Netflix lands sprinter docuseries from ‘Drive To Survive’ prodco as sports focus expands

The 14th IAAF World Championships (CC: Tobi 87)

Netflix is turning its attention to athletics as its sports focus continues to grow, this time partnering with Drive To Survive prodco Box To Box Films on a docuseries tracking some of the world’s top sprinters.

The as-yet untitled show (6 x 45 minutes) is currently in production and will delve into the psyches of elite runners from the US, Jamaica, the UK, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Italy as they train to become the fastest person on the planet.

Details of the runners invovled have not been revealed, but the show promises “exclusive behind-the-scenes” footage and has been slated to premiere next summer, with shooting concluding at the World Championships this month.

The series is the latest partnership between Box to Box and Netflix, which have previously worked together on golf-focused Full Swing and tennis show Break Point.

The streamer has been rapidly expanding its sports-themed factual series of late, recently ordering an all-access show following the US Women’s World Cup football team at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said: “It takes a special talent, both physically and mentally, to succeed in a world where your fate is decided in just ten seconds. As Muhammad Ali said: ‘The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.’

“The same applies to our athletes and we can think of no better partner than Netflix to give our fans new insight into the fascinating high-intensity world of sprinters as they prepare to take their shot at glory at the World Championships.”