ISBN: 0880119691 9780880119696

Category: Fiction / General

Page count: 511

<p>No Olympic event can rival the rich history and grand spectacle of the marathon. Created for the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 as a commemoration of the legendary run by the Greek messenger Philippides, the race has endured like no other, producing a century of awe-inspiring competition and unforgettable stories. </p><p><i>The Olympic Marathon</i> brings the high drama and rich details of the past 24 Olympic marathon races to life in a way no other book ever has. This definitive resource, written by world-renowned Olympic marathon experts David Martin and Roger Gynn, goes beyond statistics to offer readers a vivid chronicle of the athletes and their memorable marathon performances. </p><p>Fans will relive the compelling moments that have made the Olympic marathon legendary: Spiridon Louis winning the first modern Olympic marathon in Athens in 1896, Emil Z "topek's dramatic triple-gold performance in 1952, Ethiopian Abebe Bikila winning a gold medal while running barefoot, Joan Benoit Samuelson earning her place in history as winner of the first Olympic women's marathon in 1984, and many other fascinating stories. <br><br>For each race, <i>The Olympic Marathon</i> provides the following: <br>-A summary of the geographical setting and political climate surrounding the Olympic Movement </p><p>-A course map and detailed street description </p><p>-A step-by-step narrative of how the race was run </p><p>-Biographical sketches of the top three finishers </p><p>-A "Looking Ahead" section, which summarizes marathon highlights leading up to the next Olympic marathon<br>Generously illustrated, often with rare and never-before-published photos, a pictorial glimpse is provided into the contemporary atmosphere and dynamics of each race. Plus, for readers who want complete statistics on each race, the book provides a comprehensive appendix. Included are chronological and alphabetical race results for all men and women who participated in the event and listings of the fastest men's and women's Olympic marathon performances. </p><p><i>The Olympic Marathon</i> is the authoritative book on the race that has captured the imagination of the world. It's a one-of-a-kind resource that every fan of running and the Olympics will treasure.</p>