June 2024

In June, 2024, I had the privilege of photographing the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for men and women gymnastics in Minneapolis, Minnesota. To see the athletes up close was awe-inspiring. Their power and balance, combined with strict discipline, are super-human.

To photograph this event, I had to use all of my photographic knowledge, plus adhere to the many rules that were given to the credentialed photographers to follow. I had to learn to use the schedule given to us which indicated where the athletes would be stationed on an apparatus for each 20 minute period, learn to identify the athletes for photo captions, translate new vocabulary (such as "podium training" actually meaning the time that the athletes practice gymnastics,) go to mandatory meetings, learn how to navigate the huge stadium's back area in order to get to the designatated areas for photography and find places in the stands for good vantage points. I also had to figure out what lenses were best to use and change the ISO (sensitivity of the sensor to light) for ideal exposure.

Oh one more thing... The rhythmic and artistic gymnastics were taking place at completely different venues. Thank goodness for Google maps that showed me how to get to the stadiums from my hotel.  

Below are some of the images that I made at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials of the gymnasts who made the men's and women's teams. They all went on to achieve medals at the Olympics in Paris - ten medals in all.

Simone Biles

By the way, if you are interested in getting prints of these and other images that I made at the Olympic Team Trials, I will be adding them to my art store website. Or just email me.

To keep up to date on my newest photos, follow me on Instagram.

Asher Hong

Frederick Richard

Brody Malone

Paul Juda

Hezly Rivera

Jade Carey

Simone Biles

Jordan Chiles

Frederick Richard

Stephen Nedoroscik

Suni Lee

Gold (3)

Women’s Team – Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, Hezly Rivera

Women’s All-Around – Simone Biles

Women’s Vault – Simone Biles

Silver (1)

Women’s Floor Exercise – Simone Biles

Bronze (6)

Men’s Team – Asher Hong, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, Stephen Nedoroscik, Frederick Richard

Men’s Pommel Horse – Stephen Nedoroscik

Women’s All-Around – Sunisa Lee

Women’s Uneven Bars – Sunisa Lee

Women’s Vault – Jade Carey

Women’s Floor Exercise – Jordan Chiles