The Olympics

The Olympics

A Very Peculiar History

by Arscott, David

Book - 2020

From its beginnings in Ancient Greek antiquity, right up to its arrival in Great Britain, the home of so many modern sports and favored pastimes, the Olym...Show more From its beginnings in Ancient Greek antiquity, right up to its arrival in Great Britain, the home of so many modern sports and favored pastimes, the Olympic Games have always been a grand and exciting spectacle, whether you're watching a no-holds-barred wrestling match or a mesmerizing, freewheeling gymnast. 'The Olympics, A Very Peculiar History' gives an overview of the strange, the unbelievable and the downright bizarre events that have occurred over the many years that this esteemed competition has seen. Show less

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Zero Regrets

Be Greater Than Yesterday

by Ohno, Apolo Anton

Book - 2010

Over three consecutive Olympic games, Apolo Ohno has come to symbolize the very best of the competitive spirit—remaining equally gracious in victory and d...Show more Over three consecutive Olympic games, Apolo Ohno has come to symbolize the very best of the competitive spirit—remaining equally gracious in victory and defeat, always striving to improve his performance, and appreciating the value of the hard work of training as much as any reward it might bring. In Zero Regrets, Apolo shares the inspiring personal story behind his remarkable success, as well as the hard-won truths and strategies he has discovered in good times and bad. Show less

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Beautiful on the Outside

A Memoir

by Rippon, Adam

Book - 2019

Former Olympic figure skater and self-professed America's Sweetheart Adam Rippon shares his underdog journey from beautiful mess to outrageous success in this hilarious, big-hearted memoir that the Washington Post calls "comedic gold." Former Olympic figure skater and self-professed America's Sweetheart Adam Rippon shares his underdog journey from beautiful mess to outrageous success in this hilarious, big-hearted memoir that the Washington Post calls "comedic gold." Show less

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A Visitor's Guide to the Ancient Olympics

by Faulkner, Neil

eBook - 2012

What was it like to attend the Olympics in 388 B.C.? Would the experience resemble Olympic festivals as we celebrate them today? This remarkable book tran...Show more What was it like to attend the Olympics in 388 B.C.? Would the experience resemble Olympic festivals as we celebrate them today? This remarkable book transports us back to the heyday of the city-state and classical Greek civilization. It invites us to enter this distant, alien, but still familiar culture and discover what the Greeks did and didn't do during five thrilling days in August 2,400 years ago. Show less

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Onward to the Olympics

Historical Perspectives on the Olympic Games

by Schaus, Gerald P.

eBook - 2009

The Olympic Games have had two lives-the first lasted for a millennium with celebrations every four years at Olympia to honour the god Zeus. The second ha...Show more The Olympic Games have had two lives-the first lasted for a millennium with celebrations every four years at Olympia to honour the god Zeus. The second has blossomed over the past century, from a simple start in Athens in 1896 to a dazzling return to Greece in 2004. Onward to the Olympics provides both an overview and an array of insights into aspects of the Games' history. Leading North American archaeologists and historians of sport explore the origins of the Games, compare the ancient and the modern, discuss the organization and financing of such massive athletic festivals, and examine the participation, or the troubling lack of it, by women. Show less

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The Making of A Miracle

The Untold Story of the Captain of the 1980 Gold Medal-winning US Olympic Hockey Team

by Eruzione, Mike

eBook - 2020

It is the greatest American underdog sports story ever told: how a team of college kids and unsigned amateurs, under the tutelage of legendary coach--and ...Show more It is the greatest American underdog sports story ever told: how a team of college kids and unsigned amateurs, under the tutelage of legendary coach--and legendary taskmaster--Herb Brooks, beat the elite Soviet hockey team on their way to winning the gold medal at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. No one believed the scrappy Americans had a real shot at winning. Despite being undefeated, the U.S.--the youngest team in the competition--were facing off against the four-time defending gold medalist Russians. But the Americans' irrepressible optimism, skill, and fearless attitude helped them outplay the seasoned Soviet team and deliver their iconic win. Show less

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A Team of Their Own

How An International Sisterhood Made Olympic History

by Berkman, Seth

eBook - 2019

The inspiring, unlikely story of the South Korean, American, Canadian, and even North Korean women who joined together to form Korea’s first Olympic ice h...Show more The inspiring, unlikely story of the South Korean, American, Canadian, and even North Korean women who joined together to form Korea’s first Olympic ice hockey team. Two weeks before the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics, South Korea’s women’s hockey team was forced into a predicament that no president, ambassador, or general, had been able to resolve in the sixty-five years since the end of the Korean War. Against all odds, the group of young women were able to bring North and South Korea closer than ever before. In this book, Seth Berkman goes behind the scenes to tell the story of these young women as they became a team amid immense political pressure and personal turmoil, and ultimately gained worldwide acceptance on a journey that encapsulates the truest meanings of sport and family. Show less

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The Greatest Olympians

The History & the Moments

by Schor, Gill

eBook - 2016

From celebrated American swimmers such as Michael Phelps, to lesser known but still electrifying Olympians of yester-year, we profile the greatest Olympic...Show more From celebrated American swimmers such as Michael Phelps, to lesser known but still electrifying Olympians of yester-year, we profile the greatest Olympic athletes of all time. Their stories and accomplishments are fascinating, made more so by the diversity of their national backgrounds and political circumstances. A fun and informative read for all ages Show less