RIO 2016 OLYMPICS: USAIN BOLT WINNING MEN’S 100M SEMI-FINAL
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
It was .58 seconds from the time Usain Bolt crossed the finish line and won his third consecutive gold medal in the Mens 100m to the image of that historical moment being available to news agencies and publications around the world. According to Ken Mainardis, Vice President of Sports Imagery and Services at Getty Images, 20 years ago during the Summer Olympics is Atlanta, the time from camera to customer was 40 minutes — but that was before the era of digital photography, when film and processing was still part of the equation.
SIMONE BILES ON THE BALANCE BEAM DURING WOMEN’S ALL AROUND GYMNASTICS COMPETITION
SIMONE BILES ON THE BALANCE BEAM DURING WOMEN’S ALL AROUND GYMNASTICS COMPETITION(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Since 1988 Getty Images has been the IOC Official Partner. In these 2016 Olympics in Rio, 1.5 million images will be photographed by a team of 40 all-star photographers. Seconds after they are taken, photos will go directly from their cameras to a team of 20 photo editors. 85,000 images will be distributed worldwide within minutes thanks to approximately 62 miles of a state-of-the-art fiber optic network spanning the different venues of the Rio Games.
MICHAEL PHELPS LEADS RIVAL CHAD LE CLOS IN MEN’S 200M BUTTERFLY
(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
As you can imagine, for a sports photographer to be at the Olympics is the dream assignment and according to Mainardis, making the Getty team is as competitive as making the Olympic team. Specialists in the different sports contested like swimming, track & field, sailing, basketball, gymnastics, tennis, cycling, and more are selected. This is the ultimate test for these photographers to capture Olympic history and immortalize an athlete’s moment of glory.
JUAN DEL POTRO OF ARGENTINA AFTER DEFEATING RAFAEL NADAL OF SPAIN
IN THE MEN’S TENNIS SEMIFINAL MATCH
(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
The images shown here have been some of the most popular of the 2016 Summer Olympics, according to Getty – the top image of Usain Bolt the most licensed — and a few they consider to be the most iconic. Compare Usain Bolt smiling at the camera as he crushes the competition to Chad Le Clos looking at Michael Phelps as he trails behind. They capture the unforgettable moments of competition we have watched for these last two weeks, and as we wrap up the 2016 Olympic Games, leave us eagerly looking to PyeongChang, Korea and what’s to come in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
SUNSET AT BEACH VOLLEYBALL ARENA IN COPACABANA
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
For more stunning Olympic imagery from Rio 2016, be sure to check out Getty.com!
