The Paris 2024 Olympic Games regatta through the lenses of our photographers

The rowing regatta at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was among the most captivating in the history of the Olympics.

World Rowing photographers, Detlev Seyb and Benedict Tufnell were there to both witness and capture the genius of rowers like Oliver Zeidler, Karolien Florijn, Imogen Grant or the Sinkovic Brothers, amongst many others. They lived and breathed the drama from the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium that gripped fans watching from around the world.

Which photos taken will always have the most special meaning to those who took them, and what was their strategy and technique for capturing them? They share their favorite and most meaningful photos from Paris 2024.

Photographer Benedict Tufnell

“This image was captured during morning training in the boat park at the Olympic rowing venue, before the single sculls quarter-finals. This is the greek single sculler Stefanos Ntouskos who entered the Paris games as reigning Olympic champion in the single. With rowing being a repetitive motion, linear sport, the challenge for any rowing photographer is finding new and
interesting angles or ways to create original photos. The boat park is one of the best places to capture something interesting and ‘different’. After spending some time in the boat park, I knew that this angle had potential, with the flags, branding and direction of the morning sun all coming together to make for a pleasing low, wide-angle shot. Then it was just a case of waiting – a single scull would be the only boat that would fit fully in the frame – and it wasn’t long before this opportunity presented itself as Ntouskos exited the pontoon after his training row. By pure luck, the colour of his rowing suit and oars perfectly matched with the blue carpet and sky.”

“The Sinkovic brothers embrace moments after wining a dramatic third consecutive gold medal in the men’s pair. I love this image for so many reasons; It was perhaps the most dramatic race of the regatta and this image, for me, sums up the intense release of emotion in the moment. I like to think the cameraman in the background represents all of us watching on in awe and admiration. The Croatian Sinkovic brothers have been the sweethearts of the sport for the past three games, and everyone enjoys seeing them win. Few thought they had it in them to continue their gold medal streak from Rio and Tokyo – they hadn’t won an international race all season and for the first half of the final in Paris, did not look in contention for a medal. But a legendary sprint in the last 500m saw them move through the field and draw level with the leading GB pair with just metres to go before the line. The British, feeling the pressure, caught a crab and the Sinkovic’s clinched the Gold in the last two strokes of the race. Its a race that will be talked about for years to come.”

“This was taken from the back of the grandstands as the French men’s lightweight double battled for a slot in the Olympic Final. I was only just able to get into position in time for this, the grandstands were so densely packed and I had to fight my way through the crowd. I wanted to capture the spirit and energy of the supporters, who always erupted for the French athletes with a deafening roar. The supporters who have turned out throughout the games have been incredible.”

“For me the Olympics are all about emotions and there is nothing quite like the Olympic podium for pure raw emotion. This image is one of my personal favourites, taken during the national anthem in the men’s fours medal ceremony. The shot captures a tear drop running down the cheek of US athlete Justin Best, who appeared completely overcome by the moment in the face of what he and his crew had achieved, becoming the first US men’s four to win olympic gold in 64 years.”

Photographer Detlev Seyb

“This picture represents the great performance by the Dutch Rowing team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, when they finished atop the medal table. Karolien Florijn, unbeaten in the single sculls since she first raced intenationall in that boat in 2022, fulfilled her ultimate dream in the final in Paris, when she became an Olympic Champion. Anyone who has followed Karolien’s races since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games knows how warmly she always celebrates after the last stroke of the race. She made this final a special moment for everyone, and it was a pleasure to capture this moment of celebration right after she crossed the finish line.”

“Oliver Zeidler can hardly believe what just happened. Three years ago in Tokyo, he missed out on the A-Final while coming in as the favourite to win it all. But three years later, he was  simply unstoppable in Paris. After his great performance in the final, where he led the race from start to finish, Zeidler turned around and rode in his lane back to the stands: he cheered, he shed tears of joy. We had never seen the German sculler so emotional. This picture expresses everything Oliver Zeidler is feeling at this very moment: gratitude, towards his family, his dad and coach, his loved ones, and also, his fans who were cheering him from the stands at this moment.”

“When an Olympic Final is sometimes decided by one stroke… The A-Final of the men’s pair in Paris was one to remember, with Tom George and Ollie Wynne-Griffith having raced perfectly for 1980m, on their way to an Olympic gold medal, until a technical error – almost a boat-stopping crab – in the last 20m cost them the win. Disaster for the British crew, but on the other hand, pure happiness for the Croatians: this one stroke brought the Sinkovic brothers their fourth Olympic medal – their third gold medal, successfully defending their Olympic title from Tokyo.”