SPORTS DOCUMENTARY

TRIATHLETE: FORGING THE DREAM

Documentary |  60 min  | Sports

From humble beginnings as an unfit, rebellious teenager, a tragic turning point throws Marc’s life in a different direction, finding himself competing to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, and discovering a deeper purpose to his life.

STORYLINE

Triathlete: Forging the dream is a sports documentary about young athlete Marc Lovatt, as he journeys to find the person within. From humble beginnings as an unfit, rebellious teenager, a tragic turning point throws Marc’s life in a different direction, finding himself competing to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, and discovering a deeper purpose to his life.

Plot Outline
Marc Lovatt’s life is going nowhere. Fighting and drinking, he ends up spending a night in a prison cell. He prays for forgiveness, and a chance to turn his life around.

Tragedy strikes as three of his closest friends suddenly die in a car accident. Marc is lost as to what to do. He decides to set himself a challenge to run 13 Miles to help raise money for a memorial. Unfit, and ill-prepared, he manages to complete the run. But something else happens. The running gives him a new focus and determination in life. He decides he wants to become an athlete.

An idea is planted in Marc’s head, and he signs up to compete in Ironman 70.3 UK, to raise money for charity. The race is reputed to be one of the hardest triathlons in the world. Marc has never done a triathlon. He doesn’t have a bike. He has a fear of open water swimming. He has six months to prepare. With great determination, he makes it to the start line.

The start horn sounds, beginning a journey that not only takes Marc to his phyiscal limits striving to reach the World Championships, but also deep within himself to discover his purpose in life is intimately entwined with the fate of Millions.

This is a triathlete’s journey to find the person within.

EPISODE 1
Marc Lovatt’s life is going nowhere. Fighting and drinking, he ends up spending a night in a police cell. He prays for forgiveness, and a chance to turn his life around. Tragedy suddenly strikes, beginning a series of events that will change his life forever.

EPISODE 2
Marc Lovatt has signed up to take part in Ironman 70.3 UK in the depths of Exmoor, reputed to be one of the toughest in the world. Marc has never done a triathlon before, he doesn’t have a bike, and has a large personal fear to overcome. As his journey unfolds, he begins to find deeper inspiration for competing, and as race day looms, a twist of fate sets the stage for his life to take a new direction.

EPISODE 3
After narrowly missing a 70.3 World Championship slot in his first Ironman 70.3 race, Marc is determined to try again. He decides to get a coach, and begins training again. As the process of physical change continues, Marc’s inner journey deepens, discovering his purpose for competing, and inspiring others to help along the way.

EPISODE 4
Marc travels with his brother James to St Polten in Austria, to compete in the first of two chances to qualify for the 2011 Ironman 70.3 World Championships. As they prepare for the race the following day, weighing up the competition, James raises doubts towards Marc’s success. Asleep at night, Marc has a dream where he is competing in the World Championships. He crosses the line in first place, but collapses and dies. As Marc awakens, and the start horn sounds on race day, he reflects on why he is competing, and what he is willing to sacrifice to forge his dream.

EPISODE 5
Ironman 70.3 UK. Grey clouds move ominously over the hills surrounding Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor. This is Marc’s last chance to qualify this year. Racing by his side stands his coach James Stewart. Marc’s brother James looks on. The lake comes to life as the race begins.