this Valaisan took the photo of the year

Last summer, an amateur photographer immortalized the exact moment when Kilian Jornet overtook his rival to win Sierre-Zinal. He tells.

Two men marked the 51st men’s edition of Sierre-Zinal, contested on August 10, 2024 in Val d’Anniviers: the first is obviously Kilian Jornet, winner of the legendary trail for the 10th time with a new record to boot. The second is Eliot Jean, a 29-year-old amateur photographer who achieved the feat of capturing the exact moment when the race changed. Contacted by watsonit tells the genesis of what has become one of the sporting images of the year 2024.

Eliot Jean, as we know you a little less than Kilian Jornet, could you introduce yourself in a few words?
I am 29 years old, I am from Sédun and I have been taking photography as an amateur since a cycling trip between Norway and Valais. It was two years ago, and as I didn’t have much to do apart from cycling, I started to collect images, and above all to develop a taste for them.

And so on August 10, you decided to photograph the Sierre-Zinal runners.
Yes, but it was first to take photos of my brother and a few friends who, unlike me who has a back injury, were participating in the event.

Eliot with his camera and a snack.Image: DR

How did you choose the exact spot to station yourself on the course?
I did a little reconnaissance the same day, and I found an area with a fairly steep embankment, exposed roots and dry earth. I said to myself that it could give something good to the image, and so I settled on it.

Where is this area on the route?
It is located on the last descent towards Zinal.

Sierre-Zinal is 31.1 km and 2,133m of elevation gain.

So it was on purely aesthetic criteria that you chose it?
Yes. I never told myself that there was any sporting interest in being there. I was only thinking about the rendering of the images.

Once posted in the last hectometers of the race, what happened?
While waiting for my brother and my friends, I made some adjustments to my camera, a Nikon D3200, but I knew that everything would not be perfect: as it is an old model, and I always opt for the mode manual in order to be able to grasp the subtleties, there is always an 8 out of 10 chance that images taken in motion will be blurry.

Then everything accelerated.
I heard a clamor and then I understood that the first of the elite race were arriving. I stood ready, I knew that I only had a handful of seconds to take the best possible image as the best go so quickly.

At this precise moment, were you aware of the scenario of the race?
No way. I expected to see Kilian Jornet in front, but it was ultimately Philemon Kiriago who came first, closely followed by his opponent.

Balancing on the roots, their muscles bulging, Philemon Kiriago and Kilian Jornet engaged in a splendid duel.Image: Eliot Jean

And the photo wasn’t even blurry…
Yes, it was a stroke of luck that it was clear, that Jornet decided to overtake right at that moment, with bib number 1 on his chest when the one he overtook had number 2. Even the colors of their respective jerseys were well matched. And then, I like the dynamics of the scene, the play of light and shadow and, obviously, the sporting context, which is inseparable from the photo.

Did you immediately realize you were taking an extraordinary photo?
Not really, no. I told myself that it would potentially be a good image, but nothing more. It was when I saw it on the computer that I understood that it was successful. I showed it to my friends, who advised me to send it to the “Knees in the gif” Facebook account, which I did. The publication received a lot of positive reactions, it was one of their posts that worked the best.

Did you frame this image in your living room?
(he laughs) No, but as I noticed that she was very popular, I decided to send her to sports photo competitions. I also sent it to Philemon Kiriago, because he asked me, and I hope to be able to have it signed one day by Kilian Jornet. That would be great!

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