Photo gallery: Best sports photos of the week

Linus Sjoholm of Sweden competes in the Red Bull Joyride during Crankworx 2012 mountain bike festival in Whistler, British Columbia on Aug 18, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Australia's Wallabies' Kurtley Beale reacts after being defeated by New Zealand All Blacks in their Bledisloe Cup rugby union test match in Sydney on Aug 18, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Celta Vigo's Hugo Mallo (left) jumps for the ball with Malaga's Ignacio Camacho during their Spanish First Division soccer match at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo on Aug 18, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Washington Nationals' Racing Presidents mascots George Washington (centre) is tackled by a "shark" as Teddy Roosevelt (left) , wearing a shark's mouth, races towards the finish line of their masot race during a National League MLB game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets in Washington, on Aug 17, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Guimaraes' Mahamadou N'diaye (right) battles for the ball with Sporting's Ricky Van Wolfswinkel during their Portuguese Premier League soccer match at Afonso Herinques stadium in Guimaraes on Aug 19, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Cameron McCauley of the U.S. competes in the Red Bull Joyride during Crankworx 2012 mountain bike festival in Whistler, British Columbia on Aug 18, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Supporters of Tunisia's Etoile Sportive du Sahel soccer club run as tear gas is fired during clashes in an African Champions League soccer match against  Esperance Sportive de Tunis at the Sousse Olympic stadium early on Aug 19, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

The Olympic Flag flies in front of "Christ the Redeemer" statue during a blessing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on Aug 19, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Detroit Lions defensive end Willie Young (centre) looks at storm clouds before playing the Baltimore Ravens during their preseason NFL football game in Baltimore, Maryland, on Aug 17, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Barcelona's Carles Puyol celebrates his goal against Real Sociedad during their Spanish first division soccer match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Aug 19, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

BC Lions slotback Shawn Gore (centre) is mobbed by Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Shomari Williams (left), linebacker Tyron Brackenridge (right) and defensive back Eddie Russ during the first half of their CFL football game in Vancouver, British Columbia on Aug 19, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Serena Williams of the U.S. talks with the members of the media about her Olympic win at a news conference at the 2012 Cincinnati Open tennis tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Aug 13, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

FC Luzern's (FCL) Adekunle Babatunde Luqmon (right) fights for the ball against Grasshopper Club's (GC) Steven Zuber (left) during their Swiss Super League soccer match in Lucerne on Aug 19, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS