Athletes mentioned in controversial BALCO steroid Netflix documentary

Netflix released a documentary about BALCO, the company formed by Victor Conte that helped athletes gain an advantage. Conte is featured throughout the documentary, discussing the substances that he would provide to athletes. The BALCO piece brought several famous athletes into the conversation regarding cheating in the world of sports.

Due to BALCO’s proximity to Bonds in Northern California, the link between the two is the one sports fans recall most prominently. Conte is quoted several times as saying that he never provided Bonds with steroids. However, IRS agent Jeff Novitsky displays what he feels like is evidence to the contrary in the film.

Jones’ name is brought up a lot in the early part of the documentary, as she looked to match the accomplishments of Jackie Joyner-Kersee in track and field. In no uncertain terms, Conte takes a lot of credit for Jones’ success in Olympic competition, even though the former star athlete is not heard from during the documentary.

Montgomery’s willingness to be on camera for the film helped shape the narrative immensely. He spoke about how Conte was there for him to build a training program complete with injections of substances that would boost his performance on the track. Montgomery late admonishes Conte for the latter’s reported request to receive a percentage of the athlete’s earnings.

Another bay area slugger whose name is often connected with BALCO’s operations is Giambi’s. He had some stellar years for the Oakland Athletics, followed by a notable stint with the New York Yankees. His involvement in the scandal isn’t discussed as much as Bonds’ angle, but is still tangentially referenced.

The 1998 home run record chase is a pivotal moment in the sports landscape. Athletes were determined to reach new heights by whatever means necessary, and Sosa’s participation helped underscore that desire. Before 1998, the star right fielder hadn’t hit more than 40 home runs, but knocked 66 homers out of the park that season.

McGwire was Sosa’s partner in crime in 1998. Unlike Sosa, McGwire had an established resume as a power hitter dating back to the 1980’s. It seemed like performance enhancing drugs brought his power swing to an otherworldly level. McGwire crushed 70 home runs that summer, setting a major league record at the time.

The pervasiveness with which BALCO was involved with athletes across multiple sports was highlighted. Football players were also hoping to find an advantage in performance and recovery. Romanowski was someone who benefitted from the organization’s supplements. He played won Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos in his career.

Johnson’s achievements in track and field helped position the “if you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying” narrative. He had a memorable performance during the 2000 Olympic games that was later sullied by his use of illegal supplements. Johnson’s trajectory helps set the stage for what Montgomery described in further detail.