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Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Japan

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Participants take part in the Ohara Hadaka Matsuri festival in Ohara, Chiba, Japan on September 23, 2025. The festival held on 23–24 September 2025 in the coastal town of Ohara, Chiba, is a centuries-old Shinto festival with origins in the Edo period. Traditionally, the event is a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and a successful fishing season, reflecting the deep connection between coastal communities and the natural world. Participants, wearing only the traditional fundoshi loincloths, carry heavy mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets in a lively procession, accompanied by chants, drums, and the energy of the crowd. The festival’s most dramatic moment is the Shiofumi ritual, in which the shrine-bearers wade into the Pacific Ocean, braving the waves as an act of devotion and purification, symbolically linking human effort to the forces of nature. The festival concludes with a lantern-lit parade through the streets and a farewell ceremony, creating a striking visual spectacle at sunset. As part of Japan’s broader tradition of hadaka matsuri or Naked Festivals, the Ohara Matsuri emphasizes endurance, faith, and community solidarity, while preserving regional identity and continuity from the Edo period to the present. Celebrated at the start of autumn, the timing also aligns with Japan’s seasonal cycles, marking the transition from the harvest season to the cooler months and highlighting a cultural rhythm that honors nature’s cycles, human labor, and the enduring spiritual connection between people and the sea. Matrix Images / Simon Bonny

Magic Tattoo Festival in Thailand

A devotee gets a San Yant tattoo by a tattoo master during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee in a trance, believed to be possessed by the spirits of the animal tattooed on his skin, during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee gets a San Yant tattoo by a tattoo master during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee in a trance, believed to be possessed by the spirits of the animal tattooed on his skin, during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee in a trance, believed to be possessed by the spirits of the animal tattooed on his skin, sprints towards the main shrine during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra, in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee in a trance, believed to be possessed by the spirits of the animal tattooed on his skin, during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee in a trance, believed to be possessed by the spirits of the animal tattooed on his skin, during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee in a trance, believed to be possessed by the spirits of the animal tattooed on his skin, sprints towards the main shrine during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra, in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

Devotees attend the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee in a trance, believed to be possessed by the spirits of the animal tattooed on his skin, during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee in a trance, believed to be possessed by the spirits of the animal tattooed on his skin, during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee with his body covered in San Yant tattoo attends the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

Devotees crowd under a stage waiting to receive holly water from a Thai Buddhist monk at the end of the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

Devotees attend the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

A devotee in a trance, believed to be possessed by the spirits of the animal tattooed on his skin, during the annual Magic Tattoo Festival at Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, 23 March 2024. The Magic Tattoo Festival, also known as the 'Wai Khru Ceremony' (Wai Khru means 'honour the teacher'), attracts devotees from across the country who travel to Wat Bang Phra monastery to receive their traditional tattoos and pay their respects to the temple's master tattooist during the Magic Tattoo Festival. During the festival, devotees sit facing the main shrine before many, 'possessed' by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their skin, stand up, mimic the animal's behaviour and eventually make their way towards the main shrine, sometimes running at high speed, until they are stopped by a group of helpers and medics who bring them out of the trance by rubbing their ears. Receiving a Sak Yant is highly respected in Thailand, and many believe the tattoos have mystical powers to ward off bad luck and protect people from harm. Matrix Images / Diego Azubel

Baboons in Urban spaces - South Africa

Chacma baboons from the Klein Slangkop troop groom each other on Slangkop Mountain above the coastal village of Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa on May 7,2020. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

A mother Chacma baboon runs across the road with her baby in search of their sleep site while a gathered crowd of affected Kommetjie residents stand in protest to baboon living in the urban space in Cape Town, South Africa on August 4,2024. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

A City of Cape Town approved baboon monitor fires a paintball marker toward baboons of the Klein Slangkop baboon troop on the Slangkop Mountain above the coastal suburb of Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa on May 7,2020. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

Kommetjie residents protest against the inaction of authorities with regard to habituated baboons who occupy the urban space in Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa on August 4,2024. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

A woman holds a sign "Baboons belong in the mountains" during a protest against the inaction of authorities with regards to habituated baboons who killed her dog weeks prior in Cape Town, South Africa on August 4,2024. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

A habituated wild baboons raiding a City of Cape Town municipal bin in Cape Town, South Africa on August 4,2024. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

A baboon monitor follows a Chacma baboon in the seaside village of Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa on May 7, 2020. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

The alpha male baboon Kataza of the Klein Slangkop troop on the Cape Town peninsula forages in the garden of a Kommetjie home in Cape Town, South Africa on May 7, 2020. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

NCC baboon management group monitor the boundary between the natural and urban space on the edge where Kommetjie and the Slangkop mountain meet in Cape Town, South Africa on May 7, 2020. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

A juvenile Chacma baboons chews on a bird spike in the central business area of Kommetjie, Cape Town South Africa on May 7, 2020. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

A nursing mother Chacma baboon forages through unsecured bins behind Kommetjie’s central commercial area in Cape Town, South Africa on May 7, 2020. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

A baboon monitor follows a Chacma baboon in the seaside village of Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa on May 7, 2020. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

A Chacma baboon walks towards a shop in the seaside village of Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa on May 7, 2020. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

A sticker on the back of a Kommetjie residents vehicle in Cape Town, South Africa on August 4,2024. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

Animal rights activists watch a male baboon on top of a parked car in after it was pepper-sprayed by a resident in Cape Town, South Africa on August 4,2024. In Cape Town, South Africa, the coexistence of humans and Chacma baboons in urban areas, particularly in villages like Kommetjie, has led to increasing tensions and conflicts. Despite efforts under the City of Cape Town's 'Baboon Strategic Management Plan,' which involves tracking, educating residents, and reducing baboon harm, hostilities between baboons and humans, including attacks on pets and property damage, continue to rise. The presence of baboons, who forage and sleep within urban spaces, has divided the community, pitting animal rights activists against frustrated residents. A recent survey of Kommetjie residents revealed that 55 percent have daily encounters with baboons, 85 percent have had baboons enter their homes, and 83 percent have altered their lifestyles to avoid conflict. However, with no alternative plans in place, the struggle between maintaining baboon welfare and ensuring human safety remains unresolved. Matrix Images / Alan van Gysen

World Athletics Championships in Japan

Athletes run during the 5000m men at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 18, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Delano KENNEDY of Jamaica at the start of the 4x400m Final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 21, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Lilian ODIRA of Kenya reacts after the 800 Metres Women final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 21, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Esperana CLADERA of Spain at the start of the 4x100 Metres Relay Women final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 21, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Shafiqua Maloney of Saint Vincent (L) competes in the 800 Metres Women heat during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 18, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Shafiqua Maloney of Saint Vincent ahead of the start of the 800 Metres Women heat during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 18, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

David Hurtado of Ecuador (L) wearing a traditional mask reacts with Jordy Rafael Jimenez Arroyo of Ecuador (R) after the mens 20km race walk final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 20, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Abdul-Rasheed Saminu of Ghana reacts after Ghana won their heat to proceed to the final of the 4x100m Mens Relay during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 20, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Gold medalist Emmanuel WANYONYI of Kenya reacts after winning the 800 Metres Men Final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 20, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

The feet of Anna HALL of the USA as she competes in the Heptathlon High Jump at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 19, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Gold medalist Femke BOL of the Netherlands wins the 400 Metres Hurdles Women during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 19, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Bronze medalist Abderrahman SAMBA of Qatar (R) crosses the line with Ezekiel NATHANIEL of Nigeria (L) in the 400 Metres Hurdles Men Final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 19, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Silver medalist Amy HUNT of Great Britain reacts after the 200 Metres Women Final at World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 19, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Spectators view Athletics at the Japan National Stadium during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 19, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Spectators view Athletics at the Japan National Stadium during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 19, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Silver medalist Amy HUNT of Great Britain reacts after the 200 Metres Women Final at World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 19, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Hana Moll of USA competes in the Pole Vault Women qualification during the Athletics World Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 15, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

JEFFERSON-WOODEN of the USA and Amy HUNT of Great Britain embrace after the 200 Metres Women Final at World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 19, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Gold medalist Femke BOL of the Netherlands wins the 400 Metres Hurdles Women during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 19, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of USA at the start of the Womens 400m Final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 18, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of USA at the start of the Womens 400m Final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 18, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of USA reacts after the WomenÕs 400m Final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 18, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of USA sets a new Championship record as she crosses the line to win the WomenÕs 400m Final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 18, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Peruth Chemutai of Uganda leads the pack over the first jump during the the 3000 Metres Steeplechase Women Final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 17, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Natalia Bukowiecka of Poland prepares to compete in the womenÕs 400m semifinal during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan 2025 in Tokyo, Japan on September 16, 2025. Poland's Natalia Bukowiecka won her women's 400m semifinal heat with a season's-best time of 49.67 seconds. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of USA prepares for the Womens 400m Semifinal during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 16, 2025. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran 48.29 seconds smashing her personal best by nearly half a second. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Gold medalist Cordell Tinch of the USA reacts after winning the 110 Metres Hurdles Men Final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan 2025 in Tokyo, Japan on September 16, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Lythe Pillay of South Africa competes in the Mens 400m heats during the Athletics World Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 14, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

ZenŽy Van Der Walt of South Africa competes in the Womens 400m hurdles heat during the Athletics World Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 15, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma

Athletes at the start of the Mens Marathon during the Athletics World Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 15, 2025. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma