With the 2016 Rio Olympic Games now just over 70 days away, the mainstream media is delving deeper into the lives of potential Olympic athletes we’ll see gracing our TV screens come August. Swimmers are at the forefront of the Olympic marketing machine, as evidenced by the promo commercials we’re now seeing with the likes of Katie Ledecky and Michael Phelps surrounded by Brazilian dancers.
NBC partnered with Fandango recently to bring viewers an “I Love Movies” trio of videos featuring likely Olympic swimmers Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin and Matt Grevers. Within each vignette, the swimmers identify their favorite movie, talk about a memorable scene and line and then creatively point out how the theme of their pet film crosses over into their swimming careers.
Franklin talks about the film “Bend It Like Beckham”, relaying how the main character’s dream of playing football was inspirational, while Grevers walks us through his favorite parts of “Gladiator”. FYI, Grevers gives an impressive “Are you not entertained?” performance.
Leave it to Lochte to give us a pop culture punch with the movie “Belly”, a crime drama from the late 90s featuring rappers Nas and DMX. Of the movie, Lochte says, “It’s straight gangsta, like me.”
All videos are courtesy of NBC Sports.
Love to see Matt be the gladiator again of the 100 back final in Rio . He surely will be neck to neck with Larkin
On Ryan’s bio at USA Swimming he lists his favorite movie as “Up In Smoke”. I would have liked to seen that cited in his video clip.
Matt Grevers can totally play Gladiator if Hollywood is remaking that movie!
but he’d defeat the army in less than 10 minutes and it would be a short movie.
oh yeah he definitely would
Ryan Lochte is adorable and HAAWWTTT! I’m in love.
Missy darl, oftentimes talk less is more.
Sorry but Missy is fine the way she is.