So what pushes these people? Glory? Fame ? Self worth? Their Coach? Perhaps all of the above. As he concentrates on his four main athletes, we find that each of them have a different reason to achieve their goal of making it into the Olympics. Halberstam focuses on the 1984 single scull trails but we also learn how rowing is a sport of conditions, so that scores and times can not be trusted past a day's workout or competition. This is also a study of the psychology of sports - before it became a standard part of the athletic training process.
So who will win? The older guy, who was the back up on one Olympic team and also on the team that had to boycott the Olympics - is this his last chance? The one from Seattle, recovering from a bad back, and not really part of the Eastern group? But what about the guy who has been known to pull an upset on any given day? Or that moody California guy who is determined to beat out the Ivy Leaguers? You will have to read it yourself - because I'm not telling! A good read.
"Perhaps in our society the true madness in the search for excellence is left for the amateur."
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