The 24 Winners of the 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

Jun 28, 2024

Jeremy Gray

A soccer player stands in the rain with arms outstretched, eyes closed, and a joyful expression. He is wearing a red and green uniform with the number 7 and a captain's armband. The background is blurred, filled with raindrops and indistinct figures. — ‘Cristiano Ronaldo Odyssey’ by Marcelo Guelber Goes | Football Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

Shortly after announcing the overall winners, the World Sports Photography Awards have unveiled the 24 category winners, showcasing the best in sports images worldwide.

The World Sports Photography Awards, held in partnership with MPB, is the world’s biggest sports photography competition. This year’s competition had the most entries ever, with photographers from more than 80 countries participating. The diversity of photographers is matched by the variety of athletes and sports featured in the contest, with categories ranging from more common sports like football (soccer), basketball, and track and field, to more region-specific events like American football, cricket, and rugby.

There are many photos to feature, so without further ado, here are the winners of all 24 categories in the 2024 World Sports Photography Awards.

A football player in a white and purple uniform dives towards the end zone, extending the ball over the goal line. Three players in black and red uniforms try to stop him, while one teammate in a white and purple uniform looks on. The crowd watches the action. — ‘Dobbsanity’ by Kevin Sabitus | American Football Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A surfer, underwater, holding onto their surfboard as a large wave crashes above them. The image captures the dynamic and powerful motion of the ocean, with bubbles and frothy water creating vivid textures overhead. The deep blue water surrounds the scene. — ‘Duck Dive’ by Ryan Pierse | Aquatic Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A sprinter in athletic wear is captured mid-run on a track, with blurred stands and a wavy-roofed stadium in the background, conveying a sense of speed and motion. — ‘The Sprint’ by Tetsu Lee | Athletics Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A baseball player wearing a blue "Seattle" jersey and yellow wristbands is hit with a large splash of water, causing water droplets to cascade dramatically around him. The water is vividly illuminated, creating a striking visual effect against the dark background. — ‘Dunk’ by Lindsey Wasson | Baseball Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A basketball player with colorful braided hair drives toward the basket in a game. An opposing player defends, and a large scoreboard in the background displays the game in progress at Climate Pledge Arena. — ‘Rainbow Hair’ by Steph Chambers | Basketball Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

‘The Dynamic Duo’ by Andrew Moss | Boxing Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A cricket player in a yellow uniform dives to break the stumps with the ball as a player in a black uniform slides his bat towards the crease to avoid being run out. The stumps are dislodged, and bails are in mid-air. The scene is intense and action-packed. — ‘So Close’ by Darrian Traynor | Cricket Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A group of cyclists rides down a winding country road through a lush, green landscape. Morning mist rises from the ground, and an electric transmission tower stands tall beside the road. Rolling hills and scattered trees create a serene background. — Untitled photo by James Startt | Cycling Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A jockey and their horse covered in mud race toward the camera. The jockey's face is almost unrecognizable due to the mud, and the horse is straining forward with its ears back. The background shows a blurred racetrack with another horse and jockey barely visible. — ‘Glorious Mud’ by David Davies | Equestrian Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

An aerial shot of a nighttime car race featuring a single race car speeding along a well-lit urban track. The background showcases colorful, blurred neon lights from buildings and decorations, creating a sense of motion and excitement. — ‘Fast Vegas’ by Cristiano Barni | Formula 1 Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A silhouetted golfer swings a club against a vibrant blue sky with scattered white clouds. The golfer is in mid-motion, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the swing. Trees line the horizon in the background, framing the scene. — ‘Juan Postigo Arce’ by Octávio Passos | Golf Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A gymnast in mid-air performs a maneuver on the horizontal bar. Wearing a red and white outfit, they have chalk dust surrounding them, creating a dynamic effect against the black background. — ‘Hashimoto at the Bars’ by Eric Tkindt | Gymnastics Winner and Overall Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A hockey goalie in red and white gear blocks a shot during a game. The puck, marked with "50", is captured in mid-air near the center of the image. Opposing team players in blue jerseys can be seen in the background on the ice rink. — ’50th Anniversary Score’ by Bruce Bennett | Ice Hockey Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

Two judokas are mid-throw during a judo match on a yellow mat in front of a crowd. One judoka in a blue gi is being flipped upside down by their opponent in a white gi. The background shows a large audience and some sponsor logos. — ‘Upside Down’ by Victor Joly | Martial Arts Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A motocross rider, wearing black and white gear and a helmet, kicks up a massive cloud of sand while riding through a desert. The background features rolling sand dunes bathed in warm, golden light, highlighting the dynamic action in the scene. — ‘Luciano Benavides’ by Pavol Tomaskin | Motorsports Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A weightlifter dressed in a blue and black outfit lifts a barbell with multiple weight plates, under spotlight in a dark setting. The weight plates are labeled Eleiko, and the weightlifter appears focused on the effort. — ‘A New Superhero? The Perfect Match Between a Spotlight and a Head’ by Isaac Julián Morillas Sáncez | Other Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A person with short blonde hair and glasses focuses intently while playing table tennis, tongue out in concentration. They are holding a paddle near their face, preparing to hit the ball. The background features a bright pink "X" shape. — Untitled photo by Benjamin Lau | Racquet Sports Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

Rugby players from two teams in green and white jerseys are engaged in a scrum during a match. The players' faces show intense concentration and physical effort as they push against each other, creating a tight, bustling formation. — ‘Maul’ by Morgan Treacy | Rugby Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A swimmer wearing a yellow swim cap and goggles performs a backstroke in a pool. The swimmer's right arm is extended while the left arm is by their side. The swimmer's dark swimsuit features the flag of the United Kingdom. The water creates a reflective, wavy effect. — ‘Submerged’ by Sean M. Haffey | Swimming and Diving Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A tennis player in a white outfit is performing a split on a grass court, reaching out with his racket near the ground. A tennis ball is visible in the foreground. The player's expression is intense and focused. — Untitled photo by Marc Aspland | Tennis Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

Close-up grayscale image of an eye with long eyelashes. The eye reflects a scene of a person with an umbrella, standing on a surface with clouds in the sky, blending the external view with the inner texture of the eye. — ‘Reflection’ by Volodya Voronin | Urban and Extreme Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A soccer match is taking place on a grassy field set in a vast, open plain surrounded by towering, rugged mountains with patches of snow near their peaks. The sky above is cloudy, casting a dramatic light over the scenic landscape. — Untitled photo by Brett Phibbs | Venues and Views Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

A skier competes in a race under a clear blue sky. The skier, leaning into a turn, leaves behind a colorful spray of snow particles illuminated by the bright sun. Vibrant hues of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue form a striking plume in the air. — ‘Mikaela’s World — Ski Welt Cup’ by Alexander Hassenstein | Winter Sports Winner, 2024 World Sports Photography Awards

Beyond the category winners above, the competition committee also selected second- and third-place photos for each category, plus many “special merit” photos that are well worth checking out. All awarded images are featured on the World Sports Photography Awards website.

Image credits: World Sports Photography Awards. Each photographer is credited in the individual captions.