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Editorial Review Product Description
Brad Alan Lewis’s determination to win an Olympic medal had taken over his life by 1984. He would be too old for the 1988 Games and his spot on the 1980 team had been lost to world politics. Only 1984 remained.
But Lewis had a problem.
Emotionally crushed after losing a guaranteed spot on the team by nine-tenths of a second in the single scull trials, Lewis went to the dreaded Olympic selection camp, where he hoped to earn a place in a national team boat.
Again he failed.
Lewis refused to be denied. He teamed up with Paul Enquist, who had been cut from the camp, and began training to challenge the national boat. It would be their last chance to compete in the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Using innovative psychological and physical training techniques developed by Lewis, they defeated the national entry at the double scull trials, three weeks after being considered failures by the system. In an event dominated by the Europeans, they won the first United States gold medal in rowing since 1964 and the first in the double scull since 1932.
Lewis’s story is more than a book about a man winning a gold medal in a sport that offers little more than personal rewards. It is about challenging convention, overcoming defeat and working outside of an established system. Assault on Lake Casitas is a compelling tale of competition at the highest possible level and the emotions that fuel obsession.
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Inspiration to the max
This book is amazing. Especially for rowers, but can foster inspiration whatever the sport may be. Great read, well written, true story. Fast delivery to boot!
Thanks
Absolutely phenomenal story, well told.
For those acquainted, even indirectly, with the world of rowing, this book represents a fantastic story of a rebellious rower and his desire to win an olympic gold medal on his own terms.After his dramatic loss in the single scull trials on Lake Carnegie, being denied a spot in one of the national selection camp boats, and having to relocate to the east coast despite his west coast upbringing, he somehow won the national trials, made the team, and then won the olympics.He became the best in the world months after being denied a spot as one of the top 6 in his own country.This was, and still is, unprecedented in almost any sport ever.Take that inspirational story and couple it with Lewis' knack for capturing the aggression of a young non-conformist and "Assault On Lake Casitas" becomes the second best rowing book ever.(The best rowing book ever is "The Amateurs" by David Halberstam.If you read either of these books, it is imperative that you read the other.If you've read none, it is imperative you read both.)
a great rowing story well told
as a long time, fanatic, and not especially talented rower i was pretty surprised i had never heard of this book when lewis himself foisted it on a friend of mine at the 2004 head of the charles.after leafing past the disturbing cover art, the book itself traces his long quest for gold culminating in the 1984 LA olympics.this book is all rowing, so if you are interested in crew, or any seriously competitive athletics, like i suspect you'll find reading it to be the purest pleasure, if not, let's just say there's no love angle to carry it along.but for those in pursuit of excellence:what a tremendous read!lewis is relentless, and he's a superb story-teller.i'm so happy to finally discover a companion to the only other great rowing book i've ever found, also culminating in the 1984 olympics, david halberstam's `the amateurs'.
Great inspiration to rowers
I'm a rower and I didn't know anything about this book before I read it. I met Brad Lewis while I was at the San Diego Crew classic in March 2003 and I was very impressed with his character, so I bought his book. The competetive shark found in the book was chillingly inspirational on what it takes to be a champion, but I must admit that the Brad in the eighties is not the same Brad of today. Ever since he stopped competing, he has calmed that anger within him. I think it has made him a better Journalist because his writing keeps getting better.
Read this book if you are interested in knowing what goes through the head of a competetive rower and the sacrifices Brad made to get that gold medal.
You Will Never Forget This Book
I bought this book a couple of years ago when I was doing some rowing.I also bought it because of the great reviews at Amazon.com.I will add my voice to those who have written here:this is a very special story and is much more than a book about rowing--it is a book about overcoming obstacles, persevering in the face of unbelievable odds and understanding that the process is as valuable and prized as the final result.It is not a book about the means justifying the ends.It is a book about building a foundation and building upon that foundation and not taking any shortcuts.Lewis is a superb writer and the speed of his narrative matches the strength of his oar strokes.I have given it as a gift to people I really care about.
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