--- title: Stolen Gold | 7th Hashtag Sports Awards description: Global awards recognizing excellence in fan engagement and celebrating creativity across sports marketing, media & entertainment image: https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/QjxXlPNG-41wZL7j4Ag-file.png --- Stolen Gold | 7th Hashtag Sports Awards [The 7th Annual Awards](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2025?hsLang=en) # Stolen Gold [ESPN Films](https://www.espn.com/espnplus/collections/4484573f-411a-11ee-9ec0-02571ed8de13/30-for-30-espn-films) ![Image](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/QjxXlPNG-41wZL7j4Ag-file.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=QjxXlPNG-41wZL7j4Ag-file.png) Share [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2025%2Fstolen-gold) [** ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2025%2Fstolen-gold&text=Stolen+Gold+%7C+7th+Hashtag+Sports+Awards) [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2025%2Fstolen-gold) ABOUT THIS ENTRY Stolen Gold tells the story of the Spanish intellectually disabled basketball team’s journey to gold at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000 – and the shocking revelation that some team members were not what they claimed to be. It raises powerful questions about truth, fairness, and what it means to compete and carry oneself with dignity. ![Image](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets-AF-2025/QjxXlPNG-41wZL7j4Ag-file.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=QjxXlPNG-41wZL7j4Ag-file.png) How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"? Stolen Gold captivated audiences across both linear television and streaming platforms, drawing a broad and engaged viewership. The film’s availability on ESPN+ introduced it to a younger and more diverse audience, expanding its cultural impact beyond traditional linear television viewership. The film also sparked a surge in online curiosity, with notable increases in searches for “Paralympic Games” and “Stolen Gold” in the week of its premiere. Social media platforms such as X, Instagram, and Facebook were flooded with discussions reflecting positive sentiment, deep curiosity, and meaningful conversations about the film’s revelations. Beyond its success in engagement, Stolen Gold raises broader awareness about the historical marginalization of athletes with intellectual disabilities and the systemic challenges they have faced. It has also played a key role in sparking critical conversations around disability inclusion in competitive sports, reinforcing its significance in the sports world and beyond. Objective The cheating and corruption scandal of the Spanish Intellectually Disabled Basketball team was uncovered shortly after the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney. While there was some brief coverage of the incident, the story of the people involved went untold. Stolen Gold was made to shed a light on the depth of the scandal. By bringing this story to public attention, we aimed to initiate a long-overdue conversation about integrity, inclusion, and fairness in Paralympic sports. Strategy & Execution As the documentary genre has matured in the past 15 years, so has the savvy of the consumer. They now expect sophistication in storytelling. Stolen Gold took a huge chance in challenging the viewer with its non-linear approach. The first 30 minutes tell a somewhat chronological story of the film’s main character, Ramon Torres. We see his struggles growing up in England and Spain as an intellectually disabled youngster who finds basketball as his way to build his confidence. At the end of this half-hour, he has reached the apex of his career by winning gold as the captain of Spanish intellectually disabled basketball team. And then the whole story flips. We find out that it was all a lie. The rest of the film then goes back in time to tell the story of others who conspired to cheat the system and win a tainted gold medal. What was wholly an intimate film, becomes a partial true-crime Rashomon telling of this wider scandal. The film resolves Ramon’s personal story but opens up a bigger world of corruption. ** Nominations ** - Excellence in Latinx & Hispanic Storytelling **Organizations** - ESPN Films - UnTypical **Credits** **[ Suemay Oram](https://www.espn.com/) ** Director ESPN Films **[ Santi Aguado](https://www.espn.com/) ** Producer ESPN Films **[ Tom Keeling](https://www.espn.com/) ** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[ Danny Gabai](https://www.espn.com/) ** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[ Ade Adepitan](https://www.espn.com/) ** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[ Heather Anderson](https://www.espn.com/) ** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[ Marsha Cooke](https://www.espn.com/) ** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[ Brian Lockhart](https://www.espn.com/) ** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[ Burke Magnus](https://www.espn.com/) ** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[ Gentry Kirby](https://www.espn.com/) ** Producer ESPN Films **[ Patrick Smith](https://www.espn.com/) ** Director of Photography ESPN Films **[ Tom Khan](https://www.espn.com/) ** Editor ESPN Films **[ Rosie Taylor](https://www.espn.com/) ** Head of Production ESPN Films **[ Marquis Daisy](https://www.espn.com/) ** Senior Producer ESPN Films **[ Carolyn Hepburn](https://www.espn.com/) ** Producer ESPN Films **[ Tara Nadolny](https://www.espn.com/) ** Producer ESPN Film **[ Adam Neuhaus](https://www.espn.com/) ** Producer ESPN Films **[ Catherine Sankey](https://www.espn.com/) ** Line Producer ESPN Films **[ Trevor Gill](https://www.espn.com/) ** Associate Producer ESPN Films **[ Gus Navarro](https://www.espn.com/) ** Associate Producer ESPN Films **[ Isabella Seman](https://www.espn.com/) ** Associate Producer ESPN Films **[ Maria Delgado](https://www.espn.com/) ** Production Manager ESPN Films **[ Tom Picard](https://www.espn.com/) ** Production Manager ESPN Films **[ Jennifer Thorpe](https://www.espn.com/) ** Production Manager ESPN Films **[ Kati Fernandez](https://www.espn.com/) ** Development ESPN Films **[ Andrea Gomez Carillo](https://www.espn.com/) ** Development ESPN Films **[ Ben Meyers](https://www.espn.com/) ** Development ESPN Films **[ Cynthia Paribello](https://www.espn.com/) ** Development ESPN Films #### INSPIRED TO ENTER WORK? Entries to the 9th Hashtag Sports Awards will open in October 2026. Sign up below for announcements, case studies, podcasts, and the prestigious shortlist of nominations. [![GET ALERTS](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/834568/interactive-214928231544.png) ](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLI4LRFm9%2BvL%2ByP6tdVf3xSN2BPtoWhWif0W3NW1w2aeP%2FQ9PmSvqQ5GnW2MqSW9Ewo8Q55dJ%2FWLsM5H3OUfzFB9N3TedsbTQAnJm6apWoae%2BsmwB6sHXVEfLxF0uNx3qWhJQrZtpdUwcw81KPe81juWtFcNNT3pIBrO7JJZU6rg695BJUuENa0UEHT%2FsR05qrLpcyw2gnMW&webInteractiveContentId=214928231544&portalId=834568&hsLang=en) × HASHTAG SPORTS AWARDS VOTE FOR THE BEST IN SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT ## Almost there! One more step and you're on the way to casting your votes. SIGN UP TO VOTE