Athletics World Championships
The recent Athletics World Championships came to a conclusion at the Olympic Stadium in London on Sunday Aug. 13. It’s the end of an era for the sport. Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprint icon and arguably the greatest athlete of all time bowed out from major competition. Mo Farah, the most successful middle-distance runner, finished his major track career in London and time must be getting close for US stalwarts Allyson Felix and Justin Gatlin.
Once again AP photographers were there to document the ups-and-downs of an event that is now in it’s 16th edition. From the joy of Farah’s gold in the 10,000m and Justin Gatlin’s controversial Men’s 100m success, to the despair of Bolt pulling up injured in the 4x100m relay. From one day of torrential rain where athletes were reflections could be seen in the sodden track, to a Marathon run through the streets of London in bright sunshine. Every angle was covered by the AP Photos team.
This was my 13th World Athletics Championships. My first back in 1993 in Stuttgart, Germany was shot solely on film that was run back to the stadium at what then seemed like breakneck speed. Edited, scanned, transmitted to a photo desk before being pushed out to our clients. Now images were move to our customers within seconds of the winner crossing the line !'
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Text and curation by Regional Photo Editor for Europe & Africa at the Associated Press Tony Hicks.
Text and curation by Regional Photo Editor for Europe & Africa at the Associated Press Tony Hicks.