Carl Lewis has led an extraordinary life and now the legendary athlete is the subject of a new documentary.
I’M CARL LEWIS! unpacks the story behind the nine-time Olympic gold medallist, who fought to revolutionise his sport and inspire change on and off the field.
The documentary weaves in recent interviews with Lewis, Nike founder Phil Knight, longtime coach Tom Tellez, late-career rival Mike Powell, Grammy and Emmy-winning music producer Narada Michael Walden, and more.
I’M CARL LEWIS! also shows stunning archive footage to offer an unfiltered look at an icon who broke records, defied norms, and was named “Sportsman of the Century” by the International Olympic Committee in 1999.
Lewis first burst onto the global stage at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, where he emulated the great Jesse Owens by winning the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay.
The American went on to defend his long jump title at the next three Olympic Games, while he was also part of the infamous Seoul 1988 100m race – where he was eventually awarded gold.
Throughout his career, Lewis faced constant scrutiny, and his quotes were often misconstrued, while his empowering approach to identity and race was frequently unwelcomed.
I’M CARL LEWIS! therefore gives Lewis space to unpack his own story, balancing the triumphs and controversies to tell it how it was.
The film aims to cut through the preconceptions and rumours to set the record straight, doing so in a style that reflects Lewis – bold, loud, unapologetic.
The movie is available to watch on Olympics.com and the Olympics app in the United States and Japan only, from 10 September 2025.