Originally scheduled to run from July 24th to August 9th, the 2020 Summer Olympics was set to be one of the sporting highlights of the year. With the previous two editions of the games ranked as the most watched television broadcasts in history, it’s fair to say there’s a few billion people upset they won’t get to share in the adrenaline rush of this highly competitive event.

Looking to fill that Olympic-shaped hole in your viewing schedule, here at S/W we’ve put together a playlist of the best short films centred around sports from the games. From boxing to swimming and cycling to fencing, whatever your event of choice, these films capture the highs and lows and the sweat and tears of competitive sports.

READY, STEADY, WATCH!

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Drama Anders Walter

9 Meter

Oscar Short-Listed in 2012, 9 Meter tells the story of Daniel, a 16-year-old who believes breaking his long jump records is keeping his dying mother alive. He sets out to make the most dangerous jump of his life.

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Experimental Tomek Ducki

Baths (Łaźnia)

Two old swimmers meet at the public baths for their ritual swimming session in this festival favourite from animator Tomek Ducki

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Action Ben Mallaby
ma

Battlecock

The Dukinson brothers have finally beaten their arch rivals, but the Krullmuller sisters are out for blood and revenge is a dish best served underarm.

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Documentary Jonny Madderson & Jono Stevens

Boys From The Back Of Beyond

Gary & Paul O'Donovan became household names when they won winning Irelands first ever Olympic medal in rowing at Rio 2016. Experience their unusual training methods and laid-back approach to interviews in this feel-good sports doc for Red Bull.

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Documentary Zackary Canepari

Claressa

After Claressa Shields won gold in Olympic boxing in 2012, she is back in Flint, Michigan, with no sponsors and no endorsements. After climbing the mountain, she is back at the bottom, training to do it again at Rio 2016 and become the first boxer in history to defend a gold medal.

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Documentary James Blagden

Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No

It's the 70's, and pitcher Dock Ellis is high as a kite and pitching the game of his life.

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Drama Olivia Newman

First Match

Mo is the only girl on her high-school wrestling team. Will her love of the sport and her desire to connect with her ex-wrestler father overcome the naysayers? Olivia Newman's celebrated short is the basis of her brand new Netflix Original feature.

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Drama James Gallagher

Love

A film about fathers, sons, and tennis.

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Documentary Anderson Wright

NZINGHA

Nzingha Prescod has a chance to become the first African-American woman to win an individual medal in women's foil fencing in the history of the sport at this year's Summer Olympics in Rio.

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Documentary Luther Clement & Shuhan Fan

Stay Close

One of 10 films on the Oscar Shortlist, an underdog fencer from Brooklyn overcomes a gauntlet of hardships on the road to the Olympics.

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Adventure Limbert Fabian & Jacob Wyatt

The Boy Who Learned to Fly

Before he was the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt was the boy who learned to fly.

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Documentary Matan Rochlitz & Ivo Gormley

The Runners

Pounding the tarmac through the seasons, a band of runners are brazenly challenged with intimate questions as they pace their routes.

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Dark Comedy Sander Joon

Velodrool

An addicted biker runs out of cigarettes, so joins an unpredictable race to get more. Festival favourite from Estonian animator Sander Joon.