Refugee Runner Dominic Lobalu Chases His Olympic Dream in On’s New Short Film
As the world anticipates the legendary men’s 5,000m race at the Olympic Games in Paris on 10 August, Swiss sportswear brand On is launching To Chase a Dream - the final episode of On’s Olympic short film trilogy Dream Together. The nine-minute film follows Dominic Lobalu’s inspiring and emotional journey as an orphaned refugee escaping the war-torn region of South Sudan, to a Gold medal at the European Championships in Rome.
To Chase a Dream picks up the action from The Right to Race - On’s critically-acclaimed 2023 documentary which premiered at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2023. The new film captures Lobalu’s perseverance and resilience through a fresh lens and a different perspective. Under the sensitive direction of J.M. Harper and Hector Aponysus, the narrative showcases the world-class runner’s relentless pursuit of his dream, as well as the depth of support he has found with his team and the people in Switzerland.
After competing as an athlete with the Olympic Refugee team, Lobalu sought asylum in Switzerland, which ironically made him a ‘stateless athlete’ and prevented him from competing with either the Refugee team or the Swiss team. Lobalu’s running career had reached an impasse. To Chase a Dream charts an exciting development that ultimately led to him racing for his adopted nation at the European Athletics Championships in Rome. Lobalu did his adopted country and the sports community proud by claiming the title of 10,000m European Champion on his very first attempt.
Dominic Lobalu said, “The people here (in Switzerland) have so much love for me, even though what I am doing is too little to deserve their love for a stranger like me. When I am here, I feel like I am in my homeland and it’s a place I call home. Now, I feel like I want to do more and more and more. I want to go for the big medals.”
Shot on location in Lobalu’s hometown of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and in Rome, the film chronicles the developments, setbacks, and ultimate climax of his story through a mix of personal and professional moments. The directors mix archive and live competition footage with intimate interviews to capture Lobalu’s ambition, drive, charm, and humility as he approaches the pinnacle of his sporting dreams - competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
On Film & Documentary Lead Gessica Giulini, said, “As an On athlete, we've been deeply connected to Dominic's journey since 2017. It’s been an honour to stand by his side, documenting the evolution of his inspiring story. After the release of the documentary ‘The Right to Race’ which features Dominic as the main protagonist, we remained closely connected, hoping to see his dream come true—and so it was. His journey, culminating in competing and winning on the world’s grandest athletic stages, proves that anything is possible when you dream together.”
J.M. Harper, director, said, “It’s no secret that Dominic’s backstory has been covered in the previous 30-minute documentary ‘The Right to Race’. Profiling the same character again required that we approach with a fresh context, visual approach and thematic takeaway. The story vividly illustrates how being a top runner represents not just a competitive achievement, but also a deeply personal story of resilience and the support of many. We were aiming to reveal the layers of Dominic and his team’s collective dream as his story continues to evolve and his dreams come within reach.”
As the concluding episode in On’s Dream Together series - which champions the power of collective dreams in the sports arena - To Chase a Dream follows two previous films, also directed by Harper: Beyond Number One, in which viewers are invited into the world of 22-year-old Polish tennis sensation and World No.1 Iga Swiatek, and The Heart to Race, which explores the bond between OAC teammates, Kenyan runner Hellen Obiri and Italian Sinta Vissa.
