Religion of Sports

St. Pauli is a liberal district of Hamburg, Germany, that recently embraced over 400,000 refugees. At its heart is FC St. Pauli, a soccer team with diehard fans. The team sponsors FC Lampedusa, a team of refugees, which provide them a meaningful place in society and a sense of belonging.

At San Quentin State Prison, baseball is an escape from the harsh conditions of life behind bars. Three men, at different stages of their journey as inmates, struggle to overcome the mistakes of their past and cope with the reality of an uncertain future.

Conrad Anker is one of the true icons of rock climbing. His 30 years of climbing has led to more than a few brushes with his own mortality, teaching him wisdom along the way. Conrad looks to impart this wisdom on novice climber and cancer survivor Alex Wildman as they climb El Capitan in Yosemite Valley.

In 1984, Peter Westbrook became the first US fencer in generations to win an Olympic fencing medal. He was also the first black man to do so. 30 years later, his foundation has created a lineage of Olympians, including Daryl Homer, a student who left the foundation to find himself.

Race Across America is an ultra-cycling event that runs the length of America, clocking in at a little over 3000 miles. Sarah Cooper, a 45-year-old mother of four from Iowa and an ultra-cycling phenomenon, sets out to finish the race in under 10 days.

In New Zealand, every boy dreams of joining national rugby team the All Blacks. The team embraces Maori culture by performing a haka, a sacred war dance, before each game. For young Maori student Pou Sorensen, making the team would be an achievement with both personal and cultural significance.