The fifth edition of L'Équipe's international photography competition has crowned its professional category winners, with photographer Gaëlle Mobuchon taking the top honor for her striking image of pole vaulter Armand Duplantis after his world record achievement in Tokyo. The jury selected from among 277 professional submissions to determine this year's laureates.
Mobuchon's winning photograph captured the moment on September 15, 2025, when Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis celebrated after clearing 6.30 meters to set a new world record in Tokyo. The image perfectly encapsulated the raw emotion and triumph of the historic athletic achievement, showcasing the photographer's ability to freeze a pivotal moment in sports history.
Several other exceptional photographs received recognition in the competition. Aurélien Morissard's compelling shot of tennis player Aryna Sabalenka after her victorious semifinal match against Iga Swiatek at Roland-Garros on June 5, 2025, demonstrated the intensity and satisfaction of elite competition. Xavier Pereyron contributed a dynamic cycling photograph featuring Tadej Pogačar in Siena during the Strade Bianche race on March 8, 2025.
The diversity of sports represented in the winning selections was remarkable. Sébastien Boué captured the grueling nature of motorsport with his January 16, 2025 image from stage 11 of the Dakar Rally in Shubaytah. Combat sports were represented through Raphaël Sachetat's photograph of Tomoka Miyazaki's quarterfinal defeat at the French Open in Cesson-Sévigné on October 24, 2025.
Track and field dominated several winning entries, including Julie Fuster's capture of Tara Davis-Woodhall during her impressive 7.13-meter jump at the Athlos meet in New York on October 11, 2025. Swimming was beautifully represented by Giorgio Scala's artistic shot during training at the Cool Swim meet in Merano on June 20, 2025.
Motorsport provided another memorable image through Andrej Isakovic's photograph of Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 8, 2024. The collection was rounded out by Dario Belingheri's striking image of cyclist Millie Couzens during the Women's World Time Trial Championships in Kigali on September 22, 2025.
The Richard-Martin Prize continues to recognize excellence in sports photography, celebrating both the technical skill of photographers and their ability to capture the essence of athletic competition. This year's winning collection demonstrates the global reach of the competition and the universal language of sports imagery that transcends cultural boundaries.
