THE STORY –In track and field, he’s remembered as The Greatest. Athletics’ first commercially global star. Away from the spotlight, his is a life often misunderstood. Carl Lewis did it his own way – unwilling to conform to what the US expected from its athletes. Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals across four Games and was voted “Sportsman of the Century” by the International Olympic Committee. Yet he refused to be pigeonholed and, in doing so, he inspired change on and off the field. “I’m Carl Lewis!” delves into the consequences of his uncompromising drive.
THE CAST – Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell, Zina Garrison, Brad Hunt, Phil Knight, Cleve Lewis, Carol Lewis, Mike Powell, Tom Tellez & Narada Michael Walden
THE TEAM – Julie Anderson & Chris Hay (Directors/Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 97 Minutes
Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis played by his own rules. He was considered the greatest track and field athlete of his time. Off the track, he was one of the most misunderstood figures in sports history. Lewis was not humble to sports writers, nor did he adhere to what the American press and general public expected of an athlete in the 1980s. He refused to follow the “amateurism” of sports, wherein an athlete wins a prize, goes home, and never advances beyond a title. Lewis’s ambition was criticized as “cocky” and “arrogant” (which would be considered confident and bold by today’s standards), and his resistance to gender stereotypes led to numerous critiques about his sexuality. Chris Hay and Julie Anderson’s engaging documentary “I’m Carl Lewis!” takes us through the defining years of an icon’s public life. While we still may not fully know who Lewis is because there are reservations about exploring more of his personality, we get an insightful portrait of how feeding into a narrative can impact an entire legacy. “I’m Carl Lewis!” skillfully reintroduces a unique and misunderstood voice to a new generation.
Hay and Anderson establish their storytelling focus from the beginning. They set the scene with archival footage from the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where the crowd anticipated that Carl Lewis would win four Olympic gold medals. Coached by the scientific methods of Tom Tellez, Lewis set a goal to match the athletic achievements of Olympian athlete Jesse Owens. At the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Owens won four gold medals in 100 meters, long jump, 200 meters, and the 4 by 100-meter relay. Lewis entered the 1984 Olympics with the perceived image as “the new Jesse Owens,” destined for the legacy of an invincible champion. It would be the ultimate story and give Lewis a chance to redefine history. Lewis showed such impressive skill that he won the long jump medal with his opening effort and decided to pass his four additional rounds, a decision that would spark the beginning of a backlash.
The documentary includes archival footage of Sports Illustrated writer Frank Deford stating, “[Lewis] exploited us,” which fed into a growing consensus that Lewis “did not appreciate” having a world stage. Knight Ridder newspaper journalist Bob Rubin wrote in a column, “There’s nothing heroic about taking a pass.” Lewis’s glowing Olympic record quickly became overshadowed by a calculated negative narrative. Former track and field athlete Mike Powell, one of the documentary’s consistent interviewees, eagerly helps reshape a lot of misconceptions and adds cultural context. As Powell points out, at a time when Michael Jordan’s NBA career skyrocketed and the phrase “Be Like Mike” caught on, “nobody wanted to be like Carl Lewis.” Meanwhile, Lewis remained who he was and wanted to redefine who an athlete could be.
What makes “I’m Carl Lewis!” stand out is an impactful mix of archival and present-day footage, speaking to the power of a controlled narrative. Hay and Anderson’s chronological approach falls into the trappings of a typical documentary structure. However, the filmmakers allow Lewis’s voice to steer the conversation and let his dynamic candor reverberate through the other featured interview subjects. One of the most notable is Nike co-founder Phil Knight (not one for making public appearances), who built Nike around the same time Lewis rose to athletic stardom. The overall selection of interviewees leads to some engaging conversations not just about Lewis’s abilities but also about how his legacy was being unfairly defined before their eyes. From examining his public perception and taking a glimpse into his brief music career (inspired by Michael Jackson and Prince) to stressing his advocacy for drug testing in sports and approaching the subject of his masculinity, numerous topics make for compelling storytelling here.
There is an unwavering focus on how Lewis’s success was perceived, who his competitors were, how he had the foresight to spark change, and what this all meant for his professional legacy. Lewis does not delve into much detail about his personal life, nor does the documentary press for a more candid perspective beyond a few family appearances that speak to how he was raised to use his voice. The family keeps the conversation focused on athleticism; his sister (and Olympic long jumper) Carol Lewis adds insight into just how mentally ready Carl was from a young age; by the time his body grew into his desire, it was “bang, zoom, off to the races.” There are also a lot of intriguing discussions on identity and self-expression, showing how ahead of his time Lewis was in the 80s. As friend Keith Boykin comments, Black men were expected to act in a “traditional hyper-masculine” way, and Lewis operated in an ambiguous space. More insight could’ve been given into Lewis’s impact on opening doors for athletes’ expression. The documentary shows some limitations in its storytelling by featuring powerful images (for example, Lewis’s red stiletto Pirelli campaign) while skimming through conversations around them.
Overall, the piecing together of this documentary benefits from the gift of time. Much of Carl Lewis’s impact, inspiration, and actions can be explored more clearly in retrospect, and his incredible talent can be better appreciated. The documentary rightfully reshapes Lewis’s iconic story and gives credit where due, using his candor to narrate uncompromising ambition. Additionally, “I’m Carl Lewis!” interrogates just how influential the media can be when deliberately and/or ignorantly feeding into a specific narrative. One of the most resonant elements the film leaves you with is the importance of safe and welcoming spaces, and by its very existence, the documentary helps provide some of that space for Lewis to tell his story.
