To Chase a Dream

As the world anticipates the legendary men’s 5,000m race at the Olympic Games in Paris on 10 August, Swiss sportswear brand On is launching To Chase a Dream - the final episode of On’s Olympic short film trilogy Dream Together. The 9-minute film follows Dominic Lobalu’s inspiring and emotional journey as an orphaned refugee escaping the war-torn region of South Sudan, to a Gold medal at the European Championships in Rome.

To Chase a Dream picks up the action from The Right to Race - On’s critically-acclaimed 2023 documentary which premiered at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2023. The new film captures Lobalu’s perseverance and resilience through a fresh lens and a different perspective. Under the sensitive direction of J.M. Harper and Hector Aponysus, the narrative showcases the world-class runner’s relentless pursuit of his dream, as well as the depth of support he has found with his team and the people in Switzerland.

After competing as an athlete with the Olympic Refugee team, Lobalu sought asylum in Switzerland, which ironically made him a ‘stateless athlete’ and prevented him from competing with either the Refugee team or the Swiss team. Lobalu’s running career had reached an impasse. To Chase a Dream charts an exciting development that ultimately led to him racing for his adopted nation at the European Athletics Championships in Rome. Lobalu did his adopted country and the sports community proud by claiming the title of 10,000m European Champion on his very first attempt.

Dominic Lobalu says: “The people here (in Switzerland) have so much love for me, even though what I am doing is too little to deserve their love for a stranger like me. When I am here, I feel like I am in my homeland and it’s a place I call home. Now, I feel like I want to do more and more and more. I want to go for the big medals.”

Shot on location in Lobalu’s hometown of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and in Rome, the film chronicles the developments, setbacks, and ultimate climax of his story through a mix of personal and professional moments. The directors mix archive and live competition footage with intimate interviews to capture Lobalu’s ambition, drive, charm, and humility as he approaches the pinnacle of his sporting dreams - competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.