A part-fiction, part-documentary biography of Haile Gebrselassie, an East African long-distance runner in the 1996 Summer Olympics. As a child, Haile runs everywhere - to and from his school, or a 3 hour trip to collect water. He is inspired by the 1980 Olympic success of another Ethiopian, Miruts Yifter, in the 10,000 meters and decides to become an athlete. He moves to Addis Ababa, goes into training, and despite personal setbacks such as the death of his mother, he wins gold at the Atlanta games.