Personal Best (1982)

In the competitive world of track and field sports in 1976, we meet Chris Cahill, a promising 100-meter hurdler, and Torry Skinner, a tenacious pentathlete. Chris, with her raw talent, lacks the confidence and drive to break through, while Torry, with lesser natural ability, possesses a mental fortitude that propels her into the Olympic team, finishing second in her event. A disastrous Olympic trial sees Chris on the brink of defeat, but Torry, recognizing her potential, persuades Terry Tingloff, their tough-as-nails coach at Cal Poly, to take Chris under his wing. Despite the lack of scholarship incentives and her father's disapproval, Chris takes up the offer, thus thrusting herself into an unfamiliar world of relentless competition and unyielding ambition. As they train together, Chris and Torry find themselves drawn to each other, a magnetic attraction that transcends friendship and morphs into a complex sexual and emotional bond. The two athletes embody what the other lacks, their connection forged not only in their shared passion for the sport but also in their contrasting attributes. Eventually, Terry acknowledges Chris's potential, convincing her to shift her focus to the pentathlon - a testament to her remarkable strength, speed, and versatility. However, he struggles to comprehend their deepening bond, a bond that stands to shatter with them now being direct competitors in the lead up to the 1980 Olympic trials. In an environment where victory is the ultimate pursuit, Chris and Torry navigate their intertwined lives and loves, exploring the depths of their friendship, rivalry, and shared dreams. Personal Best vividly depicts their relentless journey to discover their individual identities, test the limits of their relationship, and ultimately, redefine what winning truly means in a world obsessed with the chase for gold.

Personal Best is a drama movie featuring Mariel Hemingway and directed by Robert Towne.

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