consecutive Olympics.
