Athletes & Olympic champions through the lens of photographer Natalia Urmanova

Moscow’s Gorky Park and the Surface Gallery have launched a joint project, titled the ‘Inner Feat’ exhibition, which features modern-day Olympic champions and sports stars through the eyes of photographer Natalia Urmanova. The idea of her project is to capture that “inner work” which leads to victory, when behind the sleek lines of muscles lies the true feat of the spirit.

These photos also echo the Soviet sculptures of athletes from the 1930s that adorned (and some of which still do!) Moscow’s Gorky Park.

Maria Zhovner, Rowing

Arseniy Elfimov, Athletics, Combined Events

Evgeny Rylov, Swimming

Oleg Saitov, Boxing

Polina Knoroz, Pole Vault

Svetlana Aplachkina, Running

Alexandra Soldatova, Rhythmic Gymnastics

Alexey Khudyakov, Discus Throw

The ‘Inner Feat’ exhibition will be on display at the Surface Gallery in Moscow’s ‘Gostiny Dvor’ from February 19 to April 18, 2026.