Sportsmen and women are often seen as something of an enigma. Despite watching them week in and week out, the often monosyllabic interviews that follow a game or event, often leave us wanting. Wanting to find out what really makes them tick. What it’s like to reach the pinnacle of their sport, and the highs and lows of getting there. Thankfully there’s a multitude of excellent sporting documentaries that delve into the mindset of our sporting idols. Sport.co.uk picks out ten of our personal favourites.
1.) Sunday in Hell (Cycling)
Danish documentary maker Jørgen Leth’s ‘Sunday in Hell’ captures the sheer dedication and never say die attitude needed to become a cycling champion. Set in 1976 at the Paris-Roubaix bike race, Leth focuses on the four favourites, each having to overcome punctured tyres, horrific accidents and appalling weather conditions. The finale will have you on the edge of your seat, while the post-race interviews (Leth was given exclusive access to the locker rooms) leave the viewer in no doubt just how much the race has taken out of them both physically and mentally.
2.) Tyson (Boxing)
Iron Mike Tyson was 20 when he became the youngest ever Heavyweight champion of the world. It was a monumental leap for a man who came from a broken home in Brooklyn and had been in and out of juvenile detention centres from a young age. Combining archive footage of his training and fights, with a surprisingly open face-to-camera Tyson, we’re given an insight into what made Tyson the controversial figure he remains today. No subject goes untouched in James Toback’s film, and while Tyson will forever divide opinion, it’s difficult not to warm to the guy, particularly when he recounts the death of his friend and mentor Cus D’Amato.
3.) Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (Football)
As much a piece of art as a sporting documentary, directors Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno must have gone on the charm offensive to sell their concept of Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait. Using 17 cameras, the action is based entirely around Zinedine Zidane’s role in a Spanish La Liga game where Zizou’s Real Madrid take on Villarreal. It’s not to everyone’s taste, with some fans sure to become frustrated by the camera’s refusal to follow the ball rather than Zidane’s movement. However, if you’re game, you’ll be privy to 90 minutes of watching one of the true greats of the game. Oh and there’s also a mass brawl to enjoy with Zidane subsequently receiving a red card for his involvement.
4.) Hoop Dreams (Basketball)
Steve James epic documentary takes us on a journey alongside two NBA hopefuls, as they battle their way through social and economic adversity. The two protagonists are William Gates and Arthur Agee, two promising, yet raw basketball talents. The film follows both Gates and Agee for five years from the age of 14, as both try to achieve their dream of becoming a professional basketball player. The film is as much an insight into 90’s America as it is basketball, with both boys coming from under privileged backgrounds. With plenty of ups and downs along the way, Hoop Dreams is both inspiring and moving in equal measure.
5.) One Night in Turin (Football)
Tarnished by hooliganism and still recovering from the tragic events at both Heysel and Hillsborough, before the arrival of the multi-million pound Premier League franchise, English football was in something of disarray. Then came Italia ’90. Narrated by Gary Oldman, ‘One Night in Turin’ follows the fortunes of England’s World Cup campaign in 1990. With Bobby Robson’s squad facing criticism before a ball had even been kicked, James Erskine’s film takes us on journey that includes David Platt’s last minute winner against Belgium, Lineker’s brace against an underestimated Cameroon and of course all the drama that unfolded against West Germany. It may not have the fairytale ending we would like, but it’s a fascinating insight into how a nation’s view on its national sport was transformed back to a positive outlook.
6.) Pumping Iron (Bodybuilding)
In 1975, long before he had shown any aspirations of becoming Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger was gearing up for the Mr Olympia bodybuilding competition. Pumping Iron follows both Arnie and his closest rivals, including Lou Ferrigno (he of The Incredible Hulk fame), as they push their bodies to the ultimate, in the hope that they will be crowned champion. The film shot Schwarzengger to stardom and provides a close examination of what a phenomenal athlete the man was. Arnold goes on to take the title, his sixth and final Mr Olympia, but it’s the contrast of both his demeanour and training facilities to that of the more subdued Ferrigno that really leaves the lasting impression. A perfect example being Ferrigno repeatedly chanting “Arnold, Arnold, Arnold,” as he attempts a particularly weighted bench press.
7.) Murderball (Wheelchair Rugby)
Centred on the intense rivalry between the US and Canadian teams, Murderball is a no hold bars account of the brutal sport that is Wheelchair Rugby. Charting the highs and lows of both teams in the lead up to the 2004 Paralympic Games, with the majority of participants classified as quadriplegics, you’d be forgiven for expecting Murderball to simply tug at the heart strings. What you get in fact get is a fascinating look into the lives of dedicated and fiercely competitive athletes, both on and off the field, while the brutal action will soon dispel any feelings of pity. The rivalry is intense, the action unnerving and the personalities invigorating. As a sub-plot the coach of the Canadian team also happens to be a disgruntled former member of the US squad, who crossed the border after being dropped from the team.
8.) When We Were Kings (Boxing)
There maybe two leads in When We Were Kings, but there’s only one star. When Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle to regain the title that he’d been stripped of for refusing the Vietnam draft, his legend was cemented. ‘When We Were Kings’ brilliantly brings that night in Zaire back to life, with the majority of the fight intertwined with the build up to match. Despite being the champ, Foreman’s lack of charisma means he plays second fiddle to Ali’s showmanship, a man who not only talks the talk, but also most certainly walks the walk. Boxing fans will love the technical artistry, but even non-boxing fans will not fail to be enchanted by a man many not only described as the greatest boxer of all time, but as the greatest sportsman of all time.
9.) One Day in September (Olympic Games)
Sport, or to be more specific, the Olympic Games provides the setting for this harrowing documentary. One Day in September looks at the atrocities that took place at the 1974 Munich Olympic Games, when a group of Palestinian terrorists took eleven Israeli athletes hostage, before brutally murdering them. Interviews with the victim’s families provide an insight into how the events that took place on 5 September have affected their lives, while a man claiming to be the sole surviving terrorist, Jamal Al-Gashey, provides his own uneasy account of how and why the events unfolded. Scottish director Kevin Macdonald pulls no punches in attributing a degree of blame to the German rescue teams, while the film also hints at a further conspiracy. It’s not easy viewing, but then often the rawest events never are.
10.) McEnroe: Game, Set, Match
A must watch for all tennis fans, “Game, Set, Match” takes a look at one of the most colourful characters ever to play the game, John McEnroe. From his formative years, through to his grand slam wins, John McEnroe: Game, Set, Match focuses on the intense rivalry between fellow American Jimmy Connors, as well as his epic five-set Wimbledon Final against Bjorn Borg. As flamboyant off court as he was on it, Game, Set, Match also takes a look at the former number one’s life outside tennis. So be it McEnroe the musician, McEnroe the gallery owner, or McEnroe the family man, by the time you’ve finished watching, you’re left with a better understanding as to what made the man tick, and sometimes explode, on court.