With the 1988 Seoul Summer Games approaching, and Olympic drug testing in its infancy, track star Carl Lewis was one of the most celebrated athletes in the world, though Canadian Ben Johnson had recently emerged as a reckonable rival. When Johnson upset Lewis in the 100m dash, setting the titular record and earning the gold medal. His success was to be short lived however, as he was accused of doping charges only three days later and stripped of his accolades. Over time, 6 of the 8 participants in that race would face sanctions for doping charges. Daniel Gordon's "9.79*" is an absorbing, in-depth profile, which includes the athletes involved in the infamous race, most of whom contribute to the film and offer either their regrets, denials, or explanations, and an early history of the Olympic testing, all of which is told in a clear and balanced fashion.
