Judges lauded Nic Bothma of Sports Illustrated for a photograph that “grips the viewer by the heart and compels one to see an invincible spirit. The color, composition and clarity compel the eye to move around the photograph as it reveals its story. The richness of their skin, agony in their faces and motion of an improbable nature is captivating and inspiring.
“The photograph moves one to wonder about the nature of those whose spirit transcends the brutality of life and those who will not be hobbled.”
