10 Young Adult Shows Like Olympo You Must See

Created by Jan Matheu, Laia Foguet, and Ibai Abad, ‘Olympo’ centers around the Pirineos Center of High Performance, an institution attended by the top young athletes in Spain for training. Among them is Amaia Olaberria (Clara Galle), the self-demanding national artistic swimming team captain. She exemplifies the institution’s core principle of striving to be the best among the best. However, when her friend and teammate Nuria Bórges (María Romanillos) surpasses her for the first time, she realizes that her peers are willing to get an edge over the competition using inexplicable ways.

With the sponsor, Olympo, arriving at the institute to test the students, the only dilemma they have in front of them is how far they are willing to go to make the cut. With some of the fittest young adults staying under the same roof, the Netflix show explores the personal adventures that they share, adding depth to their dynamics and drama to the series overall. If you find yourself hooked, here are some more shows similar to ‘Olympo’ that you can consider for your watchlist.

10. We Are Who We Are (2020)

‘We Are Who We Are’ by Luca Guadagnino and Paolo Giordano follows two American teenagers who live with their parents on a US military base in Chioggia, Italy. Caitlin Poythress (Jordan Kristine Seamón) and Fraser Wilson (Jack Dylan Grazer) are both 14 years of age. The latter arrives at the Venuto base so that one of his mothers can take over from the outgoing commander. While he is initially filled with resentment over the situation, he soon meets other children of his age and gets caught up with Caitlin, who is struggling with gender identity. Fraser introduces Caitlin to the concept of non-binary, and the two explore friendship, love, and life together against all odds. The coming-of-age show depicts the exhilaration and anguish of being a teenager, much like ‘Olympo.’

9. Rebelde (2022)

Based on Cris Morena’s original Argentinian telenovela ‘Rebelde Way,’ Santiago Limón’s ‘Rebelde’ is set around the Elite Way School, where groups of students participate in a prestigious musical competition. Winning the EWS’ Battle of the Bands is considered by many to be the stepping stone to a successful career in music. As such, the participants pull out all the stops to bag the top spot. While their eyes sparkle with hopes and dreams, the youngsters also experience love, friendship, and rivalry among themselves, and similar to ‘Olympo,’ have a rounded experience growing up.

8. Baby (2018-2020)

Set in an elite high school in Rome, ‘Baby’ tells the story of Chiara Altieri (Benedetta Porcaroli), a diva from an affluent family who gets disillusioned with her life of privilege. She meets Ludovica Storti (Alice Pagani) in school, an impulsive loner in need of money. Chiara is soon introduced by Ludovica to the world of underage prostitution, and the two start leading a dangerous double life. While Chiara gets into a relationship with new student and son of an ambassador Damiano Younes (Riccardo Mandolini), Ludovica slips further into danger by getting involved with Claudio Fiorenzi (Giuseppe Maggio), the girls’ pimp. As with ‘Olympo,’ the show explores the life of teenagers who are troubled by their habit of pushing boundaries.

7. Élite (2018-2024)

Developed by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona, ‘Élite’ revolves around Samuel (Itzan Escamilla), Nádia (Mina El Hammani), and Christian (Miguel Herrán), three working-class teenagers who enroll in a prestigious high school through a scholarship program. Getting over the initial culture shock of being around students coming from affluent families, the trio makes their space within the community. As they get involved in romantic relationships with their fellow schoolmates, a tragedy strikes that brings the apparent bonhomie crashing down. Panic ensues as a student is found dead, and superficial niceness among all gives way to sinister feelings beneath the surface- a duality that is also explored in ‘Olympo.’

6. Pose (2018-2021)

“Pose” by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals explores the underground ball culture of New York City. Gaining popularity in the 1980s, the movement is a part of the LGBTQ subculture in the African-American and Latino communities. Dancers and models compete for trophies and recognition in the community, where they are part of a network of chosen families known as houses. The boisterous life and the fierce spirit of competition among the youth are reminiscent of the atmosphere of ‘Olympo.’

5. Gen V (2023)

A spin-off to the gritty satirical superhero series, ‘The Boys’ by Eric Kripke, ‘Gen V’ centers around the Godolkin University School of Crimefighting. Young adult superheroes from across the country are educated and trained in the prestigious institution, where they compete for the top ranking for a chance to join The Seven, the world’s greatest team of superheroes. Vought International, the corporation that owns The Seven as well as runs Godolkin, pushes the students not only to be great in school but also to be trending on social media. In both ‘Gen V’ and ‘Olympo,’ the physical and moral boundaries of the students are put to the test for them to get a chance at success.

4. Euphoria (2019-)

Based on the eponymous Israeli miniseries created by Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin, ‘Euphoria’ by Sam Levinson follows high school students in the fictional town of East Highland, California, who struggle in various arenas of life. The leading character, Rue Bennett (Zendaya), is a 17-year-old addict fresh from rehab who has no intention of staying clean. Her companions face challenges with issues such as being unsure of their gender or sexual identity, sexual frivolity, and anger management, among others. Together, they embrace life with the help of drugs and empathy. While athletes in ‘Olympo’ consider taking drugs to get a competitive edge, for the teens in ‘Euphoria,’ controlled substances are simply a way of life.

3. Raising Voices (2024)

Originally titled ‘Ni una más,’ José Manuel Lorenzo and Miguel Sáez Carral created ‘Raising Voices’ based on a novel penned by the latter. The narrative revolves around 17-year-old Alma (Nicole Wallace), whose life gets upended when she reports an assault in her high school. The investigation that follows tests her relationships with her friends, and ultimately leads her to hang a banner at the gate that reads, “Careful: Rapist hiding here.” The convoluted events and the struggle to shed light on the truth make ‘Raising Voices’ comparable to ‘Olympo.’

2. Flesh and Bone (2015)

From the mind of Moira Walley-Beckett, ‘Flesh and Bone’ centers around the American Ballet Company, whose founder and artistic director, Paul Grayson (Ben Daniels), is determined to make the institute rank among the finest in the world. He sincerely believes that the young and talented Claire Robbins (Sarah Hay) is the person to make his dream come true. A troubled past pushes Claire to excel in her art, but that does not spare her from bearing the brunt of Paul’s frustration. As with ‘Olympo’ and athletics, “Flesh and Bone’ explores the dysfunction hidden within the glamour in the world of ballet.

1. Tiny Pretty Things (2020)

‘Tiny Pretty Things’ is adapted by Michael MacLennan from the novel of the same name by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton. Set in an elite ballet academy, the story opens with the tragic fall of star student Cassie Shore (Anna Maiche) after being seemingly pushed from the roof by a hooded figure. Neveah Stroyer (Kylie Jefferson) steps into the school in her stead, and immediately finds herself in the cutthroat world of professional ballet.

The glamour and elegance on stage hide the dark and sinister elements of ambition and jealousy from view. This is one of the many similarities the institution and the show in general share with ‘Olympa.’ The students in both institutes are in peak physical form and dead set on climbing the summits of success through hard work. However, the competition that surrounds them forces them to consider far sinister ways of getting ahead.