Golden Girl (film)

Golden Girl is a 1979 American sports-romance film directed by Joseph Sargent and starring Susan Anton, James Coburn, and Curt Jurgens. The film centers on Goldine Serafin (Anton), a statuesque athlete who is secretly being injected with a Soviet hormone to enhance her performance as a potential American Olympic gold medalist in track and field events, specifically the hurdles. Her manipulative manager, Dr. Sammy Lee (Coburn), sees her as his ticket to wealth and fame.

The film explores themes of athletic exploitation, Cold War tensions, and the pressures of success. As Goldine trains and competes, she attracts the attention of a charming but skeptical coach, Rylands (Jurgens), who becomes suspicious of her rapid improvements and the methods being used to achieve them. He investigates, uncovering the truth behind her extraordinary abilities. A romantic subplot develops between Goldine and Rylands.

The film is notable for its depiction of track and field events and for showcasing Susan Anton in her first starring role. The soundtrack also gained attention, particularly Anton's rendition of the title song, "Golden Girl."