The prestigious photography competition celebrating athletic excellence has announced its 2026 champions, showcasing breathtaking moments captured by talented photographers from around the globe. The World Sport Photography Awards has revealed winners across 24 distinct categories, highlighting the extraordinary skill required to freeze sporting action at its most dramatic. This year’s competition, now in its sixth edition, demonstrates how sports photography continues to evolve as an art form, blending technical prowess with creative vision to document humanity’s pursuit of athletic achievement.
Spectacular grand prize champion emerges with dynamic tennis capture
Edgar Su claimed the coveted Grand Prix Gold award with his remarkable photograph titled “Carlos’ Shadow Hits A Ball,” featuring Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz during intense competition at the 2025 Australian Open. The image captures the tennis star mid-action during his fourth-round encounter against Britain’s Jack Draper, demonstrating exceptional timing and compositional mastery. Su’s winning shot exemplifies the photographer’s ability to anticipate decisive moments while maintaining technical perfection under challenging shooting conditions.
Beatrice Ryder da Costa secured the Silver position with “The Underworld,” a mesmerizing underwater perspective showing a surfer emerging from beneath a wave in the Solomon Islands. This ethereal image showcases the hidden dimensions of surfing rarely witnessed by spectators, offering viewers an intimate glimpse into the sport’s mysterious underwater realm. Meanwhile, Richard Heathcote’s Bronze-winning “India v England layers” presents a creative multi-layered view from Lord’s Nursery End, documenting India’s dominance during the opening morning of the third Test match.
The panel of judges evaluated thousands of submissions before selecting these outstanding works, considering factors such as technical execution, creative composition, and the photograph’s ability to convey the emotional intensity of sporting moments. These winning images represent the pinnacle of athletic photography, combining split-second timing with artistic sensibility.
Diverse sporting disciplines celebrated through lens artistry
The competition recognized exceptional photography across numerous athletic disciplines, from traditional team sports to individual pursuits. Christian Gresko’s “One Player. 110,000 Screaming Fans” captured Oregon Ducks tight end Roger Saleapaga against the backdrop of Penn State University’s famous “White Out” atmosphere, demonstrating how environmental context enhances sporting narratives. Kenjiro Matsuo documented Japanese javelin thrower Momone Ueda launching a “rocket” skyward during the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, freezing the precise moment of projectile release.
Combat sports received particular attention through Alexis Goudeau’s “Uppercut,” showing Tony Yoka receiving a powerful punch from Arslan Yellyav during their Paris bout. The image perfectly captures the brutal beauty of boxing, with lighting and composition emphasizing the impact’s dramatic intensity. Tom Jenkins contributed “Unusual Sumo Attack,” documenting an unconventional moment during the Grand Sumo Tournament at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where Tobizaru employs an unexpected tactic against Takayasu.
| Category | Photographer | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | Bob Donnan | Florida Gators breakaway score |
| Formula 1 | Luca Martini | Red Bull through Monaco tunnel |
| Gymnastics | Buda Mendes | Rhythmic performance in Rio |
| Rugby | Andrew Dowling | All Blacks Haka ceremony |
Luis Amaral’s “Black & White Passion” demonstrates how fan emotion rivals athletic performance as compelling subject matter, capturing a father and child celebrating an Atletico Mineiro goal with unbridled joy. This category diversity ensures the competition acknowledges photography excellence across all sporting contexts, from professional stadiums to alternative venues.
Technical innovation meets creative vision in winning entries
Several award-winning photographs showcase innovative approaches to traditional sporting documentation. Aritz Arambarri Goenaga’s “Vistas desde el abandono” presents cyclists viewed through broken windows of an abandoned building during Copa de Espana Torredonjimeno, offering a unique perspective on competitive cycling. Morgan Treacy’s “Equine Reflection” captures horses and riders mirrored in Laytown beach sand during Ireland’s only horse racing event conducted on coastal terrain.
The judging panel particularly valued images demonstrating creative problem-solving and compositional originality. Steph Chambers’ “Bubble” shows Seattle Mariners player Eugenio Suarez blowing bubble gum during batting practice, transforming a mundane moment into compelling visual narrative. David Cannon documented Tommy Fleetwood emerging from hedges during the Dubai Desert Classic, proving that unexpected situations often yield memorable photographic opportunities.
Notable technical achievements include :
- Sophia Sandurskaya’s “Last Line of Defence” capturing ice hockey atmosphere at Moscow’s Megasport Stadium
- Anna Zinovieva’s “Bout” revealing fencing action through neon lighting effects
- Abelardo Mendes Jr’s precise timing documenting Kim Nayeong mid-serve at WTT Star Contender tournament
- Carel du Plessis freezing triathlete Henry Bramwell-Reeks during swim leg action
Environmental storytelling enhances athletic documentation
Many winning photographs demonstrate how venue characteristics contribute to sporting narratives. Andrew Hancock’s “Championship View” captures confetti falling from Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s circular video board as Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate their 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship victory. Martin Bissig’s “Klickflippin’ India” shows a skateboarder launching across Jaipur’s ancient stepwell, merging contemporary athletic culture with historical architecture.
Christian Gresko’s “Emerging Ford” documents a rally car engulfed in dust during WRC Safari Rally Kenya, emphasizing how natural elements shape competitive experiences. Germain Favre-Felix contributed “North,” featuring skier Richard Permin creating ephemeral traces across pristine snow landscapes, celebrating the intersection between athletic performance and environmental beauty. These images prove that context significantly enhances photographic storytelling beyond simple action documentation.
The competition’s comprehensive category structure ensures recognition spans multiple sporting disciplines, acknowledging both mainstream and alternative athletic pursuits. This inclusive approach strengthens the competition’s position as the definitive global platform for sports photography excellence, encouraging photographers worldwide to pursue innovative approaches to athletic documentation while maintaining technical standards.