A Lifetime of Training for Just Ten Seconds: Olympians in their own words'I hope the Romanian doesn't get through, because I can't pronounce her bloody name.' Allegedly from David Coleman, British radio and TV commentator, at one of his many Olympic coverages, when he thought he was off air. A Lifetime of Training for Just 10 Seconds is a collection of quotations from Olympic athletes, eyewitnesses and commentators through the ages, whether written, broadcast, overheard or misreported. They are inspiring, devastating - often hilarious - and a fascinating insight into the Games, the people who watch and compete in them, and those labouring and slithering behind the scenes. The notes following the quotes give a potted history of the Games and its cast of characters. 'These are the Olympics; you die before you quit.' The great American discus thrower, Al Oerter, winner of four successive gold medals (1956-1968). For the third of these in Tokyo, he competed despite excruciating pain from a torn rib cartilage, strapped up and iced. |
Contents
| 1 | |
2 CEREMONIES SYMBOLS AND INSTITUTIONS | 7 |
3 COTSWOLD WENLOCK LONDON | 14 |
4 DESTINY CHANCE AND THE UNEXPECTED | 21 |
5 DRESS AND FASHION | 28 |
6 ENDURANCE OPPORTUNITY WILL AND THE IMPOSSIBLE | 32 |
7 FAIR PLAY FOUL PLAY AND DOPING | 41 |
8 FAME AND OBLIVION | 49 |
18 PEOPLE | 110 |
19 POLITICS | 125 |
20 RACIAL DISCRIMINATION | 132 |
21 RELIGION | 136 |
22 REVIVAL | 141 |
23 SEX REARS ITS OLYMPIC HEAD | 150 |
24 TRIUMPH AND DISASTER | 153 |
25 VOICES OF DISSENT | 160 |
9 FINE ART AND BEAUTY | 55 |
10 FOOD DRINK AND PARTYING | 58 |
11 DISCIPLINES GENERAL AND INDIVIDUAL | 62 |
12 MEDALS | 72 |
13 MONEY SPEAKING | 81 |
14 NATIONALISM | 91 |
15 OLYMPIASTADION 1936 | 98 |
16 ORIGINS | 104 |
17 OVERCOMING ADVERSITY | 107 |
Other editions - View all
A Lifetime of Training for Just Ten Seconds: Olympians in their own words Richard Witt Limited preview - 2012 |
A Lifetime of Training for Just Ten Seconds: Olympians in Their Own Words Richard Witt No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
1948 London Games amateur American ancient Angeles in 1984 Athens athletes Atlanta Australian Avery Brundage Baron de Coubertin Beijing Berlin Games Berlin in 1936 British bronze medallist Carl Lewis celebrate century Chris Brasher coach compete competition competitors contests Dick Pound distance runner Dorando Emil Zátopek English Fanny Blankers-Koen finished flag Flash quote freestyle French German gold medallist Greece Greek gymnastics Helsinki in 1952 high jump Hitler International Olympic Committee IOC president Jesse Owens journalist Juan Antonio Samaranch long jump marathon Melbourne 1956 metres modern Olympic Games Montreal in 1976 Nadia Comăneci Nazi Olympia Olympic champion Olympic Games Olympic gold medals Olympic Movement Olympic Village opening ceremony Organising Committee Paralympic Paris political race relay Rome runner-up Seoul silver medallist Soviet spectators sports writer sprinter stadium Stockholm swimmer Sydney tennis Tokyo USSR William winner Winter Games women's words