– Amazon Prime Video announced today at the Prime Video Presents event in Sydney, Head Above Water an orginal Docu series coming next month.
The four-part docuseries that follows elite Australian swimmers Ian Thorpe AM, Bronte Campbell OAM and Kyle Chalmers OAM, as well as former-junior champion-turned-international-musician, Cody Simpson in the lead up to the games in July.
The series explores how these incredible athletes deal with pressure in and out of the pool and reveals what drives their determination to succeed through personal sacrifice, and grueling training sessions as they vie for a place on the Australian Swimming Team, ahead of the upcoming Games in July. Ian Thorpe shares his before, during and after journey as an Olympian; Bronte Campbell and Kyle Chalmers hone their skills in a bid to once more represent their country; and Cody Simpson puts his successful music career on hold to return to his first love – competitive swimming.
“Head Above Water gives an intimate and exclusive insight into the world of elite athletes and we are pleased to be adding another Australian Amazon Original sports documentary to our growing lineup for Prime members in Australia and around the world,” said Tyler Bern, Head of Content, Prime Video Australia. “Sport attracts passionate fan-bases globally who we know are all keen to see what drives these world-class swimmers. It’s a privilege to share with our customers the profound and deeply personal stories of Ian, Bronte, Kyle, and Cody as they strive to represent their country at the highest level.”
Executive Producer of the series and CEO of McAvoy Media, John McAvoy said: “With an eye to this year’s Games and the disruption that COVID-19 has played during everyone’s preparations, McAvoy Media has been developing this original story with Swimming Australia and Amazon Studios for the past 12 months. The series provides a unique look at what it takes to be an Olympic Champion told through the experiences of Australian swimming royalty. Our goal was to create an access-all-areas docuseries to tell these Australian swimming superstars’ untold stories, and to their credit that is exactly what we got. Amazon Prime Video’s ability to tell stories and take sports fans behind the curtain makes us proud to showcase this iconic Australian sport to swimming fans internationally.”
With unrivalled access Head Above Water details the personal journeys of four athletes through the stages of an Olympic career; for Bronte and Kyle, as they prepare to qualify for the team to represent Australia this July, for Cody, as he focuses on his four-year plan to reach the next Games and for Ian, as he looks back on his phenomenal swimming career, the challenges adjusting to life outside of the pool and what the future now holds.
“It’s been a real pleasure to extend my relationship with Amazon Prime Video and tell another set of compelling, personal stories about athletes at the pinnacle of their careers.” Director Gil Marsden (Amazon Prime Video’s Making Their Mark, Gymkhana Files) said, “Swimming is everywhere in Australia, and every four years the eyes of the nation are on these incredible individuals – how they manage the pressure, the expectation, and the attention that comes from such a global platform continues to inspire me. Bronte, Kyle, Cody and Ian are incredibly honest and candid and we cannot wait to share their stories with the world.”
Kieren Perkins, Swimming Australia President adds: “Swimming Australia is thrilled to be bringing Head Above Water to Prime Video, which is also our broadcasting partner for the upcoming 2021 Australian Swimming Trials. This partnership with Prime Video is truly bringing the Australian sport to a global audience for the first time.”
Head Above Water will launch on June 4 on Amazon Prime Video
