Stunning photos show wildlife animals mirroring Olympic athletes

By Lauren Beavis via SWNS

A wildlife photographer has drawn striking comparisons between wild animals he has pictured and Olympic athletes.

Paul Goldstein has compiled stunning images from around the world to show how the Olympic disciplines are not solely on show in Paris this week.

From as far afield as Patagonia, Antarctica and central India, Paul brings attention to animals such as humpbacks, cheetahs, lions, polar bears and antelope competing in everyday activities - that draw notable comparisons to medal-chasing athletes.

The stunning images show king penguins surfing amidst white foamy waves in South Georgia, a polar bear climbing its way up a glacier in Spitsbergen and a pair of lions 'boxing' in Kenya.

'Incredibly rare' photographs in the collection, taken throughout the last three years, also depict reindeer synchronized swimming and baboons on-top of a football goal in Masai Mara, Kenya - which marks a striking similarity to a Gymnastics Horizontal bar.

Paul said the collection captures how actions between humans and animals are not as dissimilar as many believe.

Paul, who also works as a writer, tour operator, owns four safari camps in Kenya, guides all over the world, and fund-raises for persecuted species, said: "Some of the similarities are uncanny, yet none of them receive any medals or podium love.

"Many of them also appear effortless not requiring four years of training or more."

Paul, also a marathon runner, aims to shed light on the challenging physical demands wildlife must battle in everyday - just for basic survival.

He added: "Some of these images are incredibly rare.

"In the synchronized swimming one, this is really quite rare: these are reindeer swimming in arctic waters - what a tough time they were having.

"Even though I was admiring these animals while photographing, they are not performing for an audience - this is part of their daily lives just to live on.

"These days it is much harder for them to survive with an increase in global temperatures and human encroachment and conflict - yet still they perform these antics seemingly daily, within national parks and reserves to acrtic polar regions and beyond, and I don't have to wait four years.

"It really is a bit of fun as we are making great progress in the Olympics this year."

Paul Goldstein has also raised over £300,000 with his Worth More Alive campaign for the protection of Bengal tigers.

The money he has fundraisers has also helped schools, teachers, boreholes, FGM programs and natal clinics.