Stolen 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.

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.

Organizations

• ESPN Films
• UnTypical

Credits

Suemay Oram
Director
ESPN Films

Santi Aguado
Producer
ESPN Films

Tom Keeling
Executive Producer
ESPN Films

Danny Gabai
Executive Producer
ESPN Films

Ade Adepitan
Executive Producer
ESPN Films

Heather Anderson
Executive Producer
ESPN Films

Marsha Cooke
Executive Producer
ESPN Films

Brian Lockhart
Executive Producer
ESPN Films

Burke Magnus
Executive Producer
ESPN Films

Gentry Kirby
Producer
ESPN Films

Patrick Smith
Director of Photography
ESPN Films

Tom Khan
Editor
ESPN Films

Rosie Taylor
Head of Production
ESPN Films

Marquis Daisy
Senior Producer
ESPN Films

Carolyn Hepburn
Producer
ESPN Films

Tara Nadolny
Producer
ESPN Film

Adam Neuhaus
Producer
ESPN Films

Catherine Sankey
Line Producer
ESPN Films

Trevor Gill
Associate Producer
ESPN Films

Gus Navarro
Associate Producer
ESPN Films

Isabella Seman
Associate Producer
ESPN Films

Maria Delgado
Production Manager
ESPN Films

Tom Picard
Production Manager
ESPN Films

Jennifer Thorpe
Production Manager
ESPN Films

Kati Fernandez
Development
ESPN Films

Andrea Gomez Carillo
Development
ESPN Films

Ben Meyers
Development
ESPN Films

Cynthia Paribello
Development
ESPN Films