Special Merit Award. Mallory Franklin (2019). The British slalom canoeist has competed internationally since 2009 and won nine medals in total at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships with four golds, four silvers and a bronze. She has also won eleven medals at the European Championships. (Photo by Richard Pelham/World Sports Photography Awards 2021)

Sumo wrestlers perform a show fight during an annual sumo tournament dedicated to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Japan on April 16, 2018. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Tahiti, French Polynesia, June 5, 2016: Surfer Courtney Conlogue. ESPN The Magazine's The Body Issue set out seven years ago with one mission: to celebrate and explore the athletic form through powerful images and interviews. The cornerstone of each annual issue is The Bodies We Want photo portfolio, which features roughly 20 of the world's most elite athletes posing nude. (Photo by Steven Lippman for ESPN The Magazine Body Issue)

Savannah Bananas utility player Dakota Albritton throws in the seventh inning against the Savannah Party Animals at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports)

Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Arsenal FC at Gtech Community Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Wisconsin forward Carter Gilmore, center, fouls UCLA guard Dylan Andrews, right, during the second half against of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, January 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/AP Photo)

Natasha Cloud #0 and Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury gather their team before the game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on June 04, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Partner of Team USA's Dustin Johnson, Paulina Gretzky celebrates with champagne after winning over Team Europe during Sunday Singles Matches of the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on September 26, 2021 in Kohler, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)