Running with Swords: The Adventures and Misadventures of an Irrepressible Canadian Fencing Champion

by Sherraine Mackay

Prior to the 2004 Athens Olympics, few Canadians - outside fencing circles - knew very much about Sherraine MacKay, but as the countdown to those games began, her name became more and more familiar, and while the world of fencing had been, up to that time, an esoteric sport at best, it too was suddenly thrust into the limelight. It helped, of course, that in the last World Cup of the season prior to the Games, MacKay had won gold (her second), that she had been ranked as high as number two, and consistently ranked among the top 10 female fencers in the world over the past five years. It helped that her photo suddenly began appearing in our national magazines and in major daily newspapers across Canada. It helped that she was ebullient, outspoken, quick-witted and funny enough to land a spot reading her Letters from Paris on CBC Radio's The Inside Track with host Robin Brown. In a surprise upset, a Greek fencer bested Sherraine in Athens, though the Canadian women's team, which she anchored, finished fourth - the best finish ever by Canadian women in Olympic fencing. Running with Swords , is Sherraine McKay's journal, her own story of her incredible journey from tiny Brooks, Alberta where she was born, to Paris, France where she moved to train for Athens while teaching English as a second language to elite athletes. At once inspiring, thoughtful and brimming with MacKay's sense of humour, it is also the story of young athletes from Canada and around the world, of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of dreams, the friendships forged, and the joy of the game whether on the track, in the field, in the water, on the ice, or on the piste.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2005

Reviews

[Gabrielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I wanted to like this book, I didn't. While the topic is of great interest to me, the writing is unsophisticated, the story-telling more like sitting through a friend's relative's vacation slide show, and I kept thinking she was 14 because of the number of exclamation points she uses every page. HOWEVER, she does reveal good insights into the world of competitive fencing and the psychology of good sportsmanship. I hope Emma reads it.

[Martine Appel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My coach lent it to me because I'm Canadian like MacKay and I took it out of politeness and didn't seriously consider reading it. I found myself perusing it whilst going through fencing withdrawal as a sleep away camp counselor and was instantly hooked. MacKay descriptions of world cup bouts are so vivid, I feel as if I'm there. The book isn't just a play-by-play of her on the strip- there are some hilarious and poignant stories about everything from creative fan-chants, an awkward situation involving an épée in a Spanish bank, and the British monarchy.

[Jeff Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

She bagged on America..boooo. Otherwise, Ms. McKay writes with such enthusiasm that is a real page-turner and nice window into the life of Olympians.