Sportswear Brand On Inspires Sports Stars to ‘Dream Together’ in Short Film Series

Ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, Swiss sportswear brand On is launching the first of an inspiring three-part short film series, Dream Together, showcasing the unique situations, struggles and paths of On athletes united by the power of collective dreams. Featuring tennis World No. 1 Iga Świątek and running stars Dominic Lobalu, Sintayehu Vissa and Hellen Obiri, the trio of films shine a light on how the ‘teams behind the dreams’ have helped each aspiring Olympian in different ways on the road to the biggest sports stage in the world.

The film series continues On’s unconventional approach to sports documentaries with a character-driven and unique cinematic point-of-view. Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker J. M. Harper in collaboration with London-based director Hector Aponysus, and in association with Park Pictures, each episode of Dream Together centres on a different On athlete and a truth about dreams embodied in their individual journey. The short films also collectively serve as chapters within a broader narrative and message: when dreams are shared, achievements exceed individual efforts. The film series also introduces a new tagline ‘Dream Together’, which will be specifically used around the 2024 Olympics.

In the first film, viewers are invited into the world of 22-year-old Polish tennis sensation and World No.1 Iga Swiatek, while the second episode spotlights the special relationship between Kenyan runner Hellen Obiri and Italian Sinta Vissa as they train together in Boulder, Colorado, as part of the On Athletics Club team. The final film continues the inspiring story of Dominic Lobalu, a refugee turned top-tier runner, whose remarkable journey was first revealed in On’s much-lauded 2023 film The Right to Race, which premiered at Cannes Lions last year. 

On worked with Academy Award-winning production house Park Pictures to bring its vision to life. Shot in Colorado, Palm Springs, Warsaw, and Switzerland’s St. Gallen, the series intercuts personal archival and live competition footage with intimate interviews and human moments to create a transcendent, impressionistic style. Known for compelling storytelling and his character-driven approach to filmmaking, 2022 Emmy Award nominee Harper put his experience with projects distributed on all major streaming platforms to use to craft a unique cinematic point-of-view that breaks the confines of typical sports documentaries.

Launching today, the first episode of the series - titled Beyond Number One - offers a rare glimpse into the world of enigmatic tennis champion Iga Swiatek, shining a light beyond her on-court persona and laser-focused talent. Following the 22-year-old sports star around the world, from Palm Springs, USA to her Warsaw home, the eight-and-a-half-minute short portrays Iga both as a top athlete and as a person, reflecting on the triumphs but also tensions and expectations of being the world's number one. Through intimate interviews with Swiatek and her team - sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz, coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and physiotherapist Maciej Ryszczuk - it highlights the importance of a support system in grounding her amidst the pressures of elite competition as she approaches the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The following two episodes of the series, centring on running stars Dominic Lobalu, Sintayehu Vissa and Hellen Obiri will be released later this summer. 

Iga Swiatek says, “I’d like to inspire the younger generation to believe in themselves and in their dreams while also accepting defeats and vulnerability as part of the process. Making Beyond Number One offered me the chance to speak about this topic and offer fans a deeper insight into my journey to this point. It was a great experience for me and also for my entire team who I loved having together with me.”

J.M. Harper, director, says, “The short films focus on four extraordinary athletes, but they take time to also show the ordinary parts of their humanity that make them relatable. We extracted the captivating narratives of their dreams that transcend boundaries and unite communities and their silent but powerful teams—family, coaches, friends, teammates, and loved ones who collectively dream alongside them. Unfolding not in the glare of live television but in the quieter spaces…the warm-ups, the workouts, the practice…as well as in all of the mundane, human, non-sports moments in between.”

On film and documentary lead, Gessica Giulini, says, "Dream Together is not just a series; it's a celebration of the human spirit and the collective journey towards individual aspirations and ambitions. Transcending conventional heroic athlete stories, the series humanises our athletes and emphasises that we might be powerful alone, but we are unstoppable when we are united. The aim is to inspire everyone to embrace and actively pursue their dreams."

On executive producer, Michael Paul Stephenson, says, “Playing tennis with a pro like Iga fulfilled a lifelong dream! I mean, to hit with the number one player in the world…I’m still smiling! Iga is such a nice human being. She is incredibly kind, articulate, centred, and grounded. I felt the short film 'Beyond Number One' portrayed her wonderfully. I really feel for people who have that kind of pressure on them. She is holding so much but the way she handles it is so poised and graceful. She is astonishing.”