This is what bravery looks like.

Strive is a riveting global documentary series about the men and women forced to flee their countries as refugees all while training for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. This is an immigrant story told through the ultimate dream in sports.

In 2016, confronted by the global refugee crisis, the International Olympic Committee created the Refugee Olympic Team (R.O.T.), the first of its kind to take part in the 2016 games. Alongside the other 11,000 athletes, 10 men and women – athletes who had to abandon their homes and families, competed in the games under the Olympic flag.

Today, displaced athletes from all over the world are preparing for the chance to join the Tokyo Refugee Olympic and Paralympic Teams. This cinematic and character-driven series chronicles these athletes’ journeys to fulfill their lifelong dream – the emotional and physical highs and lows – and their attempt to make it to Tokyo under the R.O.T. Olympic flag. Filled with unforgettable characters, unbelievable challenges, and unstoppable drive – STRIVE puts a spotlight on the powerful conviction of the human will in the face of adversity.

I believe strongly in the power of storytelling to foster empathy. When I learned about the Refugee Olympic Team, I saw an incredible opportunity to introduce sports-loving audiences to the narrative of the refugee through a collection of very human stories of survival and hope. As the Executive Producer of STRIVE, I crafted a plan to get these refugee stories on screen for worldwide audiences to see. I traveled the globe to meet, interview and film with refugee athletes. Teaming up with Executive Producer Justin Lin’s Perfect Storm Entertainment, Superbly Studios, Radley Studios and Creative Artists Agency (CAA), we built a project worthy of the world’s top content networks, ultimately landing a deal with Google/YouTube Originals for production and distribution.

STRIVE is now officially launched! Click here watch it on YouTube Originals.