12 Winning Shots From The 2026 World Sports Photography Awards
Photographing an athlete mid-play demands real skill: the photographer must track movement, energy, and action while maintaining a strong overall composition. Powerful sports imagery tells a story, capturing moments of joy, tension, heartbreak, or hope, where technical talent and artistic vision come together to reveal what sport is really about.
This year, the world’s leading professional sports photographers took part in the 2026 World Sports Photography Awards. The overall winning image was a striking shadow shot of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz’s racket perfectly connecting with the ball. Edgar Su’s photograph, “Carlos’ Shadow Hits A Ball,” claimed the top prize in this record-breaking edition of the competition. He captured the moment during Alcaraz’s fourth-round match against Britain’s Jack Draper at the 2025 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia.
In total, 23,130 images were submitted by 4,120 photographers from 123 countries. The winning photograph headlines a collection spanning 24 categories, including Motorsports, Wrestling, Basketball, Cycling, Athletics, Equestrian, and Winter Sports. The outstanding quality and range of this year’s entries prove that, despite rapid advances in technology, the photographer’s eye and craftsmanship remain essential. Around the globe, sports photographers continue to innovate, inspire, and push the creative boundaries of the medium.
More info: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
#1 Carlos’ Shadow Hits A Ball By Edgar Su – Overall Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
#2 Unusual sumo attack by Tom Jenkins – Martial Arts Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
Tobizaru sticks a finger up the nose of Takayasu as they fight during the final day of the five-day Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall on October 19th 2025, in London, England.
3 Kim Nayeong (South Korea) – Table Tennis – WTT Star Contender Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil), 01 August 2025 by Abelardo Mendes Jr – Racquet Sports Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
#4 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships By Buda Mendes – Athletics Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards, GettyImages
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 24: Meital Maayan Sumkin of Israel competes with the ball during the Individual Ball Final of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships at Carioca Arena on August 24, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
#5 Catching a breath by Carel du PlessisXTERRA – Swimming & Diving Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
Image taken at the XTERRA World Championship in Molveno, Italy. Photo features Henry Bramwell-Reeks, a Triathlete from the United Kingdom. This was taken during the swim leg of the full-distance triathlon on September 27th 2025
#6 The Underworld by Beatrice Ryder da Costa – Aquatic Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
“We were deep in the Solomon Islands, on an island where we were the first white people anyone had ever seen, and yes, we were worried about saltwater crocs. I snapped the photo not knowing if it had worked, and when I saw it had, the stoke exploded. The waves were not great but that didn’t matter; it was that raw, chaotic moment of adventure and disbelief that made it unforgettable” – Beatrice Ryder da Costa
#7 Uppercut By Alexis Goudeau – Boxing Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
#8 Equine Reflection by Morgan Treacy – Equestrian Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
Runners and riders reflected in the sand on the beach in Laytown, Ireland’s only horse racing event run on a beach under the Rules of Racing.
#9 Bubble by Steph Chambers – Baseball Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 10: Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Seattle Mariners takes batting practice prior to game five of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers at T-Mobile Park on October 10, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.
#10 Emerging Ford by Mwangi Kirubi – Motor Sports Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
Grégoire Munster and Louis Louka in a Ford Puma Rally1 compete in the 2025 WRC Safari Rally Kenya Shakedown at Sleeping Warrior on 19th March 2025.
#11 Breakaway for the Lead by Bob Donnan – Basketball Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards, Imagn Images
Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; xxx during a semifinal of the men’s 2025 NCAA tournament at Alamodome.
#12 Vistas desde el abandono by Aritz Arambarri Goenaga – Cycling Winner
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
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