It's 2011, and the night before our school sports day. I've been put down for 300 meters. My brother has promised he will come and watch, which feels more mortifying than supportive to me at the time, as the decidedly less athletic and way less cool sibling. Yes, me, the one who infamously 'forgot' her P.E kit to spare the ritual humiliation also known as attempting sport with three other classes of seemingly naturally elegant and strong teenage girls. I was growing out of asthma, carrying a little extra weight around the middle that I wasn't ashamed of, and hadn't found 'my thing' when it came to exercise yet. In short: I was not built for sport as a kid.
It was with this growing realisation of "Oh heck, I'm going to look a fool tomorrow," that led me to post a plea for help on Facebook, which has become perhaps the most iconic piece of Aimee content to date: "I will seriously pay anyone a weeks worth of school cupcakes if they do 300 meters for me."
Had this been my beautifully filmed, quirkily scripted, and vibrant 'Based On A True Story' Brit-Film, I'll tell you what would have happened: The day would come, and Katy Perry's hit Firework would play as I slow-motion walk across the field. My classmates would cheer for me, as I own the night like the fourth of July. Baby, I am a firework as I shoot across the running track. Maybe, after a brilliant initial lead, I trip three-quarters of the way around. Maybe a classmate will help me stand again (y'know, the one that shoved me against a locker earlier in the movie...) and they'd help me across the finish line. I'm the underdog, and I'm having my moment, all eyes on me. I definitely won't win, but maybe I come second. And with all my classmates around me, lifting me on their shoulders, that's enough for me. I feel like a winner just for taking part.
It won't happen for me this way, and the true events of 2011 are better left for the history books. But I think it is time I admit something to myself: I love a good sports movie.
For me, it has to begin with the fact that I will never be a professional sportsperson or athlete. It is simply not going to happen, and that's fine. Sports films give me that same rush of awe that watching the Olympics does, in that we watch an immensely talented, motivated and fast/strong/graceful etc. individual doing something to a world champion standard. There's no denying how impressive that can be. Perhaps it is an art form. It is escapism in the way I wish I was a Jedi, but real. By which I mean, there is something magical and unbelievable about witnessing somebody show us what astounding sportsmanship of which they are capable and that my body is not. Someone out there really can do these incredible physical feats of sport - it's just not me.
In that vein, many sports movies are 'based on truth', and I can't be alone in the little buzz I get when the words "Based on a true story" appear in white Times New Roman on a black title card. After watching 42 (Directed by Brian Helgeland and starring Chadwick Boseman, 2013) upon my brother's recommendation, I was astounded at the historical truths being laid before me, but also the wonder that this actually happened to somebody. For those of you that haven't seen it, it's the story of Jackie Robinson becoming the first African-American to play in major league baseball in 1947. Now, like with many of these sports films I will mention, I am clueless when it comes to the rules of baseball. Yet, the visuals and sprinklings of historical context provide just the right level of information needed to get deeply invested. You sit on the edge of your seat as Robinson steps up to the plate, knowing this truly happened but you don't know the result, and then the horrific happens: Robinson experiences a racial hate attack. It feels distant in the historic setting, but the depiction of Robinson having to face such violent and overt racism when all he wanted to do was play is ... well, not that distant really. It's not fiction, it's truth, and it happened - still happens. There really was somebody this talented and who faced these hardships. Perhaps it's because I'm a huge nerd, but the fact once I finished the movie I spent the evening researching Robinson is a testament to how inspiring and educational these types of films can be. It's woven its way into my thinking and made an impact both emotionally and intellectually. It's not just an uplifting story of a champion, it's the true story of an incredible sporting champion and a real pioneer who helped end segregation in American baseball and an icon for standing for civil rights. What's not to love?
Many of us want to support the underdog, and we want to see them do well. A couple of my favourite sporting movies are Fighting With My Family (Directed by Stephen Merchant and starring Florence Pugh, 2019) about WWE Diva champion Paige and the classic movie Coach Carter (Directed by Thomas Carter and starring Samuel L. Jackson, 2005). These both very much follow two underdogs, who for reasons of class, situation, and confidence don't have the 'natural makings' of champion in their sport. We develop an immense emotional connection when we see them battle their demons, overcome a host of difficulties, and strive for growth. I think this is exacerbated for me due to my personal connection to Norwich, where a portion of Fighting With My Family is set. It feels so relatable: I was there, I've walked these streets. And not only that, but I sympathise with Paige. To see a character struggle in a familiar way, with issues many of us experience of not feeling good enough, strong enough, like we're not in the right place: There is such a sense of catharsis and thrill when we finally do see them succeed. You've been there with them through all their battles, seen them grow, and seen them achieve. I'm proud of them. Sometimes, our underdog doesn't win, but they had their own victories. The acquisition of a medal or trophy is just a bonus!
Alternately, perhaps part of the joy of a good sport movie is witnessing someone at the best of their game. I highlight two Formula 1 movies here: Rush (Directed by Ron Howard, starring Chris Hemsworth, 2013) and the astoundingly moving documentary Senna (Directed by Asif Kapadia, 2011). Although one is a documentary, the other is based on truth: they are both about world champions in motor racing. There is no denying their skill, ambition, and dedication. As a self-professed lazy sloth, it's refreshing to see someone so driven and with a one-track-mind for victory (if you excuse the puns!) They are so brilliant at what they do, that you can't help but become invested in their success and gain a few insights into the sport. You learn about the sport, pick up a little knowledge you might not ordinarily. The tracks and venues, the internal politics, the rules - and which ones are meant to be broken. During lockdown, I watched the popular anime series Yuri On Ice (Directed by Sayo Yamamoto, produced by MAPPA, 2016) which is about the figure skating Grand Prix. I've always admired the sport from a distance, as I imagined it as a ballet but with blades on your feet. Which, obviously, is an incredible thought. I didn't realise how invested I could be about figure skating; how I would gasp to see an (admittedly animated) stumble at a crucial moment, question why the protagonist changed that toe-loop out, and how he could get such a low score for the best performance of his career! And, crucially, all of this is condensed into a digestible feature-length or TV series chunks (honourary mention to Friday Night Lights!) You don't need to watch months-long seasons of a sport to experience that. It's educational to an extent, but it's inspiring more than anything. Like marveling at a masterpiece by a great artist, or being moved by a magnum-opus piece of music; a sports film shows us talent in the extreme. And that's really something beautiful.
Perhaps there is an element of living vicariously: experiencing that journey and immense skill and artistry of a champion sportsman is something I will never achieve. Perhaps it is the nugget of education, of a historical moment or an icon of sport, or understanding a world I never considered before. Either way, I love a sports film: just don't expect me to sit down and watch an entire season of football just yet!
Aimee-Approved Sports Movie Watchlist:
Although not comprehensive, here is the short list of sports films that I pulled together when thinking about this post. Some contain elements of romance, comedy, or drama, but they are all films I've enjoyed! If you have any recommendations, please let me know in the comments below!
42
The Blindside
Chalet Girls
Concussion
Cool Runnings
Eddie The Eagle
Fast Girls
Fighting With My Family
Friday Night Lights (Both the movie, and the TV series)
Moneyball
Run Fat Boy Run
Rush
Whip It
Yuri On Ice (One Seasons Series)