Broken Kids

The untold story of yong athletes

  • Author

    Pierre-Emmanuel Luneau-Daurignac

  • Production

    Cinétévé

  • Coproduction

    A co-production
    CINÉTÉVÉ
    Fabienne Servan Schreiber & Estelle Mauriac
    and ARTE France
    Society and Culture Unit: Fabrice Puchault & Anne Grolleron Programme Manager: Alexandre Marionneau
    With the support of PROCIREP - Société des Producteurs and ANGOA, and with the participation of Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, SVT - Commissioning Editor Asta Dalman, RTBF - Unité documentaires, Radiotelevisión Española, ASHARQ News Services, TÉLÉ-QUÉBEC, HOT8, TG4 - Commissioning Editor Deirbhile Ní Churraighín, RTS Radio Télévision Suisse, and PUBLIC SENAT.

  • Broadcaster

    ARTE

Synopsis

They are our future gymnasts, swimmers, figure skaters, hockey, tennis or football players… yet their childhoods are sacrificed in pursuit of elite-level sports. Children as young as 10 years old already suffer from recurring injuries, burnout, or eating disorders. Despite the initial outcry against the harsh training regimes in the Eastern Bloc some forty years ago, high-performance sports institutions have failed to learn from past mistakes. Instead, taking advantage of the lack of specific legal protections, the Western world appears to have not only perpetuated but also refined these practices. This eye-opening international investigation sheds light on the widespread adoption of inhumane training methods in high-level sports, with children bearing the heavy toll of our relentless pursuit of medals.

    • Distributor

      Cinétévé Sales

    • Technical team

      Director: Pierre-Emmanuel Luneau-Daurignac
      Producers Cinétévé: Fabienne Servan Schreiber & Estelle Mauriac
      Producers ARTE France: Fabrice Puchault & Anne Grolleron

      Contributors to the investigation and development : Anne Richard
      Additional research Germany and Switzerland: Magalie Mignot
      Development officer: Flore de Fontainieu
      Programme officer: Alexandre Marionneau
      Assistante éditoriale : Clara Picarles
      Assistante éditoriale : Clara Picarles
      Editorial assistant: Clara Picarles
      Production Manager: Gaëlle Cottais
      Production manager: Nicolas Jacquot
      Production Assistant: Morgane Dalléry
      Administrator: Béatrice Arnaud
      Press officer: Michaël Morlon

    • Cast

      Original score : Jennifer Eliz Hutt Editing : Cédric Harrang
      Additional editing : Annabelle Pierron, Théo Lefebvre Commentary by : Léonie Simaga
      Cinematography: Julien Mauranne
      Additional images: Léo Scomorovschi , Benoit Grimont, Vincent Kelner, Chris Kimling, Henry Marquis, Anatole Toulouzan
      Sound: Thorsten Bolzé, Liew Ceng Teng, Igor Marlot, Damien Perrollaz, Grant Studart, Alexander Theodossiadis