Chris Smith's Olympic and sports photography career — image accompanying The Guardian Athletics's report. Photograph: Chris Smith/Popperfoto/Getty Images; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Chris Smith's photographs have captured the essence of sports moments worldwide. His work includes the 1980 Olympic Games, where he photographed Allan Wells winning the men's 100m. Smith also captured the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, including athletes in the 3000m steeplechase and Daley Thompson's gold-winning long jump.
Smith's work extends beyond the Olympics. He photographed Barry McGuigan's world featherweight fight against Steve Cruz, where McGuigan ended up in hospital. Smith also captured Seve Ballesteros during the 1985 British Open golf championship and Roma fans during the 1984 European Cup final. Read more culture coverage.
Smith's photographs also include moments from tennis, boxing, and other sports. He photographed John McEnroe during the 1980 Wimbledon men's singles final and Muhammad Ali during his training sessions. Smith's work has been featured in The Observer and other publications. Related: Birmingham European Championships Set to Rival London Diamond League.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from The Guardian Athletics. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
Reader questions
Questions about this report
What should runners know about Chris Smith's Olympic and sports photography career?
Chris Smith captured iconic moments at the Olympics and other sports events. Chris Smith's photographs have captured the essence of sports moments worldwide. His work includes the 1980 Olympic Games, where he photographed Allan Wells winning the men's 100m. Smith also captured the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, including athletes in the 3000m steeplechase and Daley Thompson's gold-winning long jump.
When did Runner World publish this culture brief?
Runner World published this brief on August 7, 2026. The underlying The Guardian Athletics report was dated August 6, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from The Guardian Athletics. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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