When Great Britain won gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics coxless four, seven million people watched and voted it the greatest sporting moment of the year. This moment, and Steve Redgrave's fifth Olympic gold medal, has eclipsed the long and troubled journey four men made to peak at exactly the right time. Tim Foster brings vividly to life what it's like to be one of four headstrong, and at times conflicting, personalities and reveals how close they all came to implosion as the Sydney Olympics approached. FOUR MEN IN A BOAT is structured around the 2000m final itself, with Tim Foster analysing the story of the crew as they progress towards the gold medal. He also gives a compelling insight into the hardships of sport at the highest level, and what it takes for four men to come together and win Olympic gold. As the first book to reveal the true story behind the 2000 race, FOUR MEN IN A BOAT is a classic dissection of what it takes, and means, to win.
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'timely and excellent... Foster's pacy account begins with the tension of the final countdown to the Sydney final. But Foster's real purpose is to deliver his insights into the complex web of relationships between himself, his coach and crewmates during what often proved to be a fraught and incident packed four-year period leading up to Sydney.' (THE GUARDIAN )
'Engrossing... the story of the crew has never been told with such acute sensitivity as in FOUR MEN IN A BOAT... where the book excels is in capturing the atmosphere of the sport and the competition to get into winning crews.' (THE TIMES )
'This is a great insight into a great story, told with humour and panache.' (THE INDEPENDENT )
'Engrossing... the story of the crew has never been told with such acute sensitivity as in FOUR MEN IN A BOAT... where the book excels is in capturing the atmosphere of the sport and the competition to get into winning crews.' (THE TIMES )
'This is a great insight into a great story, told with humour and panache.' (THE INDEPENDENT )
About the Author
Tim Foster, 32, is one of Britain's most successful oarsmen - the first to win two successive Wolrd Junior Championship gold medals. He is now chief coach at University of London Boat Club. Rory Ross has been a journalist since graduating from Cambridge where he read history. He is now a freelance contributor to Tatler, the Daily Telegraph, Town & Country (NYC), Forbes (NYC) and ACP (Sydney). He rowed against Steve Redgrave at Marlow Regatta in 1979, and lost. Tim Foster is one of Britain's most technically gifted oarsmen, the first to win two successive World Junior Championship gold medals. He is now chief coach at University of London Boat Club, apprentice coach for the British Olympic rowing team and a broadcaster at the BBC.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Courtier
Format:Hardcover
A great account of Olympian spirits, from an author who deftly describes the odyssey of four men in a boat, competing to obtain gold medal treasure.
Having been intrigued by the mindset of Olympians, I sat down to follow the Rory Ross/Tim Foster account of the British coxless fours' rowing gold and found a personally motivating account of different people overcoming themselves to achieve, told with insight and humour.
My armchair excursions of rowing, i.e. watching Oxford v Cambridge and the Olympics, did not prepare me for the sheer bloodied devotion of Redgrave, the 5 times gold medal winner, the monstrous Pinsent's driving force, Foster's' fight for everything, Cracknell's edgy motivation or the unflinching dogmatic management of the coach. Yet throughout this unfolding story the team managed to be themselves, dare I say, find more of themselves, and found the respect of their demanding team mates to become one unit that shifts a boat real fast.
Their experiences made me re-evaluate the immensity of being the absolute best, such as big calm Pinsent hacking over the side of the boat two days prior to the Olympics out of sheer nerves and yet the team thinking this was a good thing as it meant he was psyched up for the race! Etc.
Any sports fan or athlete wannabe should not need encouragement to read this book however I was encouraged by their story to be more focused, more driven and more... Olympian about my own struggle to achieve my goals with my team be it business or in the family.
And I might do some weights too... to get rid of my love handles (Just as they had to)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By GrandisG
Format:Paperback
Four men in a boat is, as the title explains, the story of the Great Britain Coxless 4's rowing team on their quest for Olympic Gold in the Sydney 2000 games. However, only one chapter really deals with the Sydney week, as the book begins back in late '96 as the team is put together. It follows the life of the rowers and offers a detailed and realistic picture of what it took to win Gold, including the battle that Steven Redgrave had with ill-health, Tim Fosters career saving back operation, the compulsive Cracknell, and the abnormally powerful Pinsent. For rowing fans its a must. If you are a sports fan who admired Redgrave and co's achievment from the armchair, it is gripping stuff. If you are choosing between this book and maybe one of the individual rowers autobiographies then 'Four Men in a Boat' provides great value, as well as variety becuase you do get to learn about the whole crew. An epic read.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Macavity
Format:Paperback
As someone who is involved in rowing, I am aware of the physical effort required to succeed in the sport. This book is well worth a read because as well as detailed accounts of training regimes, it also gives a warm and good humoured account of the personalities of those involved. An intelligent book by a talented rower and a must for anyone who feels they are that one inch too short. Jurgen Grobler eat your heart out!
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