We have some trailer news and release news for you today for the intimate new documentary Ona Carbonell: Starting Over which follows the Spanish synchronized swimming Olympic medallist, from the birth of her son, to her return to elite competition, revealing the challenges of the balance between family and professional life.
Premium Video-On-Demand platform Rakuten TV, in association with You First Content, ISDIN and Iberdrola has today confirmed that the fly-on-the-wall documentary, Ona Carbonell: Starting Over, will premiere exclusively for free on the platform from 2nd March.
The long-awaited documentary is a personal, first-person reflection on motherhood and the difficult balance between family and the career of an elite athlete. The documentary also shows Carbonell’s return to competition and her preparation for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.
The film follows the champion in her day-to-day life with her intimate story reflecting the reality faced by women all over the world. Motherhood is one of the most transformative and complicated moments for a woman and can be a real challenge for elite sportswomen. The hard training, the long physical and emotional recovery, and the sleepless nights all take their toll on the swimmer as she returns to professional life in the midst of her Olympic career.
The film documents her preparation for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games, her physical and emotional journey with the arrival of her son Kai and the uncertainty of the pandemic in the world of sport.
Ona makes visible the reality of many women, beyond their profession, who search for their identity after the arrival of a child and society’s perception of professional mothers.
“My goal was to return to competition after giving birth, not only as a sporting challenge, but above all as a moral duty. Motherhood is still one of the handicaps that women have in sport and society“, says the swimmer.
Discover the real Ona Carbonell with every challenge as she reveals the roadblocks faced by all women who decide not to give up their professional dreams when they take the step of becoming mothers.
Through personal reflections and some videos recorded by herself, the viewers will be able to see Ona’s sessions with her physical trainer and training sessions at the High Performance Centre, together with her teammates from the Spanish National Artistic Swimming Team. They will also discover her role as an ambassador in sustainability and awareness-raising projects for children. Viewers will also see her more human side, from the conciliation of family life, as well as the meetings with her closest personal circle, where it will be possible to discover some outstanding sports personalities.
This documentary will join other great sports titles available for free on Rakuten Stories, the channel that brings together all of Rakuten TV’s original and exclusive content, featuring stories of optimism and empowerment that reflect the company’s DNA. Some of the highlights include Champions, SEVE, Matchday: Inside FC Barcelona, Made in Senegal, Andrés Iniesta – El Héroe Inesperado, The Secrets of La Roja, Ride Your Dream, Eighteam, and Break Point: A Davis Cup Story.
Rakuten Stories productions are included in the FREE section of the platform and are available exclusively and free of charge at www.rakuten.tv.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
