As an avid track fan I actually saw this film in the theater when it came out...I was also intrigued by the lesbian relationship, something that wasn't commonplace in films in the early 80's. It was definitely a cult film back then, and even more so now. I actually purchased the DVD a few years ago, and watched it recently in advance of the Olympics.Many issues that are considered PI now are in the film, use of the c-word, a racist joke about Asians, references to "dumb Indians", controlling male figures...but I watch the film now amid the pro contracts that track athletes are now able to take advantage of, and this film is really the last film to show how track athletes existed at that very time; huge sacrifices for little monetary reward, in this case no reward as the Olympics were boycotted in 1980. The nudity and sex scene is considered tame by today's standards, I guess what is interesting is you see national and world class athletes showing full frontal nudity 30 years before Sports Illustrated started showing such athletes in their magazines spreads (and at that, not even FFN).The film now is merely a look to the waning days of amateur track and field, but an accurate look. It was filmed during that period and isn't a re-creation as "Without Limits" and "Pre" were, both of which can only try and recapture that era.

After more than 30 years of only reading about this movie, I finally checked this out of my local library. Being writer Robert Towne's directorial debut, he does a fine job here in exploring the world of women runners during the Olympic Trials especially that between a young, inexperienced one who's insecure (Mariel Hemmingway) and that of an older, much confident one (Patrice Donnelly). They develop a sexual relationship as well and the nudity here is not exploitive but natural so I don't think many men's members would be protruding during those scenes or those taking place in a sauna. All I'll now say is this was quite a compellingly good drama so on that note, I highly recommend Personal Best. P.S. I also liked the commentary of Towne and a couple of his players in this film, Scott Glenn and Kenny Moore.

Personal Best is a gripping film about competition and pushing oneself to the absolute limit - what you leave behind in the process and what you build. Mariel Hemingway's character Chris is blessed with natural talent but initially lacks the drive and motivation that has taken her soon-to-be lover Tori to a higher level in women's track and field. When Chris begins training with Tori and Tori's coach takes her under his wing, Chris moves to the next level.As Chris' and Tori's romantic relationship begins and then evolves, the competition between them intensifies. Chris' coach Scott Glen remarks to Chris, "I don't know which scares you more, beating Tori Skinner or losing to her." Her quandary culminates at the Olympic Trials where Chris and Tori compete for 2 of the 3 spots on the US Women's Pentathalon Team. And the result is unpredictable yet makes perfect sense - and it was even more meaningful given that the competition was for spots non an Olympic team that wasn't going anywhere, as the Moscow Olypics would take place without the US athletes.

I saw this film in its first release, then again a few nights ago on cable and it affirmed my first impression that this was one of a scant handful of good sports movies. The shots of San Louis Obispo are evocative, for one thing, giving us not just the apricot sand of the dunes but the whoosh of cars on a distant freeway and the chill of the light fog. Mariel Hemingway, never noted for her acting range, becomes noticeably stronger as the movie progresses. The attractions and tensions within the team are neatly delineated in a naturalistic style by director Towne. What seems bothersome to many commentators is the "exploitation" of females through gratuitous nudity and all the rest of that specious argument. Of course there is female nudity and an abundance of finely toned suntanned flesh, often moving around ballistically in slow motion. It is after all a movie about a team of women athletes. And contrary to popular belief there doesn't seem to be a vas deferens between male and female competitors. And we should consult Leni Riefenstal on how to avoid slow motion. Much of the nudity is locker-room casual. (And there is casual male nudity too.) That which has sexual associations seems appropriate in a story of a love affair between team members and contributes to our understanding of how such an affair could develop.The guy, by the way, is no eleventh-hour hero brought in at the last minute to save the heroine from the catastrophe of lesbianism. He's no dashing Rhett Butler. He's simply another figure, not overly bright, and manipulable. He and the heroine don't ride into the sunset together. The complaints about exploitation seem misdirected. This is a film for adults, a story of love, dedication, and competition, nicely written, directed, photographed, scored, and acted. Zealots in the gay community have an abundance of other targets for their anger. It would have been nice to see more of Patrice Donnely in other films, because she was quite good, especially for an ex-athlete.