David Farnor | On 29, Jun 2016

Sky Atlantic’s new Olympics documentary, The Fall, is running into UK cinemas this summer for a day-and-date release.

Reuniting 1984 Los Angeles Olympic runners Zola Budd and Mary Decker for the first time in over 30 years, the film reveals the true story behind one of the most controversial moments in sporting history: when the Olympic runners’ dream of winning the 3000m women’s final fell by the trackside.

Zola Budd was just seventeen years old and living in Apartheid South Africa when she was persuaded to adopt British nationality to avoid the international sporting boycott of South Africans. With British citizenship, Zola – who was famed for running barefoot – was able to compete in the 1984 LA Summer Olympics as part of the British team. World record breaking American runner, Mary Decker was tipped to win the gold medal in the 3000m women’s track final and the world was captivated by stories of the two runners. The media revelled in the hype of an Olympic ‘duel.’ However, during the race, in front of an international audience of millions, Mary and Zola collided. Mary fell down and was unable to complete the race. Although Zola continued to run to the finishing line, she failed to secure any medal, reeling from the reaction she received from the crowd.

The Fall is made by a multi-award winning production team that includes Oscar and Emmy award-winning Passion Pictures’ Executive Producer John Battsek (One Day in September, Hillsborough) and Emmy and BAFTA nominated Director, Daniel Gordon (Hillsborough). It will feature archive footage, together with new and exclusive interviews with those closest to the events leading up to and beyond that fateful race.

Mary Decker comments: “I still think about that race every day. Making this film has been cathartic.”

The feature builds on a successful track record for documentaries on Sky, with Sky Atlantic’s Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief recently nominated at the Edinburgh International Television Festival’s 2016 TV Awards following three Emmy wins. It was produced by Karen Emsley and commissioned and Executive Produced for Sky Atlantic by James Quinn.

The Fall will air on Sky Atlantic on Friday 29th July at 9pm, on the same day that it opens in Picturehouse Cinemas nationwide. The film will premiere at London’s Picturehouse Central on Wednesday 27th July, with special preview screenings taking place on Thursday 28th July.

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