MONACO: Monaco pulsed with sporting glamour on 20 October as the 36th Sportel Awards crowned this year’s finest films at the Grimaldi Forum. Two Olympic Channel productions—Personal Best and I’m Carl Lewis—walked away with coveted golden podiums, the ultimate accolade in sports broadcasting.
Personal Best, a South African production by Anant Singh, claimed best thematic documentary. The film shadows eight athletes through their Olympic Games Paris 2024 journey, offering a raw glimpse into medal-chasing drama. I’m Carl Lewis, produced by Noah Media Group for Olympic Channel, secured best biopic honours. The British production explores the uncompromising life of the nine-time Olympic champion whom the International Olympic Committee declared “Sportsman of the Century” in 1999.
Prince Albert II presided over the ceremony, broadcast live on TV Monaco, before a packed Salle Prince Pierre. The prince personally handed athletics legend Marie-José Perec the autobiography award for her book Ma Vie Olympique, whilst motor racing icon Jacky Ickx received the lifetime sport achievement award.
Other winners included NBC Sports, which took best slow motion for Ilia Malinin: Relatable Awe, and Welcome to Wrexham, which won best docu-series. France’s Comme tout le monde claimed best report, whilst Canal+’s La Quête secured best advertising. ESPN Deportes’ Las Amazonas de Yaxunah won the Peace and Sport documentary prize.
Tennis star Henri Leconte presided over a jury featuring handball champion Allison Pineau, cyclist Masomah Ali Zada and footballer Lonsana Doumbouya. Marine Picoulet, executive director of Sportel Awards, called the 2025 edition “one of the most powerful and inspiring” yet.
Both winning Olympic films are currently streaming free on Olympics.com—territorial restrictions permitting. For once, the podium finish comes without the sweat.
GOLDEN PODIUMS
Best Slow Motion Georges Bertellotti
Supported by Comité National Olympique et Sportif Français
Ilia Malinin: Relatable Awe
Eric Hamilton, Max Rahamin, Ryan Yeager, Eric Girgash, Sam Tydings, Jack Felling – NBC Sports
USA
Best Thematic Documentary
Supported by TVMONACO
Personal Best
Ady Walter & Amal Doghmi – Videovision Entertainment – Distant Horizon
South Africa
Best Report
Supported by
Comme tout le monde
Pierre-Etienne Léonard et Mohammed Khouadja – WAA ULTRA
France
Best Biopic
Supported by
I’m Carl Lewis!
Julie Anderson & Chris Hay – Noah Media Group for Olympic Channel
United Kingdom
Best Docu-Series
Supported by Les Barbagiuans de Monaco
Welcome to Wrexham
Bryan Rowland, Josh Drisko and Jeff Luni – NEO Studios / Boardwalk Pictures
United Kingdom
Best Advertising – Christian Blachas
Supported by A.S.Monaco Basket-Roca Team
La Quête
Sébastien Bovier – CANAL+
France
Jury Special Prize
Laure ! Laure ! Laure !
Guillaume Priou & Laurie Delhostal – CHENGYU
France
SPECIAL PRIZES
Peace and Sport Documentary Prize
Las Amazonas De Yaxunah
Alfonso Algara – ESPN Deportes
USA
Sports book Prize Renaud de Laborderie
Supported by Comité Olympique Monégasque
Rainer W. Schlegelmilch – Porsche racing moments
Switzerland