A Lifetime In A Race

by Matthew Pinsent

With his last-gasp victory as part of the Great British coxless four team at the Athens Olympics, Matthew Pinsent clinched an historic fourth Olympic Gold to add to the three already won with his legendary rowing partner Steve Redgrave. In an uniquely exciting and evocative autobiography, Pinsent interweaves the build-up to Athens 2004 with the extraordinary story of his career and unforgettable partnership with Redgrave. Plucked from obscurity at the age of 20, told to partner his hero, and trained to within an inch of his life, Pinsent's story is uniquely revealing about what it takes to be a champion and the mixed blessings of success. Culminating with a nail-biting final chapter detailing the team's extraordinary victory in Athens in blow-by-blow detail, A Lifetime in a Race is a sports book in a different mould.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jüri-Mikk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well written rowing memoir, I enjoyed every bit of it. My personal favorites were the stories of his Olympic races; his depiction of the nerves, the pressure, the turmoil of emotions and the post-race feels that make you want to rewatch each race and to admire his achievements in the sport.

[Emma Drinkwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Well written, great insight into someone at the top of his sport. Fascinating.

[Andrew Ritchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the very upper echelons of sports bios. A very fast paced book that gives a good insight into the dedication required to succeed in top level sport.

Highly enjoyable.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part autobiography, part recollection of the build up to the British four's gold medal-winning performance at the Athens Olympics. Pinsent writes really well for a sportsperson, intersecting the team's preparations for Athens and his own childhood and growth as a rower so it's not just another book on another talented sporting figure. Even though you know the outcome of the Athens race at the start of the book, Pinsent makes it exciting to follow the ups and downs of the British team and lets us into the world of elite rowing from a very personal and human perspective.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasmical. Leaves no doubt in your mind he is one of the greatest ever. I liked his a lot more than Redgrave's mainly because he didn't throw how awesome he is in your face. The narrations of the racing and descriptions of pain are spot on. Really makes you want to row the pair too.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exhausted reading this book - what an amazing athlete Matthew was. He worked so incredibly hard for every medal - he deserved every one!

[Lindsay Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love biographies & this one is such an inspiring read; tracing the build up & hard work needed to excel as an Olympic Gold medallist. It should be on phys ed school curriculum reading.

[David Highton · Rating 5 out of 5]

an absorbing story of highest level sport, no ghost writer involved, the commitment needed to win 4 consecutive Olympic golds is immense

[Kayla Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on the insight of an Olympic rower. Showing the ups and downs of the sport when competing at such a high level like Pinsent (and his crew)