No live sport, but still need your daily sporting fix? You might take to YouTube to watch some of the greatest sporting moments in history or listen to one of the many sports podcasts past or present – both good options, of course! But our top tip is to take a look at this run-down of some of the greatest sporting documentaries of the last few years (all available through streaming platforms), then sit back and enjoy!
The Last Dance
If you haven’t seen this yet, then you really should! This docuseries gives a true insight into basketball legend, Michael Jordan’s career and the 1990s Chicago Bulls legacy. Packed with unaired footage from the 1997-98 season and starring Jordan himself alongside other basketball stars such as Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen, this is one behind-the-scenes look you won’t want to miss.
Watch now: Netflix
Losers!
In sport, winning is everything, but how do we handle losing? This 8-part documentary profiles athletes who have used the heartbreak of defeat to come back stronger than before. With just over 4-hours of episodes to watch, this is the perfect binge for a rainy afternoon.
Watch now: Netflix
This Is Football
This six-part documentary takes a look at football around the world and the extraordinary power that it has to unite nations and inspire generations! From the streets of Delhi to world-class stadiums, this docu-series explores why this sport is so loved by billions around the world.
Watch now: Amazon Prime
F1: Drive to Survive
Season 2 is now available on Netflix, and looks back at the 2019 F1 season. If you haven’t seen Season 1 yet then you’ve got 20 episodes of pure F1 to catch up on.
Watch now: Netflix
All or nothing: Manchester City
Go behind-the-scenes of Manchester City during their Premier League winning, record-breaking 2017/18 season under new manager, Pep Guardiola . Get an insight into players’ lives both on and off the pitch and enjoy never-before-seen footage direct from the dressing room of the Ethiad Stadium.
Watch now: Amazon Prime
Cheer!
Whilst some people don’t see cheerleading as a sport, we challenge you to not see the cheer squad of Navarro College as thorough-bred athletes after you’ve watched this six-part series. It follows the ups and downs of one of the best college cheer squads in the USA as the team work to win another national title.
Watch now: Netflix
Andy Murray: Resurfacing
What does it take to come back from a career-threatening injury? You can find out as you get an all-access account of British Tennis Superstar Andy Murray’s rehab journey between 2017 and 2019, from injury to stepping back onto the court.
Watch now: Amazon Prime
The English Game
Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, looks as far back as 1879, at the invention of football, charting its growth as it rose to become the world’s game by crossing class divides.
Watching now: Netflix
Shame in the game: racism in football
This BBC documentary shows the impact that racist abuse in football can have on players and their families and poses the poignant question: how can we stop racism in football?
Watch now: BBC iPlayer
Last Chance U
There’s high drama and emotions both on and off the pitch as elite athletes with turbulent pasts use junior college football to turn their lives around with the help of Coach Brown. A terrific watch even for non-American football fans.
Watch now: Netflix
Icarus
If you haven’t seen this documentary from 2017 yet, then now is the time! This Oscar-winning 2-hour film, follows filmmaker Bryan Fogel, as he sets out to uncover the effects of doping in sport, but is quickly plunged into a mass doping scandal.
Watch now: Netflix
This is just a few of the fantastic sporting documentaries out there on streaming platforms at the moment, hopefully there are enough to get you started!
What’s your favourite sports docu-series? Share it with us on Twitter or Facebook.