Nenagh Athlete Pat Naughton Goes Global

An Irish photographer is celebrating after being nominated for the world's most prestigious photo-journalism contest.

Stephen McCarthy, who works for the Sportsfile agency, is one of three nominees in the sports category of the 2021 World Press Photo Contest.

Mr McCarthy’s entry captures 87-year-old masters athlete Pat Naughton exercising at his home in Nenagh, Co Tipperary during the first lockdown last year.

Stephen McCarthy's entry captures 87-year-old masters athlete Pat Naughton exercising at his home in Nenagh, Co Tipperary during the first lockdown last year. (Courtesy: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile)

The photographer said: "The picture came about after I was commissioned for a story for the Irish Independent. I found out that Pat trains twice a day, in the morning and evening.

"Usually, he would travel across the road to exercise at the Olympic Athletic Club in Nenagh. But during the first lockdown the track was closed, so Pat had no choice but to continue exercising in his bungalow.

"He was - still is - a decathlete. So not alone was he running around his living room and into the kitchen, Pat was also going through the motions of the shot put and the high jump, obviously without any of the tools of the trade, as he had to stay inside.

"It’s the kind of photograph that I hope we never have to see again. It captures what people went through in the sporting year in 2020."

Mr McCarthy said his photographs of Mr Naughton captured "what people went through in sport in 2020".
(Courtesy: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile) 

The World Press Photo Contest recognises the best visual journalism of the last year, rewarding images and stories in eight categories.

This year, 4,315 photographers from 130 countries entered 74,470 images, while 1,633 images and 289 stories were submitted to the sports category.