While the Paris 2024 Olympics commenced with considerable controversy, surfer Gabriel Medina’s recent tournament pivoted the chatters to an optimistic note. Medina, competing at Teahupo’o in Tahiti, scored 9.9 for his exceptional athleticism. However, it wasn’t his markings alone—the best in the Olympics yet—that caught everyone’s attention and collective breath, but the striking photograph of the athlete, courtesy of Agence France-Presse photographer Jérôme Brouillet.
The picture in question—a sensation on the internet and poised to go down in the annals of Olympic history—portrays Medina in a biblical pose. The surfer appears levitating in the air over the bumpy sea. The moment’s tranquility is also echoed by his surfboard, which mirrors his hovering stance. The photograph is so well-composed that publications underlined the image is not an AI creation (although we absolutely despise the comparison).
While one applauds Medina’s efforts, the generous fondness must also extend to Brouillet’s extraordinary mastery. A photograph of this nature requires anticipation. In fact, Brouillet noted that he was not the only photographer there. “I got the shot of the day; I was with six talented photographers on the boat,” he told The Guardian in an interview. But what he said will resonate with anyone dabbling with this medium: “For sure, everyone will forget about it next week. Tomorrow won’t be any different.”
While Brouillet’s photograph impacts the viewer, the viewer will decide its urgency and relevancy. His quote also reveals the often unappreciated value of captivating art. At the time, it highlighted the dangers of AI taking over the visual world. But an important lesson is to learn here: good photography is not yet dead, especially in sports.
The Magic of Pure Moments in Sports
The past few decades saw the rise of era-defining images by photojournalists, who recorded and shaped pivotal historical moments. The Olympics, a revered international game, is no different. The platform continuously expresses social, political, and cultural perils. For instance, during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, under Hitler’s rule, the most iconic image at the games materialized: Jesse Owens, a black American sprinter and long jumper, rejected the Nazi Salute after his four wins. A similar scene unfolded at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics a few years later. Winners Tommie Smith and John Carlos of the US 200m race raised their fists in a Black Power salute, which led to a fierce and vibrant image portraying their rejection of racial injustice. Another example, far from politics but equally memorable, is Usain Bolt’s win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The athlete, who broke three world records, concluded his race with his trademark To Di World (or lightning bolt) victory pose, which he later patented.
Like the Olympics, Redbull’s sporting event has also produced many iconic gems in its treasure trove. A quick Google search will unveil awe-inspiring photographs, urging you to take up photography or the sport. But that’s not all. The pictures also portray the photographer’s passion, knowledge, and ability to foresee a moment. As Henri Cartier-Bresson once said, “Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn’t go too fast. The subject must forget about you. Then, however, you must be very quick.” As fleeting as they are, if we do not capture these moments when multiple realities merge in a split second, then we can do nothing to bring them back. If you love photography, let the Olympics be a guiding light for you to appreciate every little detail that passes before your lens, no matter how seemingly trivial.