Sportsfile photographer Stephen McCarthy has been announced as a winner in the prestigious ‘Sports, Singles’ category in the 2021 World Press Photo Contest with his image ‘Home Training’.
It is another accolade for Ireland’s sports photographers after James Crombie won the overall prize as Irish Photographer of the Year last month.
The winning image, taken in May last year, features the then 87-year-old masters athlete Pat Naughton maintaining his daily training regime in his living room at his home in Nenagh, County Tipperary, during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
This is the second time that Cahirsiveen native McCarthy has been recognised by the World Press Photo Foundation, collecting second prize in the 2018 contest for a photograph entitled ‘Steaming Scrum’ which features The British & Irish Lions and Maori All Blacks packs engaging during a match at the Rotorua International Stadium in New Zealand.
“It’s a privilege to be acknowledged by the World Press Photo Foundation for a second time,” said McCarthy. “I am humbled to have had the opportunity to capture a unique example of how humans have adapted in these unprecedented times.”
“I think the photograph has captured the determination of athletes in particular, in this case Pat, to maintain their training schedules in pursuit of normality in the most abnormal of times.”
“I am really delighted for Stephen especially as it is his second time to be honoured in the World Press Photo Awards,” added Sportsfile Founder Ray McManus.
“He is a dedicated photographer, a great team player and puts his heart and soul into his work every day. For us at Sportsfile the news is especially satisfying as it brings our total of World Press Photo Awards to five over the past 12 years.”
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