The Greatest
To inspire the next generation of Greats
Pull back the curtain on the rare individuals who truly embody ‘Greatness.’ Through intimate interviews, cinematic storytelling and iconic photography, we reveal what it takes to stand at the pinnacle of achievement and inspire the world in the process. "The Greatest" is far more than a YouTube Series and a Book; it’s a lasting record of extraordinary achievements.
Photographer Olav Stubberud, connecting audiences to legends in their respective fields, in a raw, intimate and never before seen way. By combining striking analog photography, stunning video visuals, compelling storytelling, podcasts and more, Olav aims to capture a deeper understanding of what makes someone "The Greatest".
Season One. Five athletes. Five disciplines. One obsession with pushing beyond what anyone thought possible.
01Snowboard
MarcusKleveland
2x FIS Snowboard World Champion and 15x X Games medalist, widely credited with pioneering the spin-to-win era of slopestyle. The first snowboarder ever to land a quad cork 1800 in competition, a trick he landed at 17 years old.
02Freeski
BirkRuud
2x Olympic gold medalist — the sport's first-ever men's Big Air Olympic champion at Beijing 2022, followed by slopestyle gold at Milano Cortina 2026. A record-extending 7x Crystal Globe winner in slopestyle.
03Freestyle jet ski
LeeStone
10x Freestyle Jet Ski World Champion, widely considered the greatest freestyle jet ski athlete of his generation. The youngest person in history to win the IJSBA Amateur Freestyle World Championship, and the first ever to execute a flatwater Superman backflip in competition.
04Døds diving
TrulsTorp
3x Døds Diving World Champion (2016, 2017, 2023), the face of Norway's most extreme homegrown sport. The man who turned death diving into a global obsession – hurling himself from 10+ metre platforms and making it look like art.
05Parkour
ElisTorhall
2024 Parkour World Champion and 3x consecutive World Cup overall winner (2022, 2023, 2024). The first male parkour athlete representing Sweden to win a World Cup gold medal, and at 21, already regarded as the most technically dominant parkour athlete alive.
Five athletes at the absolute top of their sport. The question we kept coming back to: is there something that connects them beyond the trophies? A way of thinking, training, living?
The Greatest
A hardcover photobook, around 20 × 25 cm, shot on 35mm, 120, 4×5 and 8×10.
Funded on Kickstarter on 16 May 2026: 86 backers pledged NOK 95,293 of a NOK 60,000 goal.
The Greatest – The Book
NOK 850
Get one of the first copies of the book
Supporter bundle
NOK 1,000
5 posters, 1 of each subject from the book. Posters are shipped separately from the book for safety.
Collector
NOK 1,200
The photo book + A3 signed fine art print. Signed by Olav. Will be shipped separately for safety.
3-pack
NOK 1,350
3 books, perfect for family, friends or library
Every edition ships worldwide from Europe, estimated October 2026.
Late pledge on KickstarterEvery image in this book is a stamp in time.
Olav shoots with around ten different cameras covering every format: 35mm, 120, 4×5 and 8×10, matching each moment to the tool it deserves. The larger the format, the slower the process, the more deliberate the choice. The 8×10, the biggest, most unforgiving camera in analog photography, has rarely, if ever, been pointed at these sports or situations before.
Hundreds of film rolls have gone into the project, as well as hundreds of hours in the darkroom.
5 episodes + podcasts will be released one month apart. When the last episode is released, the book will start shipping.
Backing the book does not fund the series, which is separate. @thegreatest.byolav