Golden Girl
How Natalie Coughlin Fought Back, Challenged Conventional Wisdom, and Became America's Olympic Champion
by Michael Silver with Natalie Coughlin
Most
people marvel at Natalie Coughlin, the young and talented athlete
who swims effortlessly and breaks records. Early in her career, fifteen-year
old Coughlin shows her talent as the youngest swimmer to qualify for
fourteen of the women's races at the U.S. Nationals. Some people credit
Coughlin's athletics to her mother's time constraints, which taught
Coughlin to train quickly rather than for long distances. The key
relationship, however, is with her trainer, Teri McKeever, who favored
training in short bursts over repetitive laps. In Golden Girl,
author Michael Silver highlights the young star's path to fame.
Silver, a Sports
Illustrated senior writer, immerses the reader in the highs
and lows of competitive swimming. Coughlin's talents receive mixed
reviews. When Coughlin suffers injury and illness, she questions
her abilities and the sport itself. She copes with the mockery and
hostility from peers, coaches, media, and fans. Coughlin's ability
to physically change her stride with only verbal directions made
her a special athlete. McKeever offers a unique training style not
widely accepted by those in sports, but McKeever's style resonates
with Coughlin. It becomes as natural to her as training in water.
How did she become America's Olympic champion? The book will provide
the personal background to Natalie Coughlin's turbulent career.
Readers will
be intrigued with the inner workings of competitive swimming and
with Coughlin's personal quest. Fans may have followed her through
the media, ignorant of Coughlin's daily distress, personal dreams,
and important relationships. The story of McKeever's training and
relationship with Coughlin enriches the book. Sometimes we don't
admire only the achievements of our heroes; sometimes we also admire
the obstacles they overcame. Read Golden Girl: How Natalie Coughlin
Fought Back and cheer her achievements with new understanding.
Continuing the theme of the book, Coughlin remains a world champion
and is now training for new Olympic records in Beijing.
|
The Reviewer |
Jennifer Akers |
Reviewed 2006 |
NOTE: |
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