Swimmer Jordan Wilimovsky, on the beach at Santa Monica, California. He is the first American to have competed in both indoor and outdoor swimming events at the Olympics, coming fourth in the 1,500 meters and fifth in the men’s marathon in the waters off Fort Copacabana.

Christen Press, a forward for the US women’s football team, at Chadwick School in Palos Verdes, California. The team suffered a surprise upset at the Olympics, falling to Sweden in the quarterfinal round: the first time it didn’t advance to the semifinals of a major international tournament.

Carlos Balderas, at his family gym in Santa Maria, California. He competed in the Rio Olympics as a lightweight boxer, reaching the quarterfinals.

Zach Garrett, at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. This was his first Olympics. Together with others in the US archery team, he brought home a silver medal.

Foil fencer Alexander Massialas, near Chrissy Field, San Francisco. He won a silver medal: a milestone as American men had won no individual fencing medals since 1984, and no silvers since 1932.

Kim Rhode, a five-time Olympic medalist in shotgun, at Oak Tree Gun Club in Newhall, California. At the Rio Olympics, she became the first female Olympian to win a medal in six consecutive games.

Folau Niua, Danny Barret, Martin Iosefo and Garrett Bender (left to right) formed part of the US men’s rugby sevens team. Men’s rugby sevens made its Olympic debut in Rio.

Courtney Mathewson, at the Joint Forces Training Base pool, Los Alamitos, California. She had been part of the US women’s water polo team that won gold in the 2012 Olympics. The 2016 team went on to do the same, making it the first back-to-back gold in water polo history.

Contemporary Issues - 1st prize

Taking A Stand In Baton Rouge