A new sports film focused on the life and achievements of wrestler Antony Robles has been released on Prime Video.
Unstoppable delves into the difficult yet victorious journey of professional American wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born without a right leg.
The film follows Anthony Roble’s journey (Jharrel Jerome) as clinched the NCAA individual wrestling national championship in 2011.
Jennifer Lopez takes on the role of his mother, Judy, who is grappling with an abusive relationship and the demands of raising five children.
The Mirror US reports the new film, helmed by William Goldenberg, is adapted from the book penned by Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy. The poignant narrative has moved some viewers to tears, with many lauding Jharrel Jerome’s depiction of the wrestler.
Many spectators will be curious about the true story behind Unstoppable and Robles’ current whereabouts following the film’s events.
What is the real-life story behind Unstoppable’s Anthony Robles?
Anthony Robles was born on July 15, 1988 in La Mirada, California, born with just one leg due to unknown medical reasons.
Until the age of three, Robles sported a prosthetic leg, after which he opted to rely on crutches or hop on his lone leg.
CBS Sports recounts how Anthony utilised his stepfather’s weights in the garage and executed push-ups to maintain his fitness. Robles’ strength was such that he set a record for the most pushups at his school.
Aged 14, Robles took up wrestling in his eighth-grade year and first dipped his toes into the world of organised wrestling during his freshman year at high school in Mesa, Arizona.
Despite a record of 58 and being at a disadvantage due to being 10 pounds lighter than his weight class, Robles’ years of crutch use had gifted him with impressive grip strength. He leveraged his unusually high centre of gravity as a defensive strategy against opponents.
Robles had his sights set on the University of Iowa, a veritable Mecca for collegiate wrestling. Unfortunately, an offer from Iowa was not forthcoming, leading Robles to enrol at Arizona State University instead.
Robles shared a special bond with his mother Judy Robles, who was his biggest cheerleader in his pursuit of his dream. His high school wrestling coach Bobby Williams also played a pivotal role in his journey, providing training, support and serving as a father figure to the promising athlete.
In 2011, Robles wrapped up an undefeated senior season at ASU by clinching the 125-pound NCAA title, defeating former champion Matt McDonough of Iowa in the finals.
Robles ended his wrestling career at Arizona State with an impressive record of 122-23. He later earned the accolades of a three-time all-American athlete, a Hall of Famer, and the 2011 recipient of the Jimmy V Award for perseverance at the Espy’s.
Post-retirement, Robles has lent his expertise as a commentator at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, served as an analyst for ESPN and inspired many through his work as a motivational speaker.
His book, Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion, hit the shelves in 2012. The book was subsequently adapted by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company, Artists Equity, in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios.