Best sports photography

This award recognises published images that capture the passion, drama and colour of sport. All pictures must have been first published during the qualification period in a printed publication or third-party’s website/social media account.

Winner

Delly Carr, ‘Jess Fox celebrates Noemie Fox's win’

Australia was captivated by the Fox sisters and their exploits in Paris and both combined to produce an unforgettable image from the Olympic Games, captured expertly by Delly Carr. With Jess having claimed two gold medals in the C1 and K1 events, her sister Noémie would power to victory in the kayak cross to complete the family sweep. An overjoyed Jess jumped in the water to hug her sister in one of the most wholesome moments of Paris 2024.

Finalists

Daniel Pockett, ‘Coates Hanger’ Daniel Pockett said ‘all the stars aligned’ as he positioned himself in the perfect spot to capture one of the most spectacular tries in NRL history. With the game on the line and Melbourne needing to score on the final play against the Warriors, winger Xavier Coates took to the sky from five metres out to soar over Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and complete an acrobatic finish that would go viral around the globe. Pockett’s experience meant he was able to anticipate the ball heading to Coates and be on hand to snap an unforgettable image.

Dannion Hards, ‘Lifesaver in Flight’

Dannion Hards literally immersed himself in the action to shoot the 2024 Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships. Hards based himself in the surf break, battling rough conditions and cool water temps, and was able to capture ‘Lifesaver in Flight’ during the women’s open race as Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park’s Claudia Slaven broke through a wave and clung onto her board as if she had been shot out of a cannon. She managed a perfect landing, then paddled to shore and was able to advance through her race.

Robert Cianflone, ‘Over the top’

For Robert Cianflone, being in the right place at the right time has less to do with luck and more to do with planning, persistence and the ability to show up consistently, regardless of the hurdles in your path. That’s precisely what he did when he was assigned to shoot the MotoGP on Phillip Island, where windy, freezing conditions made it a test of stamina for the photographers as well as the riders. It paid off; Cianflone precisely captured the moment when a rider was flung over his handlebars, with his helmet just centimetres from the bitumen track, perfectly illustrating the fine line between the pursuit of speed and danger.