The World's Greatest Athlete
Cast:
Milo...Tim Conway
Nanu...Jan-Michael Vincent
Coach Archer...John Amos
Gazenga...Roscoe Lee Browne
Jane...Dayle Haddon
Dean Maxwell...Billy De Wolfe
Mrs. Petersen...Nancy Walker
Unknown...Danny Goldman
Unknown...Don Pedro Colley
Games spectator...Vito Scotti
Unknown...Liam Dunn
Unknown...Ivor Francis
Unknown...Leon Askin
Announcer...Howard Cosell
Announcer...Frank Gifford
Nanu...Jan-Michael Vincent
Coach Archer...John Amos
Gazenga...Roscoe Lee Browne
Jane...Dayle Haddon
Dean Maxwell...Billy De Wolfe
Mrs. Petersen...Nancy Walker
Unknown...Danny Goldman
Unknown...Don Pedro Colley
Games spectator...Vito Scotti
Unknown...Liam Dunn
Unknown...Ivor Francis
Unknown...Leon Askin
Announcer...Howard Cosell
Announcer...Frank Gifford
Studio:
Disney
Release History:
1973 - The World's Greatest Athlete
In the Disney tradition of sports films such as Gus and The Strongest Man in the World comes The World's Greatest Athlete, a combination of underdog athletes and slapstick comedy. The strong cast included Tim Conway, John Amos, Jan-Michael Vincent (who would go on to fame in TV’s Airwolf) and sportscaster Howard Cosell as himself.
Amos plays Sam Archer, a college track coach who’s stuck with a bad team and pressure from Dean Maxwell to get a lot better. On a trip to Africa with his assistant Milo Jackson (Conway), they meet Nanu (Vincent), a young man who was raised in the jungle but proves to be a natural athlete. Sam and Milo con Gazenga, Nanu’s godfather, into taking Nanu back to the U.S.
Nanu is an instant star, turning around the team’s fortunes, and impressing even Howard Cosell. But witch doctor Gazenga catches on and takes revenge on the coaches, shrinking Jackson down so he’s as small as a mouse, and wreaking havoc as the team tries to make it to the championship.
Released in the 70s, the film wasn’t the biggest Disney success of the decade, but its fun antics and cool effects made it a fond memory for the kids who saw it.
