Four Champions, One Gold Medal by Warner, Chuck (1999) Paperback

by Chuck Warner

Chuck Warner's new book, Four Champions, One Gold Medal, is a monumental achievement! Descriptive, prescriptive and inspirational, it recounts--step-by-step--the road taken by four world-class athletes in quest of Olympic gold: Americans Tim Shaw, Brian Goodell and Bobby Hackett, and Australian Steve Holland. All four were extraordinary athletes--incredibly hard-working, and totally focused on their common goal of winning the 1500 meters at the 1976 Olympic Games. All four were champions in every sense of the word. Yet only three made it to the blocks at the start of the 1500 in Montreal. And, of course, only one emerged as Olympic champion. Warner tells the compelling story of each of these gifted athletes, who share a love of swimming and the goal of winning, yet come from strikingly different backgrounds--from their first stroke in a pool through the playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" in Montreal. The 1500-meter race in '76 was one of the greatest races in Olympic history,

204 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Brett Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went to Arete Swim Camp several times and have met Chuck Warner several times and he's an amazing person. This book is an exceptional take on four young people of different upbringings who grinded their way to the Olympics, all in different ways. Also explains the US status in worldwide swimming through the years covered and the declining focus on long-distance races more recently. For a book that might seem not too interesting when looking at it at first, I have to say that it won't disappoint. Especially for swimmers!

[Kevin V · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good behind the scene look at the lives of elite athletes. I believe a background in competitive swimming would help understand everything in the book.

[Arete Swim · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the rare stories on elite competitive swimming for parents, swimmers and coaches. The achievement of the characters in this true story is unparalleled in the sport for young men their age.