The Best Inspirational Hollywood Athletes

by Kevin Gardner

What makes an athlete great? Is it their determination or sportsmanship? Perhaps it is some indescribable quality that makes them stand out in the crowd. If Hollywood has anything to say about it, it is all of these qualities wrapped into a lovable underdog story. These players all faced challenges, both personal and professional, and learned to overcome them to become the best. Enjoy this list of some of the best underdog athlete stories in Hollywood.

Rocky

What better way to start off the list than with the Italian Stallion himself? Mr. Rocky Balboa. The classic underdog tale, Rocky starts as a working-class boxer suddenly thrust into the spotlight to fight the famous Apollo Creed. No one expected him to succeed, but with his determination, he trains to become the best. In a training montage that has become a blueprint for all montages to follow, Rocky goes from small time fighter to a champion. His rapid growth in muscles left audiences asking, what is hypertrophy? His strength, progress, and determination would inspire generations to come, including spawning a multitude of sequels and spin-offs. Rocky’s strength in determination is what puts him at the top of this list.

Bend it Like Beckham

Going against cultural norms and gender biases were just some of the challenges faced by the protagonist, Jess, in Bend it Like Beckham. After hiding that she has joined a women's team, the audience follows Jess as she struggles with balancing what she wants against the demands of her family. Playing in secret, Jess becomes an underdog as she struggles with her own identity while trying to play soccer. This feel-good film leaves audiences happy, as they watch Jess learn to pursue her dreams and overcome her self-image as she plays soccer.

Remember the Titans

Based on the true story of the Titans, the story tells of a small-town football team during the time of desegregation. As the students are forced to confront their racist ideologies when playing on a desegregated team for the first time, they initially struggle with this and learning to play as a unified team. Under the leadership and hard work of their coach, Herman Boone, they are inspired as a team to come together, work as one, and win the championship. This film taught the values of teamwork and overcoming adversity, reminding the audience of the unifying power of sports.

A League of Their Own

Girls can’t throw, or so they said, but just one viewing of A League of Their Own will teach you that they play just as well and just as competitively as anyone else. Set in the WWII era, when a majority of the male players were off at war, this is the fictionalized version of the true story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). The film showed us their challenges both on and off the baseball field, as they sought to prove themselves at the game. Their strength came from teamwork, courage and the fighting spirit to persevere against all the odds. This inspirational film has touched film viewers of all ages.

Cool Runnings

No list would be complete without talking about Cool Runnings. When a bobsledding team from Jamaica came to compete at the 1988 Winter Olympics, they were met with mockery and contempt. While ultimately unsuccessful, these four players embodied the Olympic spirit as they carried their sled across the finish line, bringing audiences everywhere to their feet. While the film, in the end, did take a lot of creative licenses with the story, the lesson of never giving up despite of the odds still rings true for audiences of all ages.

While you don’t necessarily need to overcome adversity or personal challenges to be a strong athlete, these films proved that this strength of character helps. Teamwork, determination, and an overall unwillingness to give up are all the qualities that made these athletes great.