The Olympics. The pinnacle of sports across the globe. Win or lose, athletes invited to participate can scratch an item off their bucket list. Earn a medal and become immortalized in sports history; become legendary. Athletes aren’t the only attendees carving out their rightful space in history. Coaches, organizers, broadcasters, commentators, journalists, and most certainly photographers are also among those able to check the milestone off of their respective bucket lists.
What was the best part of the Olympics? This has been the most common question from friends and family since I returned from Rio where I created my shots from the sidelines of the Olympics. The answer is equally simple and complex. The best part of the Olympics for me was the passion for the game. At first that may sound like a cop out. And sure, I can share first-hand accounts of some amazing highlights and specific moments. But, the truth is experiencing the Olympics was deeply moving and it’s because of the ubiquitous passion, passion for all sports but especially basketball—which also happens to be the only sport I had time to witness live in Rio.
I witnessed pure joy and love for the game from every country. The ovation that Manu Ginobili received from the thousands of Argentinian fans in attendance and their collective passion and affection for him was palpable. Carmelo Anthony stood up from the bench and slowly turned around to soak in the love from the crowd throughout the entire Carioca Arena 1 as they bid Manu farewell. When Anna Cruz hit the game-clinching buzzer-beater to lift Spain over Turkey, I felt their cheers and Turkey’s tears. Pride, national pride, pain, relief, resilience, and greatness were all so heavy, I felt like I could almost reach in the air and grab them. Maybe I’m a romantic. But, I felt all warm and toasty when I saw the women’s national team of Japan play their hearts out, encourage each other, cheer for every single positive effort made from the bench, and smile regardless of the moment or the score. As a coach, that is the joy and passion I want to instill in the young people I am privileged to lead.
These Olympics punctuated the end of an era of basketball. Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Carmelo Anthony are only a few of the legendary players having completed their final stanza in international basketball. I was honored to have been on hand to document these special moments in history. From the opening ceremony to the medal presentations and that time I passed up on a rare opportunity to get some rest and instead paid a visit to the Christ the Redeemer monument, the Rio Olympics were incredibly moving. I hope my images can convey at least a fraction of the emotions I experienced and witnessed while in Rio. I was fortunate to work with and meet some great people and it was a truly invaluable learning opportunity for me that I did not take for granted. I can’t wait to get back on the sidelines and work my toward 2020 and beyond.
