On the path to Paris 2024, Beyond The Dream goes beyond the headlines to discover the untold stories that led to some of the greatest Olympic and Paralympic moments.
With unprecedented access, this brand new documentary series will capture the raw spirit of some of the greatest athletes of all time.
Beyond The Dream produced by Wide World Of Sports for the 9Network.
THE UNTOLD STORIES BEHIND OLYMPICS GREATEST SWIMMING RIVALRY
FEATURING EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH IAN THORPE, MICHAEL PHELPS, ARIARNE TITMUS, MICHAEL KLIM, DUNCAN ARMSTRONG, LAURIE LAWRENCE, GIAAN ROONEY, GRANT HACKETT, KIEREN PERKINS AND MORE
BOILING POINT - SWIMMING’S GREATEST RIVALRY
PREMIERING SUNDAY, JUNE 9 AT 7.00PM ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW
FIRST DOCUMENTARY IN BEYOND THE DREAM SERIES ON ROAD TO PARIS 2024
It is one of the fiercest rivalries in world sport spanning decades, Australia versus the United States. With never before seen footage and exclusive one-on-one interviews with the greatest swimmers of all-time, Boiling Point - Swimming’s Greatest Rivalry, showcases an in-depth look into the biggest moments in Olympics history between these two nations, premiering Sunday, June 9 at 7.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
This special marks the first of five blue chip documentaries in the landmark new series Beyond The Dream in the lead up to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, with the series to continue along Nine’s eight year journey through to Brisbane 2032.
Nine sits down for exclusive first-hand accounts with the greats behind these monumental races, including five-time Olympic gold medalist and Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe OAM , the most successful Olympian of all time Michael Phelps, reigning Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus, as well as Olympic two-time gold medalist Michael Klim OAM, Olympic gold medalist Duncan Armstrong, and more.
Boiling Point celebrates the intense rivalry, amazing races and remarkable swimmers who have made this extraordinary and competitive battle between Australia and the USA in the pool one of the highlights of every Olympics.
The feature begins with the unforgettable and historical Australian men’s 4x100 metre relay in Sydney 2000. For the very first time, we relive it with all four of the Australian swimming greats who made it happen, Ian Thorpe and Michael Klim alongside fellow Olympic gold medalists Ashley Callus OAM and Chris Fydler OAM, to tell their own individual stories about the great race, including an incredible revelation from Thorpe into what occurred behind the scenes.
In an exclusive interview with a man who needs no introduction, with the most Olympic medals in history including a record 23 gold medals, Michael Phelps is undeniably the most successful and decorated Olympian of all time.
We also talk to NBC’s lead swimming expert and U.S Olympic Hall of Fame member, Rowdy Gaines, in an exclusive interview with the voice of swimming in America, on his 30 years experience, perspective and insight into USA’s swimming landscape across the decades.
We sit down with one of the greatest duos in Australian swimming, Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder Duncan Armstrong and his larger than life coach, the ever charismatic Australian swimming legend Laurie Lawrence. We delve into the amazing bond and relationship the pair had that transcended athlete and coach. We also look back at Lawrence’s mighty influence in Armstrong’s historic and incredible record-breaking victory over USA champion Matt Biondi at the Olympic Games Seoul 1988 in the final of the men’s 200 metre freestyle, and the secrets behind the victory.
Also speaking exclusively to Nine, Australia’s reigning Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus, revealing the story behind her incredible victories at Tokyo 2020 against the greatest female swimmer of all-time and seven-time Olympic gold medalist, USA’s Katie Ledecky. Titmus is currently in preparation for the upcoming Australian Olympic Trials with hopes the pair’s rivalry continues in Paris 2024.
Director of 9Now and Programming, Hamish Turner, said: “Swimming is ingrained in Australia’s sporting culture, every four years new Olympic and Paralympic heroes are crowned continuing a rich tradition. This in-depth documentary series is the first to be produced by an Australian broadcaster. Nine extends its gratitude and appreciation to the incredible Olympians and Paralympians past and present who have offered their time to tell their stories.”
Beyond The Dream goes beyond the headlines to discover the untold stories that led to some of the greatest Olympic and Paralympic moments. With unprecedented access, this brand new documentary series will capture the raw spirit of some of the greatest athletes of all time.
Beyond The Dream: Boiling Point - Swimming’s Greatest Rivalry is produced by Wide World Of Sports, in association with Dreamchaser, for the 9Network.
BEYOND THE DREAM
BOILING POINT - SWIMMING’S GREATEST RIVALRY
PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 9 AT 7.00PM ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW
Sunday 7pm is a prime timeslot for a sporting documentary.
I wonder if Beyond the Dream will be a weekly series leading up to Paris Olympics?
This first episode is brilliant. Well produced. Bringing up the memories and nostalgia. Building the hype for the swimming trials and Paris 2024.
Nine doing great job in the lead up to their unprecedented and unrivaled coverage of the upcoming Olympics.
Interestingly in the replay of the 4x100m men’s relay they are not using the commentary from seven.
They’re interspersing play by play from Ray Hadley’s radio call from 2UE with the NBC commentary featuring Rowdy Gaines.
Arguably Ray Hadley’s call was better than Dennis Commettis given it was over radio and a true play by play call. Spine tingling stuff.
Sevens weakness was that they had Andrew Baildon as analyst alongside Dennis. He was rather pedestrian.
Nonetheless recalling this event brings back the hype and spirit of a home games. I remember that night vividly. Had set up 5 couches in a semi circle at our home that night. We had more than 20 people over to watch night one of the swimming. Was tremendous.
Wonder if Nine have meticulously attempted to source non-Seven (and other rivals) footage/commentary for this, as petty as that would be? But given those recent reports on luring Bruce McAvaney for Paris to no avail… I guess Nine would have plenty of old tapes from their swimming days, plus London Olympics and then probably world feeds for Olympics and Comm Games.
They feature the iconic interview with Laurie Laurence and Stephen Quartermaine from 10s coverage of Seoul 1988.
I did see that actually, Nine featured it in their promos too
Spine tinging stuff. It’s quite emotional to watch these iconic moments of Australian success, particularly in swimming.
Unfortunately we got the NBC call of Duncan Armstrong’s gold medal rather than Australia’s Mark Tonelli.
As seen on 10
I have a bad feeling this might not actually rate that well tonight, hope I’m wrong, just seems the wrong timeslot for it and its date placement given more recent programming. Better suited to after a reality like 8:30pm or a mid-week at 7:30pm or 9pm.
I think Nine have been smart not impacting Travel Guides’ recent success, by resting, with Seven’s AFL tonight particularly affecting Melbourne’s audiences.
The Tokyo race they’ve used Dan Hicks and Rwody Gaines with what sounds like May Thompson (maybe a recording) or maybe someone similar from the world feed). Definitely not seven who had Basil Zemplias annoying Australian viewers at the time.
Agree that it was a good special. However, it should have gone for at least 90 minutes in order to give more time to flesh out the stories and interviews - it felt constrained being a 48 minute (without ads) program.
BEYOND THE HEADLINES WITH AUSTRALIA’S DREAM TEAM: THE MATILDAS
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH STEPH CATLEY, CAITLIN FOORD,
LYDIA WILLIAMS, TEAGAN MICAH AND CHARLI GRANT
BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCESS INTO THE MATILDAS TRAINING CAMP
MATILDAS: THE RISE
PREMIERING TUESDAY, JULY 16 AT 7.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW
BEYOND THE DREAM SERIES CONTINUES ON THE ROAD TO PARIS 2024
It’s been a legendary, meteoric rise to fame and success, but now the Matildas face their biggest battle yet. Matildas: The Rise, produced by 60 Minutes, showcases exclusive access and interviews with the team that captured the nation’s hearts, premiering Tuesday, July 16 at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
This feature continues Nine’s Beyond The Dream series in the lead up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
Presented by 60 Minutes’ Amelia Adams, sitting down with some of the biggest names of the beloved Australian women’s football team including senior players Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Lydia Williams, goalkeeper Teagan Micah and one of the youngest in the team Charli Grant to share their incredible personal stories and journey. We also go behind the scenes, with exclusive access, into the Matildas inner sanctum, their training camp in Florida, USA with a look into their preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games.
They share their stories of determination, willpower and self-belief from growing up having to join and play in boys teams, the careers they forged, friendships they’ve formed, fighting for recognition and the battle for equality. Throughout it all they never gave up, becoming closer than ever as a team, and it all paid off at last year’s World Cup on home soil where they became Australia’s sporting heroes. Now they’re in their biggest battle yet, hungry for a medal with all eyes on Paris 2024.
Steph Catley will lead and captain Australia’s women’s football team in Paris, as both her and Foord will become three-time Olympians, with goalkeeper Teagan Micah returning for her second Olympic Games. Veteran and goalkeeper Lydia Williams will retire from international football following these Olympic Games, with the 35-year-old to finish her international career as the Matildas’ longest-serving player after an incredible 20 years with the national team.
The Matildas are set to enter Paris off the back of Australia’s best-ever finish in Olympic Games football, after narrowly missing out on the podium finishing fourth in Tokyo 2020. Drawn in Group B with a pool against former Olympic gold medallists and powerhouses USA and Germany along with Zambia. The Matildas will open their Olympic Games campaign, before the Opening Ceremony, on Friday, July 26 from 3.00am (AEST) on Nine’s Olympic Games coverage.
Adams also speaks with former, and longest-serving, Matildas coach Tom Sermanni. He was at Australia’s helm for 12 years, including the introduction of women’s football as an Olympic sport in Sydney 2000, and gave debuts to some of the most recognisable faces of today’s national team, including Catley, Foord, Williams and many more. Sermanni reflects the many memorable moments of the team’s remarkable journey to success and his own instrumental influence in the team’s development, “I feel privileged to have been a part of it.”
In addition we hear from Caitlin Foord’s older sister Jamie, sharing her memories growing up with her sister, including watching on in her early days in primary school against the boys, “she was playing with kids nearly two years older than her, I would watch, they were older than her and bigger than her but she was better than them. She really showed the boys up.”
Amelia Adams: “Spending time with these remarkable women, it quickly became clear how and why they’ve become such a formidable force in world football. It was a privilege to film and spend time with the Matildas, and to see how their legacy is inspiring a new generation of Australian girls into the world game (including my own 7 year old daughter, also named Matilda, among them).
Beyond The Dream goes beyond the headlines to discover the untold stories that led to some of the greatest Olympic and Paralympic moments. With unprecedented access, this brand new documentary series will capture the raw spirit of some of the greatest athletes of all time.
Beyond The Dream Matildas: The Rise is produced by 60 Minutes for the 9Network.
BEYOND THE DREAM
MATILDAS: THE RISE PREMIERES TUESDAY, JULY 16 AT 7.30PM
ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS WITH AUSTRALIA’S SWIMMING, ATHLETICS AND ROWING TEAMS
PREMIERING MONDAY, JULY 22 AT 8.00PM ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW
BEYOND THE DREAM SERIES CONTINUES ON THE ROAD TO PARIS 2024
It’s the dream every athlete aspires to, representing their country at an Olympic Games, but what does it take to get there? With unparalleled access to Australia’s swimming, athletics and rowing teams, Race To Paris takes viewers along the personal journeys of the Australian athletes competing to make it to Paris 2024, premiering Monday, July 22 at 8.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Race To Paris showcases a unique, in depth and exclusive look into a world people don’t normally get to see - the hard work, tenacious dedication and almighty grit of these athletes as they train and push themselves in the hopes of making their dreams a reality. From our national heroes and gold medallists, to those hoping to make their first Olympics, we go behind closed doors with some of the athletes striving to make the Australian team for the Olympics Games Paris 2024 including Emma McKeon, Bronte Campbell, Cate Campbell, Torrie Lewis, Lucy Stephan and more.
This documentary continues Nine’s Beyond The Dream series in the lead up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
In the months before June’s Australian Swimming Trials in Brisbane, Nine was granted special access to follow the journeys of three of Australia’s greatest-ever Olympic swimmers, five-time Olympic gold medallist Emma McKeon, as well as the legendary Campbell sisters, Cate (four-time Olympic gold medallist) and Bronte (five-time Olympic gold medallist).
Battling injuries in the lead up to trials, both Cate, aiming for her record fifth Olympics, and Bronte, aiming for her fourth Olympics, give audiences a very raw and unfiltered insight into their preparations. There are cameras in the doctor’s room as Cate has cortisone injections in her shoulder, while Bronte races the clock to recover from a torn calf just weeks out. We also follow Emma McKeon in her final tilt at an Olympic team, after having won a record seven medals at Tokyo 2020, with the star announcing 2024 will be her final year competing in the pool.
Not since Sydney 2000 has Australia had an athletics women’s 4x100m relay team compete on the track at an Olympics. We go trackside with the team of Ebony Lane, Bree Masters, Ella Connolly, and Australia’s fastest woman, Torrie Lewis as they travel across the globe to the Bahamas for their do-or-die Olympics qualification event, the 2024 World Relay Championships.
With access never seen before in this country, Nine was welcomed behind the doors of Rowing Australia in their brutal week-long Olympics qualification event. An event normally closed to the media and the public, our cameras were inside the selection meets with the coaches and athletes capturing the heartfelt moments as their Olympic dreams were either made or crushed. Following the remarkable stories of Olympian and Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Lucy Stephan, as well as two Olympic hopefuls with incredible stories, Type 1 diabetic Sarah Marriott, and brain cancer survivor Jean Mitchell.
Beyond The Dream goes beyond the headlines to discover the untold stories that led to some of the greatest Olympic and Paralympic moments. With unprecedented access, this brand new documentary series will capture the raw spirit of some of the greatest athletes of all time.
Beyond The Dream Race To Paris is produced by Wide World Of Sports, in association with Good Shout, for the 9Network.
BEYOND THE DREAM RACE TO PARIS
PREMIERES MONDAY, JULY 22 AT 8.00PM
ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW
UNPARALLELED ACCESS TO AUSTRALIA’S WHEELCHAIR RUGBY TEAM
PREMIERE MONDAY, AUGUST 19, AT 8.40PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
BEYOND THE DREAM SERIES CONTINUES FOR PARIS 2024
Go behind the scenes with one of Australia’s most successful sporting outfits when Forged In Steel, the story of the Steelers, our Wheelchair Rugby team, premieres Monday, August 19, at 8.40pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Wheelchair Rugby has become one of the most watched Paralympic sports, and the Steelers have earned a formidable reputation in the run-up to Paris 2024. But what does it take to secure a place on this champion team?
With two Paralympic gold medals (2012, 2016) and two World Championships (2014, 2022), but a disappointing showing in Tokyo 2020 and a failure to earn direct qualification to Paris 2024 via the Asia Oceania qualifier, we follow the Steelers as they claw their way back to the top of the world.
Forged In Steel , part of Nine’s special Beyond The Dream series, showcases the Steelers as they battled for their spot at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in a last-chance qualifying tournament in Wellington, New Zealand, in March this year, before taking on some of the world’s best teams at the Canada Cup in Vancouver in June.
This all-access documentary takes viewers into the meeting rooms for the heartwarming moments when Steelers coaches hand the athletes their place on the team, as well as the heartbreaking moments when others receive the crushing news that their Paralympic dreams are over.
Wheelchair Rugby is a brutal and intense mixed-team sport where full contact between purpose-built wheelchairs is not only allowed but encouraged. Forged In Steel will explain the rules and technical aspects, as we see just why this is one of the most watched of all Paralympic sports.
The Steelers are a team of incredible personalities, with each Steeler having their own extraordinary story. The documentary will focus on four key players: Chris Bond, Ryley Batt, Shae Graham and James McQuillan.
Chris Bond is the team captain. Paris 2024 will be his final Paralympics. A viral infection at 18 resulted in the amputation of both his legs, left hand, and four fingers on his right hand.
Ryley Batt is the best Wheelchair Rugby player in the world. He has played for 20 years and isn’t ruling out retirement after Paris 2024. Born without legs, Ryley is an adrenaline junkie who loves boats, jet skis, quad bikes and 4WDing.
Shae Graham is the pioneer for Australian female Wheelchair Rugby players. She was the first female representative (2019) and female Paralympian (Tokyo 2020).
James McQuillan acquired his disability in an Aussie Rules accident in 2014, at the age of 20. He was a university student, studying physio at the time.
The Beyond The Dream series goes beyond the headlines to discover the untold stories that led to some of the greatest Olympic and Paralympic moments. With unprecedented access, this new documentary series will capture the raw spirit of some of the greatest athletes of all time.
Beyond The Dream: Forged in Steel is produced by Wide World of Sports, in association with Paralympics Australia and Good Shout, for the 9Network.
BEYOND THE DREAM: FORGED IN STEEL
PREMIERE MONDAY, AUGUST 19, AT 8.40PM
ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
Monday 26 August 8:45pm
Former Australian soldier Curtis McGrath took up canoeing competitively after losing both legs as a result of a mine blast. Follow the gold medalist on his journey to the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games as he aims to claim gold once again.
MEET THE SOLDIER-TURNED-SPORTING STAR AND HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
PREMIERE MONDAY, AUGUST 26, AT 8.45PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
FINAL DOCUMENTARY IN BEYOND THE DREAM SERIES FOR PARIS 2024
Always one to chase adventure, test his limits and dream big, Australian Paralympian Curtis McGrath shares his incredible, inspirational story of overcoming adversity in the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, in Curtis McGrath Unstoppable, premiering Monday, August 26, at 8.45pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Produced by 60 Minutes, this documentary offers exclusive first-time access into Curtis’s professional and personal life. We learn first hand of the resilience and determination that saw McGrath become a Paralympian in 2016, after losing both his legs while deployed as a soldier in Afghanistan. Now, a three-time Paralympic gold medallist and twelve-time world champion, Curtis is heading into Paris 2024 with a target on his back as the one to beat. Racing in, not one, but two completely different events, he continues to impress both on and off the water.
At 18, Curtis McGrath joined the Australian Army as a combat engineer, and in 2012 he was sent to war-torn Afghanistan in a frontline role. It was there his life was changed forever in an instant, when he stepped on an improvised explosive device he’d missed during clearance which blew off both his legs. Lucky to survive, Curtis joked with his mates he would go on to become a Paralympian. No one realised his gallows humour was a prophecy of what was to come.
Astonishingly, within eight short months Curtis mastered his chosen sport of para-canoe and was breaking records as the new world champion, and in just four years, was representing Australia at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games winning his first gold medal.
Now set to co-captain the Australian Paralympic team in Paris 2024, we sit down to talk with those closest to him including his wife Rachel Martin, parents Paul and Kim McGrath, and fellow Afghanistan veteran Mac Pitcher, who have all supported Curtis to become the elite athlete and man he is today.
We also meet the Paddle Australia coaches and team working with Curtis to keep him and our para-athletes on top of their game: Anna Wood, the National Para-canoe Coach; Jesse Fleming, the Strength and Conditioning Coach; and some of the sports science team. They offer insight into how Curtis’s extraordinary strength of mind, natural talent and unparalleled dedication continue to play a key part in his impressive success. And we get exclusive access into his intense training routine in the lead-up to this year’s Paralympic Games alongside fellow Paralympians also off to Paris.
This one-hour special showcases Curtis’s extraordinary life and spirit. It’s a story of fierce determination, incredible resilience, unstoppable grit and endless optimism. Having maintained his position as an elite athlete for an impressive ten years now, consistently overcoming challenges to be his best, he makes his new life post accident and meteoric rise to fame appear almost effortless.
Beyond his dream of becoming a Paralympian, the humble Curtis McGrath continues to set and chase goals for himself. Seemingly unstoppable, he’s driven to get the most out of his ability and life. The next big challenge Curtis will face following his return from competing in Paris is fatherhood, as he and the love of his life, Rachel, are expecting their first baby, a boy.
Beyond The Dream goes beyond the headlines to discover the untold stories that have led to some of the greatest Olympic and Paralympic moments. With unprecedented access, capturing the raw spirit of some of the greatest athletes of all time.
Beyond The Dream Curtis McGrath Unstoppable is produced by 60 Minutes for the 9Network.
BEYOND THE DREAM CURTIS McGRATH UNSTOPPABLE
PREMIERES MONDAY, AUGUST 26, AT 8.45PM
ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
