Olympus and Beyond

Book excerpt: Olympus and Beyond by Allan Lawrence is the story of sport (running) told against the backdrop of the bigger human story of atmosphere, emotions, and relationships from the beginning, where a young Australian boy watched a newsreel and saw an American Naval Ensign become the first human in history to exceed 15' in the pole vault in Madison Square Garden. He vowed that one day he would compete in Madison Square Garden and break a world record. True to his word, seventeen years later, almost to the day, he succeeds, although in a different event. This is the fascinating tale of a young boy's rise in the athletic field and his coming to the United States, where he won several NCAA titles (both individual and team), and won All-American selection ten times, while winning AAU titles in cross-country, indoor, and track running. He struggled along the way with citizenship and health issues, but his determination and persistence allowed him to overcome these obstacles. Allan Lawrence is a true competitor.