Two fly-on-the-wall documentaries, in partnership with The National Lottery, will provide a unique insight into the journey these athletes take and the sacrifices they make to be able to compete for Olympic or Paralympic gold. The documentaries are produced by Burning Bright Productions, executive produced by Clive Tulloh and directed by Ben Roe.

The first episode follows Tokyo 2020 runner-up Keely Hodgkinson (800m), bronze medallist Josh Kerr (1500m), 2022 world champion Jake Wightman (1500m) and 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Morgan Lake (high jump), all of whom have dreams of becoming Olympic champions in athletics. 

Double Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock (100m), seven-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m), 2021 European Para Athletics champion Zak Skinner (long jump), former Wales basketball international Funmi Oduwaiye,  who took up Para-athletics following knee surgery that went wrong (shot put & discus) and 2018 European champion Nathan Maguire (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m) will be the heroes of the second episode. 

The series will explore what it takes to be a professional athlete on the road to the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Each athlete has a unique story to tell, and the series will follow their gruelling training sessions, championship battles and the challenge of trying to qualify for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

"We're used to seeing the end product, but now we'll be able to give Channel 4 viewers a real sense of the sweat and sacrifice it takes to succeed at the elite level of athletics - whether disabled or able-bodied. It's one of a number of insightful pieces of content we have in the lead up to the Paris 2024 Paralympics," said Joe Blake-Turner, Channel 4's commissioning editor for sport. 

According to Keely Hodgkinson, being part of this documentary will give people an insight into how we train on a daily basis in the lead up to a major competition. "To be able to compete at the Olympics and represent your country is such a special feeling, but people watching on TV at home never get to see what it takes to get to the starting line," said the 800m star.

"National Lottery players have transformed athletics and Para-athletics in the UK, but you don't often see how that investment enables us to win. You don't see the hours in the gym, the time spent with physiotherapists, nutritionists, strength and conditioning, and our coaches working through our training plans. None of it would be possible without that investment," said Hodgkinson. 

"The documentary will show the highs and the lows of our athletes as they strive to be the best at this summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games. Allowing National Lottery players and fans to go behind the scenes will make them that much prouder when our athletes compete in Paris," concluded Jack Buckner, CEO of British Athletics.