The Amateurs - The Story of Four Young Men and Their Quest for an Olympic Gold Medal

David Halberstam

Summary

In “one of the best books ever written about a sport,” Halberstam chronicles the story of four amateur US rowers and their 1984 Olympic dream (Newsweek).   In 1984, rowing was a sport continually relegated to the margins, far from the spotlights attracted by other Olympic events. That year, four men went head-to-head for the right to compete for gold as the United States’ single sculler, an honor that would lead not to lucrative endorsement deals, but to the fleeting glory of the Olympic Games, and the satisfaction of ranking supreme among their competitive community of oarsmen. In pursuit of that goal, the rowers pushed through crippling pain, delaying personal relationships and careers, all for the rush of winning. Determined to understand these athletes of a seemingly bygone era, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author David Halberstam chronicles their bravery and obsession, delivering a dramatic human story, buzzing with adrenaline, about the lengths to which athletes will go to prove their mettle and compete on the highest level. This ebook features an extended biography of David Halberstam.

Available since: 12/18/2012.

Print length: 213 pages.

Sports

Other books that might interest you

Barbados Dive Guide

Lucy Agace

Barbados is the renowned jewel of the Caribbean, famous for white sandy beaches decorated with palm trees and surrounded by clear warm water, but below the waves the thriving coral reefs are teeming with marine life, from tiny seahorses to giant whale sharks. The Barbados Dive Guide 2nd edition book depicts the natural beauty of this underwater world with over 150 stunning photos, so any level of diver can experience these wonders for themselves, either on location, or from the comfort of their armchair.
Lucy Agace designed this updated book so scuba divers and snorkelers alike are forearmed with all the information they will need to plan their trip. Lucy describes in depth each of the dive centres and 39 dive sites around the island and includes handy details about the location, dive type, depth, skill level and photo tip. All the dive locations are marked on an island map and included are specific dive and wreck illustrations, all designed to help you get the best out of your diving. Lucy shares her experiences with some of the many exciting and unusual marine creatures she finds, book onto one of her guided tours and see for yourself. This high quality book is a 'must have' for expert to novice divers, snorkelers and also greatly appreciated by non-divers who can enjoy the captivating beauty of the island's fascinating marine life.

Show book

Learning the Splits - A...

Petra Lahnstein

"Can you recommend a book for my daughter so that I know she's doing the exercises properly when she practices at home?"
During my years as trainer, I've often encountered parents and young dancers looking for a book that teaches them how to do the splits. Now I can recommend this book to everyone. It's a great reference book with lots of illustrations and easy to understand explanations."
Petra Lahnstein
The splits fascinate dancers, athletes and their audiences. That's why they are still an indispensable element of many sport disciplines. "Learning the Splits" is a practical book that shows anyone who is interested how to do the splits.

Show book

The Lost Interview - The Pierre...

Bruce Lee, Pierre Burton

Bruce Lee's in-depth interview at The Pierre Berton Show, originally recorded in 1971, just a couple of years before he passed away. The interview was lost and would not be found and aired again until 1994.

Show book

Crossing Borders - A guide to...

Garlon Green

Thinking of taking your professional basketball career abroad?
Crossing Borders is an introspective view on pursuing a basketball career overseas. Reflecting on the challenges of an international career can ultimately prove to be an opportunity of a lifetime. The seasons of a professional athlete can be both challenging and rewarding simultaneously, especially when taking your talents abroad. Therefore, within new worlds come new trials.
This book comes as an account of personal experience from one professional athlete to another. Green’s goal is to guide players seeking advice about how to navigate a basketball career overseas. Life away from family, friends, and native culture will undoubtedly be a threshold to overcome; one will need the necessary wisdom to sail through this new world.
From contract details to representation, agent etiquette, overall preparation, and more, you will learn basic principles to understand how to succeed. The blueprint to success is not linear and looks different for everyone. Those who stay focused and maintain a good character can reach many peaks of greatness throughout their careers.
Read along to understand the ins and outs of uncharted waters of an international profession that are often learned through trial, error, and untold experiences. People usually learn the most valuable lessons through their own mistakes, but only those wise enough will learn the same lessons through the errors of others.The love of the game has no borders, but the way it is played does.
Education combined with raw talent can make a world of difference; grab your copy TODAY and take your talents abroad in confidence!

Show book

Ask a Pro - Deep Thoughts and...

Phil Gaimon

Despite the howling protests from his peers, no one's ever been more willing to spill the beans on what it's really like inside the pro cycling peloton than the sarcastic scribe Phil Gaimon. Building on the outrageous success of his hilarious 2014 debut, Pro Cycling on $10 a Day: From Fat Kid to Euro Pro, Gaimon gathers the absolute gems from his monthly Q&A feature column in VeloNews magazine into his new book, Ask a Pro, adding a dose of fresh commentary and even more acerbic and sharp-eyed insights.With six years of material to work with-including his incredible rise into the pro ranks, the devastating loss of his contract for 2015, and his bold return to the Big League-Gaimon covers every possible topic, from the team dinner table to the toilet, with plenty of stops along the way.Gaimon wields his outsider's wit to cast a cock-eyed gaze at the peculiar manners, mores, and traditions that make the medieval sport of cycling so irresistible to watch. Ask a Pro includes new resources from Gaimon, too, including dubious advice on winning the race buffet, a cautionary guide for host housing, and Phil's pre-race warm-up routine.

Show book

Sports Audio Books Bundle - Ice...

My Ebook Publishing House

Now, for the first time ever, and only for a limited time, you can get this value-priced, limited edition box set.The Sports Audio Books Bundle includes six best-selling audio-books.Audio-book #1: "Ice Hockey Guide", by Steve Robertson:Learn more about the high powered, fast paced game of professional hockey. The rules are often misunderstood and confused. "Ice Hockey Guide - Basic Rules" breaks down rules and rink configurations and explains penalties and other causes for the officials to stop play.This easy-to-read guide contains everything for the fan and non-fan alike to understand and enjoy the sport of ice hockey. Each section stands alone, so it can be used as a handy reference guide. The National Hockey League expansion of the last decade and the increased television coverage exposed millions of new fans to hockey. The Stanley Cup is now seen in over 170 countries, while annual sales of NHL merchandise today exceed $1 billion. Yet hockey remains one of the least understood sports. With the help of this guide, you can learn to follow the excitement of America's fastest-paced sport in no time at all.Audio-book #2: "Poker: The Best Techniques for Making You a Better Player:Are you the one who plays poker for fun? Somebody who earns a living out of it? Either way, you need the right skill and basic strategies to fully wrap your head around this tricky game. Improve your skills and learn how to win big. Are you stuck playing in lousy cash games versus lousy opponents? Despite your best efforts, do you manage to lose even at the smallest stakes? It's time to master small stakes cash games with a world-class poker champion as your guide. "Poker: The Best Techniques for Making You a Better Player" is guaranteed to get you to the top! Audio-book #3: "Bridge for Beginners":Bridge is the ultimate card game. It is truly a mind sport, as taxing on the brain as a decathlon is to the body. Bridge for Beginners is the ultimate introduction.Learn how to play bridge with this simple step-by-step guide. While good bridge classes are, of course, of great value, this book is itself the complete tutorial. It will help you to learn properly without other help and give you a solid foundation on which to start playing this absorbing game. Work at your own pace. Understand the key basic principles.An Author's Republic audio production.

Show book