Lost Olympics

by Ian Hugh McAllister

What is the real price of fame and success? Sometimes it is more than meets the eye.On more than one occasion Hilda James managed to hide in the pool changing rooms and avoid detection. The year was 1915 and the skinny 11 year old had only been sent to join the swimming class to avoid Religious Education because her parents didn't approve of the lessons. Hilda didn't want to learn to swim. Eventually she was found out and taken to join her class in the water. By 1920 she was at the Olympic Games in Antwerp triumphantly winning a Silver Medal for Great Britain in the relay final. These days, family support, sponsorship and ultimate stardom are as good as guaranteed for the talented. A hundred years ago things were very different. As she became a superstar, would Hilda and her coach manage to outwit her increasingly difficult Parents to reach the 1924 Games in Paris, where she was tipped to win three gold medals?

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 2012

Reviews

[Jennifer Worrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so pleased to have finally caught up with this book. The tale of Hilda James is a fascinating one, told with obvious love and care, with great attention to detail. I especially loved the inclusion of cartoons, newspaper clippings, and photos to help me get into the time and place.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

A labor of love

Hilda James, later Hilda McAllister, was an accomplished amateur swimmer in 1920s England. She broke record after record, won a silver Olympic medal, and was well known for her prowess as a swimming instructor and swimming entertainer. She toured the world during her amateur career, then took up the mantle first as swimming instructor and then Cruise hostess for Cunard cruises. This is her life story.

Ian Hugh McAllister had the privilege of knowing the great Hilda James - she was his grandmother. Luckily he knew during her lifetime that her story was something special, so alot of the information he used to put together her biography was told to him firsthand. The rest he garnered from newspapers, official record books, anecdotes of family and friends, Cunards ship records, and any other reliable spurce he could find. It's a beautiful tribute to a talented, intelligent, and strong willed woman who reached for her dreams despite obstacles and achieved many goals in her brief but spectacular amateur career. There's no doubt that Hilda James McAllister was a force to be reckoned with, and reading her story was a delight.

[H.M. Gooden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful glimpse into the reality of doing something completely unique at a time when it wasn’t the norm for a woman to pursue. Great story, and as someone who enjoys history and family lore, this book hit all the right notes!

[Helen Ewers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great insight into a swimmer who had apparently a big impact on modern swimming methods. The writing style was slightly stilted, but nevertheless I enjoyed reading it as a piece of modern sporting history.

[Katharine]

Review coming soon!