Best/Worst movies featuring an Olympian

Between the ending in Tokyo and the bad movie thread, made me wonder what is on your list? It's tough coming up with a "best movie" featuring an Olympian.


Can't Stop The Music with Jenner?
Gymkata with Thomas?
American Anthem with Gaylord?
Jordan in Space Jam?

 

Tarzan the Ape Man with Johnny Weissmuller might be on the good list, but it’s a safe bet some of the million sequels he did should be on the bad list.

And I don’t know how great any of Sonja Henie’s movies were, but she made millions in Hollywood.

 

"Gymkata" features a scene where Kurt Thomas is chased by ninjas through the Village of the Crazies and he comes across a stone pommel horse in the town square. He climbs on the pommel horse and kills all the ninjas by kicking them one by one as he does the Thomas Flare.

The answer to the question is "Gymkata."

 

“Stop At Nothing” Lance Armstrong

 

"Blue Chips" had Shaq, Penny and Larry Bird in it. That's got to be a frontrunner. I guess which category depends on your opinion of the movie.

"Goldfinger" is a strong candidate. The guy who played Odd Job won a silver medal in weightlifting at the 1948 Olympics in London.

 

Define Olympian? Erland van Lidth was an alternate on the 1976 US wrestling team. He went to Montreal, but didn’t compete. He played Terror in the Wanderers and Dynamo in The Running Man.

 

Shaq is a repeat medalist among worst. Kazaam, Steel, etc.

 

Bruce Jenner in "Victor/Victoria"?

Oh, sorry, that was Julie Andrews.

 

Carol Heiss: Silver in Cortina and gold in Squaw Valley in figure skating, then on to make "SnowWhite and the Three Stooges."

 

His cameo in "Dodgeball" aged well.

 

"Gymkata" and "American Anthem" are in the "so bad they're good" category.

Legitimate answer - "Naked Gun 33 1/3." The weakest of the trio, but still plenty of laughs, and it has Mary Lou Retton. The commentary track is funny for her scene as well. "People ask us if she did her own stunts. Yes, she did her own stunts. Who were we going to get to double Mary Lou Retton?!?"

Not quite Olympic caliber answer - Anything with Geena Davis. Like Weaver, she had a physicality to plenty of her roles that showed off her athletic background.

 

OK. That was worthy of a guffaw, if not a full-throated chortle.