photo finish
Plural
photo finishes
1
a result of a race that competitors are extremely close, requiring photographic evidence to determine the winner
A photo finish is a situation in a race or competition where the result is so close that it is difficult to determine the winner with the naked eye. In such cases, a photograph or high-speed camera is used to capture the exact moment the participants cross the finish line, allowing officials to see who finished first. This technology ensures a fair and accurate determination of the winner when the difference between competitors is too small to judge in real-time. Photo finishes are commonly seen in sports like track and field, horse racing, and swimming.
- The runners crossed the finish line so closely that it required a photo finish to determine the winner.
- The swimming competition ended in a thrilling photo finish.
- Spectators held their breath as they awaited the photo finish results of the cycling race.
- He won the 100-meter dash in a spectacular photo finish.
- The Olympic marathon ended in a dramatic photo finish with three runners neck and neck.