A compelling piece of Sports Writing does so much more than recount final the final score; it goes behind the scenes to show you what spectators don’t see, from the struggles and triumphs of the athletes to the controversies and social impact surrounding the sport to the strategies and mindsets that lead to great—or not so great—results. The winning pieces did all these things: going beyond the numbers to reveal the powerful and thrilling human stories beneath.
Check out the winners and finalists below, as well as Guest Judge Joon Lee’s commentary!
WINNERS:
Winner: Racing Horses, Preserving Heritage by rh (US)
A strong piece that tied together a subject that most have never thought or heard about. The piece does a great job of showing the role of the Indian Horse Relay within American history and within tribal culture that makes the piece transcend beyond the daily box scores and results. Connecting this to the larger issues facing Native Americans through their income connected the three things I love about sports writing: human stories, sports as a part of a larger culture and subjects that deserve a brighter spotlight.
Runner Up: Chained to the Scale: Body Image in Young Gymnasts by The Dying Rose (US)
This story did a great job of tying together reporting, personal experience and a subject matter that is about sports but transcends beyond to make it a human story. There was a strong mix of anecdotes, data and storytelling that helped bring the piece to life. I really appreciated the amount of empathy given to the topic, which made the writing shine.
PEER REVIEW WINNER:
Best Peer Review: The Dying Rose’s (US) review of Can’t to Can—The Overcoming of Athletic Disability
I liked that this peer review identified what makes the story engaging; the interest in the sports world towards an unusual angle. I think the peer review does a good job of incisive praise while also providing strong constructive feedback that would improve the writing in a way that is fair. The reviewer comments also clearly demonstrate that the reader has thought deeply about the point of view of the writer and what makes the piece resonate.
SPORTS WRITING FINALISTS:
A New Tall Wizard of Aus Has Risen from Down Under by Rob Andrew Lo Dongiapon (Philippines)
Cash is King by Sophia Yunwha (UK)
PEER REVIEW FINALISTS:
pyrrhic’s (US) review of “Katarina Kowplos, The Unplanned Olympian”
Spree’s (US) review of Can’t to Can—The Overcoming of Athletic Disability