DESCRIPCION:
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.
The Olympic Marathon 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.
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 Zátopek""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.
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.
The Olympic Marathon 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.
INDICE:
Chapter 1. 1896 _ Spiridon Louis Grabs Greece""s Only Gold
Chapter 2. 1900 _ Michel Théato Triumphs in Torrid Paris Race
Chapter 3. 1904 _ Tom Hicks Conquers Heat Wave in St. Louis
Chapter 4. 1906 _ Billy Sherring Speeds to Victory in the Intercalated Games
Chapter 5. 1908 _ Pietri Steals the Show as Hayes Captures the Gold
Chapter 6. 1912 _ South African Success Spree in Stockholm
Chapter 7. 1920 _ World Best for Hannes Kolehmainen
Chapter 8. 1924 _ A Surprise Runaway Victory for Stenroos in Paris
Chapter 9. 1928 _ French Algerian El Ouafi Wins at Amsterdam
Chapter 10. 1932 _ Zabala Takes Gold as Ferris Closes Fast in Los Angeles
Chapter 11. 1936 _ Korea""s Son Triumphs in Japanese Colors
Chapter 12. 1948 _ Cabrera Victorious in Post-War Games Revival at London
Chapter 13. 1952 _ Helsinki Hails Triple Gold Hero Emil Zátopek
Chapter 14. 1956 _ Mimoun the Best of a Modest Field
Chapter 15. 1960 _ Barefoot Bikila has a Roman Heyday
Chapter 16. 1964 _ Record Repeat for Bikila in Tokyo
Chapter 17. 1968 _ Wolde Makes It a Threepeat for Ethiopia
Chapter 18. 1972 _ Shorter Succeeds for USA in Munich
Chapter 19. 1976 _ Cierpinski Surprises Shorter in Montréal
Chapter 20. 1980 _ Cierpinski Matches Bikila""s Double Gold
Chapter 21. 1984 _ Age and Beauty Conquer at Los Angeles
Chapter 22. 1988 _ Bordin and Mota Score for Europe at Seoul
Chapter 23. 1992 _ Double Surprise Winners Master Montjuïc
Chapter 24. 1996 _ Africans Capture the Gold in Atlanta
Chapter 25. 2000 _ Sydney""s Sports Spectacular Ends Second Millennium
