TIKI GELANA
Tiki Gelana was the long-distance runner to beat during the 2012 London Olympics. She had trained as hard as she could to give honor to her country, and prior to London, she had won the 2011 Amsterdam Marathon, then the Rotterdam Marathon after that.
Not far behind her is Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya, like a shadow that pushes, instead of just follows. This photograph shows Gelana moments after winning the race. It was a hard-fought marathon and both have each other to thank for their optimal performances.
ABEBE BIKILA
Before Ethiopian marathon runner, Abebe Bikila, started his athletic career, he first joined the Ethiopian Imperial Guard, and rose to the rank of captain. It was part of his regular exercise to run 20km a day through the Sululta Hills, and he was subsequently trained for the marathon by a Swedish coach who was the first to spot his potential.
Abebe Bikila runs barefoot in this photograph as he crosses the Arch of Constantine. With a time of 2:15:16.2, he set the Olympic world record on Sept. 10, 1960. Such competitions are held at night to avoid the sweltering heat of the daylight hours.
PAU GASOL
Spaniard professional basketball player, Pau Gasol, found himself at the tail end of a basketball rivalry that spanned decades. A rivalry that started even before the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird era, back when the Lakers and Celtics first met in the NBA finals in 1959.
This picture was shot during Game seven of the 2010 NBA Finals, where the Lakers won against the Celtics, and Pau Gasol was an instrumental figure in that game scoring 19 points, and grabbing 18 rebounds. Here, he celebrates as he finds himself at the successful end against their long-time rivals.
GORDON HAYWARD
Gordon Hayward was given the opportunity to win it all for his team during the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship between Duke and Butler. In the heat of the 2009-2010 season, the Butler star was named Player of the Year, averaging 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds.
This was the time when his skills would be put to the extreme test as they had last possession of the ball, trailing 61-59. He was able to shoot the ball from half court before the shot clock went off, and it looked like it was going to go in up until the last second where it hit the backboard and rim then, to the dismay of their fans, bounced away.
MATTHIAS STEINER
Austrian weightlifting champion, Matthias Steiner, only had a nick of time to adjust himself before about 432 pounds of sheer force would fall brusquely on his neck. In the picture, he looks as if he’s waving his left hand to an audience while the barbell plants itself close to the side of his head; all after he fell off balance trying to lift it during the London Olympics.
Luckily, Steiner was all right, but he begged to discontinue. He had won the gold medal during the 2008 Summer Olympics and was likely confident (or at least hopeful) of another win.