The Olympic Marathon
by David Martin, Roger Gynn

List Price: $27.95
Our Price: $19.90
You Save: $8.05 (29%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $6.99 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions

Book Summary Information

• Tanita BC554 Ironman Glass InnerScan Body Composition Monitor Elite Series

Book Reviews of The Olympic Marathon

Book Review: Excellent Description of The Olympic Marthons through 2000, Men and Women
Summary: 5 Stars

Summary of The Olympic Marathon

No Olympic event can rival the rich history and grand spectacle of the marathon. Created for the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 as a commemoration of the legendary run by the Greek messenger Philippides, the race has endured like no other, producing a century of awe-inspiring competition and unforgettable stories.

The Olympic Marathon brings the high drama and rich details of the past 24 Olympic marathon races to life in a way no other book ever has. This definitive resource, written by world-renowned Olympic marathon experts David Martin and Roger Gynn, goes beyond statistics to offer readers a vivid chronicle of the athletes and their memorable marathon performances.

Fans will relive the compelling moments that have made the Olympic marathon legendary: Spiridon Louis winning the first modern Olympic marathon in Athens in 1896, Emil Zátopek's dramatic triple-gold performance in 1952, Ethiopian Abebe Bikila winning a gold medal while running barefoot, Joan Benoit Samuelson earning her place in history as winner of the first Olympic women's marathon in 1984, and many other fascinating stories.

For each race, The Olympic Marathon provides the following:
-A summary of the geographical setting and political climate surrounding the Olympic Movement

-A course map and detailed street description

-A step-by-step narrative of how the race was run

-Biographical sketches of the top three finishers

-A ?Looking Ahead? section, which summarizes marathon highlights leading up to the next Olympic marathon
Generously illustrated, often with rare and never-before-published photos, a pictorial glimpse is provided into the contemporary atmosphere and dynamics of each race. Plus, for readers who want complete statistics on each race, the book provides a comprehensive appendix. Included are chronological and alphabetical race results for all men and women who participated in the event and listings of the fastest men's and women's Olympic marathon performances.

The Olympic Marathon is the authoritative book on the race that has captured the imagination of the world. It's a one-of-a-kind resource that every fan of running and the Olympics will treasure.

Marathons Books

• Subjects > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Marathons
• Literature & Fiction
• Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Running & Jogging
• Miscellaneous > History of Sports
• Olympic Games