The World’s Greatest Athlete

Sam Archer and Milo Jackson have coached Merrivale College teams that have lost every game in every sport. Dean Maxwell, head of the Alumni Association, vocally questions the coaches' future. With only one year left on his contract, Archer concludes they need a vacation and the pair heads for Zambia.

While on a safari in Zambia, they glimpse Nanu, a Tarzan-like jungle boy who can outrun a cheetah in full bound. Impressed by his speed, the coaches pull out recruitment papers and imagine Nanu as Merrivale's newest star.

Gazenga, Nanu's godfather and spiritual leader, intrudes and traps Archer and Jackson. He fears exposing Nanu to competitive athletics could disrupt his spiritual path.

Despite Gazenga's concerns, Archer and Jackson persuade Nanu to join Merrivale College and even bring along his Bengal tiger, Harry. Nanu's arrival makes him the center of attention and the catalyst for a string of plot twists.

Nanu's potential to become the World's Greatest Athlete heightens tensions among powerful people who prefer their own control. The film sets up a collision between innocence, ambition, and Machiavellian schemes as the season approaches.

Jane Douglas emerges as Nanu's love interest, offering emotional grounding amid the chaos. Her presence draws Nanu further into competition and personal growth.

Leopold Maxwell, a rival and antagonist, launches sabotage attempts to derail Nanu's progress. As the track meet approaches, his plots escalate, testing the coaches and Nanu.

Training intensifies as the track meet nears, with ABC-TV sportscaster Howard Cosell preparing to call the action. Tension rises as alliances shift and the stakes of the race become personal for several characters.

The climactic track meet unfolds with nerve-wracking speed, and Nanu's talent carries him to the win. Cosell's commentary frames the moment as a showcase of audacity and resilience.

Having proven himself, Nanu departs with Jane and his tiger Harry. Archer and Jackson accompany him to the airport to bid farewell as he leaves Merrivale for good.

In the film's closing framing, Archer and Jackson are depicted in China, scouting a new athletic phenomenon. The sequence underscores the coaches' relentless hunt for the next big talent and sets up a future chapter of Merrivale's pursuit of glory.