From Russian hockey players to African wrestling champions to a football team of Ebola survivors, the World Press Photo contest announced the top sports photographs of the year.
The 15 photographs were selected from among 82,951 images submitted by press photographers from across the world. The jury gave prizes in eight themed categories—from top Portraits to News to Nature.
The singles first prize went to Christian Walgram for his striking image of Czech Republic’s Ondrej Bank, mid-air on one ski during a downhill race at the FIS World Championships in Colorado. Another prize was given to Greg Nelson’s photo of basketball champion Ron Baker as he shoots for position during the National Athletic Association 2015 Mens Basketball Tournament game. Jonas Lindkvist’s photo followed with the Third Prize award for his image of synchronized swimmers performing a Christmas show in Sweden.
Three sports stories won: Vladimir Pesnya’s photographs of Russian hockey players going to regionals; Christian Bobst’s photo essay on wrestling tournaments in Senegal; and Tara Todras’ work on the Ebola Survivor’s Football Club to support survivors after 38 members of his family had died.
The overall winner, photographer Warren Richardson, captured a refugee father handing his baby to another man as they crossed the barbed-wired border between Serbia and Hungary.