Sporting Narratives is GamblingTV’s opportunity to explore a time when a gripping tale from the sporting world was portrayed through the unmistakable medium of cinema.
This edition looks at Netflix’s documentary, which tells the story of Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja as he takes on the incredible feat of summiting all 14 of the world’s 8000-metre peaks in seven months.
Over a dramatic 100 minutes of viewing, the documentary combines footage of his awe-inspiring conquest, with a character profile of the humble Nepalese mountaineer, whose endearing personality increases the will of the viewer when it comes to urging him on in his challenge.
The story of ‘Nims’ provides inspiration for all viewers, sports fans or not, with clutching onto faith, even in the face of the most adverse situations, as he looks to elevate the mindset of those around him and continue to pursue his ambitions.
Embodying the mental strength and fortitude of Purja, he encounters one of his toughest challenges in the final few steps of his feat, as he is forced to overcome a regulatory hurdle before he can tackle a mountain in China.
Although Nims steals the show, the comradery between himself and a rotating team of mountaineers adds to the excitement in the programme, as they are all forced to dig to a level mentally that they never knew they had and achieve what at one point seemed impossible.