Product Description

The 1908 London Olympics can claim to be the first modern sporting event which pitted nation against nation. There were rows between the British and Americans; a one-man walkover in the 400 metres when the US runners boycotted the event; a dispute over the shoes worn by one of the British tug of war teams and when the American team failed to dip their flag in front of King Edward VII it was taken as a massive snub.

The best known incident came in the marathon when Italy's Dorando Pietri was disqualified for being helped over the finish line. But Queen Alexandra gave him a special gold cup.

This book celebrates the first London Olympics, examines all the disputes and reveals what happened to the stars of the Games in later life.

Informative and entertaining, Keith Baker 's well researched book is aimed at everyone interested in sport and social history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47769 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

You don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy it !
I really enjoyed this book. I am not usually interested in sports but I was soon gripped by the drama and controversy of the momentous 1908 London Olympics as expressed in Keith Baker's light and engaging style. I polished off this book in a few days and felt both entertained and educated for very little effort on my part. It is clearly well researched and well balanced in presenting the disputes and amazing personalities that crackled at the London Olympics in 1908. I strongly recommend this volume - essential reading to enhance your pleasure and understanding of Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Preparing for the Olympics
Having become rather cynical of athletics over the past few years (perhaps because of drug cheats and over-exposure on television) I feel that this book has saved me just in time for the Beijing Olympics. In a wonderfully light-hearted style Keith Baker tells us about some real heroes who fought out their battles in the London Olympics 100 years ago.

Rising above the bitter wranglings between the US and Britain over who was the better, were some characters who would be role models for any of us - Dorando Pietri and Tom Longboat the marathon runners; Snowy Baker Australia's finest ever athlete; the Irish American, sixteen times world champion heavyweight thrower, Martin Sheridan; the great Scot Wyndham Halswelle; and Madge Syers pioneer for women's figure skating.

This is a great wee book which anyone who is interested in the Olympics must read. But it leaves one thinking `Will we see their likes again?'. Perhaps we shall, but I doubt whether more than one or two of the recent crop of athletes will be celebrated in their home towns 100 years hence as Pietri will be in Carpi, Italy in July of this year? Haile Gebrselasse perhaps.