Head Above Water on Amazon Prime Video Coming June 4

18 May 2021
Bronte Campbell in Head Above Water
Written by: Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video announces new Australian Original docuseries Head Above Water, featuring swimming legend Ian Thorpe AM, Olympic medallists Bronte Campbell OAM and Kyle Chalmers OAM, and former junior champion Cody Simpson.

 

These elite athletes share their personal stories, providing unrivaled access as they share the intimate highs, lows, triumphs and challenges of their lives in and out of the pool.

 

Produced by McAvoy Media, Swimming Australia and Amazon Studios, Head Above Water will launch exclusively on Prime Video on June 4, 2021 in Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and select countries around the world.

 

Sydney, Australia, 18 May, 2021 – Amazon Prime Video announced today at the Prime Video Presents event in Sydney, Head Above Water, an Amazon Original four-part docuseries  that follows elite Australian swimmers Ian Thorpe AM, Bronte Campbell OAM and Kyle Chalmers OAM, as well as former-junior-champion-turned-international-musician, Cody Simpson in the lead up to the games in July. Head Above Water will launch on June 4, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video in Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and select countries with its global release later in 2021.

 

Amazon Prime Video Promo Artwork

 

The series explores how these incredible athletes deal with pressure in and out of the pool and reveals what drives their determination to succeed through personal sacrifice, and grueling training sessions as they vie for a place on the Australian Swimming Team, ahead of the upcoming Games in July.  Ian Thorpe shares his before, during and after journey as an Olympian; Bronte Campbell and Kyle Chalmers hone their skills in a bid to once more represent their country; and Cody Simpson puts his successful music career on hold to return to his first love - competitive swimming.

 

Head Above Water gives an intimate and exclusive insight into the world of elite athletes and we are pleased to be adding another Australian Amazon Original sports documentary to our growing lineup for Prime members in Australia and around the world,” said Tyler Bern, Head of Content, Prime Video Australia. “Sport attracts passionate fan-bases globally who we know are all keen to see what drives these world-class swimmers. It’s a privilege to share with our customers the profound and deeply personal stories of Ian, Bronte, Kyle, and Cody as they strive to represent their country at the highest level.”

 

Executive Producer of the series and CEO of McAvoy Media, John McAvoy said: “With an eye to this year’s Games and the disruption that COVID-19 has played during everyone’s preparations, McAvoy Media has been developing this original story with Swimming Australia and Amazon Studios for the past 12 months. The series provides a unique look at what it takes to be an Olympic Champion told through the experiences of Australian swimming royalty. Our goal was to create an access-all-areas docuseries to tell these Australian swimming superstars’ untold stories, and to their credit that is exactly what we got. Amazon Prime Video’s ability to tell stories and take sports fans behind the curtain makes us proud to showcase this iconic Australian sport to swimming fans internationally.”

 

Kyle Chalmers features in Head Above Water
Chalmers prepares to take flight at the Australian Championships in April on the Gold Coast.

 

With unrivalled access Head Above Water details the personal journeys of four athletes through the stages of an Olympic career; for Bronte and Kyle, as they prepare to qualify for the team to represent Australia this July, for Cody, as he focuses on his four-year plan to reach the next Games and for Ian, as he looks back on his phenomenal swimming career, the challenges adjusting to life outside of the pool and what the future now holds.

 

“It’s been a real pleasure to extend my relationship with Amazon Prime Video and tell another set of compelling, personal stories about athletes at the pinnacle of their careers.Director Gil Marsden (Amazon Prime Video’s Making Their Mark, Gymkhana Files) said, “Swimming is everywhere in Australia, and every four years the eyes of the nation are on these incredible individuals - how they manage the pressure, the expectation, and the attention that comes from such a global platform continues to inspire me. Bronte, Kyle, Cody and Ian are incredibly honest and candid and we cannot wait to share their stories with the world.”

 

Kieren Perkins, Swimming Australia President adds: “Swimming Australia are thrilled to be bringing Head Above Water to Prime Video, which is also our broadcasting partner for the upcoming 2021 Australian Swimming Trials. This partnership with Prime Video is truly bringing the Australian sport to a global audience for the first time.”

 

Head Above Water is produced by McAvoy Media, Swimming Australia and in collaboration with Amazon Studios. The Executive Producer is John McAvoy (Kings Cross ER, Kalgoorlie Cops, and Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo, Territory Cops). Director is Gill Marsden. Since 2019, Prime Video has commissioned 14 Amazon Original series in Australia including The Test: A New Era for Australia’s Team, Making Their Mark, a series of 10 stand-up comedy specials by some of Australia’s best comedians, LOL: Last One Laughing AU with Rebel Wilson, and the upcoming Back to the Rafters, Luxe Listings Sydney and Kick Like Tayla. At Prime Video Presents today, Amazon announced the new Australian Original productions Burning, Head Above Water, Warriors On The Field, Class of ‘07, Deadloch, The Moth Effect and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.  

 

Thorpe features in Head Above Water, detailing his experiences in and out of the pool.
Thorpe features in Head Above Water, detailing his experiences in and out of the pool.

 

Head Above Water will join thousands of TV shows and movies in the Prime Video catalogue, including hits like Golden Globe award-winner Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Chemical Hearts, Upload, plus Emmy Award winners Fleabag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and licensed content. Amazon Prime Video will also exclusively stream worldwide all Swimming Australia championship events, including the 2021 Australian Swimming Trials for the next two years at no additional cost to Prime members.

 

Head Above Water premieres on June 4, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video in Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and select countries around the world. The global premiere will be later in 2021 on Prime Video.
 

About Amazon Prime Video

 

Prime Video offers customers a vast collection of award-winning Amazon Originals, hit movies and popular TV shows - available to watch on hundreds of compatible devices.

  • Included with Prime Video: Prime members in Australia can stream hit TV shows, popular movies and Australian Amazon Original series including The Test: A New Era for Australia’s Team, a series of 10 stand-up comedy specials by some of Australia’s best comedians, LOL: Last One Laughing AU with Rebel Wilson, Making Their Mark, and the upcoming Luxe Listings Sydney S1, Back to the Rafters and Kick Like Tayla. Amazon Prime Video will also exclusively stream worldwide all Swimming Australia championship events, including the 2021 Australian Swimming Trials, for the next two years at no additional cost to Prime members. Customers can also enjoy hits like Golden Globe award-winner Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Coming 2 America, Without Remorse, Upload, plus Emmy Award winners Fleabag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and licensed content.
     
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Prime Video is just one of many shopping and entertainment benefits included with a Prime membership, along with fast, free shipping on millions of Prime-eligible items at Amazon.com, unlimited photo storage, exclusive deals and discounts, and access to ad-free music and Kindle ebooks for just AUD $6.99/month. To sign up or start a 30-day free trial of Prime, visit: amazon.com.au/prime.

 

About Amazon

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About McAvoy Media 

 

Founded in September 2014, McAvoy Media is an independent television production company based in Sydney. Led by CEO John McAvoy, one of Australia’s leading and award-winning television producers, McAvoy Media has secured a reputation as a trusted production partner and a passionate producer of Australian content.

 

Employing a team of both dedicated and experienced content makers, McAvoy Media’s slate represents a diverse range of factual entertainment, reality and observational documentary programming for Australian and international networks and global streaming platforms.

 

With a focus on the constant development of exciting and innovative new TV concepts, McAvoy Media is committed to telling great stories, unearthing compelling characters and continuing to create and produce content that will engage audiences worldwide.

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