The solitude experienced by an Olympic athlete training in Ukraine during wartime, captured through the lens of an AP photographer.

Francisco Seco, based in Istanbul, typically enjoys capturing everyday life in cities worldwide through photography. However, his recent assignment for The Associated Press brought him to Ukraine, where he documented the impact of Russia’s invasion on athletes preparing for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Here’s what Seco shared about his experience capturing a poignant photograph:

This photo is part of a story featuring Ukrainian athletes gearing up for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. Due to the ongoing conflict, many athletes have had to train outside Ukraine. However, high jumper Oleh Doroshchuk continues his training in Kropyvnytskyi, a city in central Ukraine that has endured several bombings since the war began.

Our AP team accompanied Oleh for two days during his training sessions. On the second day, he trained at an open-air stadium amidst other young athletes. His sessions were interrupted a few times by the sound of anti-aircraft alarms.

When we arrived at the stadium, the lighting conditions were challenging. It was a sunny day with a clear blue sky, resulting in harsh sunlight. I began by capturing images at ground level as Oleh prepared—stretching, warming up with short sprints, and so on. As the training progressed, the light softened, and I noticed his long shadow stretching across the ground. That’s when I knew the moment was right. In the training area, there was an old metal tower which I climbed to gain elevation and capture a better angle of Oleh’s elongated shadow. I used my Sony A1 camera body paired with a Sony 24-70mm lens for this shot.

I had confidence that this perspective would work, so I didn’t need to take many photos from that elevated position. I find this photograph compelling for several reasons. Oleh appears almost suspended in mid-air, and his extended shadow emphasizes his stride. The warm sunlight adds a poignant atmosphere. The stadium was nearly empty at that moment, enhancing the sense of solitude and determination in the athlete’s training session. Oleh represents an athlete striving for glory and proudly representing his country amidst the turmoil of invasion.