Edgar Su. Winner, Grand Prix Gold & Category Winner, Tennis. “Carlos’ Shadow Hits A Ball”
Sports have it all—guts, glory, heartbreak, and triumph are just some of the emotions part of every game, match, or duel. And professional sports photographers capture it all. One photo competition recognizing the very best for their abilities to do so is the World Sports Photography Awards, sponsored by Canon. This coveted contest just announced its winners of the 2026 competition, showcasing the grit and beauty of this photography genre.
Photographer Edgar Su won the contest’s top prize for his image titled Carlos’ Shadow Hits a Ball. The shot features Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz right after he struck a ball during his fourth-round match against Jack Draper at the 2025 Australian Open. It’s a compelling portrait with rich, jewel-toned hues and a delightful optical illusion. Thanks to Su’s perfectly timed shot, it looks as though Carlos’ shadow is hitting the tennis ball rather than the man. At once, the photo showcases the athlete’s abilities and the photographer’s deep understanding of the formal properties that make for a great image.
The winning picture leads a collection of 24 category-winning photos that include sports such as baseball, American football, golf, and surfing, as well as hockey, and many more. They were selected from a record-breaking 23,130 images submitted by 4,120 photographers across 123 countries.
“The images recognized this year showcase photographers at their creative best, pushing boundaries, seeing differently, and capturing sport in ways we’ve not experienced before,” remarked Richard Shepherd, product marketing senior manager, Imaging at Canon Europe.
All winning images are showcased on the World Sports Photography Awards website.
The World Sports Photography Awards just announced its winners of the 2026 competition, showcasing the grit and beauty of this photography genre.
Beatriz Ryder Da Costa. Winner, Grand Prix Silver & Category Winner, Aquatic. “The Underworld”
Richard Heathcote. Winner, Grand Prix Bronze & Category Winner, Cricket. “India vs England Layers”
Sophia Sandurskaya. Winner, Ice Hockey. “Last Line Of Defense”
Abelardo Mendes, Jr. Winner, Racquet Sports. “Kim Nayeong – WTT Foz do Iguaçu”
Anna Zinovieva. Winner, Other. “Bout”
Andrew Hancock. Winner, Venues & Views. “Championship View”
Buda Mendes. Winner, Gymnastics. “Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, Rio de Janeiro 2025”
Bob Donnan. Winner, Basketball. “Breakaway For The Lead”
Alexis Goudeau. Winner, Boxing. “UPPERCUT”
Kenjiro Matsuo. Winner, Athletics. “Tokyo Rocket”
Andrew Dowling. Winner, Rugby. “New Zealand Haka”
Germain Favre-Felix. Winner, Winter Sports. “North”
Morgan Treacy. Winner, Equestrian. “Equine Reflection”
Carel du Plessis. Winner, Swimming & Diving. “Catching A Breath”
Christian Gresko. Winner, American Football. “One Player, 110,000 Screaming Fans”
Martin Bissig. Winner, Urban & Extreme. “Kickflippin’ India”
Luis Amaral. Winner, Football. “Black & White Passion”
Mwangi Kirubi. Winner, Motor Sports. “Emerging Ford”
Aritz Arambarri Goenaga. Winner, Cycling. “Vistas Desde El Abandono”
David Cannon. Winner, Golf. “Tommy Fleetwood Emerges From A Hedge”
Steph Chambers. Winner, Baseball. “Bubble”
Luca Martini. Winner, Formula 1. “Tunnel Exit”
Tom Jenkins. Winner, Martial Arts. “Unusual Sumo Attack”
