Sky announces new original documentary film on Olympic gold medallist and decathlon champion, Daley Thompson

Sky Documentaries today announces upcoming Sky Original Daley (w/t), a brand-new feature documentary on the life of Britain’s double Olympic decathlon champion, Daley Thompson. Coming to Sky Documentaries and NOW in July, Daley (w/t) will be hitting screens just in time for the 2024 Olympics.

With unprecedented access and never seen before archive, the film chronicles his legendary sporting achievements, from the streets of London’s Notting Hill to Greece’s Olympia, the site where his iconic event began during the Ancient Games.

For the first time, Thompson reveals the struggles he faced on his road to success and narrates a compelling story about the complex man behind the Olympian. Family, friends, and other sporting legends, including Caitlyn Jenner, Dame Denise Lewis, Lord Sebastian Coe, Linford Christie and rival turned close friend, Jurgen Hingsen, offer their personal perspectives into the man they know so well.

His remarkable career also shines a light on the momentous issues impacting on sport at the time: racism, drugs, commercialisation and global politics. As 2024 marks the fortieth anniversary of Daley’s second gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, a Games of global political boycotts and commercial profit, he is able to offer us a powerful commentary on a contemporary sporting world facing the very same timeless issues and controversies today.

Daley Thompson said: “It took me a long time to realise I was an introvert living an extroverted life, and I’ve been fortunate to keep most of that life to myself. Nearing pensioner hood, I’d like to share some of the good and a few disappointments, with my kids who don’t believe any of my adventures but mainly with people who are looking and hoping to be inspired. My message is simple: your altitude is dictated by your attitude, BELIEVE IN YOU.”

Jack Oliver, Head of Co-Productions at Sky said: “With the Olympics around the corner, we are thrilled to be working with The Mob Film Company and Abacus Media Rights, to tell Daley’s story, a true sporting legend and one of the best decathletes of our time. With unprecedented access, exclusive archival footage and a host of brilliant contributors, we hope to give viewers a behind the scenes glimpse at the complex journey of one man, who became Britain’s greatest all around athlete”

Vadim Jean, Director at The Mob Film Company said: “As a teenager at the time in the 1980’s, Daley was my sporting hero. I never imagined that 40 years later I’d have the privilege of making a film that I hope does justice to his legacy as the ultimate Olympic superstar.  It’s an honour to be able bring together my love of film and sport to tell Daley’s incredible, inspirational story for the screen and reveal what it would take to be greatest all-around athlete the world has ever seen.”

Daley (w/t) was commissioned for Sky Documentaries by Zai Bennett, Sky’s Managing Director of Content and Jack Oliver, Head of Co-Productions. The Sky Original is produced by The Mob Film Company. Vadim Jean directs and produces, other producers are Charlie Skinner, Stewart Binns, Ian Sharples. The DoP is Gavin Finney BCS and the editor is Alec Rossiter. Abacus Media Rights handle the distribution rights and facilitated the deal with Sky.

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