Four Men in a Boat

Book excerpt: When Great Britain won gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics coxless four, seven million people watched and voted it the greatest sporting moment of the year. This moment, and Steve Redgrave's fifth Olympic gold medal, has eclipsed the long and troubled journey four men made to peak at exactly the right time. Tim Foster brings vividly to life what it's like to be one of four headstrong, and at times conflicting, personalities and reveals how close they all came to implosion as the Sydney Olympics approached. FOUR MEN IN A BOAT is structured around the 2000m final itself, with Tim Foster analysing the story of the crew as they progress towards the gold medal. He also gives a compelling insight into the hardships of sport at the highest level, and what it takes for four men to come together and win Olympic gold.