Mediterranean Games 2009
The cover image distills the Mediterranean Games 2009 into a single, decisive moment. Two judokas are locked in the opening clinch, bodies pressed forward, balance and leverage in a delicate contest. The Italian athlete’s gi dominates the frame—white fabric, bold blue “ITA” lettering, the name Frezza stitched above. Behind, the blurred figure of the opponent fades into a wash of deep blue, the background dissolved into the anonymity of the crowd and banners.
It’s an image that works not by showing the entirety of the sport, but by narrowing the lens to the moment of contact. You can almost feel the strain in the forearms, the push of shoulders, the subtle adjustments in stance that determine who will command the exchange. There is no clear winner here, only the pure equality of engagement—the first beat of a contest that could tilt either way.
As a cover, it’s an apt choice for a reportage that spans Judo, Olympic Weightlifting, and Olympic Wrestling. Each of these disciplines, though different in form, shares the same foundation: strength channelled through precision, the human body pushed to its limits in search of victory. The photograph becomes a visual anchor for the entire project—a reminder that, in the Mediterranean Games, it is not only national colours that collide, but also styles, histories, and personal dreams.
In its simplicity, the frame delivers the essence of the event: the immediacy of the fight, the intimacy of competition, and the timeless appeal of watching two athletes meet, equal and opposite, on the field of play.

