The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 19, 2026

A horizontally oriented black-and-white photograph depicts people gathered outdoors. In the center, a man with light skin and swept-back hair looks left. Behind him, another man with light skin has a furrowed brow and clutches his chest. To our right, a man with medium-light skin looks left. In the background, a crowd stands behind foliage and a wooden barrier. Blurred figures frame the edges of the scene.

Olympic Bike Race A36

1960

Phillip Leonian

(American, 1927–2016)
America
gelatin silver print
Image: 21.6 x 27.9 cm (8 1/2 x 11 in.)
Gift of the Leonian Charitable Trust 2024.113
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Sports photography can do more than just record the athletes’ actions.

Description

In this image, Phillip Leonian captures the intensity and emotion that can surround athletic competitions. The expressions of the two cyclists, who occupy the center of the image, reflect strong negative emotions as they talk to an older man, probably an official, but the exact nature of the drama remains a mystery.
  • {{cite web|title=Olympic Bike Race A36|url=false|author=Phillip Leonian|year=1960|access-date=19 July 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2024.113