The Thrill of Victory (16 photos)

Michael Phelps

For these legendary professional athletes, this is what it’s all about. It’s about the absolute thrill of victory right after hitting that game-winning shot, it’s about snatching that 7th consecutive Tour de France title despite your serious battle with cancer, and it’s about rallying down a stretch to beat your opponent and grab yet another gold medal by a mere one-hundredth of a second.

At the climax of these historic moments, some let out a primal roar, others jumped high up in the air, or triumphantly pumped their fists. But all of them, at that very second, realized that their dreams had come true and that all of their hard work had finally paid off.

This set is a tribute to them, to the best professional athletes of these modern times. We celebrate their drive, their will to succeed, and most of all, their unbelievable story.

Muhammed Ali