Reflection On "Running Brave" Film, Inspired On Billy Mills Story

“Running Brave” is a film inspired in Native American runner and Olympic gold medalist, Billy Mills. He has completed one of the biggest feats in Olympics history. A comeback victory on the final race of 10,000 meters of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics to win the gold medal for his country, USA. During his journey to becoming an American hero on sports he faced a lot of discrimination and problems adapting to a new culture. Billy made a jump from a South Dakota Native America tribe, to the University of Kansas, one of the best college’s on sports in the whole United States.

In his internal journey the viewer can see how Billy Mills faced discrimination when he entered to the Kansas University. Even the same team discriminated him after every victory when they asked him if “the victory was for the team or for the tribe”. His way of feeling free and release all of his stress and tension was running. One of his motivations to become a great runner was his father, who after participated on clandestine boxing matches trying to raise money died. He grew up with the absence of his father, so he needed to make thing on his own and became a mature person.

At his external journey the viewer can he what he faced since high school until his Olympic run. First his college coach wasn’t sure if Billy was worthy of a scholarship on Kansas University because he already had experiences with Native American runners who he described as “undisciplined”. Already at college Billy had to adapt to a different culture from his tribe, how to act, how to dress, how to eat and his manners. Also he faced another difficulty which didn’t stop him in his journey to fulfill his dreams. He wasn’t recruited on the USA Olympic team, but that didn’t and he made the tryout again got recruited on his second time. Regardless of what he faced and all the obstacles that were in his way, he overcome his difficulties and became one of the best athletes in North America Olympic history.