Given the Hollywood writers strike will lead to a shortage of content in 2024, at least Netflix are keeping the good stuff coming.
One of the newest offerings from the streaming giant is a sprinting documentary; a detailed look into the lives of some of the fastest humans on the planet.
We all know the drill by now with these sports documentaries. We want to know what it’s about, who’s featured and when it drops. So let’s answer all the key burning questions for the untitled sprinting documentary Netflix is cooking up.
What you need to know about Netflix’s new sprinting documentary
It’s Box to Box Films – who were behind Full Swing, Drive to Survive and Break Point – producing the new docu-series.
Shooting has mostly already happened, which went up through to the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August.
When is Netflix set to release its sprinting documentary?
Next year (2024)
Last we checked, no date has yet been set. But the streaming platform has confirmed it’s targeting ‘Summer 2024’, which will mean winter time down under. That means we’re thinking June-July of 2024.
It’s expected that all six 45 minute episodes will land on Netflix simultaneously.
What’s it about?
Still untitled at this stage, Netflix’s upcoming sprinting documentary will shine a light on what it takes to be really, really fast; the training, the mental toughness and whether or not it’s a glamorous existence. Cameras have reportedly followed around athletes from the United States, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Italy.
It’s obviously a sport of incredibly fine margins, so following the journeys of athletes and how they look to gain an edge should be incredibly interesting.
“As Muhammad Ali said, ‘the fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights,'” said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe.
“We can think of no better partner than Netflix to give our fans new insight into the fascinating high-intensity world of sprinters, as they prepare to take their shot at glory at the World Championships.”
Which athletes are featured?
There’s no confirmation as of yet, but as you can imagine, there are various rumours and reports doing the rounds. The names that keep coming up include American Fred Kerley, English star Dina Asher-Smith, 2023 world champion Noah Lyles, Christian Coleman and Marie-Josée Ta Lou.
As mentioned, it’ll be athletes from countries including the United States, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Italy.
If an Italian is indeed involved, you can bet it’s Tokyo gold medalist Marcell Jacobs, who famously finished ahead of Kerley in the 100m final.
Since Usain Bolt’s retirement in 2017, it’s not unexpected that interest in sprinting has dropped. But given we’ve seen other sports find new audience since receiving the ‘Drive to Survive treatment’, there’s no question that finding out more about the stars at the top of the field will help breath new life into athletics as well.
USA’s Noah Lyles, who claimed top spot in the 2023 World Athletics Championships 100m final, is a huge personality and not short on confidence. It will be great to see more fans get to know him on a deeper level. The same goes for Dina Asher-Smith.
