Personal Best

In the sweltering Oregon heat, Christine "Chris" Cahill (Mariel Hemingway) takes to the Hayward Field track, her eyes fixed on the prize as she competes in the Olympic Trials for the 1976 Summer Olympics. But despite her best efforts, Chris finds herself short of the mark, leaving her feeling defeated and demoralized. It's a crushing blow that prompts a tearful outburst from Chris to her father, Rick Cahill (Larry Pennell), who also happens to be her coach. Meanwhile, Tory Skinner (Patrice Donnelly) is basking in the glow of her second-place finish in the pentathlon, securing her spot on the Olympic team and earning the admiration of all around her.

That night, Tory celebrates with her friend Roscoe Travis (Jim Moody) and a few others at a local eatery. Chris's father Rick makes an appearance to congratulate Tory on her achievement, but Chris is too distraught to join in the festivities. Instead, she asks her father to leave her be, planning to make the long walk home under the stars. But fate has other plans, as Chris stumbles and falls ill en route to the bathroom, prompting Roscoe and Tory to rush to her aid. As they help her to her feet, Tory offers Chris a ride home, and in the comfort of her car, Chris finally allows herself to break down in tears, congratulating Tory on her win before revealing her own struggles.

As they drive through the night, Chris finds solace in Tory's presence, and before long, they find themselves at Tory's doorstep. It's there that their mutual attraction sparks a chain reaction of events, as they share a joint, engage in an arm-wrestling match, and ultimately surrender to their desires. In the heat of the moment, Chris confesses her curiosity about her own sexuality, while Tory reveals her true nature – a lesbian who had never expected to find herself drawn to Chris. Despite initial reservations, Chris finds herself swept up in the thrill of the experience, and before long, they're at it again.

Days later, Chris accompanies Tory to San Luis Obispo, California, where Tory's academic pursuits take center stage as she attends California Polytechnic State University. As they hit the pavement together, Tory suggests that Chris train with her coach, Terry Tingloff (Scott Glenn), hoping to reignite Chris's competitive spark. Back in Oregon, Chris asks her father for permission to attend the university, but Rick is hesitant, citing the lack of a scholarship offer. Undeterred, Chris returns to San Luis Obispo, where she faces resistance from Tingloff himself, who agrees only to let Chris work out with the team.

Two months pass, and Tory uses her influence to persuade Tingloff into giving Chris a chance to compete at practice. Despite a rocky start that sees her tumbling off the blocks, Chris digs deep and manages to finish an impressive third, leaving everyone in attendance wondering what could have been if she'd only had the opportunity to train with the team from the get-go. As the dust settles on this unexpected turn of events, Chris finds herself at a crossroads, forced to reevaluate her priorities and consider the unconventional path that Tory has set her on.

As the calendar flips forward to 1978, Chris and Tory embark on a journey to Cali, Colombia, for the World Student Games. However, their excitement is short-lived as Chris falls victim to food poisoning after indulging in a local delicacy the day before the event. A sympathetic medical student tends to her needs, while Tory stays up all night, vigilantly nursing her roommate back to health. The next morning, Tingloff chastises Tory for her exhaustion, while Chris surprisingly shines at the hurdles competition.

In the aftermath of the event, a raucous party unfolds, filled with revelry and reckless abandon. Tory's jealousy simmers as she witnesses Chris flirting shamelessly with a male athlete, but Chris remains steadfast in her refusal to leave when Tory implores her to depart. As they return to San Luis Obispo, Tingloff serendipitously stumbles upon Chris, tending to her stretching routine and offering his expertise when she suffers a cramp. He extends an enticing proposition: full tuition for the following year in exchange for Chris's commitment to work with him over the summer and switch events from hurdles to pentathlon. Initially hesitant, Chris eventually agrees, and Tingloff's guidance fosters a rapport between them, leaving Tory to take notice of their growing bond.

As tensions simmer beneath the surface, Tingloff uncovers evidence suggesting Tory may be intentionally undermining Chris's progress, fueling his suspicions about her motives. Later, while Chris is honing her high jump skills in preparation for the Pan American Games, Tory offers advice that Chris initially resists but eventually follows, leading to a dislocated knee and further straining their relationship. Tingloff's subsequent accusations against Tory only serve to deepen the rift between them.

As Chris recuperates at Tinghoff's home, she becomes increasingly entangled in his web of emotions. When the phone rings, Chris assumes it's Tory on the other end, but Tingoff's angry outburst and accusatory kiss leave her reeling. In the aftermath of this emotional maelstrom, Chris seeks solace with Tory, promising to vacate their shared living space by the time Tory returns from the Pan American Games, a decision that will forever alter the dynamics between these two women.

As Chris strives to rehabilitate her injured knee through swimming, she crosses paths with water polo player Denny Stites (Kenny Moore), whose impressive physique and athletic prowess pique her interest. However, when Tingloff restricts her from practicing alongside Tory, citing the latter's distracting presence, Chris refuses to back down, ultimately choosing to leave practice altogether. Her decision sparks a chain of events as she finds herself drawn to Denny's charisma and swimming expertise.

A chance encounter with Denny at a water polo match blossoms into a budding friendship, with Chris learning about his impressive Olympic credentials and the emotional highs that accompanied his victories. As they share stories over lunch, Chris opens up about her tumultuous past with Tory, whom she had roomed with for three years. Denny reveals an astute understanding of their complicated history, assuring Chris that he has no qualms about her relationship with Tory.

As the Olympic Trials approach in 1980, Chris, Tory, and their teammates converge on Hayward Field, their collective disappointment palpable as they realize that the United States' decision to boycott the Moscow Games means they won't be representing their country at the international level. The pressure is compounded by the fact that the trials are now a matter of personal pride rather than Olympic glory.

The first day of competition unfolds with Tory and Chris vying for dominance in the hurdles event, where Tory secures a strong second-place finish while Chris struggles to stay ahead, ultimately losing valuable points after hitting a hurdle. The shot put segment proves equally challenging for Chris, who is unfairly disqualified, leaving her further behind in the standings.

Just when it seems like all hope is lost, Denny appears in the stands, offering words of encouragement and reassurance that Chris is still very much in the running. His timely intervention seems to galvanize Chris, who then goes on to clear a personal best height at the high jump event, her determination and perseverance momentarily eclipsing her earlier setbacks.

As the rain-soaked track finally dries, the pentathlon competition resumes with the long jump event, an area where Tory (character) has traditionally excelled. However, the wet conditions prove to be a significant challenge, causing her to suffer a knee injury that sends her to the medical tent for evaluation. Chris, ever the supportive teammate, discovers that Tory's injury is not as severe as initially thought and encourages her to participate in the remaining event - the 800-meter race. With Chris holding a strong second place position and Tory lagging behind in fourth, they engage in a thrilling competition against each other. As the final stretch unfolds, Chris maintains a narrow lead until Tory makes a stunning late surge, ultimately crossing the finish line in first place. In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, Chris crosses the finish line, embracing Tory as the officials announce that both athletes have secured their spot on the United States Olympic team. In the overall pentathlon standings, Chris places second and Tory takes third, while their teammate Nadia 'Pooch' Anderson (Jodi Anderson) secures the top position. As they stand triumphant on the winner's rostrum, basking in the adoration of the crowd, Tory can't help but whisper to Chris that Denny is rather charming - a sentiment she keeps largely to herself.