The sports moments of the year: This is how the iconic Olympic photo came about! | sport

Titles, tears, tragedies!

2024 was a year with great emotions and sensational victories. In addition to our home European Football Championship, the Olympic Games in Paris were THE highlight of the year.

Here the BILD reporters reveal what particularly moved them!

It’s a sports photo for eternity!

During the Olympic Games in Paris last summer, photographer Jérôme Brouillet (41) took the most spectacular photo at the surfing competitions in Tahiti. You can see it: the Brazilian Gabriel Medina (30) leaving a big wave.

As Medina is thrown out, he stands in the air, holding up his right index finger. Next to him on the leash is his surfboard at the same height. BILD Photo boss Sport Nico Vetter explains how the iconic Olympic photo came about!

Cousin: “The French photographer caught the perfect moment with his Nikon Z9 in which the eventual bronze medalist Medina seems to be floating in the air after the perfect wave.” The top Brazilian surfer set an Olympic record with a score of 9.9 : No one has ever rated it better. The accompanying photo is a straight 10.0.”

Brouillet subsequently explained his iconic photo as follows: “If all the conditions are met – weather, waves, light, the boat operator is in the right position and if you know how to use your camera – you can take good pictures in Teahupo’o.”

August 11th | Beach volleyball final | Paris

Henning Feidt: “I’ve traveled all over the world as a reporter, at both summer and winter Olympics, but I’ve never been as jealous of our colleagues as I am now in Paris.” Beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower, horseback riding at the Palace of Versailles, archery at the Invalides or fencing in the Grand Palais – no organizer had ever managed to connect the city with the games like Paris. From the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony – GREAT SPORT!”

July 5th | European Championship quarter-finals Germany against Spain (1:2 nV) | Stuttgart

Christian Falk: “Our national team played completely detached at the home European Championships in a frenzy that carried the entire country along.” Germany believed in the title again – until the 106th minute in the quarter-finals against Spain. Jamal Musiala concentrated on the Spaniard’s goal and shot. Marc Cucurella, who receives the ball on his left arm, has horror written on his face. Even from the stands I can see: That’s hand! That has to be a penalty! The only person who doesn’t see THAT is referee Anthony Taylor. Even more bitter: Instead of leading 2-1, Mikel Merino shoots us out 13 minutes later. Instead of Germany, Spain will later become European champions. I still have the feeling: We were cheated out of our title at the home European Championships.”

August 9th | Olympic welterweight final | Paris

Max Schrader: “I never expected that women’s welterweight boxing would become a global issue during the Olympics.” But everything changed because of the “male boxer” Imane Khelif. With four bodyguards she is escorted past 200 journalists who want to see whether the boxer looks like a man, walks like a man or talks like a man. A bizarre, unworthy spectacle.”

July 27 | 400 meter freestyle final at the Olympics | Paris

Achim Stecker: “His victory was fascinating, his tears were moving. The emotions that Lukas Märtens showed at the award ceremony after his Olympic gold in the 400 meter freestyle made it clear what this historic success meant to him. The man from Magdeburg won the first German pool gold since Michael Groß’s Olympic triumph in Seoul in 1988. I saw the albatross fly to victory back then. A moment that remains – like Märtens’ tears.”

August 4th | 100 meter final at the Olympics | Paris

Moritz loan comb: “It was the biggest show at the Stade de France. Pre-plank with light show and star DJ – easily 100 times longer than the race itself. The men’s 100 meter final! And then: All eight reached the finish line in under 10 seconds. I’ll hit the keys straight away and write who the big winner is. But nobody knows! On the results board there is “PHOTO” behind seven sprinters. The photo finish decides. In the end it’s Noah Lyles. A few days later I meet him for an interview. He loves the show and his racing, speaks as loudly as he looks and says: ‘Me and the Eiffel Tower were the biggest attractions in Paris.'”

January 26 | Jürgen Klopp announces resignation | Liverpool

Christian Kynast: “As full of strength as he could be, I couldn’t believe it at first: Jürgen Klopp announced his resignation as coach of Liverpool FC in an emotional video. After almost nine years, he broke up in the summer. “I’m running out of energy,” he explained his decision. The star coach lacked the strength for the stressful job – understandable after more than 23 years on the sidelines with almost no break. From January, Klopp will be head of football at Red Bull. I still hope for a coaching comeback: with the national team!”

August 9th | Olympic Games | Women’s shot put | Paris

Steven Jorgensen: “When Yemisi Ogunleye was ready for his final attempt, I looked closely at the shot put ring at the Stade de France. I had the feeling that something special was about to happen here. And the ball flew at exactly 20 meters. Gold for Germany! Afterwards, Ogunleye sang his way into the hearts of the world. She walked across the press box for more than an hour, stopping at every TV station. The devout Christian, who is in the gospel choir in Karlsruhe, was often asked to sing her favorite song – including on ARD. She also sang at the press conference: “I almost let go.” Meaning: I almost gave up. Luckily she didn’t and won!”