2008 The Olympic year in pictures

LIGHTNING BLOW, LIGHTNING BOLT: Tunisian boxer Saifeddine Nejmaoui ofTunisia takes one on the chin from Alexey Tishchenko, of Russia. Above, Usain Bolt,the man of the Beijing Games, his sprint double in world record times outshoneeven Michael Phelps’ eight golds in the pool.

NO KIDDING: China’s cherubic gymnasts collect team gold, amid claims they were too young to compete.

PICTURES / ASSOCIATED PRESS

SISTER ACT: Serena and Venus Williams claim the doubles crown.Right, Australia’ soccer player Mark Bridge appears to havesprouted an extra pair of arms.

FOIL WRAP: Valentina Vezzali, of Italy, shows her delight while, above, Spain’s sychronised swimmers are poetry in motion.