Skip to main content

One Extraordinary Photo: Golden moment as Italy celebrates luge win

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — With more than three decades at The Associated Press, Aijaz Rahi is a Bangalore-based photojournalist and photo editor whose work has documented conflict in his native Kashmir and Afghanistan, alongside major news events across South Asia and beyond. His portfolio also includes coverage of global sporting spectacles such as the soccer World Cup, the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and multiple Cricket World Cups.

Why this photo

It captures the emotional peak of Olympic competition. The celebration at the luge finish line reflects the overwhelming joy of the Italian athletes and their team as they secure a gold medal on home soil. Their raw expressions of pride and triumph make the moment feel authentic and powerful.

How I made this photo

This photo was made by positioning myself head-on at the finish area in freezing conditions to capture the athletes’ immediate reaction after the run. The framing centers the gold medalists while their teammates lean in around them, creating a natural frame that emphasizes the emotion of the moment.

Why this photo works

This photo works because it combines action with emotion. The athletes’ joyful expressions instantly communicate triumph, while the surrounding teammates add depth and context to the story. The tight composition draws viewers into the scene, making them feel closely connected to the moment.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Beijing bans 4 New Zealand lawmakers from entering China because they visited Taiwan

By WTOP Staff
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Beijing banned four New Zealand lawmakers from traveling to China for a year and demanded they apologize because they visited Taiwan on a parliamentary trip, according to a message from the Chinese embassy conveyed via parliamentary officials and shown to The Associated Press on Thursday. China has hit lawmakers from other countries with sanctions related to contact with Taiwan before, but it's the first time for New Zealand parliamentarians, the government in Wellington said. Beijing has been increasing pressure in recent years on the democratically governed island that it claims as its own territory. Two lawmakers reached by the AP on Thursday rejected the demand for an apology, while the other two could not be immediately reached. New Zealand's government said it would express concern about the travel bans to Beijing. The elected officials visited Taipei in May, as New Zealand parliamentarians have done “for decades,” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement.
Read Next Story

Related News

Beijing bans 4 New Zealand lawmakers from entering China because they visited Taiwan

Police warn families of Tiananmen crackdown dead not to visit graves on 37th anniversary

Women are the first caregivers in this Ebola outbreak and the most at risk