Franz Stampfl: The Man Behind The Miracle Mile (TV Documentary) (in pre-production) in conjunction with Big Cat Productions & Feather Films Written & Directed by Sally McLean Produced by Melanie Brunt, Sally McLean & Jeffery Richards (has already received development funding via the AbaF) Discover the untold, inspirational story of the world-renowned athletics coach, Franz Stampfl - from his training of Roger Bannister to break the elusive four minute mile, to his first squad of Australian track and field athletes - ten of whom would go on to become 1956 Olympians - to his training of over 22,000 champion athletes all around the world ... Written and directed by actress Sally McLean, the daughter of one of Franz’s 1956 Olympic athletes, we reveal the extraordinary story of this Austrian Art student who would go on to heavily influence and shape the sporting world as one of the greatest coaches of the 20th Century. Speaking to those who knew him best we follow his journey from 1930's Austria to 1940's England to Melbourne during the 1950's, onto the changing face of sport in the 1960s and beyond - tracing his continuing influence not just on world-class athletics and the modern health and fitness industry right up to the present day, but also his innate ability to inspire and motivate people from every walk of life to achieve and pursue excellence - no matter their field of interest of expertise. The only film to be officially sanctioned by Franz's family, ensuring access to his personal documents, films of training sessions, home movies and recordings of his many public speeches, "Franz Stampfl: The Man Behind The Miracle Mile" tells the story of one man's unparalleled contribution to the world’s sporting culture in a way and on a scale that has never been matched by any other athletics coach - before or since. To find out more about this film, please go to the Official Franz Stampfl: The Man Behind The Miracle Mile Web Site here. < back to Projects