In the spring of 2011, L’Équipe magazine sent Dimitri Iundt, a photographer, and Stéphane Kohler, a reporter, to Jamaica to document Usain Bolt’s preparation. The reigning world and Olympic champion was preparing for the upcoming World Championships, scheduled for the following summer in Daegu, South Korea. Unfortunately, he would be disqualified in the final for a false start.

Bolt’s training and stretching sessions took place in the early hours of the morning to avoid the intense Jamaican heat. The report captures the intensity and rigor of the preparation of the world’s fastest sprinter.

After a long night driving on the Peruvian mountain roads from the city of Cuzco, Jean-Baptiste Liautard and his team arrive early in the morning in the city of Nazca. After a few hours of rest in a poorly air-conditioned hotel room, they hit the road towards the dune. The landscape that unfolds before them is surreal, with a true sand mountain reaching several hundred meters high.

After reaching the top of the dune, Jean-Baptiste flies his drone. The relief of the dune, shaped by the wind, appears even more astonishing from the sky. As the shadows form at sunset, Kilian Bronn launches down the slope. With only one possible attempt due to the tracks left by the bike, luck is on their side: the turn is made at the right place, sand is thrown into the air, and the long-awaited photo appears on the screen.

The Barkley is a unique, strange, and fascinating race. This hellish challenge is often described as impossible, having been completed by only 18 runners, about 1% of the participants. In March 2018, in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee, Alexis Berg witnessed this extreme event.

He describes a runner lost in the morning mist, climbing the slope of Rat Jaw, the longest ascent of the Barkley. The mystical landscape and the difficulty of the race captivate Alexis, making this legendary race even more intriguing and formidable.

During the 2013 Australian Open, Roger Federer played an intense tournament, reaching the semifinals before being defeated by Andy Murray in a five-set match. Despite this loss, Federer once again demonstrated his talent and tenacity on the court.

Photographer Corinne Dubreuil captured many memorable moments of Federer during this tournament. One of her photographs, titled “Roger III,” immortalizes Federer in a moment of concentration and determination. This image, like many of her works, reflects the passion and commitment of the Swiss player, paying tribute to his legendary career.

Dubreuil, known for her captivating shots of the greatest tennis players, has managed to capture the essence of Federer, both in victory and in moments of challenge. Her photographs are regularly exhibited in renowned galleries and are part of prestigious collections.

Maxim Korotchenko is a renowned documentary photographer, born in Astrakhan, Russia, in 1982. He began his professional career at the age of 29, in 2011, documenting the activities of the local governor. Subsequently, he became a freelance photographer for various media, such as Novaya Gazeta, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, TASS photo agency, Izvestia, and National Geographic.

Korotchenko specializes in capturing the daily lives of the inhabitants of the Lower Volga region, offering a unique visual exploration of southern Russia. In 2022, he moved to Paris with his family and joined the Agency of Artists in Exile and the Hans Lucas photo agency.

His work has been widely recognized, notably winning the Siena International Photography Award in 2019 and the Paris Sport Photo in 2021.

The 4x100m relay, introduced at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, embodies the essence of collective sprinting. This moment where individual ambitions, whether fulfilled or disappointed, merge into a team effort, requires perfect synchronization. Passing the baton at the right time and place is crucial, as the slightest mistake can cost the victory.

This event has provided a grand stage for the greatest sprinters in history. Legends like Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt, and female icons such as Allyson Felix and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, have lit up the track with their performances. The 4x100m relay is much more than just a race; it is a spectacle of speed, technique, and collective strategy.

Each relay is a symphony where four athletes succeed each other in perfect harmony, their common goal surpassing individual aspirations. Success lies in the ability of each runner to blend into the collective effort, synchronizing their movements to ensure a smooth and fast baton exchange.

The 4x100m is a discipline where team cohesion is as important as individual speed. This is what makes this event the pinnacle of sprint competitions, a true challenge of coordination and shared excellence.

In March 1996, at the prestigious MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a striking portrait of Mike Tyson was taken before his iconic fight against Frank Bruno. This photograph captures Tyson in a moment of intense focus, ready to reclaim his heavyweight world champion title. The fight, marked by Tyson’s resounding victory, remains etched in memory as a turning point in his tumultuous career.

This portrait not only shows the formidable boxer he was but also the aura of invincibility and determination that surrounded him at that time. The context of Las Vegas, the city of lights and major fights, adds an additional dimension to the image, symbolizing both the glory and the pressure that accompany such an event.

A few months before the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, L’Équipe magazine entrusted Gérard Rancinan with creating a series of portraits of the national team players. Intended to be published on the morning of the opening match, this extensive portfolio highlights twelve of the most emblematic players.

Richard Escot, a senior reporter and rugby specialist for the magazine, plays a crucial role in this project. In addition to writing the texts, he acts as the true Grand Organizer. Thanks to his privileged relationships with the players, he convinces them to dedicate the necessary time for the photo session, explaining Gérard Rancinan’s vision and the project’s ambition. He also takes care of scheduling the appointments.

Several trips to the south of France are necessary, notably to the Basque Country, where Biarritz Olympique hosts a significant number of international players. Five of them participate in the series: Dimitri Yachvili (who unfortunately cannot play in the World Cup), Imanol Harinordoquy, Damien Traille, Jérôme Thion, and Serge Betsen.

The iconic image of this series, created by Gérard Rancinan in March 2007 at the Aguilera Stadium, home of Biarritz Olympique, captures the essence and determination of the players. Rancinan, with his talent and expertise, succeeds in immortalizing these precious moments, transforming each portrait into a unique work of art.