Synopsis
At the age of 20, Hungarian national swimming champion Laura Ilyés (23) is banned from competition after WADA accuses her of using a performance-impairing substance. She misses the 2024 Olympics and is forced to stay away from the sport during a long legal battle. Though eventually acquitted as the accusations are proven to be caused by a gynecological condition previously unaccounted for the damage is already done. Laura falls into depression, isolated from the sport that once defined her identity.
Determined to take back control of her life, Laura puts her medical studies on hold and begins training again. With the support of her mother, Ildikó (53), she returns to competing and wins gold at the 2024 National Championships reclaiming her place in the pool but missing qualifications for the World Championship by only a second. Undeterred from her goal, she competes throughout 2025 to secure a spot and fulfill her childhood dream.Through the ups and downs of her comeback, Laura is ultimately a young woman. Through breakups, mental health struggles and balancing being a pro-athlete and a medical student, Laura realises that what she always wanted was closer than she thought. Peace does not come from external validation, but from the belief that she is good enough and that she is - and always was - a swimmer.
Determined to take back control of her life, Laura puts her medical studies on hold and begins training again. With the support of her mother, Ildikó (53), she returns to competing and wins gold at the 2024 National Championships reclaiming her place in the pool but missing qualifications for the World Championship by only a second. Undeterred from her goal, she competes throughout 2025 to secure a spot and fulfill her childhood dream.Through the ups and downs of her comeback, Laura is ultimately a young woman. Through breakups, mental health struggles and balancing being a pro-athlete and a medical student, Laura realises that what she always wanted was closer than she thought. Peace does not come from external validation, but from the belief that she is good enough and that she is - and always was - a swimmer.
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