Beyond The Medal: 10 Cinematic Triumphs That Define The Olympic Spirit

As the world anticipates the Olympic Games of Paris 2024, let's reflect on the triumphs of the greatest athletes of their time, who etched their names in history with their remarkable achievements.

Sports films based on real life stories of Olympic winners.

Source : IMDb

Some athletes win medals, but there are those who win both medals and hearts. These narratives captivate as profoundly as the tales of Olympic glory, weaving stories of triumph, dedication, struggles, and the unwavering courage to dream of the global stage and achieve it.

As the world anticipates the Olympic Games of Paris 2024, let's reflect on the triumphs of the greatest athletes of their time, who etched their names in history with their remarkable achievements.

1. The Crash Reel (2013)

Directed by Lucy Walker, starring Kevin Pearce himself. This film is based on the life of Kevin Pearce, the youthful, wide-eyed, astonishingly agile snowboarder. He had a brilliant career ahead of him, when a fateful practice session for Olympic Games 2009 took turn for the worse, a traumatic injury that ended his career. The highs and lows of his life and his ultimate recovery, after which his desire to return to the sport, taking a risk which could end his life. It highlights how sportsmen take a risk to lose everything to pursue their passion.

It shows the rivalry between Kevin Pearce and Shaun White which peaked during Kevin's injury and later comeback as well, while his family dealt with accepting his Down Syndrome. 

This movie is a must watch as it shows the struggles and Behind the Scene of a sportsperson's life and what it takes to achieve their dreams.

 

2. Mary Kom (2014) 

This inspiring movie is a chronicle of the life of a Female Indian boxing Champion Mary Kom, who went through several hardships and struggled, before courageously accomplishing her dreams. Directed by Omung Kumar, starring Priyanka Chopra, who very laud worthily brought the story of Mary Kom to life. The film celebrates the life and accomplishments of Six Time World amateur Boxing champion from Manipur, who made her way to top against all odds. 

The film received a National Film award for the best popular film and also won several other awards, including multiple Filmfares.

 

“Priyanka saw how we lived. She met my family and had a close look at my early life. It was a lesson for her. My rise from the rice fields of Kangathei village to winning the World Championships has been captured really well,” Mary Kom said about the movie.

3. Saina (2021)

Indian Badminton player Saina Nehwal's biopic, was released on March 26, 2021. The movie was directed by Amole Gupte. Parineeti Chopra played lead role in the biopic. 

It's a journey of a Daughter in Sports from Hyderabad who made her mark in Badminton court like no one before. Saina Nehwal became the first-ever Indian woman to be ranked No. 1 in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Rankings.

 

Each notable match has been included in the film. Saina Nehwal’s bronze medal win at the London 2012 Olympics is one of the centre-pieces of the Saina movie.

4. Fist of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games (1999)

Director George Roy’s documentary Fists of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games explores the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City which were filled with politically charged and unforgettable stories. This movie is about the chronicles of 1968 Summer Olympics, just when Martin Luther King jr. and Robert Kennedy were assassinated, leading to tense environment in the country.

In the atmosphere of political and social unrest, two track athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, took centre with a quite protest by black-glove, fist-held-high "black power" salute on the victory stand in Mexico city. It symbolized the fight for civil rights that gripped their nation—and the rest of the world, for that matter—at the time.

5. Gold: The Dream That United Our Nation (2018)

Directed by Reema Kagti, starring actors like Akshay Kumar (lead as Tapan Das), Mouni Roy and Kunal Kapoor. This film is inspired by true events and people.
There’s no greater pride in sport than to see your country’s flag being hoisted on an international stage. Tapan Das, the team manager, leads the charge to assemble the country’s first all-Indian hockey team. His dream was to see the Indian flag flying high on British soil, a moment that would fill every Indian with pride. He played a pivotal role in making India win its first Olympic gold medal in London as a free nation.

Reema Kagti tells a thought-provoking and entertaining story and take us back to that moment in history, which is not often talked about or celebrated. Performances by the entire ensemble cast were remarkable.

 

6. The Boys in the Boat (2023)

This film is based on the book "The Boys in the boat" by Daniel James Brown. The Boys in the Boat, directed by George Clooney, is a movie following the American men’s rowing team. Starring Callum Turner, Joel Edgerton, Hadley Robinson, etc,. Daniel Brown interviewed Joe Rantz, member of the 1936 Berlin Olympics U.S. men’s rowing team, highlighting their pursuit of nationalism and Gold against the Men's German 8+. 

This film revolves around the contenders during the Great Depression, driven by the spotlight as they compete with top competitors from across the globe. 
This story inspires as it demonstrates how lower-middle-class people struggled to earn their way through Great Depression.

7. Without Limits (1998)

Director by Robert Towne, starring Billy Crudup(Prefontaine), Donald Sutherland(Bowerman), Monica Potter(Mary Marckx).
This film is based on the life of Steve Prefontaine, Record Breaking distance runner who set numerous records and his relationship with Coach Bill Bowerman. Following his youth days in University of Oregon to his remarkable performances at the Munich Olympics 1972. His unwavering dedication and rebellious spirit fueled his ability to deliver truly remarkable performances. The movie also poignantly portrays his untimely and tragic demise during the 1976 Games. 

 

8. Miracle (2004)

Based on the true story of great achiever, Herb Brooks, coach of the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team,  who lead the team to victory against the formidable Soviet Union. Directed by Gavin O'Connor, starring Kurt Russell, Eddie Cahill, Patrick O'Brien Dimsey, and others, it centers on the U.S. Men's Ice Hockey Team, who won the unexpected Gold Medal over the heavily favoured Soviet Team, in the 1980 Winter Olympics. This film was able to capture the pinnacle of their achievement. Teamwork, perseverance and national pride are all prominently portrayed in this beloved sports experience from the 1980 Winter Olympics. 

 

9. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

The film is the life story of Milkha Singh, aka "the flying sikh", an Indian track and field sprinter who was introduced to the sport while serving in the Indian Army. Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, casting Farhan Akhtar(Milkha Singh), Pawan Malhotra, Prakash Raj, Divya Dutta, Jabtej Singh. 

 

The life of Milkha Singh, from little kid who loses his family in the India-Pakistan partition to becoming a sprinter who represents India at several international sports events and wins several medals for the country.

10. Dangal (2016)

Some films leave a lasting impact, and 'Dangal' is one such movie. It tells the true story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler from Haryana, who, unable to fulfill his own dreams, recognizes the wrestling potential in his daughters and sets a goal to bring honor to India by winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Directed by Nitish Tiwari and starring Aamir Khan as Mahavir Singh Phogat, Fatima Sana Sheikh as Geeta Phogat, Sanya Malhotra as Babita Kumari, and others. The film portrays Mahavir's journey against social stereotypes and financial constraints as he begins training his daughters himself, even cutting their hair short.
'Dangal' highlights themes of gender equality, determination, and the pursuit of dreams against all odds.

 

Mubarika Noor is a student of MA Mass Communication at Aligarh Muslim University.