Born in poverty in the ashes of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after WWI.
As a child, works like a dog to help the family eat, and plays in the street with no shoes because his parents won't let him wear shoes for play.
As a teenager, the Nazis take over his country. WWII ensues.
As a young man, the Soviets take over his country.
It turns out he can run a little.
Before the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Zatopek refuses to travel to the Olympics with his national team, because one of his teammates has been barred from participating due to his parents' political incorrectness. The communist government draws up plans to punish Zatopek, make an example of him--most likely he would have been sent to the uranium mines with other bad actors, where the life expectancy was five years.
At the last minute, the communist government bends, and sends Zatopek to Helsinki with his teammate.
Zatopek wins the 5000m and 10,000m. Zatopek has never run a marathon, but he enters it anyway, and wins.
Zatopek becomes an international sports star and the symbol of Czechoslovakia.
Then in the 1960s, in the Prague Spring, Zatopek takes the side of his countrymen against the Russians.
The Russian tanks roll in. Zatopek is punished by being sent to the countryside and made to work as a laborer for several years.
In his old age, Zatopek is allowed to return home, where he reunites with his wife. They live in modest financial circumstances but are together again.
1989: the Soviet Union crumbles. Zatopek is finally a free man. All his old records have been broken, but his legend lives on. He is still the only runner to have won the 5K, 10K, and marathon--in the same Olympic games.
There is a pretty good movie about Zatopek available on Amazon Prime. It helps if have read Endurance or Today We Die a Little. There is also a graphic novel about Zatopek.
Bill Rodgers was a good choice. Adding in Frank Shorter with how the two led the distance running boom in the US might be even better.
For another individual, purely on running exploits and dominance: Kenenisa Bekele. World XC, track, and then marathon excellence continuing into masters years.
Percy Cerruty coaching Herb Elliott but a comedy in wes Anderson style
Or Percy and John Landry. I’m picturing them running in loin cloths or with rulers taped to their hands, watching their shadows to ensure the rulers did not cross.
Gotta be Salazar. Cuban Immigrant, the Catholic symbolism... Duel in the Sun... last rites... comeback for Comrades... questionable supplements... villain arc for the NOP days - Rupp, Gouchers, etc.
With the right direction it'd basically be a cocktail of There Will Be Blood, Whiplash and Without Limits. It's pure Hollywood fodder.
Percy Cerruty coaching Herb Elliott but a comedy in wes Anderson style
Or Percy and John Landry. I’m picturing them running in loin cloths or with rulers taped to their hands, watching their shadows to ensure the rulers did not cross.
I don't know if anybody has mentioned Roger Bannister yet, but that would be a pretty epic movie tracing the competition to be the first to break the four minute mile and then the mile of the century with Landy (including Cerruty's coaching).
I see there has been a movie on Bannister from 2005, had mixed reviews:
My second pick would be Fred Kerley. His life has had more than enough drama to fill a two-hour movie.
I have watched Running Brave 50 plus times. The movie can be seen for free on youtube. Rated against other sports movies it is pretty good. Robby Benson as Billy Mills! What a man!
Well, I make movies. And am in development on a feature on Patti (Catalano) Dillon. The story has everything one could ever want. Nikes first female sponsored runner? Check. Multiple American record holder, rising from absolute obscurity? Check. Near triumph 3 times (Boston 2nd place, 1979-1981)? Check. Grew up in poverty? Check. Never won the major race but won the battle within a la Rocky? Check.
The best idea I've heard so far is Roger Bannister (Great Britian), John Landy (Australia), and Wes Santee (United States) striving to be the first to run a sub 4 mile. There's a book about this . . . and it's pretty darn good. Could be a beautiful mid-century period film.
The best idea I've heard so far is Roger Bannister (Great Britian), John Landy (Australia), and Wes Santee (United States) striving to be the first to run a sub 4 mile. There's a book about this . . . and it's pretty darn good. Could be a beautiful mid-century period film.
With the right script, director, and actors, it could compete with Chariots of Fire.
Hmm, now who would select to play Bannister, Landy, and Santee?? Billy Crudup and Ian Charleson did a bang up job as Prefontaine and Liddell.