Veteran photographer reflects on four decades capturing Olympic moments

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Nancie Battaglia has spent more than 40 years photographing some of the most memorable moments in Olympic history, starting as the official photographer for the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid. Since then, she has covered 12 Olympics — 10 Winter and two Summer — and her work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, The New York Times and National Geographic.

Battaglia said the Winter Games remain her favorite. 

“Generally people were hiring me because I can shoot these sports. And a lot of people can’t,” she said, recalling an editor’s reaction to her luge photos: “Holy cow. Now I really appreciate your photography because this is a really fast sport.”

One of her most rewarding experiences has been watching athletes from her hometown of Lake Placid rise to the podium. 

“A big thing for me is seeing kids from the Lake Placid area,” Battaglia said. “People like Billy Demong in Nordic combined. I’ve watched these kids since they were just little kids when I started making photos of them. And the next thing you know they grow up and they are medaling.”

Despite her extensive career, Battaglia admits there’s one moment she wishes she had captured: the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey game. 

“I kind of walked in and it was a crazy scene,” she said. “So, I let everyone else shoot it. I can honestly say I’ve regretted that ever since. I mean, who knew? It really was a miracle.