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LONDON (AP) — With the Winter Olympics and the World Cup, there was no shortage of memorable sporting moments in 2014.
The World Cup was in Brazil, but the five-time champions couldn't make it past the semifinals, losing big to eventual champion Germany 7-1.
For the country itself, the World Cup was a success. Hosted with passion and with little trouble off the field, the tournament provided several big moments, from Luis Suarez's bite to Spain's unexpected early exit.
The first major international sporting event of the year was the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. With nearly 100 gold medals, one event stood out for having two champions as Tina Maze and Dominique Gisin tied for first in the women's downhill.
Russia's $51 billion investment transformed the resort town on the Black Sea, so much that it even hosted the country's first Formula One race in October.
British driver Lewis Hamilton won that race in a late-season rally that allowed him to hold off Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg and claim his second world title.
Rory McIlroy also turned it on in the second half of the year, winning two of golf's majors within three weeks. The Northern Irishman also played a key role in Europe retaining the Ryder Cup against the United States.
In tennis, Roger Federer found more success. Although he didn't add to his Grand Slam collection, he helped Switzerland win the Davis Cup for the first time.
Attached are some of the great moments as captured by photographers from The Associated Press.
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