9.79, ESPN 30 FOR 30.
The Documentary
9.79 is an episode of ESPN 30 for 30, directed by Daniel Gordon in 2012. 9.79
is a sports/track and field documentary about the 100m finals at the Seoul
Olympics games back in 1988 and its controversy with drugs and cheating that
went on at the games and the events leading up to it with two of the fastest
men in history and there story about failing drug test, Ben Johnson and Carl
Lewis who were two dominant sprinters in this day and age and had a rivalry
like no other. Throughout the documentary it tells a story line of both
athletes leading up two the games, including their lifestyles and sporting
careers, lifestyle issues and injuries as well as a couple of the other 100m
finalist that co star in 9.79. The story
reveals both stars lives, as well as a rising drug problem in track and field
that started to come about the time of the Seoul Olympics, since there was a
rise of sport enhancing drugs being used. 9.79 was released back in 2012,
ironically the same year as the London Olympics takes place, as well as the IOC
(International Olympic Council) and IAAF (International athletics association
federation) under scrutiny due to covering up failed testing throughout the
system.
I think this
documentary has two purposes, I think the first one which is more of a story
telling purpose and that’s to tell the tale of one of the greatest sporting
rivalry’s and athletes there has ever been in track and field. This purpose
opens the documentary to a wider audience other than track and field fans, but
sporting fans in general, because who doesn’t like a good rivalry. The other
purpose, which I believe to be the more important issue, specially with it
being released when it did was the issue of drugs in track and field at the
time and how it was getting out of hand, as you see in the documentary that 6
of the 8 athletes in the 100m final all tested positive for a sport enhancing
drug and some were involved in the distribution and selling to other elite
athletes. This is the ultimate juicy sporting tale. I also think this helped
bring attention to the drug problem that was going on around the Olympics back
in Seoul and the issue in London, that over the years nothing has really
changed and that its time too. One really fascinating part of the documentary
was listening to the head of the doping control from the Olympic council back
in Seoul discussing the drug problem and that he personally re tested samples
from back then with todays technology and the results he saw was shocking, even
for him. This is a clear demonstration in the film that there’s always been a
huge problem with doping, but went onto to say they are finding new ways
everyday and its true since the amount of failed test in the last couple of
years, particular before Rio have seen a dramatic increase.
Throughout the
film, its interesting to hear directly from every athlete that was on the
starting line back on one of the most historic moments in track and field first
hand. It created such a better connection then testimonies from actors or third
parties. I also enjoyed hearing information from team mates, coaches and members
of the doping and Olympic Council who all spoke along side real life news
clips, news paper articles and journalist that were about around this time. It
made everything more surreal. Overall, putting my bias views aside as a lover
of track and field I think anyone can sit down and enjoy this documentary. We
all have this conspiracy about drugs in sport, but this brought it to life and
threw it in your face to the point there was no denying or running away from
the issue. Finally I think it brought to light a serious issue in todays
society and sport as well as back in the day, along side a story that leaves
you sitting on the edge of your seat as it showed every race over the year
leading up to the games to see who was going to win out of Lewis and Johnson. However, these sort of stories don't appeal to the biggest of audiences therefore being one of its only let downs.
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