13 inspiring Sport documentaries
The Deepest Breath (2023, Netflix)
When not taking sides (basically when it is not a PR film for an athete), those documentaries usually make a memorable and inspiring moment. Because I’ve watched many of them, I started to do a list of the ones I particularly like in case I want to watch them again and also to be able to recommend them to my friends and network, as I’m about to do.
I hope you enjoy the list below as much as I did. And if you want to share your list as well, please do as I’m always looking for some new recommendations ;-). Have fun!
Team sports
Basketball is a fun sport: spectacular or “showtime” as Magic Johnson would say, always some action, very often undecided until the last second, some “dominant” players who became legends of this sport and of course the NBA, the best league in the world.
The Last Dance, 2020, Netflix
The Last Dance (2020, 8h11mn, 10 episodes)
Co-produced by ESPN and Netflix, 10 episodes covering the dynasty of the Chicago Bulls during the 90s with a special focus on Michael Jordan, greatest basketball player of all time and his last year with the Bulls. Not particularly liked by his team mates, sometime clearly a bully, the documentary clearly shows how purpose-driven, focus and boarderline Michael Jordan was. Really dramatic, intense and fun to watch. Especially if, like me, you grew up in the “90s” ;-).
Trailer here
Where to watch: Netflix
Legacy: The true story of the LA Lakers (2022, approx. 9h, 10 episodes)
It’s the “Last Dance” of the Los Angeles Lakers, greatest NBA franchise (together with the Boston Celtics, with 17 NBA titles). Incredible footage and testimonials across 40 years-time and a true incredible journey through characters like Jerry Buss (former owner of the Lakers), Jeanie Buss (current owner), former players and coach like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Phil Jackson and many others.
Trailer here
Where to watch: Hulu
Football was an easy choice as there have been so many documentaries made that picking a few good ones was an easy choice to make.
Next goal wins, 2014, GEO Televisions
Next goal wins (2014, 1h37mn)
The documentary chronicles the national football team of American Samoa as they try to recover from the indignity of being known as one of the weakest football teams in the world. Here, we’re not talking about winning titles, championships or becoming a legend. It is just about winning a game, one simple game… But outside the pitch, it’s also about accepting differences, having faith, believe and facing redemption. Very beautiful.
Trailer here
Where to watch: Prime Video
The 2 escobars (2010, 1h44mn)
One of the excellent series of sport documentaries made some years ago by ESPN (30 for 30), the 2 Escobars relates the incredible story of Pablo Escobar (most powerful drug kingpin in the world, ruling the Medellin Cartel) and Andres Escobar (biggest soccer star in Colombia in the early 90s). This documentary offers an examination of the intersection of sports, crime, and politics in Columbia.
Trailer here
Where to watch: here
LFG
Certainely not the best documentary of this list as very much one-sided as the other party refused to talk, not the most spectacular either, this film however is absolutely necesary and I believe this can (and this will) open the door for other fights for equal pay in sport and everywhere else in the society. I wrote a few months ago an article about gender gap equal pay and this documentary is only but a true and brutal representation of discriminations women are still facing every day and, if nothing happens, will continue to face for the next 131 years, accoring to the Global Gender Gap Report 2023.
Trailer here
Where to watch: HBO Max, Hulu
Diego Maradona (2019, 2h10mn)
Difficult to choose between all the documentaries that have been made about the argentinian football legend. However, I would certainly recommend 2 of them: Maradona by Kusturica for the intimist portrait made by a great film director and the HBO documentary Diego Maradona. And if I had to pick only one, I would go for the latter as it more complete and extremely well documented.
Trailer here
Where to watch: Prime Video
Extreme sports / Nature / Free spirit
Those films are about sports but more importantly about freedom, nature and accomplishments.
Meru, (2015, Amazon Prime)
Alpinism - Meru (2015, 1h30mn)
Three elite climbers struggle to find their way through obsession and loss as they attempt to climb Mount Meru, one of the most coveted prizes in the high stakes game of Himalayan big wall climbing. Friendship and redemption on the top of the world.
Trailer here
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Climbing - Free solo (2018, 1h40mn)
American documentary (from the directors of Meru) that profiles rock climber Alex Honnold on his quest to perform the first-ever free solo climb of a route on El Capitan, in Yosemite National Park, in June 2017. Simply recognized as the biggest achievment in climbing history. Mind blowing.
Trailer here
Where to watch: National Geographic
Freediving - The Deepest Breath (2023, 1h48mn)
Nerve-shredding' documentary explores perils of freediving. Amazing footage and testimonials. I don’t need to tell you much more, just hold your breath and watch it.
Trailer here
Where to watch: Netflix
Surf - Andy Irons, Kissed by god (2018, 1h40mn)
Bipolar disorder and addiction as seen through the life of three-time world champion surfer Andy Irons. The untold story of Andy's life serves to tear down the myths associated with these two ferocious diseases. Inspiring and disturbing at the same time.
Trailer here
Where to watch: Prime Video
Tennis
Venus and Serena (2012,
Even though it was released in 2012 and Venus is still playing and Serena just retired, this documentary focuses on the early careers and takes a detailed look at how both players came up by beating the odds and becoming number one player in the world. One word: inspiring.
Trailer here
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Strokes of genius (2018, 1h38mn)
One of the best men’s tennis rivalry of all time with a focus on 1 epic match: Wimbledon’s 2008 final. A masterpiece.
You can watch it for free here
Andy Murray Resurfacing (2019, 1h48mn)
Andy Murray, grand slam winner and ex n°1 in the world of tennis. Very powerful story of someone at the top of his game, at the “top of the world” who has been working so hard that his body cannot follow anymore, hence a dramatic situation caused by the injury, a lot pain, doubts and introspection on the “why am I doing all this?”, gets the courage to face his challenges and make sometimes very difficult choices, persevere and repeat the same exercises ever and ever again until he finally gets there. Simply put, it is like the story of any life fully lived, with ups and downs, with vulnerability, exposure of weakness and choosing to be a victim or deciding to learn something positive about all this. Sometimes an injury can open your eyes on many things and reveals so much more than sweating and rebuilding muscles.
Trailer here
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
That selection was really tough to make. Here are some other brillant documentaries I really enjoyed:
Cycling - Stop at nothing, the Lance Armstrong story (BBC, 1h44mn)
US Football - O.J Made in America (2016, ESPN 30for30, 7h47mn)
Formula one - Senna (2010, Prime Video, 1h46mn)
Tennis - Untold: Breaking point - Mardy Fish (2021, Netflix, 1h8mn)
Icare (2017, Netflix, 2h)
Golf - Tiger (2021, HBO, 3h12mn)
