London-based artists Jonathan Anderson and Edwin Low have collaborated together as Anderson and Low since 1990, following an exhibition of their work at the Royal Academy of Arts. They are best known for their portrait studies of athletes, in addition to a range of other photographic subjects including architecture and nudes. Their studies of athletes are imbued with references to classical forms and Hellenic sculptures, depicting both the strength and beauty of the human body. In these portraits, they seek to capture the dedication and sacrifice that comes with being an athlete. These qualities are especially emphasised with the use of dramatic light and shadow.

Anderson & Low envisioned Champions as a global photographic project to contribute to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The portfolios contain portraits of world-class athletes from all ages and sport varieties who have posed nude in order to raise awareness and funds for the Foundation. At the time of the project, the discussion around AIDS/HIV was still a sensitive subject in the sports world. Anderson and Low aimed to spark an open dialogue around these issues with Champions and with their own personal connections within the sports community.

Featuring athletes from all around the world, the two-volume set offers a more comprehensive look at this international project. Champions is one of three bodies of work by Anderson & Low on the subject of the achievements of the human body, alongside their earlier projects Athletes and Gymnasts. The sculptural aesthetic of the figure studies echoes both classical influences, as seen in the V&A Sculpture collections and the Cast Courts, as well as other notable photographers such as Robert Mapplethorpe, who were similarly inspired by the sculptural qualities of the human form.