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October 8, 2021
We recently had our first gathering of the Beyond Sport Youth Advisory Board and are looking forward to the energy and ideas they will bring – and the support we can provide them as they pursue their work in sport for social change. For a special edition of Beyond Sport Recommends, we asked the young leaders about movies that have inspired them along the way. Here is what some of them had to say:
Andrea Golli – United States / Carolina Agurcia – Honduras
Andrea liked The Blind Side, which she feels portrays what many minority athletes go through on a regular basis.
Based on the true story of Baltimore Ravens player, Michael Oher, the 2009 film follows the ‘homeless and traumatized boy’ who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family in Tennessee.
Carolina also recommended the movie, saying that it teaches us to love and protect others. “It teaches us that family is not necessarily because of blood, but because of the love that you feel towards one another and the love that you show each other. It’s a beautiful story of football, but most importantly, family.”
Siham Abdullahi – United Kingdom
Siham says she’s lost count of how many times she’s watched Coach Carter and loves the way it highlights the importance of education alongside sports.
The 2005 film is based on the true story of Richmond High School basketball coach, Ken Carter in California. Through tough rules and academic discipline, he succeeds in setting the players on a winning streak. However, in the movie, he navigates the balance between sports coaching and making sure the students also excel in class.
Based on the true story of MLB legend, Jackie Robinson, 42, was also recommended by Siham who says it was interesting and inspiring to learn the important history of the civil rights activist and athlete. The 2013 movie follows the career of Robinson, who defied the color barrier in sports in 1946, and demonstrated courage and restraint, whilst fighting against the ignorance and racism of the time.
Laiba Masoud – Pakistan
Laiba shared that “Dangal really inspired me and I watched it many times. Two young girls from a village pursue wrestling and fight against all odds, compete against men to prove their capabilities and with the support of their father win an Olympic medal for their country.”
The 2016 Hindi-based Bollywood movie is a biography of a real-life patriotic fighter, Mahavir Singh Phogat, who vows to realize his dreams by training his daughters for the Commonwealth Games, despite societal pressures.
Tyrel Butler – Trinidad
Tyrel was inspired by the film Drift, saying that it helped him face his fears no matter what happens in the water. It also taught him to never give up on what you love.
The 2013 Australian movie is based on a true story of brothers who moved from surfing into the manufacture and sales of surf gear. Set in the early ’70s, Drift tells the story of the creation of the modern surf industry.
Read about the work and inspirations of our inaugural Beyond Sport Youth Advisory Board here.
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