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The Greatest Athlete (You've Never Heard Of): Canada's First Olympic Gold Medallist
Canada's first Olympic gold medallist couldn't walk until he was ten, and became the greatest runner of his generation.
Who was the first Canadian to Win an Olympic Gold Medal? When Mark Hebscher was asked this simple trivia question, he had no idea that it would lead him on a two year odyssey, researching a man he had never heard of.
Paralyzed as a child and told he would never walk again, George Washington Orton persevered, eventually becoming the greatest distance runner of his generation, a world-class hockey player, and a brilliant scholar. A sports pioneer, Orton came up with the idea of numbered football jerseys and introduced ice hockey to Philadelphia. Orton's 1900 Paris Olympic medals were credited to the United States for seven decades before the mistake was uncovered and rectified. Yet he is virtually unknown in Canada. Finally, his story is being told.
Who was the first Canadian to Win an Olympic Gold Medal? When Mark Hebscher was asked this simple trivia question, he had no idea that it would lead him on a two year odyssey, researching a man he had never heard of.
Paralyzed as a child and told he would never walk again, George Washington Orton persevered, eventually becoming the greatest distance runner of his generation, a world-class hockey player, and a brilliant scholar. A sports pioneer, Orton came up with the idea of numbered football jerseys and introduced ice hockey to Philadelphia. Orton's 1900 Paris Olympic medals were credited to the United States for seven decades before the mistake was uncovered and rectified. Yet he is virtually unknown in Canada. Finally, his story is being told.
248 pages, ebook
Published February 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 24, 2018
George Washington Orton was paralyzed by an accident until he was 10 year old, but once he gained use of his limbs, he rarely stood still again as he became a world-class athlete, winning a gold medal in the 1900 Summer Olympics held in Paris. His event was the steeplechase, which is no longer an Olympic event. He was competing at the University of Pennsylvania at the time, and was mistaken as an American competitor even though his native country was Canada. His life story, including his life outside track and field, is a fascinating read and journalist Mark Hebscher brings it to life.
Orton achieved much of his success in track while attending Penn, becoming an elite runner and setting many records in several events. He did participate in other sports and yet was able to keep his amateur status and participate in the 1900 Olympics. This drew comparisons by the author to Jim Thorpe, who later had to forfeit his Olympic medals because he played semi-professional baseball. Orton had no such issues with his Olympic amateur status, but instead he won his gold medal in a shroud of confusion. Was he American since he competes for Penn (and was instrumental in founding the world famous Penn Relays) or was he Canadian since that was the nation of his birth?
Along with this confusion, there was the matter of the lack of publicity for the Olympics at this time. The 1900 edition was only the second time the modern games were held and they took second fiddle in Paris to the World’s Fair. Because of this, most fans and people who were interested in the Olympics did not obtain the information as they would later when the Olympics grew in size and stature.
While just the story of Orton’s rise in the world of track and field would be an interesting topic by itself, the complete life of the man is captured by Hebscher as he discusses many of the sports innovations inspired by Orton, such as putting numbers on the jerseys of football players. Orton was a tireless promoter, especially of hockey, as he was continuously working on making the sport popular in Philadelphia. He was instrumental in getting indoor rinks built in the city and even ran the Philadelphia Quakers, the first professional team in the City of Brotherly Love. While the team struggled in its only season, Orton is given credit for planning the seeds of interest in hockey as the Philadelphia Flyers are a very successful franchise in today’s professional game.
Orton’s accomplishments both in athletics and in other occupations such as teaching, writing books and sports business are all noted in fine detail in the book. All of this information came about because the author wanted to produce a documentary on the life of Orton as many Canadians did not know of his legacy and historical importance in the Olympics. This was the only drawback of the book and only because the description of the author’s endeavors were scattered throughout the book. All of this information would read very well in a foreword or afterword as it was important to the telling of the story. It just was inserted in places that interrupted the important information and that story – the story of George Washington Orton – is one that everyone with any interest in athletics should read.
I wish to thank Dundurn Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Orton achieved much of his success in track while attending Penn, becoming an elite runner and setting many records in several events. He did participate in other sports and yet was able to keep his amateur status and participate in the 1900 Olympics. This drew comparisons by the author to Jim Thorpe, who later had to forfeit his Olympic medals because he played semi-professional baseball. Orton had no such issues with his Olympic amateur status, but instead he won his gold medal in a shroud of confusion. Was he American since he competes for Penn (and was instrumental in founding the world famous Penn Relays) or was he Canadian since that was the nation of his birth?
Along with this confusion, there was the matter of the lack of publicity for the Olympics at this time. The 1900 edition was only the second time the modern games were held and they took second fiddle in Paris to the World’s Fair. Because of this, most fans and people who were interested in the Olympics did not obtain the information as they would later when the Olympics grew in size and stature.
While just the story of Orton’s rise in the world of track and field would be an interesting topic by itself, the complete life of the man is captured by Hebscher as he discusses many of the sports innovations inspired by Orton, such as putting numbers on the jerseys of football players. Orton was a tireless promoter, especially of hockey, as he was continuously working on making the sport popular in Philadelphia. He was instrumental in getting indoor rinks built in the city and even ran the Philadelphia Quakers, the first professional team in the City of Brotherly Love. While the team struggled in its only season, Orton is given credit for planning the seeds of interest in hockey as the Philadelphia Flyers are a very successful franchise in today’s professional game.
Orton’s accomplishments both in athletics and in other occupations such as teaching, writing books and sports business are all noted in fine detail in the book. All of this information came about because the author wanted to produce a documentary on the life of Orton as many Canadians did not know of his legacy and historical importance in the Olympics. This was the only drawback of the book and only because the description of the author’s endeavors were scattered throughout the book. All of this information would read very well in a foreword or afterword as it was important to the telling of the story. It just was inserted in places that interrupted the important information and that story – the story of George Washington Orton – is one that everyone with any interest in athletics should read.
I wish to thank Dundurn Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
March 11, 2019
The Greatest Athlete (You've Never Heard Of)
Canada's First Olympic Gold Medallist
by Mark Hebscher
George Washington Orton was an interesting man I would never have heard of if I had not read this book. I had no idea who the first Canadian Olympic Gold Medal winner was but then I still don’t know who any of the first gold medal winners were from any country in the world. At least I know who one of them was now.
This book is not the life story of George Orton. It also tells how the author became interested in George, followed threads to find out about the man and then worked on a documentary followed later by this book. The book is comprehensive in that it does not limit itself to George’s running skills but tells of his childhood, education, events he participated in, his education, jobs he held, important people in his life and a whole lot more.
The book is well written and comprehensive and a good resource for anyone interested in finding out more about the life of an interesting man that very well may have been not only a marvelous athlete but a modern day renaissance man.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn for the ARC – this is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Canada's First Olympic Gold Medallist
by Mark Hebscher
George Washington Orton was an interesting man I would never have heard of if I had not read this book. I had no idea who the first Canadian Olympic Gold Medal winner was but then I still don’t know who any of the first gold medal winners were from any country in the world. At least I know who one of them was now.
This book is not the life story of George Orton. It also tells how the author became interested in George, followed threads to find out about the man and then worked on a documentary followed later by this book. The book is comprehensive in that it does not limit itself to George’s running skills but tells of his childhood, education, events he participated in, his education, jobs he held, important people in his life and a whole lot more.
The book is well written and comprehensive and a good resource for anyone interested in finding out more about the life of an interesting man that very well may have been not only a marvelous athlete but a modern day renaissance man.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn for the ARC – this is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
December 23, 2022
The overarching goal of Mark Hebscher’s The Greatest Athlete (You’ve Never Heard Of) is to provide a biography of George Orton, who is now considered Canada’s first Olympic medalist and champion. Orton was Canadian but in 1900, when the idea of the “national team” had not yet reached the Olympics, individuals were considered to represent clubs, and Orton was with the University of Pennsylvania. Thus while his victory in the 2,500 metres steeplechase, and his bronze medal in the 400 metres hurdles, at that year’s Paris Games are credited to the United States, he is considered by Olympic historians to be Canadian.
Regardless of one’s opinion on which nation deserves the Olympic “credit”, Orton’s life and career were little-known for over a century after his achievements, and this is the issue that the author is attempting to resolve by providing a comprehensive biography of the athlete. The book proceeds in more or less chronological fashion and focuses largely on its eponymous subject, although there is plenty of context provided for the uninitiated. The major exception to the chronological progression is the first two chapters, which introduce the context of the 1900 Paris Olympics and the author’s personal situation respectively. A recurring theme is the book’s rotating coverage of Orton and the author, which I found to be fairly well-balanced and a good mix.
Given Orton’s distinguished (and oft-forgotten) athletic career prior to the Olympics, his signature moment at the Games does not arrive until about halfway through the book. The first half of the work focuses on his childhood, his achievements in his 20s, and his family life, interspersed with the author’s own narrative. The focus here is on Orton’s overcoming of early disabilities and injuries to become one of the best athletes of his era. He was 27 by the time of the Olympics, with arguably few years left to compete (even if track athletes tended to have longer careers than they do today), and already had a slew of accomplishments to his name. With the Olympics at the time not being what they are now in terms of prestige, his achievements at the Games were probably considered less important than many of his other victories. As such, while his Olympic feats are probably of greatest interest to the reader today, relatively little space is devoted directly to this topic, given the paucity of coverage at the time. Much of the biography, of course, is framed as context for his appearance at the Games.
The second half of the work is more engaged with the author’s journey of discovering the historical record for a documentary, including a meeting with Orton’s last surviving relative, and the overall difficulty of finding material despite his storied career. It is, in essence, about filling in the gaps left by archival research of the newspapers of the era. This part does, however, cover Orton’s later life, but is understandably somewhat sparser in detail than the first half. Nonetheless, we get a picture of an individual who remained active in Pennsylvania’s sport history for the remainder of his life.
Hebscher’s work is as thorough as can be and, given the difficult subject he has undertaken, the final product is admirable. The book does sometimes produce disconnects and it can be hard to keep track of everything at times, even if you do not mind the author’s personal interjections. The biggest issue in this regard is that, in his effort to provide context and demonstrate the extent of his research, Hebscher sometimes jumps from sports figure to sports figure, which can be a bit disorienting and difficult to follow. In part, however, this is due to the fragmentary nature of the evidence, although this dearth of material conflicts somewhat with the title of the work. Overall, The Greatest Athlete (You’ve Never Heard Of) is a success undertaking of biographical research, although it does straddle an odd line between Orton’s fame as “the greatest athlete” and his lack of fame in the modern era. Perhaps, however, the issue is the 1900 Paris Olympics themselves, which were a footnote to a World’s Fair and have become such as part of Olympic history. Regardless, this book is accessible and engaging and, if you know that you like sports history or sports biographies, then I see no reason that you would not enjoy this one.
Regardless of one’s opinion on which nation deserves the Olympic “credit”, Orton’s life and career were little-known for over a century after his achievements, and this is the issue that the author is attempting to resolve by providing a comprehensive biography of the athlete. The book proceeds in more or less chronological fashion and focuses largely on its eponymous subject, although there is plenty of context provided for the uninitiated. The major exception to the chronological progression is the first two chapters, which introduce the context of the 1900 Paris Olympics and the author’s personal situation respectively. A recurring theme is the book’s rotating coverage of Orton and the author, which I found to be fairly well-balanced and a good mix.
Given Orton’s distinguished (and oft-forgotten) athletic career prior to the Olympics, his signature moment at the Games does not arrive until about halfway through the book. The first half of the work focuses on his childhood, his achievements in his 20s, and his family life, interspersed with the author’s own narrative. The focus here is on Orton’s overcoming of early disabilities and injuries to become one of the best athletes of his era. He was 27 by the time of the Olympics, with arguably few years left to compete (even if track athletes tended to have longer careers than they do today), and already had a slew of accomplishments to his name. With the Olympics at the time not being what they are now in terms of prestige, his achievements at the Games were probably considered less important than many of his other victories. As such, while his Olympic feats are probably of greatest interest to the reader today, relatively little space is devoted directly to this topic, given the paucity of coverage at the time. Much of the biography, of course, is framed as context for his appearance at the Games.
The second half of the work is more engaged with the author’s journey of discovering the historical record for a documentary, including a meeting with Orton’s last surviving relative, and the overall difficulty of finding material despite his storied career. It is, in essence, about filling in the gaps left by archival research of the newspapers of the era. This part does, however, cover Orton’s later life, but is understandably somewhat sparser in detail than the first half. Nonetheless, we get a picture of an individual who remained active in Pennsylvania’s sport history for the remainder of his life.
Hebscher’s work is as thorough as can be and, given the difficult subject he has undertaken, the final product is admirable. The book does sometimes produce disconnects and it can be hard to keep track of everything at times, even if you do not mind the author’s personal interjections. The biggest issue in this regard is that, in his effort to provide context and demonstrate the extent of his research, Hebscher sometimes jumps from sports figure to sports figure, which can be a bit disorienting and difficult to follow. In part, however, this is due to the fragmentary nature of the evidence, although this dearth of material conflicts somewhat with the title of the work. Overall, The Greatest Athlete (You’ve Never Heard Of) is a success undertaking of biographical research, although it does straddle an odd line between Orton’s fame as “the greatest athlete” and his lack of fame in the modern era. Perhaps, however, the issue is the 1900 Paris Olympics themselves, which were a footnote to a World’s Fair and have become such as part of Olympic history. Regardless, this book is accessible and engaging and, if you know that you like sports history or sports biographies, then I see no reason that you would not enjoy this one.
July 28, 2020
The Greatest AudioBook You've Never Heard Of...
I have been a fan of mark's work since I was a young kid who would stay up past my bedtime to watch the classic weeknight broadcast of "Sportsline".
I am no longer really a big sports fan beyond baseball & even there I had been losing interest the past couple of years.. but I still enjoy Mark's take on sports & life.. I love the stories connected to the sports world.. especially inspiring ones.. so I thought to give it a try & boy I was not disappointed one bit.
Mark's trademark passion, smarts & genuine love for sports as a broadcaster & fan in general along with the art of broadcasting itself are present & well executed here. (IMO).
This was not simply a paint by numbers sports biography.. Mark takes you on his own personal journey of researching & uncovering the rich historical truth surrounding this mystery hero & the various sports that he touched throughout his long & distinguished career & life.
I learned about the storyteller's past & what lead him to his quest tracking down the story.. which weaves various stories of various cities, countries & sports of that moment in history in time (turn of the century) seamlessly together.. resulting in a informative & fascinating journey.
Mark's signature voice & fun style makes the time fly by like sharing a chat with an old friend & after 3 complete listens I am still enjoying the book & remembering & picking up pieces to the various stories shared there within.
I had never heard of George W (who??) Horton before this book & I won't ever forget such a interesting talented man & I am grateful that Mark embarked on his quest to capture & tell this story in the various mediums for us & for posterity. It was like taking a step through time & I am so glad I took a chance & checked it out.
I highly recommend it for those who love a great story & storyteller sharing their passion & their truth.
I have been a fan of mark's work since I was a young kid who would stay up past my bedtime to watch the classic weeknight broadcast of "Sportsline".
I am no longer really a big sports fan beyond baseball & even there I had been losing interest the past couple of years.. but I still enjoy Mark's take on sports & life.. I love the stories connected to the sports world.. especially inspiring ones.. so I thought to give it a try & boy I was not disappointed one bit.
Mark's trademark passion, smarts & genuine love for sports as a broadcaster & fan in general along with the art of broadcasting itself are present & well executed here. (IMO).
This was not simply a paint by numbers sports biography.. Mark takes you on his own personal journey of researching & uncovering the rich historical truth surrounding this mystery hero & the various sports that he touched throughout his long & distinguished career & life.
I learned about the storyteller's past & what lead him to his quest tracking down the story.. which weaves various stories of various cities, countries & sports of that moment in history in time (turn of the century) seamlessly together.. resulting in a informative & fascinating journey.
Mark's signature voice & fun style makes the time fly by like sharing a chat with an old friend & after 3 complete listens I am still enjoying the book & remembering & picking up pieces to the various stories shared there within.
I had never heard of George W (who??) Horton before this book & I won't ever forget such a interesting talented man & I am grateful that Mark embarked on his quest to capture & tell this story in the various mediums for us & for posterity. It was like taking a step through time & I am so glad I took a chance & checked it out.
I highly recommend it for those who love a great story & storyteller sharing their passion & their truth.
Read
May 9, 2020Very enjoyable story of Hebscher's putting together a documentary on George Orton. The subject is a long forgotten about runner who won a gold medal in the 4000 m steeplechase in the 1900 Paris Olympics. He did it while a student of Penn University so the medal was counted as a US victory but Orton was born in Strathroy Ontario. Thus he is the answer to the trivia question who won Canada's first gold medal. And he's a lot more than that. He ran races of many different lengths and was a several time national champion, a very good soccer and hockey player-all of this with a disability from a childhood accident that left him with a useless right arm. Orton spoke 8 languages and was a math whiz and had a notable career as a sports administrator. He deserves much of the credit for the building up of hockey in Philadelphia. This is Hebscher's first book and he does well-on occasion he goes off on tangents that don't have much to do with Orton- but it doesn't deter from the enjoyment of getting to know someone wholly worthy of getting to know.
December 29, 2021
Just finished this very compelling book by Mark Hebscher about George Orton, "The Greatest Athlete (You've Never Heard of): Canada's First Olympic Gold Medallist". Hard to believe that it took this book to set the record straight. Painstaking research to unfold the mystery. Easy read and subperb chronology. He was a great athlete and his name should be the first to be uttered of all time famous Canadians.
January 2, 2021
If you enjoy sports, you'll appreciate this book. It was really interesting to read about Orton and all the contributions and little ways he influenced sport in North America. I thought this would just be a book about Orton, but it ended up being so much more.
More people should be introduced to this man's legacy.
More people should be introduced to this man's legacy.
April 14, 2021
A really interesting story uncovered by Mark Hebscher. Glad to have read this well researched book. The audio version was a nice trip down memory lane hearing the authors’ voice so many years after Sportsline.
May 22, 2019
This was a really interesting story that was poorly written. The story itself was fascinating and paints a picture of a remarkable individual in so many aspects of life. I found the writing to be scattered and in my impression there seemed to be too much jumping between factoids. Overall though it was an enjoyable read.
October 14, 2020
It must be very difficult to write a book about a man with sonlittle information. The people who would have known him best are long gone and the information that is left is corrupted. Mark Hebscher did his best with the little information he had.
He does fill in with other relevant information of that time period. It explains why there is little to be found about such an influential person. It also gives some history surrounding the Olympics, and the other good things that have sprung from George Orton's work.
It is a good thing that Mark Hebscher has done to bring this man's life into the lime light again.
He does fill in with other relevant information of that time period. It explains why there is little to be found about such an influential person. It also gives some history surrounding the Olympics, and the other good things that have sprung from George Orton's work.
It is a good thing that Mark Hebscher has done to bring this man's life into the lime light again.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews