2018 Sports Picture Story
First Place: Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Tour de France - Cycling - (From R) France's Yoann Offredo, France's Jerome Cousin and France's Kevin Ledanois ride during their three-men breakaway in the first stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Noirmoutier-en-l'ile and Fontenay-le Comte, western France, on July 7, 2018.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Riders of USA's BMC Racing cycling team pedal during the third stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 35.5 km team time-trial around Cholet, western France, on July 9, 2018.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
A rider of Belgium's Wanty - Groupe Gobert cycling team pedals during the third stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 35.5 km team time-trial around Cholet, western France, on July 9, 2018.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
The pack rides past wheat fields during the eighth stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Dreux and Amiens, northern France, on July 14, 2018.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
France's Jerome Cousin (Front) leads a nine-men breakaway in the first cobblestone section of Escaudoeuvres - Thun during the ninth stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Arras and Roubaix, northern France, on July 15, 2018.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Spectators cheer as Belgium's Yves Lampaert (R), Belgium's Greg Van Avermaet (Rear R), wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Germany's John Degenkolb ride through a cobblestone section during the ninth stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Arras and Roubaix, northern France, on July 15, 2018.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
France's Fabien Grellier rides by his team's manager car in the ascent of Plateau des Glieres during the tenth stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Annecy and Le Grand-Bornand, French Alps, on July 17, 2018.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Great Britain's Christopher Froome (R) and Croatia's Kristijan Durasek ride in the ascent of the Plateau des Glieres during the tenth stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Annecy and Le Grand-Bornand, French Alps, on July 17, 2018.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
(From Front) Spain's Mikel Landa, Russia's Ilnur Zakarin, France's Romain Bardet and Poland's Rafal Majka descend the Col d'Aubisque pass during the 19th stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, on July 27, 2018 between Lourdes and Laruns, southwestern France.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
The pack rides through sunflower fields during the 18th stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, on July 26, 2018 between Trie-sur-Baise and Pau, southwestern France.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Germany's John Degenkolb celebrates after winning the ninth stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Arras and Roubaix, northern France, on July 15, 2018.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP

First Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Great Britain's Geraint Thomas (C) wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey rides past the Arc de triomphe monument during the 21st and last stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Houilles and Paris Champs-Elysees, on July 29, 2018.
Jeff Pachoud / AFP
Second Place: David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Wes Phills, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is weighed in before the start of the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. The competition, in it's fifth year, is the only transgender bodybuilding competition in the world and has drawn competitors from across the country and one from Russia.
David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Charles Bennett, right, of San Francisco, applies fake tan to Peter Moore, of Oakland, Calif., backstage before the start of the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. Moore transitioned two years ago from female and dropped 20 pounds preparing for the competition.
David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Charles Bennett, right, of San Francisco, plays tug-of-war with fellow contestant Devyn Michael Clark, of Jacksonville, Fla., to pump up their muscles backstage before the start of the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018.
David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Charles Bennett, from right, of San Francisco, practices a pose in front of a mirror with fellow contestants Devyn Michael Clark, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Peter Moore, of Oakland, Calif., backstage before the start of the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018.
David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Charles Bennett, of San Francisco, peers out from backstage before the start of the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. Its been twenty years since Bennett took the stage to compete in bodybuilding. But tonight at the age of 63 hes doing something hes never done before _ competing as a man for the first time in the worlds only transgender bodybuilding competition.
David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Devyn Michael Clark, of Jacksonville, Fla., center, closes his eyes for a moment backstage before the start of the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. It's Clark's second year competing and he's lost 130 pounds from his training.
David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
A trophy sits on display as contestants lineup in front of the crowd at the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. The competition, in it's fifth year, is the only transgender bodybuilding competition in the world and has drawn competitors from across the country and one from Russia.
David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Devyn Michael Clark, of Jacksonville, Fla., from left, Kennedy Conners, of Conyers, Ga., and Peter Moore, of Oakland, Calif., watch from backstage as a fellow competitor performs at the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018.
David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Kennedy Conners, of Conyers, Ga., left, and Wes Phills, of Brooklyn, N.Y., flex for the judges during the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018.
David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Erica Grace, left, watches as her husband Charles Bennett, of San Francisco, performs at the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. Bennett, 63, last competed in bodybuilding as a female 20 years ago and transitioned to male at the age of 56. Baby you are awesome, said Grace as she recalls watching him compete tonight for the first time as a man. "Im really proud of him. Hes an inspiration to me.
David Goldman / Associated Press

Second Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Kennedy Conners, of Conyers, Ga., right, who transitioned from female a year and half ago, is embraced by his wife Nikki, after performing in the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders competition in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. "I lost my grandma in July and she was my biggest supporter, she wanted nothing but to be there," said Conners. "I felt every second that my grandma was sitting there beyond proud of the man I became."
David Goldman / Associated Press
Third Place: Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
HOPING FOR A LUCKY PUNCH: The district Bukom is part of Ghanas capital Accra and is seated next to the sea. Its famous to be a breeding ground for talented boxers. World champions and countless box professionals have trained in this neighborhood. Nobody knows exactly how many gyms exist here. But there are definitely more than a dozen. "Will Power and "Discipline Boxing Academy are two of them. The naming of the gyms reveals the promise of these places: If you train hard enough as a boxer, you will be successful in the future. Young athletes go to the gyms day by day. One of them is Henry Malm. He is 18 years old and it's his dream to become a world champion. Seeing his admired local stars on the streets motivates Henry for the daily grind. He is hoping for the breakthrough.
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Being in good shape is essential for boxers. So Henry trains nearly every morning down the beach. Not only running, but also with a rope and a tire.
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Trainer and former boxing professionals (Ayitey Powers, 2nd from left) are watching a sparring fight in the "Black Panthers Boxing Gym" in Ghana/Accra.
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Sometimes Henry trains three times a day. In the morning he does cardio down the beach. And then he adds two more sessions with punching bags and sparring in his home gym the "Discipline Boxing Academy".
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
The weights in the Bukom Boxing Gym are simple, but for training it makes no difference.
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Nine world champions in boxing come from Ghana. In the area of Bukom you can either become a fishermen or a boxer. Kwei is coach of the "Fist Square Gym". Some of the kids start to train when they are just six years old.
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
The district of Bukom is seated next to the sea. Its Landmark is the lighthouse. Everything here has to do either with fishing or boxing.
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Henry Malm during a training session at the "Discipline Boxing Academy". His coach is Suleyman Korley.
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
The living conditions in the area of Jamestown are quite poor. Henry washes his clothes on the streets.
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Henry waits for his sparring-session in the corner of the ring.
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer

Third Place - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Bukom Banku is the local hero in his neighbourhood. The boxer is preparing for an upcoming fight. During his training many people come watching their local star.
Jan Helge Petri / Freelancer
Honorable Mention: Joel Marklund / Bildbyran Photo Agency

Honorable Mention - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Swimmers from all over Europe competed in the European Championships in August, 2018. Simona Baumrtova of Czech Republic competes in the qualification of women's 100 meter backstroke swimming during the European Championships on August 6, 2018 in Glasgow, Great Britain.
Joel Marklund / Bildbyran Photo Agency

Honorable Mention - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Evgeny Rylov of Russia, Christian Diener of Germany and Luca Mencarini of Italy competes in the semi-final of men's 200 meter backstroke swimming during the European Championships on August 7, 2018 in Glasgow, Great Britain.
Joel Marklund / Bildbyran Photo Agency

Honorable Mention - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Evgeny Rylov of Russia competes in the final of men's 100 meter backstroke swimming during the European Championships on August 6, 2018 in Glasgow, Great Britain.
Joel Marklund / Bildbyran Photo Agency

Honorable Mention - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Mykhaylo Romanchuk of Ukraine competes in the final of men's 400 meter freestyle swimming during the European Championships on August 3, 2018 in Glasgow, Great Britain.
Joel Marklund / Bildbyran Photo Agency

Honorable Mention - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Paul Espernberger of Austria competes in the qualification of men's 50 meter butterfly swimming during the European Championships on August 6, 2018 in Glasgow, Great Britain.
Joel Marklund / Bildbyran Photo Agency

Honorable Mention - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Evgeny Rylov of Russia competes in the final of men's 200 meter backstroke swimming during the European Championships on August 8, 2018 in Glasgow, Great Britain.
Joel Marklund / Bildbyran Photo Agency

Honorable Mention - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Erik Persson of Sweden competes in the qualifications of men's 200 meter breaststroke swimming during the European Championships on August 5, 2018 in Glasgow, Great Britain.
Joel Marklund / Bildbyran Photo Agency

Honorable Mention - 2018 Sports Picture Story
Jonatan Kopelev of Israel competes in the qualifications of men's 50 meter backstroke swimming during the European Championships on August 3, 2018 in Glasgow, Great Britain.
Joel Marklund / Bildbyran Photo Agency