Getty Images shares their top pics from the Beijing Winter Olympics

21 February 2022

Some of the world’s finest sports photographers were tasked with capturing all the highlights and spectacle of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.  

Photo agency Getty Images had a total of 27 photographers covering the Games, all working with 30 remote editors from around the world to upload images in record speed. They captured an impressive 1.5 million images over the two weeks of competition. For those of you old enough to remember the stuff, that would have equated to 41,666 rolls of film. The reliance on robotic and remote cameras allowed for images from sports such as speed skating to be captured and uploaded in as little as 30 seconds.

Below is a selection of the strongest images from the Games, according to Getty.

Maxx Wolfson:
Image by Ezra Shaw. Maxx Wolfson: "Photographers are always looking for different and unique ways to show off the Olympic rings giving the photo’s a sense of place. Chief Photographer, Ezra Shaw worked to get into a position to capture the rings reflected on the googles of ski jumper Dominik Peter of Team Switzerland. Peter, caught with his mouth wide open, is captured by Shaw here as he tries to qualify for Men's Large Hill Individual Qualification."
Paul Gilham, Senior Director of Global Sports Photography:
Image by Catherine Ivill . Paul Gilham, Senior Director of Global Sports Photography: "As the Chinese flag is raised during the opening ceremony Catherine, captured the moment perfectly. The colour of the roof accentuates the red of the Chinese flag and the shape of the flag mirrors the salute. The moment is perfectly captured and beautifully composed. Let the games begin!"
On Winter Olympics final stretch, staff photographer, Alex Pantling, captured Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi of Team Germany sliding into gold during the 2-women Bobsleigh heats.
On Winter Olympics final stretch, staff photographer, Alex Pantling, captured Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi of Team Germany sliding into gold during the 2-women Bobsleigh heats.
Paul Gilham:
Image by Patrick Smith. Paul Gilham: "With the Games in full flow, the battle for that elusive place atop the medal podium is growing in momentum. Here, Staff Photographer Patrick Smith, captured the concentration and focus of Simon Desthieux of Team France shooting during zeroing as he competes during Men's Biathlon 10km Sprint at National Biathlon Centre on day 8 of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics."
Maxx Wolfson, Director of Sports Photography for the Americas:
Image by Matthias Hangst. Maxx Wolfson, Director of Sports Photography for the Americas commented: "Pure emotion and celebration from Team Sweden in this photo after a dominant performance by Jonna Sundling of Sweden in the Women's Cross-Country Sprint Free Final. After qualifying with the fastest time, Sundling, the reigning world champion, carried that momentum to the finish line. Sundling crushed the field to deliver Sweden's first cross-country medal of the Beijing Olympics by winning the race with a time of 3:09.68 and finishing 2.88 seconds ahead of teammate Maja Dahlqvist, who she is seen celebrating with."
Field Photo Editor, Elsa Garrison:
Field Photo Editor, Elsa Garrison: "One of my favorite moments of Olympic Ice Hockey is when the team huddles around the goalie right before the game starts. What I love about this picture is the tightness of the team around goaltender Alex Cavallini. Team United States does one of the best goal huddles pregame."
Chief Sports Photographer, Ezra Shaw.
Chief Sports Photographer, Ezra Shaw. "I had scouted the Biathlon course a few times, and I knew the sun started going down around 4:30pm and the course was completely in shade by around 5:15pm. Tonight’s race started at 5:00pm, so I didn’t have much time before the sun went down. I wanted to get a shot of the 20 teams lined up at the start, and then immediately after that, I raced to a spot on the course where I knew there was a little light left and where the athletes would be coming up a hill. I got there just in time as the sun was going behind the hill, and I was able to grab this shot of the backlit sun lighting up the athletes’ breath as they raced up the hill in the beautiful evening light."
Paul Gilham:
Image by Julian Finney. Paul Gilham: "This was a terrible moment for Nina O’Brien of the United States as she fell just short of the finish line. Part of a three-person photographer team for this race, Julian was positioned at the finish line waiting for the victorious skier to complete her second run for the Women’s Giant Slalom. Instead, he witnessed a terrible moment of despair, pain and anguish for O’Brien and Team USA. It’s always devastating to see these moments happen to athletes, especially at an Olympics event, which only happens every four years. We hope to see O’Brien at the next Olympic Winter Games."
Maxx Wolfson
Image by Clive Rose. Maxx Wolfson" "The Men's Snowboard Cross Quarter Finals is one of the more exciting events to capture. You never know what to expect from these amazing snowbaorders trying to get ahead in the race. By silhouetting the snowboarders in this image, it shows the unique shapes the athletes make against the sky. They look like action figurines. Knowing Getty Images had multiple other photographers shooting this event it gave photographer Clive Rose the ability to try something different. The risk paid off, and made for a fantastic image."
Maxx Wolfson:
Image by Julian Finney. Maxx Wolfson: "Threepeat! Defending two-time gold medalists Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt of Germany are seen embracing as they add another gold medal to their even growing tally. The two German lugers, who set a record in their first run, celebrated after securing the gold after another dominating performance at Beijing’s “Flying snow dragon” track."
Captured by Matthew Stockman, this image show vibrant emotions from Suzanne Schulting of Team Netherlands while she celebrates winning the Gold medal in a new Olympic Record time of 4:03.40 during the Women's 3000m Relay Final A on day nine of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
Captured by Matthew Stockman, this image show vibrant emotions from Suzanne Schulting of Team Netherlands while she celebrates winning the Gold medal in a new Olympic Record time of 4:03.40 during the Women's 3000m Relay Final A on day nine of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Staff Photographer.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Staff Photographer. "Covering the Speedskating for the ISU, I have photographed Erin win the 500m in many a race so seeing her fall and not qualify for the Olympics through the USA trials was a shock. Not only did Britney Bowe her colleague and friend give up her spot for Erin to be here, until about six years ago, she had never been on the ice before. An accomplished in-line skater, she is now a Olympic Champion and all this I think built up to convey a lot of emotion and tears on the podium as she heard her national anthem and crowd cheer for her."
Paul Gilham:
Image by Cameron Spencer. Paul Gilham: "Images from the Olympics always include gripping moments, tension, and passion. However, the most striking and emotive imagery that embodies the spirit and togetherness of the 2022 Winter Olympics, often are winning moments. In this image by Staff Photographer, Cameron Spencer, captures a vivid moment of Gold medallist Xu Mengtao of Team China reacts during the Women's Freestyle Skiing Aerials Final."
Photographer Harry How has captured a powerful image on day eleven of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Kamila Valieva is the girl with the weight of the World on her shoulders. In recent days all media headlines have focused on Kamila, and as she launched her bid for Olympic Gold the photographers and their cameras were focused on an emotional Kamila as she completed her two minute 40 second routine. At just 15 years old she has been cleared by a court to compete despite a recent positive drugs test. It is not yet known if she will be awarded a medal.
Photographer Harry How has captured a powerful image on day eleven of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Kamila Valieva is the girl with the weight of the World on her shoulders. In recent days all media headlines have focused on Kamila, and as she launched her bid for Olympic Gold the photographers and their cameras were focused on an emotional Kamila as she completed her two minute 40 second routine. At just 15 years old she has been cleared by a court to compete despite a recent positive drugs test. It is not yet known if she will be awarded a medal.
As week two of the Games come to its closure, the excitement of the competition is as fierce as it can be, like captured in this image by Clive Rose, where athletes compete during the Women's Cross-Country Team Sprint Classic Final on Day 12 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at The National Cross-Country Skiing Centre
As week two of the Games come to its closure, the excitement of the competition is as fierce as it can be, like captured in this image by Clive Rose, where athletes compete during the Women's Cross-Country Team Sprint Classic Final on Day 12 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at The National Cross-Country Skiing Centre
With only two days left for Beijing Olympics to come to its end, Lars Barson, Staff Photographer captured Ailing Eileen Gu of Team China, performing a trick that would later result on her becoming a gold medallist during their 1st run in the Women's Freestyle Freeski Halfpipe Final.
With only two days left for Beijing Olympics to come to its end, Lars Barson, Staff Photographer captured Ailing Eileen Gu of Team China, performing a trick that would later result on her becoming a gold medallist during their 1st run in the Women's Freestyle Freeski Halfpipe Final.
Throughout the games Kamila Valieva has dominated the headlines and today in her final skate in the Women's Single Free Skating she went from leading the group in 1st position to finishing 4th and out of the medals. The pressure was there for all to see as she fell several times in her final skate and Catherine Ivill captured a powerful image that tells the story of the past two weeks. The story will continue to unfold but for now Kamila's Olympic dreams have ended.
Throughout the games Kamila Valieva has dominated the headlines and today in her final skate in the Women's Single Free Skating she went from leading the group in 1st position to finishing 4th and out of the medals. The pressure was there for all to see as she fell several times in her final skate and Catherine Ivill captured a powerful image that tells the story of the past two weeks. The story will continue to unfold but for now Kamila's Olympic dreams have ended.
Image by Dean Mouhtaropoulos.The closing ceremony.

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