Regardless, since the games are on, I thought that I'd discuss Chariots Of Fire, which is a historical film about actual events at the 1924 Olympics in Paris. The movie follows, for the most part, the running careers of two British men- Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams.
The film begins in 1978, at Harold Abraham's funeral, then quickly skips back to 1919, when he's entering the University of Cambridge. Also starting at uni is Aubrey Montague, another runner whose reminiscences frame the story.
On one level, Harold Abrahams has the normal university experience- making friends and getting involved in groups like the Gilbert & Sullivan society and the athletics program. There is, however, tension between Abrahams and Cambridge's authorities, which he interprets- at least partially correctly- as anti-Semitism (he's Jewish). Nevertheless, Harold soon becomes one of the brightest stars of the track team, and we see him become the first person to succeed at Cambridge's Trinity Great Court Run. This involves running around the perimeter of the college's courtyard before the clock strikes twelve. Abrahams becomes focused on competitive running, competing in- and winning- various national races. He also manages to find the time to start a romance with Sybil, a soprano in The Mikado... they bond over Gilbert & Sullivan, I guess.