Heinz Kluetmeier, who shot more than 100 Sports Illustrated cover photos, including the iconic “Miracle on Ice” image, died Tuesday at age 82.
He had been dealing with complications from Parkinson’s disease and a stroke.
Kluetmeier’s most famous photo, showing the U.S. men’s hockey team celebrating after their win over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics, graced the cover on SI’s March 1980 issue.
The cover that needed no words. Legendary photographer Heinz Kluetmeier passed away last night. Our industry has lost a GIANT! RIP Heinz! 💔 pic.twitter.com/HHcCs6i4k7
— Jim Colton (@JimmyColton) January 14, 2025
“That’s the only cover we ever ran without cover language,” Kluetmeier told Sports Illustrated in 2008. “It didn’t need it. Everyone in America knew what happened.”
Born in Germany during World War II, Kluetmeier immigrated to the United States at age 9, and first picked up a camera at age 15, shooting Green Bay Packers games during the Vince Lombardi era.
After a stint at the Milwaukee Journal, he joined Time Inc., then-parent company of Sports Illustrated, in 1969. He leaves behind an impressive body of work, including this unusual image of Olympic great Michael Phelps.
Heinz Kluetmeier, who shot over 100 covers for Sports Illustrated, died Tuesday morning at age 82, leaving behind a catalog of renowned images that still resonate https://t.co/AkZTg7erl9
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 15, 2025
Kluetmeier shot many other iconic photos, such as this image that everyone associates with the late Pete Rose.
Pete Rose during the Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs on Aug. 29, 1975 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Photo – Heinz Kluetmeier. pic.twitter.com/yrkigpQPEp— Jedivoodoo Chile (@JedivoodooChile) December 10, 2024
Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim wrote in tribute to Kluetmeier, “Heinz took photos that no one even thought to take — much less were able to execute. He would find an angle no one had conceived. He would seize on a detail no one else would notice.”
Sports media and fans paid tribute to Kluetmeier on social media.
Heinz Kluetmeier, a trailblazer in the sports photography industry passed away yesterday
Throughout his career, he captured many of sports most iconic moments…Including The Miracle on Ice Sports Illustrated Cover
These are some of his incredible images (A Thread) ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IORyPAcQ3a
— Frank Michael Smith (@frankmikesmith) January 15, 2025
RIP Heinz Kluetmeier (1942-January 14, 2025) #Photojournalism #Photography pic.twitter.com/0xuq1AiTMl
— PhotographersAtWork (@PhotogsAtWork) January 15, 2025
Saw the notification that Heinz Kluetmeier passed away as I was walking up to the catwalk to retrieve my hockey remote. He was an absolute inspiration for my career and I’m sure that of countless other sports photographers https://t.co/ln2cFQgVuX
— Adam Cairns (@atomicphoto) January 15, 2025