One Extraordinary Photo: Tearing up for Olympic gold

By: Antonio Calanni, The Associated Press Posted: 9:39 AM CST Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 Last Modified: 12:28 PM CST Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026

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MILAN (AP) — Antonio Calanni is a photojournalist with The Associated Press, based in Milan since 2005. He has covered major soccer tournaments like the World Cup in Brazil and Russia, and the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, France and Germany, as well as various breaking news events, including the devastating fire in Crans Montana, Switzerland, on New Year's Eve.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/02/2026 (218 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Why this photo?

This image struck me because it captures a beautiful and lovely moment of those behind an Olympic gold medalist. We wanted to focus on the emotional reaction of American boxer Jake Paul after 1 minute, 13 seconds of fiancée Jutta Leerdam’s intensive race.

Jake Paul of the U.S., center, cries after his fiancé Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands won the gold medal in the women's 1,000 meters speedskating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

How I made this photo

The photo is the result of perfect planning and excellent teamwork. We had a clear idea of what AP’s team wanted, so I decided on a good position to follow any reaction of Paul before, during and after the race. I was there to take photos of emotion and reaction. With new technology, our cameras deliver sharpness in the darkest conditions. I waited for the right moment and I pressed the shutter, knowing this could be a good image.

Why this photo works

The photograph is of a release of emotions, tears of joy, an emotional moment of a star. Paul represents sports and the contemporary world of social media, and Leerdam incorporates the historical values of sport. The combination is probably a winning one in the modern world.

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