Picard's theorem and the Rickman construction (Q973765)

A continuous map \(f:\mathbb R^n\to\mathbb R^n\) \((n\geqslant 2)\) is called quasiregular if \(f\) is in the Sobolev space \(W^1_{n,\text{loc}}(\mathbb R^n)\), and its formal derivative \(f'\) satisfies (almost everywhere) \(|f'(x)|^n\leqslant KJ_f(x),\) where \(J_f\) is the Jacobian determinant. In 1980, Seppo Rickman proved that there exists an integer \(q=q(n,K)\) corresponding to each pair \(K\geqslant 1\) and \(n\geqslant 3\) so that every \(K\)-quasiregular mapping \(f:\mathbb R^n\to\mathbb S^n\) which omits \(q\) distinct points is constant. Soon after, in the paper [Acta Math 154, 195--242 (1985; Zbl 0617.30024)], \textit{S. Rickman} showed that (at least when \(n=3\)) his result is qualitatively sharp: \(q(3,K)\uparrow\infty\) with \(K\). The mentioned paper is carefully written, but it is overwhelmed by technical and formal details. How the arguments come together is missing, and why Rickman's approach is both natural and in many ways inevitable is missing. The goal of the present expository article is to present a self-contained proof which is accessible to a general audience.