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An informative and accessible introduction to learn all about the most popular sports that take place at the exciting event in different countries around the world. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Marathon Legend
Abebe Bikila was the first African to win an Olympic marathon and the first (and certainly the only drug-free) to win twice in succession. This highly readable book uncovers some little known facts about his Swedish trainer and the personal side of an enigmatic man. It also touches on the tragedy of Mamo Wolde. Well written. A must for students of distance running.

Excellent Book
Tim Judah writes an excellent biographical book about a superstar athlete, Abebe Bikila, whom has not had enough written about him given his athletic prowess. His book attempts to factually tell the story of Bikila which is something that Paul Rambali appeared to not even attempt when he wrote his book about the same runner. Judah's book also does a superb biographical job telling about Bikila's coach, Niskanen, whom otherwise is forgotten in history.
With so little written about this great athlete, this is a MUST READ BOOK! ... Read more

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This is the dramatic and inspiring true story of runner Wilma Rudolph, who overcame childhood polio and eventually went on to win three gold medals in a single Olympics. “A triumphant story, triumphantly relayed.”--Publishers Weekly
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Customer Reviews (18)

Inspiring true story
This is an amazing story, well-written and engaging.I bought the book for my granddaughter and am pleased I did.I had never heard of Wilma Rudolph.Her rousing and motivating story should be read/heard by many more people.

Great book
I'm a grandmother and have heard about Wilma's story many times but then when I saw the book come out for children I couldn't wait to get it for my grandchildren to see how much she persevered--it motivates children to not give up in life and God always has a plan for our lives.

Wilma Unlimited
I saw this title previewed on Good Morning America and I was very impressed. The book is an excellent for chidren. It does a great job of summarizing Wilma's life. I highly recommend it.

Well....
The illustrations are great. The font, though a little difficult to read, matches the pictures and is sure pretty. And the story is inspirational, I guess...

Actually, tell the truth, it's a little *too* inspirational. To read this book, Wilma Randolph did nothing in her life but work hard to overcome stuff. Which is inspirational, sure... but she comes out seeming very hard to relate too. As I read about how she successfully overcame being a (poor, black) preemie, and successfully overcame being incredibly sickly, and successfully overcame polio, and successfully overcame racism and sexism (and the continuing effects of her disability)... I start to wonder, did Wilma Rudolph ever have a bad day? Did she never, like the rest of us humans, wake up in a miserable mood and want to crawl under the covers and let somebody else do the work? When she was a child and it hurt to do the exercises to learn to walk again, did she never throw a tantrum? When she was sitting on the sidelines at recess, did she never go home and whine to her mom about how unfair it all was?

Oh, she probably did. But to read this book, you'd think all the limitations she overcame were external - disability and a heap of -isms, that she never had to overcome a grumpy mood or frustration or just plain old-fashioned PMS like us normal folk. It can be a little tiring to read, honestly - none of us is ever going to be as perfect as she's (unrealistically) depicted as being.

I mean, look. Wilma strikes me as a fascinating individual. She did accomplish a lot - and winning the Olympics is an accomplishment in itself, even if you don't do it as an ex-polio kid with a twisted ankle. I just... I wish I could connect to her more as a real person when I read this book. Maybe it'll grow on me. I'd give it 3.5 stars if half stars were allowed.

A must read for all ages
I have used this book in my classroom, in staff development, and in graduate classes for teachers. The life lessons that can be learned from Wilma Rudolph are endless. Her determination and ability to overcome adversity are truly remarkable. Every child should hear and see the hard work and perservence that Wilma demonstrated. Every teacher with whom I have shared this book, plans to use it in her or his classroom. I bought this book for someone who is studying to be a teacher. I know that someday he will use this book with his students as well. ... Read more

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A history of the Special Olympics from its founding by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to the present, with profiles of Special Olympians. ... Read more

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FOR TEN DAYS THE NATION WAS TRANSFIXED as Kelly Holmes stormed through the Olympic 800 metres and followed it by winning the 1,500 metres - a double triumph that made history and captured our hearts. But, as we were excitedly glued to our television sets, Kelly's mind was in overdrive. Every night she recorded her most intimate thoughts on paper and produced an exhilarating step-by-step account of her extraordinary journey to the podium. Kelly's Olympic diary takes you through the tension of the heats to the rituals beofre the race and the post-race jubilant atmosphere. It is a unique insight into the tremendous strength of one of our greatest athletes and the emotions that fuelled her on the track to glory.How did she stay focused? How did she keep her body going under the punishing schedule? How did it feel to achieve her lifelong dream - twice! Placing this amazing feat in Olympic history, Kelly's story is a celebration of one woman's ultimate achievement, and the overwhelming joy she shared with the whole of Great Britain. ... Read more

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Michael Johnson has been called the world's fastesthuman. At the Track and Field World Championships in Seville, Spain inAugust 1999, he set the record for the men's 400 meters at 43.18.Heis the only athlete in Olympic history to win gold in the 200 and 400meters at the same Olympics.The book profiles Michael's life fromhis childhood in Dallas, Texas through his preparation for the 2000Sydney Olympic Games. ... Read more

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Olympic Glory Denied is a biographical profile of eleven of the 'World's Greatest Athletes', all of whom, for reasons beyond their control, never reached the Olympic starting line. This book features portraits of great track athletes like Fait Elkins, Charley Hoff and Heino Lipp. For the most part they are forgotten ghosts of yesteryear, never able to take claim of the mantle, Olympic decathlon champion. Only one name is recognisable to most readers, that of current world record holder Dan O'Brien. In 1992 O'Brien failed to make the US Olympic team. But unlike his ten predecessors, O'Brien had another opportunity -- a second chance in Atlanta 1996. ... Read more

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Harvard track team captain Jim Wellington's determination to train and win helps him get a place on the U.S. Olympic team in the 1938 Olympic Games in Berlin. Sequel to "The Iron Duke." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Duke Wellington goes to the olympics with high hopes.
Again tunis proves he is one of the greatest writers for boys. This book was phenomenal. Tunis wrote very well. I COMPLETELY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK because it was very well written. Anyone who loves books will love this. ... Read more

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Bob Mathias is a true 20th-century American hero. The youngest man ever to win the Olympic decathlon gold medal, and the only American ever to win it twice, Mathias was also a movie star, U.S. Marine, writer, four-term congressman, and architect of America's Olympic renaissance. In addition, he was recently named by both ESPN and the Associated Press as one of the century's 100 greatest athletes. In his autobiography, this American original offers incisive comments on many of the famous people and events he witnessed during his long and distinguished career of public service. He talks about the old-fashioned values he grew up with, and how they still have a place in a changing culture. He discusses the current state of athletics, what colleges should be doing for their scholarship athletes but aren't, the total collapse of "amateurism" worldwide, and the million-dollar salaries being paid to mediocre athletes. He also offers practical, down-to-earth solutions to many of the problems he sees facing not only athletics, but also our country and the world. This book is a lively, well-written account of a unique life, lived to its fullest potential, and includes some never-before-published pictures that can only be described as collectors' items. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Bob Mathias, the Great American
This book cannot capture the natural warmth of a modest and great American. I knew him personally in the 1970's and was honored to spend some time with him at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Bob was on the Board of directors of a Company I was an officer of. He served with distinction. He served his state with distinction in Congress. The only reason he lost his seat was the unscrupulous gerry-mandering of Congressional districts by Willy Brown.

Bob was a tall, rangy quiet person, a real life John Wayne figure with more natural athletic ability. He was well liked by people from all walks of life. We will miss him greatly.

Bob Mathias: Athletic/American wonder!!!!!!!!!!
When one speaks of Bob Mathias onlt one word comes to my mind, incredible!!!!!!! How many athletes can say at age 17 they got into athletics, and just a few months later won a gold medal in the 1948 decathlon in London, England? ThenMr Mathias came back in 1952 to win his second Olympic Decathlon in Helsinki, Finland; and that same year (1952) he also played for Stanford in The Rose Bowl!!!!!!!! He wom 11 decathlons (undefeated) in AAU competition and set 4 decathlon records. Bob Mathias was also elected to 4 terms of Congress from 1967-1974. If this does not declare or make Mr Mathias one of our country's greatest athletes and men; then I don't know what does! He was just a great athlete, man and American! I can go on and on forever naming his great athletic and humanitarian achievments. One in ten million is the only way I "best" know how to describe Bob Mathias, just one incredible human being for his time; and for all-time!!!!

Dissappointed
Bob Mathias, to me, is a great figure in the history of international sports. He has led an interesting life. However, I found this book to be slow and boring and frankly, I think the Mathias story is much more exciting than is displayed here. I have read other books and stories that show the spirit, determination, and accomplishments of a great man, in a much better light.
John Francis
Los Angeles, CA ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Rabangaki Nawai (born June 9, 1985) is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Kiribati. Nawai represented Kiribati at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He competed at the 100 metres sprint and placed 8th in his heat without advancing to the second round. He ran the distance in a time of 11.29 seconds. Sprints are short running races in athletics. Starting blocks are used for all competition sprint and relay events. The starting blocks consist of two adjustable footplates attached to a rigid frame. Races commence with the firing of the starter's gun. The starting commands are "On your marks" and "Set" or "Get Set". Once all athletes are in the set position, the starter's gun is fired, officially starting the race. For the 100m, all competitors are lined up side-by-side. For the 200m, 300m and 400m, which involve curves, runners are staggered for the start. ... Read more

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Lori "Lolo" Jones, more commonly known as Lolo Jones, (born August 5, 1982) is an American track and field athlete who specialises in the 60 and 100 meter hurdles. She won three NCAA titles and garnered 11 All-American honors while at LSU. She won indoor national titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the 60 m hurdles, and won her first World Indoor Championship in 2008 in the same event. She was favored to win the 100 m hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but she tripped on the penultimate hurdle, finishing in seventh place. She went on to win silver at the 2008 World Athletics Final. Her 60 m hurdles best is the second fastest American time, after Gail Devers. ... Read more