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Olympic Dreamsby Xavier Alford - BBC producer (U10638185) 14 December 2007   For the last five months, I've been working as a producer on a new series called Olympic Dreams for the BBC. BMX is debuting as an Olympic Sport and Shanaze has a real chance of winning goldXav Alford Tom started diving when he was eight, and once he overcame the fear of diving off a 10m board and hitting the water at 35 mph, his progress was astounding. He's so good that this year he was asked to compete in the World Series in Sheffield against the best divers in the world. With help from his lucky monkey, which sits by the pool whenever he dives, he handled the pressure like a seasoned pro. Amazingly, he finished within five points of the Russian world champion. His progress over the next five years will be fascinating to see. All sorts of things can happen during the teenage years but, with luck, Tom will be able to keep on improving. The first time I met Shanaze Reade, I asked her what sort of tricks she does on her BMX. This was a bad start. In her own words: "BMX is not about tricks. It's a race. You leave the start gate, you go round a track with jumps and turns, and the first one across the line is the winner." BMX is debuting as an Olympic Sport in Beijing next year, and Shanaze has a real chance of winning her first gold medal at these Games. Shanaze says she is just "the kid from Crewe that rides the BMX", but this does not do her justice. She is a phenomenal athlete. While filming Shanaze in a punishing weight session, I asked her what weight was on the bar she was lifting. She asked how much I weigh, and she said "one of you on each end". Jess was always chatty and cheerful but when I filmed her at the English Nationals, I saw her winning mind kick inXav Alford Another time I turned up to film her training, expecting the state-of-the-art training methods associated with track cycling, I was amazed to find her bombing around the streets of Crewe, using speed bumps to practise jumps and quiet streets to practise sprints. It was like a scene out of Rocky, complete with local kids coming out on their bikes to try and keep up. I filmed heptathlete Jess Ennis throughout the year in Sheffield, where she lives and trains. It was an exciting year for her. She became British champion in the 100m hurdles and high jump, and competed in her first World Championships in Osaka. Jess competes in seven events, and this carries seven times the risk of injury. I learnt how crucial her regular MOTs with the physio are. Any niggle or twinge had to be dealt with immediately. If she felt some tightness in her leg on a Saturday, the physio would be available to see her on the Sunday to sort it out. The most extraordinary thing I noticed about Jess was the transformation in her before a competition. Jess was always chatty and cheerful but when I filmed her at the English Nationals, I saw her winning mind kick in. She went very quiet and very, very focused. Between now and 2012, the BBC's Olympic Dreams production team will follow the highs and lows of Britain's hopefuls all the way to London 2012. And my dream is to film them every step of the way to the Olympic podium. If you have any questions for me about the series, post them here and I will do my best to answer some of them. The first series of Olympic Dreams will run from Monday 17 to Friday 21 December on BBC2, 14:00-14:45 GMT. Latest 10 commentsRead members' comments or add your own
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dmac76 (U10702597) posted Dec 21, 2007 Excellent programme - fantastic young athletes.
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Paralympicdreamer (U10702671) posted Dec 21, 2007 Couldn't agree more - PLEASE repeat this series at a time when the students I teach and the players I coach can watch it! Or is there any way I can get a copy of the series to use in PE teaching and coaching?
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TheNewBushReport (U10282408) posted Dec 21, 2007 Following on from my comment about Olympic Dreams being at the wrong time and Strictly Come Dancing coming to the end of its series. I've noticed in the past few years, that after all the build up leading to the final and then the final itself, at the start of the new year I've been feeling lost without my nightly helping of Stictly 2 on BBC2, then the main events on a Saturday and Sunday. I'm sure Olympic Dreams would more than make up for loss of Strictly and would become as poplular as Strictly. Providing its screened at about the same time and instead of the BBC2 Strictly update, which is 6.30 pm in the evening. Or make it an hour long program and start it at 6 pm. I fear with so many different sports to cover, more presenters would be needed as with my earlier suggestion regarding ex Olympic winners taking part. You have the makings of another major hit on your hands BBC, don't throw it away.
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Droitrob (U8543613) posted Dec 22, 2007 There you have it BBC, a lot of comments all of the same general concensus. Repeat it ay a better time, i'm convinced the viewing figures would justify it. It was also help with the negativity surrounding 2012 amd also help get people behind the 2008 team.
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puydedome (U1988656) posted Dec 22, 2007 That's right Beeb. We need more aspirational TV for kids. Junior Mastermind last night was a step in the right direction intellectually. Now we need some physical/sporting equivalent.
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coolDougs (U10717172) posted Dec 23, 2007 I too thought the program was great. I would agree with the comments already made by others but there are a few more points I'd like to raise.
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WORTHSTER (U10379110) posted Jan 8, 2008 Superb programme - excellent
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magum_force (U12678320)
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cleverPhilGriff (U12682727) posted Jul 17, 2008 Please , Please, Please, put this series on iplayer so that young inspiring sports boys and girls can see it. A 10.35 pm start is far too late! Come on Beeb do your bit to help stimulate our girls and boys for 2012.
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hakluytbean (U3482470) posted Aug 12, 2008 No Listen Again for this programme? I keep catching snippets, never the whole thing. It doesn't seem to be available on the iPLayer, which is a pity with the Olympics on at the moment! Comment on this article
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