Olympic and Paralympic games Books

Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE CROSS SPORTS BOOK AWARDS BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR The definitive biography of one of the greatest, most extraordinary runners and Olympic heroes of all time, from the author of running classic Feet in the Clouds. Emil Zátopek won five Olympic medals, set 18 world records, and went undefeated over 10,000 metres for six years. He redefined the boundaries of endurance, training in Army boots, in snow, in sand, in darkness. But his toughness was matched by a spirit of friendship and a joie de vivre that transcended the darkest days of the Cold War. His triumphs put his country on the map, yet when Soviet tanks moved in to crush Czechoslovakia's new freedoms in 1968, Zátopek paid a heavy personal price for his brave defence of socialism with a human face'. Rehabilitated two decades later, he was a shadow of the man he had been and the world hadTrade ReviewA tale from athletics' age of innocence... He was a sporting hero not just for his time but for all time * Spectator *A wonderfully in-depth and often emotionally charged piece of writing * Athletics Weekly *An astonishing achievement... There are few writers as adept at capturing so lyrically the utter and incomprehensible strangeness of distance running... A joy to read * Literary Review *Sport book of the year… A fascinating tale, showing all sides of Zátopek, injecting humanity and humour into a dramatic life -- Matt Butler * i, Book of the Year *Reminds us of the pain and the glory behind every victory and the power of sport to bring people together and make history -- Martina NavratilovaA warm, honest and moving account of one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. Richard Askwith brings to life both the epic triumphs but also the difficulties and complexities of Zatopek's role in Communist Czechoslovakia -- Adharanand Finn, author of Running with the KenyansA portrait of a fine but flawed human. -- Nick Pitt * Sunday Times, Book of the Year *A tremendous read and also a reminder of the lost purity of track and field -- Eileen Battersby * The Irish Times *Terrific -- Huw Richards * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisSince the advent of modernity, art has been associated with freedom, provocation and courage. In 1972, art was to unfold its potential as an emancipatory and creative force as part of the Gesamtkunstwerk of the XX. Olympic Games in Munich - according to the grand vision of its planners. The international avant-garde of the time, including Walter de Maria, Gerhard Richter, Andy Warhol and Dan Flavin, enthusiastically developed revolutionary concepts. Many of these remained in draft-form. After the tragic assassination of Israeli athletes, concepts such as the “Spielstrabe” were canceled. This publication is the first to give an impression of the playful, participatory cultural programme of 1972. In the second part of the book, a multitude of voices from all over the world look to the future. International authors and artists use contemporary examples to convey the importance of the arts in shaping the democratic society of the future.

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Book SynopsisThis is the fascinating story of Swedish equestrian and Olympic medallist Peder Fredricson and his winding road to success. As a five-year-old he was riding on free rein in the Swedish forests and from then on everything was about horses. He worked as a groom for the best equestrians in the world, lived on next to nothing and rode for a while with a buzzard on his arm. He was a skilled rider but not very interested in competing.When he finally was persuaded to compete in the big equestrian eventing and showjumping competitions, he realised that talent was not enough - he had to rethink completely. He created a structure, both for everyday life and for competitions, and the outcome was almost immediate. After only a few years, he was one of the best showjumpers in the world. Much has changed since his unconventional childhood, but his attitude remains the same - interaction with the horses is what is most important. His mental focus has been his secret weapon in the major competitions.Today, Peder Fredricson is one of the top showjumpers on the planet with four Olympic medals to his credit. In 2021 he was ranked the world number one rider.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARD FOR GENERAL OUTSTANDING SPORTS WRITING A captivating account of the Nazi Olympics – told through the voices and stories of those who were there.'Compelling, suspenseful and beautifully done' Anna Funder, author of STASILANDFor sixteen days in the summer of 1936, the world’s attention turned to the German capital as it hosted the Olympic Games. Seen through the eyes of a cast of characters – Nazi leaders and foreign diplomats, athletes and journalists, nightclub owners and jazz musicians – Berlin 1936 plunges us into the high tension of this unfolding scene.Alongside the drama in the Olympic Stadium – from the triumph of Jesse Owens to the scandal when an American tourist breaks through the security and manages to kiss Hitler – Oliver Hilmes takes us behind the scenes and into the lives of ordinary Berliners: the woman with a dark secret who steps in front of a train, the transsexual waiting for the Gestapo’s knock on the door, and the Jewish boy hoping that Germany may lose in the sporting arena. During the sporting events the dictatorship was partially put on hold; here then, is a last glimpse of the vibrant and diverse life in Berlin in the 1920s and 30s that the Nazis aimed to destroy. LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2018Trade ReviewEngrossing -- Matt Chilton, **Books of the Year** * Daily Telegraph *Eighty years after the events it depicts, Berlin 1936 is a small masterpiece – you actually feel like you were there… The book was originally in German, but Jefferson Chase’s translation is so perfectly judged, you’d never even notice -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail, **Books of the Year** *Entertaining... A vivid collage of vignettes gleaned from diaries, police reports, snippets from newspapers, and so on. It dances from comedy to tragedy, from the ironic to the sinister, to give a picture of a darkening Germany... Hilmes has an eye for incidental detail. -- Robbie Millen * The Times *A German historian charts the Berlin Olympics day by day through a series of memorable vignettes of life under Nazism. Hilmes’ deceptively jaunty, even comic tone echoes that of the Games themselves -- Simon Kuper * Financial Times, **Books of the Year** *This book reads like a tourist guide to a city on the eve of destruction -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times, **Books of the Year** *

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Book SynopsisThe 1988 Seoul Olympics played host to what has been described by some as the dirtiest race of all time, by others as the greatest. The final of the men''s 100 metres at those Olympics is certainly the most infamous in the history of athletics, and more indelibly etched into the consciousness of the sport, the Olympics, and a global audience of millions, than any other athletics event before or since.Ben Johnson''s world-record time of 9.79 seconds as thrilling as it was was the beginning rather than the end of the story. Following the race, Johnson tested positive, news that generated as many if not more shockwaves as his fastest ever run. He was stripped of the title, Lewis was awarded the gold medal, Linford Christie the silver and Calvin Smith the bronze.More than two decades on, the story still hadn''t ended. In 1999 Lewis was named Sportsman of the Century by the IOC, and Olympian of the Century by Sports Illustrated. Yet his reputation was damaged by revelTrade Reviewwill bring armchair athletes to the edge of their seats - and leave them with a very nasty taste in their mouths * Mail on Sunday *a magnificent document about the Carl Lewis-Ben Johnson rivalry. It plunges you deep into the bitterness that marked their enmity and because Moore is the kind of journalist who will speak to 17 people when he could get the story from two, the breadth and detail is astonishing * The Times *A remarkably fresh read given the amount of ink already spilled on the topic. Author Richard Moore has delivered what is certainly the most comprehensive account, and as close to definitive as possible without giving all the "answers" * Glasgow Herald *A captivating and detailed account ... it reads like a thriller, which is exactly the right tone to adopt by author Richard Moore for a story dripping with skulduggery and intrigue ... compelling * Sunday Express *The sportswriter Richard Moore tells the story at a sprinter's pace in his rollicking and well-researched The Dirtiest Race in History * Simon Kuper, Financial Times *Written with a fine sense of balance, timing and tension * The Guardian *Probably the finest sports book published this year * thewashingmachinepost.net *Table of ContentsThe Quest Prologue Part One: Carl and Ben 1. The Santa Monica Track Club 2. Picking Daisies 3. Ben and Charlie 4. The Quiet One 5. The Roots of Evil 6. Wanna be Startin' Somethin' 7. The Prince and the Missing Paperwork Part Two: Rivals 8. Lewis 8, Johnson 1 9. Big Ben and King Carl Part Three: Seoul 10. Dodging 11. The Glasnost Games 12. Sweating it Out 13. The Human Bullet 14. Deny, Deny, Deny 15. The Mystery Man Epilogue: Different Era, Different Time Zone, Same Thing Where Are They Now? Statistics Interviews Bibliography and Further Reading Acknowledgements Index

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Book Synopsis‘Eric Liddell deserves a definitive biography. This is it.’Sunday Times, Books of the YearFaster. Higher. Stronger. No one has embodied the ideals of the Olympic movement quite like Eric Liddell, star of the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire. After refusing to compete on religious principle in the event in which he was favourite, the 100 metres, at the 1924 Games in Paris, Liddell won an astonishing gold medal in the 400 metres. But instead of pursuing a path of global fame and fortune, he chose to follow his calling as a missionary in the country of his birth, China, a land which then fell under the iron grip of a brutal Japanese army.Liddell became the inspirational leader of the work camp in which he, like many thousands, was interned, and For the Glory is the full story of his life, of his family, of his fellow prisoners and the terrible hardships and atrocities they experienced in the Far East. This is the tale of a sporting icon, a man of honour and principle who paid the ultimate sacrifice while becoming the moral centre of an otherwise unbearable world.Trade ReviewFor the Glory is wonderful: painstakingly researched, intelligently structured and written with flair. In an Olympic year, it is fitting that an Olympic tale should be the most uplifting. * Daily Telegraph, Sports Books of the Year *Eric Liddell deserves a definitive biography. This is it. * Sunday Times, Sports Books of the Year *Absorbing... in an age when sport is riddled with corruption, vanity and petty rage, Liddell's story is timely. However, the real theme is faith and providence rather than fame and proving oneself. A story about religious belief could be dry fare, but Liddell is too good a subject and Hamilton too deft a guide to let that happen... He is one of the great sportsmen of the 20th century purely because he knew sport's place. * The Times *Eric Liddell's athletic prowess was immortalised in Chariots of Fire. But Duncan Hamilton offers a more detailed and equally engrossing insight into one of Britain's great sporting heroes in this compelling new biography. For the Glory is in turn triumphant, harrowing, moving yet ultimately uplifting. It also cements the status of Hamilton, twice-winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, as the doyen of biographical sports writing. * Daily Express *Duncan Hamilton's compelling biography puts flesh on the legend and paints a vivid picture of not only a great athlete, but also a very special human being. * Daily Mail, Book of the Week *

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Book SynopsisNile Wilson is known to many as a Great Britain Gymnast who won a Bronze Medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and who is England's most successful ever gymnast at a Commonwealth Games following his 5 medals in 2018\. Yet, Nile is so much more than just a gymnast. A YouTuber with over a million subscribers, a social media influencer, a successful businessman and entrepeneur, Nile is also an advocate for mental health awareness, and who has been very open about his own personal struggles. Nile Wilson - My Story gives an unprecedented look into Nile's true battle to be fit and ready for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics - throughout the Games and the aftermath. The public perception of Nile Wilson is his humour, openness and how down to earth he is, all of which is true. Due to this perception however, people presume they know everything about him. This book will shatter that perception, and reveal the struggles behind the smiles, from the brutal reality of performing at an elite sporting level, to the mental health battles Nile has had to fight - and continues to fight - every day.

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for Autobiography of the Year, Sports Book Awards 2022The Instant Sunday Times BestsellerHonest and moving everything a memoir should be' The SunAn illuminating look at what it takes to be an Olympian in this story, passion reigns supreme' CosmopolitanTom Daley captured the hearts of the nation with his unforgettable medal-winning performance in the London 2012 Olympics. At the games in Tokyo, he triumphed to win gold and became the most decorated British diver of all time.In this deeply personal book, Tom explores the experiences that have shaped him and the qualities to which he owes his contentment and success; from the resilience he developed competing at world-class level, to the courage he discovered while reclaiming the narrative around his sexuality, and the perspective that family life has brought him.Candid and perceptive, Coming Up for Air offers a unique insight into the life and mindset of one our greatest and most-loved athletes.

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Book SynopsisWith his last-gasp victory as part of the Great British coxless four team at the Athens Olympics, Matthew Pinsent clinched an historic fourth Olympic Gold to add to the three already won with his legendary rowing partner Steve Redgrave. In an uniquely exciting and evocative autobiography, Pinsent interweaves the build-up to Athens 2004 with the extraordinary story of his career and unforgettable partnership with Redgrave. Plucked from obscurity at the age of 20, told to partner his hero, and trained to within an inch of his life, Pinsent''s story is uniquely revealing about what it takes to be a champion and the mixed blessings of success. Culminating with a nail-biting final chapter detailing the team''s extraordinary victory in Athens in blow-by-blow detail, A Lifetime in a Race is a sports book in a different mould.Trade ReviewA very honest book - not in a sensational way - but more revealing in the realities of training, competing and racing ... Extremely enjoyable * Daily Telegraph *A good book, well-written, informative, engaging, revealing ... The insights Pinsent brings to his sport are worth the price alone * Sunday Times *The most insightful of the post-Olympic books in which the super-human rower demonstrates a reflectiveness that is rare among sportspeople ... He writes superbly * Independent on Sunday *Pinsent tells his own story in A Lifetime in a Race, and tells it truthfully ...This is another tale that rips off the page and says big, powerful things about sport, and about the frailties of big, powerful men * The Times *A gripping account of his life and most recent times. He deftly conveys the sheer effort needed to survive the brutal training regimes in top-level rowing, as well as the obsessive intensity that brought him his Olympic haul * Independent *

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Book SynopsisThe lost memoir of Britain’s first Black Olympic medal winner—and the America he discoveredTrade Review“A fascinating historical document, Harry Edward had a sharp eye and an ever-busy pen. Unfailingly frank, humorous, always dignified and empathetic, Edward describes a world in flux, as seen by a Black hero no-one really knows about – and everyone should.”—Hugh Muir, Writer and Editor at the Guardian “The celebration of Britain’s first Black Olympic medallist would merit its own narrative, but that was just the beginning of Harry Edward’s race through life. His story deserves to be told and his experiences should remind us all that we are all equal both in and out of the sporting arena.”—Steve Cram, British Track and Field Athlete “Harry was empowered by his Olympic experience and truly lived the Olympic values. He fought injustice and for inclusion wherever he went. His story is an inspiration to us all and is as relevant today as it was fifty years ago.”—Joël Bouzou OLY, World Olympic Association President “Harry Edward tells the story of a man who fought for justice in the United States – and the world over. His was truly an Olympic spirit.”—Katherine Mooney, author of Isaac Murphy “Such a beautiful, engaging, fascinating book – and to think we had it here at the Amistad Research Center all this time. When I Passed the Statue of Liberty I Became Black is a wonderful contribution to the fields of sports and history. Kudos to Neil Duncanson for getting this memoir out into the world where it belongs.”—Lisa Moore, Amistad Research Center

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019''Brutally honest . . . A moving, candid tale of a coach taking the plunge with a rugby ball as his only buoyancy aid'' DAILY EXPRESS''An engrossing account of a remarkable story'' EVENING STANDARD''An excellent read covering a brilliant journey'' Sir Clive WoodwardIt is late summer 2013. Ben Ryan, a red-haired, 40-something, spectacle-wearing Englishman, is given 20 minutes to decide whether he wants to coach Fiji''s rugby sevens team, with the aim of taking them to the nation''s first-ever Olympic medal. He has never been to Fiji. There has been no discussion of contracts or salary. But he knows that no one plays rugby like the men from these isolated Pacific islands, just as no one plays football like the kids from the Brazilian favelas, or no one runs as fast as the boys and girls from Jamaica''s boondocks. He knows too that no other rugby nation has so little - no monTrade ReviewYou'll struggle to read a more compelling rugby story than this . . . heartily recommendedAn excellent read covering a brilliant journeyOne of the all-time great sporting tales . . . Good things happen to good peopleSevens Heaven by Ben Ryan is such a special book * Guardian, Best Sports Books of the Year *Brutally honest . . . A moving, candid tale of a coach taking the plunge with a rugby ball as his only buoyancy aid * Daily Express *An engrossing account of a remarkable story * Evening Standard *So many beautiful, provocative postcard descriptions of Fiji alongside fascinating, honest insights and humble lessons and truthsSevens Heaven, the story of how English coach Ben Ryan took the Fiji sevens side to Olympic gold, is the best rugby book I've ever read (I don't say that lightly) and as good as any sports book, from Mailer to Plimpton to Hauser, I've encountered in the almost sixty years since I got a Terry McLean '59 Lions tour book for Christmas. It's so good because it reads at times like a noir novel, and is stunningly open and honest. We know how the rugby ended, but Ryan's book is so gripping to tell you any other plot twists might spoil it for youWe always knew a book by Ben Ryan wouldn't be dull, but Sevens Heaven surpasses all expectations. The Londoner's "three years of enlightenment" in the South Pacific makes such enthralling reading that I unhesitatingly call this one of the best rugby books ever written * Rugby World *Entertaining and insightful * The Rugby Paper *

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Book SynopsisWhen Great Britain failed to qualify for the women's hockey competition at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the sport was at its lowest point. Sliding down the world rankings, in-fighting and discord within the squad, no funding and very little prospect of a bright future. Three players - Crista Cullen, Helen Richardson and Kate Walsh - were junior members of that team, and would have been forgiven for walking away at that point. Fast forward 12 years and the same three players were at the heart of the greatest moment in Great Britain women's hockey, standing on the podium in Rio de Janeiro with Olympic gold medals proudly hanging around their necks. During those intervening years, the team had undergone a transformation. It was no easy journey, but a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, triumphs and disasters - with casualties along the way. The History Makers is more than an account of a famous victory. It is the story of how a team changed its culture and its attitude and transformed a sport barely worth a mention in the press into the provider of an Olympic moment that gripped the nation.

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Book Synopsis"My Hidden Race" is the story of Olympic medallist Anyika Onuora, who stood on the podium at every major championship in athletics. This book won't go into detail about the technicalities of her sport or the beauty of the Olympic spirit however. In the era of the Black Lives Matter and Me Too, this is an unflinching testimony of what it takes to pursue your dreams as a Black British woman against all odds. This three-time Olympian will lift the lid on the reality of life as a black female athlete in Britain in a way that nobody else has done before her. Nothing is off the record. She is revealing her life for the first time in this book with complete fearlessness. There have been far too many years of silence caught in a system. Now Anyika is determined to make up for lost time and use her story to inspire and heal others. "My Hidden Race" will take you into a world that often takes place far from the spotlight of the Olympic torch and shines an intense light on the brutal reality of professional sport for many black females.

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Book SynopsisGet ready for the race of your life… This is what it feels like when I’m running. When I’m running fast, I feel free. 12-year-old Lili is determined to defeat her arch rival in front of the Queen during her school’s anniversary celebrations. Adopted from China as a baby, Lili also has personal challenges to overcome, but when her training is thrown into chaos by events outside her control, she realises that she must choose between family and the race of her life. Meanwhile in 1944, Eric Liddell, hero of the 1924 Olympics, finds himself in a war zone. Separated from his family, he is getting ready to run his final race in a prison camp in China when his lifelong principles are challenged by the imprisoned children he is trying to help… Praise for The Race ‘Not your typical happily ever after, Roy has written a wonderfully relatable and inclusive tale, where all are welcome, and the beauty of sport brings everyone together in the end. There are life lessons to be learned in this inspiring story with friendship at its heart.’ SHAUNAGH BROWN International Rugby Player and Former Commonwealth Games AthleteTrade Review‘An inspiring, inclusive story with sport at its heart.’ SHAUNAGH BROWN 'An original, immensely readable take on the Eric Liddell story for the 21st century.' SALLY MAGNUSSON ‘A very interesting, relatable and enjoyable read that brings the memory of Eric Liddell to life.’ ALLAN WELLS MBE 'Written with a warm sense of inclusion and friendship, The Race is both an inspiration and an emotional journey into the lives of two runners, one fictional and one very real, but both with battles to fight and problems to solve.' LANCASHIRE POST ‘This book is built around the foundations of sport what it really teaches children is about family, the meaning of home and of the beauty and validity of dual identity.’ THE NATIONAL ‘An emotional story that follows two narratives set in two different decades, with the main focus being schoolgirl Lili as she prepares for the race of her life. Recommended for lovers of Michael Morpurgo, this book will tug at your heartstrings as Lili tugs at the knot of her shoelaces.’ BIG ISSUE NORTH ‘The Race is an incredibly inspirational and heart-warming dual narrative about racing, family and dedication which kept me completely engrossed throughout. An absolute winner!’ BOOK CRAIC ‘The Race is an inspiring and multi-layered read that both celebrates sport and assesses it. It gets off to a sprint start, but as the two runners chase their bumpy destinies, it evolves into an engrossing distance event, in which they face hurdles and select strategies, and ultimately remind us that determination, compassion and love have greater value than glory.’ ROARING READS ‘Roy Peachey has written a fantastic dual narrative story of survival against all odds.’ MY BOOK CORNER ‘A moving tale of what is important – what really is important. About the decisions we make and why we make them. A book everyone should read. Buy it if you race. Buy it, if you play rugby. Buy it anyway.' SUE CHAMBERS, WATERSTONES ‘The Race is a fabulous tale; Lili’s story interwoven with Eric Liddell’s. I loved every minute of this fairly short book... It’s this kind of surprise find that makes reading such a great pleasure.' THE BOOKWITCH '...could spark discussions about resilience, race and identity, research, the Olympics, history, family and personal priorities. Sure to offer an extra special appeal this year in the run-up to the Olympic Games.' BOOKS FOR TOPICS

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Book SynopsisWith a show-jumping career spanning over forty years, Nick Skelton is a legend in the equestrian world. No other rider has won so many major competitions on so many different horses and he is as popular at Olympia and Hickstead as he is at Aachen, Geneva, Paris and Spruce Meadows. Skelton has competed in eight Olympic Games. He was part of the gold medal-winning Great Britain team at London 2012 and made history by winning the individual Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016, riding at the age of fifty-eight his beloved horse Big Star.Nick Skelton began riding at the age of eighteen months on a Welsh pony called Oxo. At the age of seventeenth in 1975, Skelton took team silver and individual gold at the Junior European Championships. He has competed many times at the European Show Jumping Championships, winning numerous medals, both individually and with the British team. In 1980 he competed in the Alternative Olympics, where he helped the British team to a silver medal. He still ho

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Book Synopsis'Brilliant' The TimesMario Leme is a low-ranking detective in the Sao Paulo civil police. Every day on the way to work he sets off early and drives through the favela known as Paraisopolis - Paradise City. It's a pilgrimage: his wife Renata was gunned down at an intersection here a year ago, the victim of a stray bullet in a conflict between drug dealers. One morning, parked near the place where Renata died, he sees an SUV careen out of control and flip over. The driver Leo is killed, but before his body is removed, Leme is sure he sees bullet wounds. Leo's death wasn't an accident, he was murdered. Soon, his girlfriend turns up dead too. And if they were killed deliberately, perhaps Renata was too . . . Leme finds himself immersed further and further in the dark underbelly of Brazilian society, as corruption seeps from the highest to the lowest echelons, and the devastating truth about Renata begins to emerge.PRAISE FOR JOE THOMAS'Brilliant' The Times 'Feverish energy' Guardian 'Wonderfully vivid' Mail on Sunday'Sophisticated, dizzying' GQ'Vivid and visceral' The Times'Superbly realised vivid and atmospheric' Guardian'Original' Mail on Sunday'A stylish, atmospheric treat an inspired blend of David Peace and early Pinter' Irish Times 'Sparse, energetic, fragmented prose' The Spectator 'Vibrant, colourful, and complex' Irish Independent 'Stylish, sharp-witted, taut. A must for modern noir fans' NB Magazine 'Definitive confident and energetic' Crime Time 'Brilliant manic energy' Jake Arnott 'Wildly stylish and hugely entertaining' Lucy Caldwell 'Vivid, stylish, funny' Mick Herron 'Gripping, fast-paced, darkly atmospheric' Susanna Jones 'Snappy, thoughtful, moving' John King 'Exciting, fresh, incredibly assured' Stav Sherez 'Happy days!' Mark Timlin 'Utterly brilliant' Cathi Unsworth 'Had James Ellroy and David Peace collaborated on a novel they'd have written something like this' Paul WilletsTrade ReviewJoe Thomas, who lived in São Paulo for a decade, uses his first-hand knowledge to convincingly bring the city to life -- Nick Caistor * Latinolife *Great crime fiction hinges on a sense of place, and after returning to London after ten years living in the world in which he's set his sophisticated debut, Thomas proves an adroit guide to a city that has developed at dizzying speed * GQ *

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Book Synopsis''Elite athletes aren''t born. They''re made.''Michael JohnsonFrom a living icon of the Olympic Games as both an athlete and now as a BBC broadcaster Gold Rush is a compelling analysis of the fascinating combination of psychological and personal qualities, as well as internal and external factors, that go to create an Olympic champion.This exciting new book is based on Michael Johnson''s own experiences as an iconic four-time Olympic champion, and on the knowledge he has gleaned as a top-class coach and motivational speaker. It also features, uniquely, more than a dozen exclusive and insightful interviews with Olympic legends from across several different sports who between them have claimed more than 50 gold medals over the past 30 years.In essence, Johnson has assembled his very own Olympic Hall of Fame in assessing the DNA of true champions.Gold Rush is themed around chapters in which Johnson will discuss each of the key qualities/factors. He expertly feeds in fascinating first-peTrade Review“Essential Reading” The Observer

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Book SynopsisBuild your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right levelWhat''s it like to compete in the world''s largest sporting event? Find out all about the Olympic Games, when they began and how they have changed over time. Read about the different events and some of the amazing stories of how athletes have won their medals in this fascinating information book.Topaz/ Band 13 books offer longer and more demanding reads for children to investigate and evaluate.Text type: An infomation book.A useful chart on pages 46-47 compares Olympic events from the ancient games, the first modern games and the most recent games to help children discuss what they've read and think about the way the sporting event has changed and developed over time.Additional information retrieval devices such as a glossary and index can be evaluated for their usefulness as children develop critical reading skills.Curriculum links: Geography: Connecting ourselves to the world; Citizenship: Living in a diverse

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Book SynopsisEvery winner of an Olympic event has had to work hard to get to the top, but some have to work even harder to succeed. Find out which athletes have overcome racial inequality, illness and disabilities to earn their medals.Green/Band 5 books offer early readers patterned language and varied characters.Text type: An information bookCurriculum Links: Citizenship: Living in a diverse worldThis book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

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Book SynopsisEric Liddell is famous for being the man who would not compromise his religious principles and refused to compete in the Olympics on a Sunday - despite the fact that he was the red hot favourite for the gold. Instead he entered a different event that was not being competed on the Sabbath... and won a gold anyway. One of Scotland''s finest athletes, Liddell was feted throughout the United Kingdom. At the height of his fame, however, he slipped quietly out of the limelight to become a missionary in China, where he later came to an unpleasant end in a Japanese internment camp.

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Book SynopsisSam Quek is mainly known for her starring role in the 2016 Olympic gold medal winning hockey team. This was the first time a British ladies team had won gold, but what is much less known is that Sam's rise to the top of her spot was far from easy. Sam missed out on being part of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics but competed for England at the 2013 EuroHockey tournament and 2014 Commonwealth Games, which she won silver medals. She won the gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics after the GB hockey team beat the Netherlands on penalties. How Sam overcame the bitter disappointment of being overlooked for the two previous Olympics and ensured that she wouldn't miss out again are revealed here for the first time. She also tells of her tough childhood and her battle to reach the heights that she has. She then went on to further fame by appearing in 'I'm a Celebrity' where she proved to be hugely popular with the viewing public, eventually finishing fourth. Sam now presents a variety of sports for TV, including men and women's football, NFL and hockey. She has been signed up to be the main presenter for the women's World Hockey Championships in 2018, held in August. She is hugely popular on social media with thousands of followers on twitter and instagram. Sam also has some very strong views on how women are portrayed in sport and their treatment by both coaches and the media. This is a hugely topical subject at the moment and promises to remain so for some time.

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Book SynopsisWith an exclusive foreword by Usain Bolt, The Fastest Men on Earth tells the fascinating inside stories of the Olympic Men's 100m Champions. It takes just under ten seconds to run, but the results of the Olympic men's 100 metres are etched forever into history. In The Fastest Men on Earth, journalist Neil Duncanson tells the stories of the 25 athletes who've been crowned champions in the event, and earned the coveted title of 'Fastest Man on Earth'.Each chapter explores the fascinating, inspiring, and occasionally tragic lives of these supremely talented sprinters, as well as the intense drama of the record-breaking runs that wrote them into history. Immaculately researched and featuring exclusive interviews with several Olympic champions, including a new conversation with Usain Bolt, The Fastest Men on Earth brings the stories of some of the greatest athletes of all time to life like never before.Table of ContentsForeword • Introduction • Tom Burke (1896) • Frank Jarvis (1900) • Archie Hahn (1904) • Reg Walker (1908) • Ralph Craig (1912) • Charley Paddock (1920) • Harold Abrahams (1924) • Percy Williams (1928) • Eddie Tolan (1932) • Jesse Owens (1936) • Harrison Dillard (1948) • Lindy Remingo (1952) • Bobby Morrow (1956) • Armin Hary (1960) • Bob Hayes (1964) • Jim Hines (1968) • Valeriy Borzov (1972) • Hasely Crawford (1976) • Allan Wells (1980) • Carl Lewis (1984-1988) • Linford Christie (1992) • Donovan Bailey (1996) • Maurice Greene (2000) • Justin Gatlin (2004) • Usain Bolt (2008-2016) • The Future of Sprinting.

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Book SynopsisIn the early 1970s, the athletes of the German Democratic Republic started to achieve incredible sports results, winning medals and setting new world records with astonishing frequency. For many years, their sporting supremacy was hailed as a triumph of the socialist government's commitment to scientific research and innovative training methods. But after the Cold War ended, the Stasi archives revealed a sinister secret behind the successes: a perverse doping system imposed by the government itself. Drugs were administered to young athletes, often without their consent, and the price their bodies are now paying is very high, both physically and mentally. Through the athletes' personal stories, Synthetic Medals reveals the events that led to the discovery of the state-doping system and the subsequent trial. It also explores the state's motives for this crime against its own people - people who were sacrificed on the altar of a distorted ideology, for the simple purpose of achieving glory on the international chessboard.

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Book SynopsisFrom Olympic glory to the madness of midlife, Gail Emms shares the highs and lows of her journey gruelling training, career-defining moments and the struggle of life beyond elite sport. With humour and honesty, she dives into parenting, raving and dating in her 40s, proving that life after medals is just as wild.

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Book Synopsis5 September, 1972. 4.30 a.m. The Munich Olympic Village. Black September, a group of Palestinian terrorists, break into the Israeli team's apartments. It is the beginning of the most tragic event in Olympic history and, after twenty hours, the day will end in a massacre, with the deaths of eleven Israelis, five Palestinians and a German policeman. This is the story of the race-walker Shaul Ladany: a survivor. But more than just a member of the Israeli team from those terrible events in Munich, Ladany was a survivor of the darkest period in twentieth century history, having been interred as a child at the Nazi concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen, the camp where Anne Frank died. For the second time in his life, Ladany has survived history. Ladany, the world record holder in the fifty-mile walk and a professor of industrial engineering, is one of Israel’s most successful athletes, having won dozens of national championships and competed at both the 1968 and 1972 Olympics; he was a student at Columbia University in New York, a soldier in the Six Days War and the Yom Kippur War. From Eichmann to Sharon, from Bikila to All Blacks, from Nixon to Thatcher: they are all a part of Ladany’s walk through the twentieth century. Award-winning author and journalist Andrea Schiavon tells Ladany's extraordinary life and, walking with him, chronicles a whole century of events in this astonishing, touching and epic biography.

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Book SynopsisTHE STORY BEHIND THE WOMAN WHO CHANGED THE FACE OF BOXING FOREVER, OBE NICOLA ADAMSAt London 2012, Nicola Adams made history when she became the first woman ever to win an Olympic Gold medal for boxing. In Rio 2016, with the nation cheering her on, she did it all over again. Years of relentless training, fundraising and determination have seen Nicola battle through injury, prejudice and defeat to become one of Britain best-loved athletes and an inspiration to all those who are chasing after a seemingly impossible dream. From a leisure centre in Leeds to the Olympic Stadium in Rio, Nicola with her famous smile has become an LGBTQ+ icon and the poster girl for women in sport. This is her story of grit, talent and the real person behind the smile.Nicola is soon to be a contestant on BBC''s Strictly Come Dancing in the show''s first same-sex pairing. ____________________WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT NICOLA:Trade ReviewThe British public don't just admire her, they love her * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThis book is an analysis of both contemporary Tokyo and the contemporary Olympic Games, emphasizing the role of late-stage capitalism and political economy in shaping both.The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were mired in scandal from the beginning of the bidding process all the way through to the end of the games. This was further exacerbated by the emergency postponement to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with many public opinion polls supporting further postponement or cancelation in 2021. The contributors to this volume look at the Tokyo 2020 Games in the context of other modern games and the struggle to use the games as an economic stimulus. They reveal the reality of the Olympic development in Tokyo based on evidence and concrete policy analysis.This is a valuable resource for scholars both of contemporary Japan and of the Olympics and other mega-events.

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Book SynopsisThe Olympics have a checkered, sometimes scandalous, political history. Jules Boykoff, a former US Olympic team member, takes readers from the event's nineteenth-century origins, through the Games' flirtation with Fascism, and into the contemporary era of corporate control. Along the way he recounts vibrant alt-Olympic movements, such as the Workers' Games and Women's Games of the 1920s and 1930s as well as athlete-activists and political movements that stood up to challenge the Olympic machine.Trade ReviewAn Olympic history that simply hasn't been told. -- Olympic medalist John Carlos, author of The John Carlos StoryShould be on every Olympian's bookshelf. -- Laurence Halsted, fencer and "Team GB" Olympian at Rio 2016[Boykoff's] jaunty polemic Power Games is billed as a political history of the Olympics. It is actually more of a call-to-arms to people faced with this giant intrusion. * Financial Times *As much a tool for activists as a work of scholarship, [Power Games] relentlessly attacks the hypocrisy of the Olympic myth. * Washington Post *A great irony is that the modern Olympics, first envisioned as an alternative to war, have themselves become a form of low-intensity warfare. As Jules Boykoff chronicles in this pathbreaking history, host cities have used the Games to leverage urban renewal, neighborhood demolition, and mass population displacement. The preparations for the Rio Olympics have gone one step further and become a literal urban counterinsurgency, as elite police units occupy and 'cleanse' one favela after another. -- Mike Davis, author of Planet of SlumsJules Boykoff takes us deep into the heart to of the Olympic industry to look at the experiences of the people who are affected most by these Games-you and me. This powerful book explores how individuals and groups-from Indigenous people, to athletes to the homeless-have opened our eyes to the possibility of a more humane world through the Olympics. Boykoff also makes it clear that the Olympics have amends to make with Indigenous people worldwide, whether in Canada, the United States, or Australia. Indigenous people have struggled to defend their lands and rights against the Olympic juggernaut, linking their struggles with those of the broader public, showing us how the Games could and should leave better legacies for all, not just the well-to-do. Power Games is an insightful chronicle of Indigenous activism in and against the Games, as well as an intellectual roadmap for how all of our interests are intertwined. In elevating Indigenous voices, Boykoff also exposes the problematic representations of Indigenous people that are frequently proffered by Olympic-controlled media. Power Games is an important and approachable work that should be on every bookshelf, a must read for anyone interested in the future of the Games. -- Janice Forsyth, former Director of the International Centre for Olympic Studies at Western University in Ontario, member of the Fisher River Cree First NationEven since Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the International Olympic Committee has sought to deny the inherently political nature of the modern Olympic games. In Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics, Jules Boykoff, arguably the world's leading authority on the Olympic movement, exposes the IOC's claims of apoliticism as a sham. Through a carefully researched history of the Olympic Games, Boykoff skillfully details how the Olympics benefit political elites and corporate interests at the expense of local host cities and even democracy itself. But this is no pessimistic account. Boykoff ends by outlining how a more democratic and transparent Olympics is still possible, making Power Games essential reading for anyone wanting to understanding the power and importance of the modern Olympics. -- Ben Carrington, University of Texas at Austin, author of Race, Sport and PoliticsEnjoyable and informative, Power Games is an even more relevant read in the build-up to this summer's . Olympics. -- Jamie Johnson * Morning Star *An important read for those who will be watching this summer's contests in Rio. Even more importantly, though, it is a necessary text for those who live in cities the International Olympic Committee is eyeing for its next overpriced neoliberal capitalist extravaganza. The people of Boston sent the IOC packing in 2015 for many of the reasons elucidated in this history. Other cities would do well to do the same. This book explains why. -- Ron Jacobs * Counterpunch *This explosive book leaves us asking whether the IOC's insistence that sport is above such concerns as justice, liberty and human rights has not in fact been a fundamentally corrosive stance from the start. * Sunday Herald *[Power Games is] really two books in one: a historical overview of the Games' checkered history and a searing indictment of the IOC's hypocrisy and hubris...unrelentingly critical [and also] constructive. -- Houman Barekat * Jacobin *A truly inside-track critique of the fanfare, Boykoff addresses the games as a site of scandal and rebellion. -- Bailey Flynn * MobyLives! *A timely and depressing reminder of the grisly underbelly of the Olympic Games. -- Diarmaid Ferriter * Irish Times *By examining Olympic history from the revival of the Games in 1896 to the imminent Rio Olympics, Boykoff traces how the Olympics have developed into the behemoth that has transformed Rio over the past seven years. Beyond this, he also provides fantastic detail on many of the egregious abuses in the name of Rio 2016. -- Adam Talbot * RioOnWatch *To anyone who believes that the excesses of the Games over the past 50 years or so have betrayed a purer original legacy, [Power Games] by Jules Boykoff provides a bracing corrective. * Spectator *Jules Boykoff debunks any remaining myths associated with the 'spirit' and 'goodwill' of the Olympic 'movement' by attending closely to the machinations of this monopolistic, non-sovereign, and largely unaccountable organization and its beneficiaries. * Public Books *As sporting mega-events become the focus of a growing number of activists, Power Games provides the basis for those campaigns to be better informed and more effective. -- Malcolm Maclean * Red Pepper *Jules Boykoff's Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics is a smart, sharp, and critically balanced outline of the modern Olympic revival. -- Robert L. Kehoe III * Boston Review *Exhuastively researched and clearly written. -- Jon Day * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisWhen UK Sport removed funding for women's BMX, Bethany Shriever's dream of Olympic glory seemed shattered. Throw in the impact of a broken leg sustained in childhood, plus an untimely arm injury weeks before the final Olympic qualification event, and few would have thought the 22-year-old would be on the plane to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, let alone the podium. And with the uncertainty caused by a global pandemic, the external pressures on Beth were intense and pervasive. However, the BMX racer from Essex is made of stern stuff and, perhaps just as importantly, so are the team around her. From her deeply involved family, to her dedicated coaching team, to her friends within the BMX community, Beth's story recognises the team behind an athlete. This compelling tale of triumph over adversity reveals how the power of belief overcame the obstacles that threatened to derail Bethany's dreams of becoming the best ever female BMX racer.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis"Learning never stops. It still surprises me that I can discover new and effective ways to train" Gill Watson's lifelong dedication to training and mentoring young riders has taken her on a journey that has spanned decades. Many of today's most renowned British eventers began their international careers under Gill's watchful eye. Full of insight, humour and occasional spills, Gill has drawn together memories from over forty former pupils and colleagues. This is an extraordinary record of life as an international team coach, and a fascinating look at the skills and techniques which forge young talent into future stars. With guest contributors including Olympic Gold Medal winner Laura Collett and a foreword by Pippa Funnell.Trade Review'This book is a must-read for all coaches' -- PIPPA FUNNELL; 'Anyone who looks at the results that Gill pulled out of the bag, year after year, with so many different riders, will understand what a talented trainer she is' -- LAURA COLLETT; "The book is a huge testament to Gill’s skill as a horsewoman and technical coach, plus her ability to bring out the best in people ... I wanted to start again at the beginning as soon as I finished it" -- HORSE AND HOUND magazine

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Book SynopsisPublished by Lapwing Publishing ServicesOne wintry afternoon in 1943, a solitary airman lies injured and exhausted in an inflatable life raft. The debris of his Liberator bomber has disappeared beneath the waves of the Atlantic leaving behind a slick of black oil. He is the only survivor of a crew of eight. His name is Wing Commander Hugh ''Jumbo'' Edwards, one of the greatest oarsmen of all time.Eleven years earlier, at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Hugh Edwards thrilled thousands with an astonishing two gold medals won in a single hour. On this winter afternoon, in the loneliness of the Atlantic and with darkness descending, he is now rowing to save his life.Water''s Gleaming Goldis the incredible true story of the most extraordinary oarsman, Olympian, pilot, war hero and legendary British rowing coach. This is the tale of a man of courage and conviction - on a pursuit to redemption from public humiliation.One hell of a story (Daniel James Brown, author of Boys in the Boat')A true Olympic and rowing hero, and a story that is both fascinating and truly dramatic (Dan Snow, Oxford Blue, Historian, Broadcaster)We modern oarsmen and women are sometimes asked to row as if our lives depended on it lt is only Jumbo Edwards from the British Olympic rowing family who had to do that literally (Sir Matthew Pinsent Olympian, Oxford Blue)

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Book SynopsisTravel with Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins on her compelling journey from America’s heartland to international sports history, navigating challenges and triumphs with rugged grit and a splash of glitter Pyeongchang, February 21, 2018. In the nerve-racking final seconds of the women’s team sprint freestyle race, Jessie Diggins dug deep. Blowing past two of the best sprinters in the world, she stretched her ski boot across the finish line and lunged straight into Olympic immortality: the first ever cross-country skiing gold medal for the United States at the Winter Games. The 26-year-old Diggins, a four-time World Championship medalist, was literally a world away from the small town of Afton, Minnesota, where she first strapped on skis. Yet, for all her history-making achievements, she had never strayed far from the scrappy 12-year-old who had insisted on portaging her own canoe through the wilderness, yelling happily under the unwieldy weight on her shoulders: “Look! I’m doing it!” In Brave Enough, Jessie Diggins reveals the true story of her journey from the American Midwest into sports history. With candid charm and characteristic grit, she connects the dots from her free-spirited upbringing in the woods of Minnesota to racing in the bright spotlights of the Olympics. Going far beyond stories of races and ribbons, she describes the challenges and frustrations of becoming a serious athlete; learning how to push through and beyond physical and psychological limits; and the intense pressure of competing at the highest levels. She openly shares her harrowing struggle with bulimia, recounting both the adversity and how she healed from it in order to bring hope and understanding to others experiencing eating disorders. Between thrilling accounts of moments of triumph, Diggins shows the determination it takes to get there—the struggles and disappointments, the fun and the hard work, and the importance of listening to that small, fierce voice: I can do it. I am brave enough.Trade Review "Jessie Diggins was an elite athlete long before she became an Olympic gold medalist. In Brave Enough, she shows world-class courage by sharing the truth about her eating disorder, her therapy, and the multitude of challenges, doubts, fears, and assorted bogeymen that are so often an untold part of the journey to greatness. She deserves another gold medal for her honesty and her inspiration."—Wayne Coffey, New York Times best-selling author of The Boys of Winter* "I’m honored to have played a role in inspiring Jessie on her journey to Olympic Gold. Brave Enough is a befitting title for this brutally honest and powerful story. As an athlete, Jessie was brave enough to win on the world’s biggest sporting stage. As a writer, she is brave enough to share a raw, heart-wrenching, nothing-held-back look at the struggles she went through to succeed. It’s an inspiring story, worthy of gold."—Jackie Joyner-Kersee "Already an inspiration to us all, Jessie once again shows her courage to leave it all on the track by sharing her deeply personal story. Readers will be encouraged by how one woman created a path forward for herself—and helped and uplifted so many in the process."—Ann Bancroft "Brave Enough is a powerful story that shows that striving for excellence can be essential in sport, yet not even Olympic champions are immune from its unforeseen destructive consequences. With admirable vulnerability, Jessie demonstrates how to be a leader and ‘best teammate’ while also being open to help and support from others. Her story motivates all of us, and she gives us hope and real tools to tackle our biggest challenges. I have never been more proud of my teammate and friend . . . not only has Jessie defeated foes on the race trails but she has courageously conquered the demons in her mind to become a true champion. She is an inspiration for everyone!"—Kikkan Randall, Olympic Champion and World Champion "Jessie has one of the most infectiously positive and bubbly personalities of anyone I have ever met. That, combined with her fierce drive and unwavering grit, is what makes her an inspiration to so many people, including myself, but I never realized just how inspiring she truly is until I read this book. World, meet the force that is Jessie Diggins."—Mikaela Shiffrin, Olympic Champion and World Champion Table of ContentsContentsPrologue: I Can Do It Myself 1. Snow Baby2. Wild Child3. Super Speed4. Thunder Bay5. The Stillwater Way6. Pain Cave7. The Great Balancing Act8. To Ski or Not to Ski9. Slow Spiral10. The Emily Program11. Never Alone12. Blood, Sweat, and Tears13. The National Team14. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles15. Because 96 Isn’t 10016. From Sochi, with Love17. Give It All You Got18. Know When to Fold ’Em19. PyeongChang20. Brave Hearts21. Let’s Go Get It22. One Team23. Here Be Dragons24. Coming Home; or, The Week I Masqueraded As a Rock StarEpilogueAcknowledgments

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA Choice Outstanding Academic Title, 2017 "Impressively researched, including access to recently declassified material . . . Rider's extensive research is presented in a series of compelling and interconnected examples, all of which support and sustain his thesis."--H-Net "Throughout his well-written examination of these matters, Rider exhibits considerable skill as an historian. . . . With Cold War Games, Rider has contributed an essential work to the scholarship regarding the cultural dimensions of international politics."--Journal of Sport History"Rider provides an in-depth expose of the considerable value granted to athletic success... Highly recommended."--Choice "This book is well researched and will appeal to popular culture fans who are interested in sports diplomacy and the Olympic Games. The scholarship is immensely impressive, with an excellent section of notes that the reader will find as informative as the text."--Journal of American Culture"A particularly fascinating piece of diplomatic history."--Diplomat and International Canada"The scholarship is immensely impressive. There is nothing in the literature of the early Cold War that competes with this book. Rider convincingly makes the case for the secret role of the U.S. government in international sports."--Robert Edelman, author of Serious Fun: A History of Spectator Sports in the USSR"Rider has explored this subject in depth and detail not previously seen in our field. 'No stone unturned' is one thought generated after having read the book. Very impressive."--Stephen Wenn, co-author of Selling the Five Rings: The IOC and the Rise of Olympic Commercialism

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Book SynopsisIt takes just under 10 seconds to run, but to the winner of Athletics' men's 100 metres goes the accolade of 'The Fastest Man on Earth'. This title is updated to include the men's 100 metres final at the Beijing 2008 Games. Each chapter discusses not only the race itself, but also the preliminary rounds, dramas, and controversies.Table of ContentsReports on every Olympic Games men's 100 metres races, won by: Tom Burke (1896), Frank Jarvis (1900), Archie Hahn (1904), Reg Walker (1908), Ralph Craig (1912), Charlie Paddock (1920), Harold Abrahams (1924), Percy Williams (1928), Eddie Tolan (1932), Jesse Owens (1936), Harrison Dillard (1948), Lindy Remingo (1952), Bobby Morrow (1956), Armin Hary (1960), Bob Hayes (1964), Jim Hines (1968), Valeri Borzov (1972), Hasely Crawford (1976), Allan Wells (1980), Carl Lewis (1984 and 1988), Linford Christie (1992), Donovan Bailey (1996), Maurice Greene (2000), Justin Gatlin (2004) and Usain Bolt (2008).

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