2021 Sports Photojournalist of the Year

Arlington, Texas, Sunday, October 18, 2020. Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (10) tags out Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) to start double play in the fourth inning in game seven of the NLCS at Globe Life Field.

LOS ANGELES, CA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 - The Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Arlington, Texas, Saturday, October 24, 2020 The Dodgers and the Rays in game four of the World Series at Globe Life Field. (Robert Gauthier/ Los Angeles Times)

WASATCH MOUNTAIN STATE PARK, UTAH, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 - Riders and skiers team up to compete in Skijoring Utah, a two day rodeo like event where skiers are pulled through an obstacle course by a rope attached to a horse and rider at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center.

Los Angeles, CA, Sunday July 26, 2020 - Dodgers team photographer Juan Ocampo photographs the action from field level seats occupied by hundreds of fan photos during a game against the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Julio Urias is mobbed as the Dodgers win the World Series at Globe Life Field. (Robert Gauthier/ Los Angeles Times)

LOS ANGELES, CA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 - A court side fan is straddled by Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (39) after the player chased a loose ball against the Orlando Magic at Staples Center.

WASATCH MOUNTAIN STATE PARK, UTAH, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 - Riders and skiers team up to compete in Skijoring Utah, a two day rodeo like event where skiers are pulled through an obstacle course by a rope attached to a horse and rider at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles, CA, Friday, February 6, 2020 - A shrine hangs in a downtown apartment, honoring Kobe Bryant, the retired Laker who perished in a helicopter crash weeks earlier.

Taevion Rushing was the best player on the only high school basketball team left in the city of Flint, Michigan. He was also the representation of the town’s decline – a talent that went undeveloped due to institutional injustice and cultural indifference. The 2019-2020 season proved to be a test of his maturity as he was asked to lead the Flint Jaguars to a winning season.Taevion Rushing is a soft shooter with hard edges, a senior guard who has a star quality — with bouncy dreadlocks, pretty-boy pink sneakers and undeniable personal magnetism — but nothing to show for it through three years on varsity.
Some of his Jaguar teammates remain leery of Tae. They think he was a big part of why last year’s team played so selfishly. After he quit midseason, chemistry improved.
Rushing leads his team out of the locker room early in the season.

Flint has always done its talking through basketball, particularly after the shops shuttered and moved elsewhere. These Jaguars grew up with the stories — of a hard-working culture at General Motors, of a trio of young men from their neighborhoods who came together as the “Flintstones” to win a national basketball championship at Michigan State — but little of the community investment to mold them in the same blue-collar way.

Flint has always done its talking through basketball, particularly after the shops shuttered and moved elsewhere. These Jaguars grew up with the stories — of a hard-working culture at General Motors, of a trio of young men from their neighborhoods who came together as the “Flintstones” to win a national basketball championship at Michigan State — but little of the community investment to mold them in the same blue-collar way.

Flint had once been a model for industrial cities, but as the auto industry went into decline, basketball players became Flint’s greatest export. GM began its long goodbye in the 1980s, right as the Flint public high schools were on a remarkable five-year run of winning Michigan’s Class A state title over Detroit schools.
But, even before the water crisis, Flint schools’ pipeline to the next level began to rust. It wasn’t that the city didn’t have talent. At some point, a generation of kids had become convinced that they had to leave the city to be developed. For instance, the Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma is from Flint but was groomed in the suburb of Grand Blanc. The Nuggets’ Monte Morris starred one mile north of the city at Beecher, giving this week’s Western Conference Finals a genuine Flint flavor. Miles Bridges, of Michigan State and the Charlotte Hornets, played his freshman year at Flint Southwestern before leaving for prep school.

The moment he took the Flint job, he had a decision to make about the best player, and Demarkus Jackson chose to give Tae a real chance, to let him play through some mistakes, on and off the court, unlike past coaches.
He hadn’t met Tae, but he felt like he already knew him through his older cousins. Tae was the latest in a long line who squandered their gifts. Jackson yells out to players during a winning effort against Atherton High.

Taevion, Julian Gardner and Dekobe Lemon, right, celebrate during a winning effort against Kearsley High in the district playoffs. He scored 31 points.
“I feel like a hero!” he ssid..

“They say they love basketball, but some people just like it. I wish he would have taken it seriously. He could have gone to a high [Division I school] or something,” said Beecher High basketball star Jalen Terry about Taevion. Taevion buries his face in his hands as coach Jackson critiques their loss to Bendle High the day before.

On a night he should have been practicing for the district title game, the best high-school guard left in Flint is playing for fun, wearing Crocs instead of sneakers, the braids of his hair flying wildly in the cold, lake-swept winds that could take him anywhere.
In months to come, Tae will graduate and spend the summer going back and forth about which junior college to attend. Tae plays a spirited pickup game with his cousins.

Taevion spends much of his free time at the home of his grandparents, Dennis and Linda Rushing. Dennis said watching Tae’s existence is hard for him. Dennis spent almost four decades at the same Buick plant; now his children and grandkids wouldn’t have those kind of opportunities.
“One thing about our clan,” he said, “never been shy from work. Never was any loafers that just decided they was gonna live off somebody else’s being. I don’t want him to end up like that.
“If we have one flaw, it’s the fact that we take from ourselves and give to our grandkids, because a lot of times their parents can’t step up to the plate When he ask for another T-shirt or jersey or something, I’ll mumble and grumble…”
But Dennis will give in, he said. He seemed disappointed in himself just as much if not more than in Tae.

The Flint water crisis grabbed the nation and shook it in 2014. A state government made a financial decision that ended up poisoning a city that’s 54% Black, becoming a brazen example of systemic racial injustice in America. Long after the news trucks pulled out and societal watchdogs found fresher injustices. Rival players from Beecher High enter the visitors locker room before a late season game on the Jaguar’s home court.

Davison won the state football championship in the fall. These Cardinal know much more about what it takes to win big games than the Jaguars.
“We ain’t been here before!” Jackson says before tip. “Let’s make history!”
Flint flies from the start. The Jaguars get on top with their full-court pressure defense, learning early that Davison doesn’t have the mental stamina to keep up.
Before long, the Davison fans are the ones yelling at the refs, booing and stomping their feet in protest. Nobody in the host gym here in Grand Blanc — a Flint suburb which fittingly translates to “Big White” — can believe it: Flint has the tougher team tonight.
“This reminds me of the old Flint teams,” says a woman in the stands.
Flint 74, Davison 58.

Taevion leads the team out of the locker room for their first home game of the season, Despite criticism from coaches and teammates, who labeled him selfish and a bad teammate, he led the team to a winning record and a game away from the district championships. Looking at his Flint career in sum, he did not win the big game, did not become a Division I recruit, did not fulfill Flint’s destiny of old. So what was gained?
“I got close with my teammates,” he says. “I like this season the best because we are a team.”

San Diego, CA, Saturday, May 23, 2020 -
As the first wave of Covid-19 infections spread throughout the country, a San Diego based pro wrestling club known as FIST Combat, held a series of “drive in” events. Despite government mandated “stay at home” orders, they staged matches at an industrial park parking lot and charged $20. After a few events San Diego County officials shut them down during the summer surge. Dirty Ron McDonald, (Mikey Gordon, FIST Combat owner), wrestles Guy Cool.

Wrestler Slice Boogie loses his face mask early in his match against Jheri Gigolo.
Underground wrestling is a bubbling stew of athleticism, theater, violence and comic book superhero ethos. It wrings the sweat out of a metaphorical towel soaked with systemic racism, police brutality, a pandemic, economic hardship and a deep political divide seeping from the pores of America.
“ It’s a wild action, comedy, drama, improv stunt show where we all toss bodies in our fancy underwear,” said promoter Mikey Gordon.

Dirty Ron McDonald crashes to the pavement during a match against Guy Cool.
Gordon, 37, started FIST (Finest Independent Stars Today) in his home town of St. Louis 20 years ago. Now in San Diego, where they’ve staged shows in bars, pool halls and strip clubs,

RJ Nascimento, 8, a Dirty Ron McDonald fan, sits ringside. Spectators were asked to wear masks and encouraged to remain socially distant from each other. Few did either.

Bodacious Baron Rotza spits beer on Motros during a tag team match between the Lucha Daddies and Ring Wormz.
Despite the surging pandemic, wrestlers showed little concern, often mocking CDC precautions from spreading Covid-19.

Randy Order is a “bad guy” who carries a yard stick and threatens to arrest spectators who do not sit socially distanced from each other. “We’ve always adapted. I’ve always adapted,” said Mikey Gordon. “I love this business more than anything.”

San Diego Police officers talk with Mikey Gordon after who talked them out of shutting down the event. The officers never left their vehicle and drove away minutes after arriving.
Nearly a month later, Gordon received a notice from the City to cease operations.

Dawn Sabatino and family cheer on wrestlers from the back of their pickup truck.

San Diego, CA, Saturday, May 30, 2020 - F.I.S.T. Combat produces it’s second parking lot pro wrestling event to a limited number of spectators and a livestream audience in an attempt to honor Covid-19 health code restrictions. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Veinom Guerrero in a match against Ryan Kidd and Curt Stallion. Wretlers, mostly unmasked, congregated in a nearby room between matches.

Having rolled in thumb tacks, smashed into doors, ladders and bare pavement, Dirty Ron McDonald (Mikey Gordon) and Guy Cool near the end of a long match.
“#DriveInWrestling was a success because it brought people together that hadn’t socialized in months,” said Gordon “That was the biggest possible joy. It was overwhelming.” After a three month hiatus, Gordon is back to staging underground events as 350,00, and counting, Americans have perished from the virus.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) dives over Houston Texans safety Jhaleel Addae (37) into the end zone for a touchdown during an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Houston, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020.

Conor McGregor prepares to fight Donald ÒCowboyÓ Cerrone during UFC 246 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) and defensive back Marcell Harris (36) celebrate with fans after defeating the Green Bay Packers in the NFL NFC Championship football game in Santa Clara, California, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020.

Houston Roughnecks safety Corrion Ballard (22) celebrates with his daughter as they walk off the field after defeating the Dallas Renegades at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, March 1, 2020.

St Louis BattleHawks safety Will Hill (25) sits in the locker room before kickoff against the Dallas Renegades in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2020.

Vicente Luque connects with a jab to the face of Niko Price during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on May 9, 2020.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws the ball during an NFL game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 08, 2020.

The St Louis BattleHawks huddle up before kickoff against the Dallas Renegades at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas on February 9, 2020.

Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) makes a catch during an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium in Houston, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020.

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) beats the tag from Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) as he successfully steals 2nd base during game 5 of the NLCS at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on October 16, 2020.

Conor McGregor has his neck massaged while his hands are being wrapped in his locker room before fighting Donald ÒCowboyÓ Cerrone during UFC 246 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on January 18, 2020.

Gillian Robertson looks up from the canvas during her fight against Talia Santos during the UFC Fight Night event at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on December 19, 2020.

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) celebrates alone at home plate as he scores the game winning run in the 9th inning of game 4 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on October 24, 2020.

Mark and Montana De La Rosa grapple against the wall during practice in Fort Worth, Texas on January 28, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Mark and Montana De La Rosa in Fort Worth, Texas on January 11, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Mark De La Rosa jumps rope while Montana hits pads with head coach Erik Sands in Fort Worth, Texas on February 6, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Montana De La Rosa drops off her daughter, Zaylyn, at her wrestling practice in Azle, Texas on January 7, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Zaylyn Woods wrestles in Azle, Texas where her mother, Montana De La Rosa, began wrestling in high school on January 7, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Montana De La Rosa helps her daughter, Zaylyn, with homework while they lay on the trampoline outside their home in Fort Worth, Texas on January 28, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Mark and Montana De La Rosa work on setting up takedowns during wrestling practice in Fort Worth, Texas on January 14, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Mark and Montana De La Rosa training in Fort Worth, Texas on December 23, 2019. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

ACTION during UFC Fight Night in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on February 15, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Montana De La Rosa fights during UFC Fight Night in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on February 15, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Zaylyn reacts after Montana finished her fight with Montanas dad at UFC Fight Night in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on February 15, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Montana celebrates with Mark after her fight during UFC Fight Night in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on February 15, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Uriah Hall workout with a personal trainer at a training facility near Dallas, Texas on March 22, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Uriah Hall trains at his gym in Dallas, Texas on April 10, 2020.

Uriah Hall workout with a personal trainer at a training facility near Dallas, Texas on March 22, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Uriah Hall works out on the Katy Trail in Dallas, Texas on March 24, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Uriah Hall poses for a portrait at the home he is subleasing a room at in during his fight camp in Dallas, Texas on March 24, 2020. (Cooper Neill for ESPN)

Uriah Hall trains at his gym in Dallas, Texas on April 10, 2020.

Uriah Hall trains at his gym in Dallas, Texas on April 10, 2020.

Uriah Hall trains at his gym in Dallas, Texas on April 10, 2020.

Uriah Hall trains at his gym in Dallas, Texas on April 10, 2020.

Uriah Hall trains at his gym in Dallas, Texas on April 10, 2020.

The United States Military Academy Corps of Cadets salute during the national anthem before the start of a game between the Army Black Knights and the Middle Tennessee State Blue Radiers at Michie Stadium on September 5, 2020 in West Point, New York.

Bobby Abshire of the Army Black Knights is cross-checked by Kyle Stemke of the Binghamton Bearcats during a NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse game at Michie Stadium on March 3, 2020 in West Point, NY.

Sam Hendry of the University of Utah rests in the finish area after finishing in second place in the 10km freestyle of the NCAA Skiing Championships at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center in Bozeman, MT on March 12, 2020.

Florence Sifa of the Cincinnati Bearcats drives to the hoop, defended by Brittney Smith of the UCF Knights at the 2020 American Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship at Mohegan Sun on Sunday March 8, 2020.

A drop of sweat drips off Caleb John of the Army Black Knights as he sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of a game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Michie Stadium on September 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

Gary Fondl, of Frisco, CO, hikes up a strip of snow in the Colorado backcountry known as “High Voltage” in order to ski on June 27, 2020 in Summit County, CO. June marked Fondl’s 117th consecutive month of skiing in Colorado.

The Army Black Knights block a punt during a game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Michie Stadium on November 21, 2020 in West Point, New York.

Tess Arnone and Gunnar Gilbertson wait on their way up to the top of a ski jump during a summer training session at Howelsen Hill on August 12, 2020 in Steamboat Springs, CO.

Graham Branch of Saint Lawrence, after finishing the 20km Classic mass start race during the Harvard Carnival on January 18, 2020 in Craftsbury, VT.

Reikan Donaldson #83 of the Army Black Knights celebrates with Cedrick Cunningham Jr. #22 of the Army Black Knights after blocking a punt during a game against the Mercer Bears at Michie Stadium on October 24, 2020 in West Point, New York.

Chloe Novak of the Monmouth Hawks collides with Samantha Stewart and Cameron Manor of the Army Black Knights during an NCAA women’s lacrosse game at Monmouth University on February 26, 2020 in West Long Branch, NJ.

Callie Young of Dartmouth College skis during the Colby Carnival 15km classic race at Quarry Road on February 1, 2020 in Waterville, ME.

The United States Military Academy Corps of Cadets during the march on before start of the game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

United States Military Academy cadets relax and have a snack as they wait to take the field for the March-On before the start of the Army-Navy Game at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

President Donald Trump and Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, Lieutenant General Darryl A. Williams, walk to the field for the coin toss before the start of a game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

Diego Fagot #54 of the Navy Midshipmen kneels in the end zone before the start of a game against the Army Black Knights at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

President Donald Trump sits with the United States Military Academy Corps of Cadets during the first quarter of a game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

The Navy Midshipmen in the huddle under fog during the first quarter of a game against the Army Black Knights at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

Tyhier Tyler #2 of the Army Black Knights, Brandon Walters #11 of the Army Black Knights, Ay'Juan Marshall #39 of the Army Black Knights, on the sideline during a game against the Navy Midshipmen at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

Amadeo West #52, captain of the Army Black Knights, shouts to the United States Military Academy Corps of Cadets in the stands during the fourth quarter of a game against the Navy Midshipmen at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

Justin Lescouflair #28, A.J. Howard #5, Marquel Broughton #20, Dean Ngendakuriyo #21, and Julian McDuffie #3 of the Army Black Knights prepare to sing the United States Military Academy Alma Mater with the Corps of Cadets after defeating the Navy Midshipmen 15-0 at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

Isaiah Alston #86 of the Army Black Knights records the celebration in the locker room after defeating the Navy Midshipmen 15-0 at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York.

A ski jumper walks up the stairs to the top of the Harris Hill Ski Jump during a training session before the US Cup and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament on February 14, 2020, in Brattleboro, Vermont.

A ski jumper waits in the passenger seat of a shuttle truck used to bring athletes part of the way up toward the top of the in-run during a training session before the Harris Hill Ski Jump during a training session before the US Cup and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament on February 14, 2020, in Brattleboro, Vermont. Jumpers are required to walk up the rest of the way to the top of the ski jump.

A young ski jumper warms up with his coach as spectators look on before the US Cup and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament at the Harris Hill Ski Jump on February 16, 2020, in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Ski jumpers walk up a stairway on their way up to the top of the jump during a training session before the US Cup and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament at the Harris Hill Ski Jump on February 14, 2020, in Brattleboro, Vermont.

A ski jumper puts on his boots as he waits on the in-run before taking a jump during a training session before the US Cup and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament at the Harris Hill Ski Jump on February 14, 2020, in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Cara Larson of the United States sits in the bed with other athletes of the shuttle truck during a training session before the Harris Hill Ski Jump during a training session before the US Cup and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament on February 14, 2020, in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Chris Lamb of the United States sits on the side of the ski jump before taking a jump during a training session before the US Cup and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament at the Harris Hill Ski Jump on February 14, 2020, in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Spectators gather around the run-out of the Harris Hill Ski Jump before the US Cup and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament on February 15, 2020, in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Blaz Pavlic of Slovenia jumps on his way to winning the US Cup and Fred Harris Memorial Tournament at the Harris Hill Ski Jump on February 16, 2020, in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Karsten Warholm of Norway competes in the men's 300 meter hurdles during Impossible Games as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on June 11, 2020 in Oslo, Norway.

Dino Islamovic of Rosenborg scores the 0-2 goal behind goalkeeper Marcus Sandberg and Andreas Hanche-Olsen of Stabæk during the Eliteserien football match between Stabæk and Rosenborg on July 5, 2020 in Bærum, Norway.

Alexander Bolshunov of Russia competes in the men’s 30 km classic technique pursuit during the Ski Tour 2020 on February 23, 2020 in Trondheim, Norway.

Therese Johaug of Norway competes in the women's 10000 meter during Impossible Games as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on June 11, 2020 in Oslo, Norway.

Celin Bizet Ildhusøy and Marie Dølvik Markussen of Vålerenga celebrate winning the league after the Toppserien football match between Vålerenga and Arna-Bjørnar on December 6, 2020 in Oslo, Norway.

Sondre Guttormsen competes to win the men’s pole vault final during the Norwegian Athletics Championships on September 19, 2020 in Bergen, Norway.

Stig André Berge and Morten Thoresen of the Norwegian national wrestling team during a training session on February 3, 2020 in Oslo, Norway.

Marit Bjørgen and teammates of Team Ragde Eiendom during a roller skiing training session on June 29, 2020 in Tønsberg, Norway.

Martin Ødegaard of Norway assists teammate Erling Braut Haaland to score the 3-0 goal during the UEFA Nations League football match between Norway and Romania on October 11, 2020 in Oslo, Norway.

When the corona pandemic forced Norway into its first lockdown and made the daily life of our top athletes challenging, discus thrower Ola Stunes Isene returned to his parents' farm and started using the available equipment to continue his road to success.

Norwegian discus thrower Ola Stunes Isene trains at the family farm as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 8, 2020 in Lier, Norway. It does not look like a modern fitness center, but the strength training is done in the courtyard with the help of a bar and some old tires.

Norwegian discus thrower Ola Stunes Isene trains at the family farm as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 8, 2020 in Lier, Norway. The family dog keeps Isene with company during the training sessions.

Norwegian discus thrower Ola Stunes Isene trains at the family farm as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 8, 2020 in Lier, Norway. Inside the barn, the disco thrower has rigged up a tarpaulin so that he can get in more throws, in addition to that he can also throw indoors if the weather outside is too bad.

Norwegian discus thrower Ola Stunes Isene trains at the family farm as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 8, 2020 in Lier, Norway. Isene's grandfather has made him his very own throwing circle in front of the parents’ house.

Norwegian discus thrower Ola Stunes Isene trains at the family farm as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 8, 2020 in Lier, Norway. After every training session Isene checks the his best throw of the day, in the pursuit of becoming on of the best athletes in the world.

Pole vaulter Sondre Guttormsen lives, trains and studies in the USA, but traveled home to Norway when the coronavirus broke out. From his childhood home, the Norwegian athlete trains with one goal in his mind - competing in the Olympic Games.

Norwegian pole vaulter Sondre Guttormsen poses for a portrait at the local track and field facilities next door to his home as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 12, 2020 in Ski, Norway. Guttormsen holds the Norwegian record in pole vault with 5.80 meters.

Norwegian pole vaulter Sondre Guttormsen trains at home as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 12, 2020 in Ski, Norway. Alternativ methods are used to complete the daily workouts.

Norwegian pole vaulter Sondre Guttormsen trains at home as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 12, 2020 in Ski, Norway. Together with little brother Simen and dad Atle, Sondre trains at home.

Norwegian pole vaulter Sondre Guttormsen trains at home as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 12, 2020 in Ski, Norway. The family's swing bar in the garden was frequently used in the spring of 2020.

Norwegian pole vaulter Sondre Guttormsen walks to the local track and field facilities next door to his home as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 12, 2020 in Ski, Norway. A short walk from the house, Guttormsen can train on the local athletics track - weather permitting.

Norwegian pole vaulter Sondre Guttormsen trains at the local track and field facilities next door to his home as the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak continues on May 12, 2020 in Ski, Norway. The pole vaulter is qualified for the Olympics in Tokyo.

All sports facilities were closed in Norway following the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak in March. The unfortunate effect from this was that all schoolyards, pitches and tracks were left empty for weeks. No children. No activity. No nothing.

Empty football pitches on March 28, 2020 in Horten. Norway extends the nationwide lockdown until after Easter.

Empty stand and running tracks on March 29, 2020 in Horten. Norway extends the nationwide lockdown until after Easter.

An empty schoolyard on March 28, 2020 in Åsgårdstrand. Norway extends the nationwide lockdown until after Easter.

An empty football pitch on March 28, 2020 in Horten. Norway extends the nationwide lockdown until after Easter.

An empty athletics venue on March 29, 2020 in Horten. Norway extends the nationwide lockdown until after Easter.

Empty sports facilities on March 28, 2020 in Horten. Norway extends the nationwide lockdown until after Easter.